Rowing Notes.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 131, 3 January 1903, Page 11

Rowing Notes.

By Native.

The Marlborough Regatta takes place on Thursday, at Picton. I have not heard anything; as to the probable entries from the Blenheim and Picton Clubs. The Stars will be competing in the four events, Wellington will be represented am the Maiden and Junior Fours, and Petone in the Maiden Foul's and Pairs. The Junior Fours and Pairs ought to be a good thing for the Stars. The Maiden crews are not up to the usual standard, and, unless Blenheim or Picton have anything above the ordinary, the Stars, might get another urn in the Fours. The Otago Regatta was held at Port Chalmers on Boxing Day. The weather did not promise well in the morning, but it cleared up early in the afternoon, and. the whole of the programme was carried out successfully. The funds benentted to the extent of £40 in gate money. Queen's Drive was the most successful club winning the Maiden Fours, Junior Fours, Junior Pairs, and Youths' Fours, and were second in the Senior Fours. Port Chalmers won the Senior Fours, amd rowed second in the Maiden Fours and Pairs, Youths' Fours, Senior Double Sculls, and Pairs. The Otago Olub secured the* Madden Pairs and the Senior Double Sculls, the latter with the aid of the champions, McGrath and Priest. North End won the Maiden and Junior Double Sculls, and Dunedin Amateurs the Senior Pairs. It is stated that. McGrrath and Priest, the present ohampic-is, will again represent the Otago Rowing Club at the Championship Regatta. It is 1 also understood that Williams and Olsen, who competed successfully in the Senior Pairs at th© Otago Regatta will represent the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club in the Champion Pairs. At the Riverton Regatta, which was also held on Boxing Day, the Riverton Club won the Maiden and Youths' Fours, Invercargill the Junior and Senior Fours', and Awarua the Senior Pairs. I gather that the Akaroa Regatta Committee committed a breach of the rules of the N.Z.A.R.A. by rowing maiden races in boats other than defined by the rules of the Association. As the Lyttelton Regatta Committee propose to follow suit, it will be rather interesting to see how the Managing Committee of the N.Z.A.R.A. take it particularly as their representative in Canterbury wasi instructed in the matter. "Rowlock " in the "New Zealand Mail," is evidently annoyed at the remarks passed by "Jason," in the "Canterbury Tiiaes," and reprinted in this waper, in connection with the controlBug influence exercised by the Star dub in past vearg on the N.Z.A.R A

Rowlock" has taken up the cudgels on behalf of the Star Club. There is no doubt that, in years gome by such members of the club as the lr.te W. FitzGerald, E. C. Batkin, W. H. Field, A. S. Biss, and M. C. Barnett rendered meritorious service to the Association, and their -work -\,as keenly appreciated tliroughout the colony, but if "Rowlock" has been an attendant at the meetings of the Association since the tune of these gentlemen, it must have been apparent, even to 1 him, how the membeirs of the Stair Olub. holding proxies from other clubs, were swayed by the principal representatives of the Stars, and could always be relied on to oast their vote in favour of the Star Club's views, but, with an increase in membership, this monopoly has at last been broken, and, with, the establishment of the Associa>tion, on the same basis as other kindred sportsi, I fully expect that at the end of three years the Association will be even in a stronger position than it is to-day-In justice to a late committee f the Star Club, I believe I am correct in stating that it Mas only by a very narrow majority that the olub decided against the proposal to establish local associations. Needless to say, the r) i re u sent Managing Committee is strongly against the change. "Rowlock " in his reference to the "Purity League," has taken the opportunity to sneer at a member of the Maniaoing Committee of the N.Z.A.R.A. m his suggestion that the N.Z.A RA. can obtain a legal opinion gratis from one of themselves. As there is only one gentleman of the legal profession on the Manaiprmgr Committee, it is not hard to see who his remaaks are aimed at. I quite agree with the gentleman who remarked ait the last meeting of delegates that "in the past we have been guided by legal opinions, but in the future we will govern ourselves." Apart from the question raised as to the position of the N.Z.A.R.A. after the sth January, it is too ridiculous to expect that the Association will cease to exist. I think that, as the Managing Committee were elected for the year, they ought to undoubtedly carry on the business until their successors are appointed. The following; crews have been chosen to represent the Wanganui Olub at the Championship Regatta — Champion Fours A. Lewis, Anderson, Orford, and Williams, Junior Fours. A. Johns, Day, Wright, and Kerr , Maiden Fours H. Gibbons, T. Bell, Williams, and Cathro, Pelves, A. H. Gibbons, Robson, and Ashton, , and Ward, Slipper, McDonald, and Northcott: Champion Double Sculls Tilley and Dymock. A challenge race was held at Petone last week, when Clements and Anderson defeated Smith and Braid. The latter crew was originally chosen to represent the club at Pioton in the Maiden Pairs, but the former will now be the iepresentatives. Surely, "Rowlock" has blundered in connection with the statement that a certain official of the N.Z.A.R.A. was landed into office by the Christohuroh

clubs. If lam not mistaken, I think that the Star Club had a good deal to do with the nomination, and subsequent ele^ion. Tom Spencer leaive& this week to repiesemt the Welkngton Club in the sculling race at Kawhia, on the oth prox.

A further budget of cards conveying seasonable greetings has been received from Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Percy, the Head Office Staff of New Zealand Government Eailways, Mr. George Robertson (Wellington District Manager of Government Life Insurance Department), Wellington " Evening Post," Hawera " Star," Woodville " Examiner," Wairarapa "Leader," Feilding "Star," Otaki "Mail," Bruce " Herald," and Manawatu "Fanner." We heartily reciprocate the kind sentiments expressed by the senders. # • • Another of those delightful marine excursions for which the Huddart Parker Co. is celebrated will take place on New Year's Day. The company's new steamer " Victona," one of the finest boats possible for the purpose, will leave Queen's Wharf for Picton at 7.30 a.m. on New Year's Day, leaving Picton the same afternoon at 4.30. The Garrison Band will play on board.