THE ROWING CLUBS AND THE REGATTA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4301, 4 January 1875, Page 3

THE ROWING CLUBS AND THE REGATTA.

Sir, —As so many people appear to bo at a loss to understand howit is that the extraordinary energy displayed here in rowing during the last few years, almost establishing Wellington as the head quarters of the rowing clubs-in the colony, should this year show such unmistakeable signs of declining, perhaps you will allow me to explain that the cause may be referred quite as much to want of time as to lack of energy. In no town in New Zealand are the inhabitants more bent upon taking every inch of advantage from prosperous times than in its capital, and hence the press of business which limits the time for healthful exercises. Young men employed in the Government service, too, who were at first facetiously termed by some “the snobs,” assisted in a very great degree towards giving Wellington the name it has acquired in the rowing world ; but their time for practising has also been considerably curtailed in consequence of the increased hours of attendance required of them in common with others. It is not, however, in the nature of an English community to take a beating from such slight checks; buf, on the contrary, to gather strength in the act of overcoming increasing difficulties. I understand that the Regatta Committee have held one or two unsuccesful meetings : but that the final meeting last year was held as late as the seventh of the month, and I believe that if another meeting were called, satisfactory arrangements could still be made for holding the time-honored regatta on Anniversary Day, and jl am assured that plenty of worthy competitors .will be forthcoming when the programme of prizes is published, as many of our rowing men have been practising to the extent of the time at their disposal, and only await the signal for settling down to earnest work. —I am, Ac.,' Oliver Wakefield. January 2.