MOTOR RACES AT AUCKLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, 1 February 1909, Page 3

MOTOR RACES AT AUCKLAND.

A LONGDISTANCE RECORD. [United Press Association.] . AUCKLAND, Sunday. What is comdered locally to be the longest motor boat race yet held in Australasia was contested yesterday and to-day between Mr H. H. Adams' Eliza and Mr J. Reid's Seabird. The course was from Auckland to Eussell and back, a distance of 240 knots. The boats left Auckland at 7.50 a.m. yesterday morning in calm weather. Outside the harbour a lumpy 6ea was met, the wind being east-north-east. The Eliza, which led throughout, passed the halfway mark at Russell at 10.50 yesterday evening, having taken exactly 15 hours (an average of eight knots' to do the 120 knots. The wind held in tho same quarter, and the sea increased greatly on the run home, the boats taking a lot of water aboard, and the crews being drenched. Auckland harbour was reached at 2.25 this afternoon by the Eliza, the whole journey occupying the time of 30 hours 35 minutes, the average running time being approximately eight knots. The Seabird rounded the mark at Russell 84 minutes after the Eliza. Captain McLeod, of the "Northern S.S. Co. s Clansman, said at one time he felt like stopping and running for shelter. He considered the boat a wonder to get through on the return journey, the sea being so nasty. The Eliza is fitted with a locally designed and manufactured engine. The race arose out of the Rudder Cup fontest (105) knots), in which the Seabird made the fastest time, the Eliza being one of the defeated competitors.