NELSON REGATTA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 34, 10 February 1870, Page 2

NELSON REGATTA.

o A strict regard to truth compels us to s;»y that, so far as the number of spectators, and the amount of enjoyment derived by them from tho clay's proceedings were concerned, the regatta of 1870 was not so successful as those of previous years. Whether it was owing to the very limited notice the Committee felt themselves obliged to give, or to the fact of holidays having been so numerous of late we are unable to say, but we never remember to have seen so thin an attendance; there was a fair sprinkliug of townspeople, but we missed the faces of many of our country friends who have always on previous occasions largely patronised this description of amusement. Some of the races were well contested, but it is not always to witness the events set down on the programme that landsmen attend a regatta, indeed to the large majority of them, the merits of the contending boats, and the various phases of a sailing match are perfectly unintelligible, and therefore it is generally deemed necessary to provide shore sports, but of these there were none, and consequently it proved rather a wearisome day to many of those present. However, a continued run of success is not always desirable, and the Committeee may learn a useful lesson from yesterday's experience, and they will, doubtless, be prepared on a future occasion to remedy such omissions as those to which we have referred. la one thing they were decidedly fortunate — the weather was perfect, and thus many .

were able to enjoy a trip in the Murray which left the wharf every hour, generally with a goodly crowd of passengers. The following is a statement of the day's racing : — Waterman's Race. Two oars. Three miles. First prize, .£3 ; second prize, £l. Mr. Robb's Champion 1 Mr. Rowell's Vanguard 2 During the race the Vanguard was fouled by a sailing boat and had one of her oars broken. A protest was entered by Rowell, but the committee have not yet published their decision. First Class Open Sailing Boats. Pour miles. First Prize, £4 ; second, £1. Mr. Thompson's Rose 1 Mr. Freeman's Fairy... ... ... 2 Mr. Bentley's Eclipse 0 Mr. Gibbon's Edith 0 Mr. Garrard's Little Frecl 0 Second Class Sailing Boats. First prize, £3 ; second, £1. Mr. Clark's Toothache ... ... 1 Mr. Brown's Rather Awkward ... 2 Five others started. Yacht Race (Cup). First prize, £10; second £5. Mr. Day's Red Jacket 1 Mr. Hurley'^ MMge ... 2 Mr. Freeman's May 0 The Red Jacket, which sails like a witch, took the lead at once, and gradually increased the distance between herself and the other competitors until she came in the winner by a mile and a half at the very least. Whalfboats. Five oars. First prize, £7; second, £2. Mr. Cross's Queen . . 1 Mr. 's Favorite .. ..2 Ship's Boat Race. First prize, £4; second, £2. Murray . . . . . . 1 John Bunyan .. 2 Amateur Whaluboats. Five oars. First prize, £4; second, £1. Mr. Lloyd's Favorite . . . . . . 1 Mr. Sinclair's Queen .. .. ..2 Mr. 's Champion „ . . . 3 This was a foregone conclusion from the very first, as the Champion, not being present at the starting post at the time appointed, was out of the race, and the crew of the Favorite proved far 100 powerful for that of the Queen. The question was raised whether the winning boat was manned entirely by amateurs, but no formal protest, we understand, was entered. Bors' Race. First prize, £1; second, 10s. Mr. Diamond's Barracouta 1 Mr. Calder's Wangapeka 2 Dingy Race. First prize, 305. ; second, 10s. Mr. Gibbons' Attempt 1 Mr. Freeman's Colonist 2 Mr. Garrard's Wangapeka 3 Amateurs' Handicap. First prize, £2; seco nd 10s. Mr. Bentley's Eclipse ... ••• 1 Mr. Freeman's Colonist 2 Mr. Garrard's Favorite 0 Mr. Gibbons' Coquette 0