THE REGATTA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4327, 1 February 1875, Page 3

THE REGATTA.

Saturday last proved a most favorable day for aquatics, the water being sufficiently smooth to admit of racing with safety in the lightest and frailest outrigger. There was also a gentle breeze, just enough of wind to allow of gaff topsails, balloon jibs, and other fancy sails being carried by yachts. The three events held over by the Regatta Committee from their programme issued for the 22nd ultimo, were accordingly got off, and afforded amusement for between three and four hundred people, who assembled on the Queen’s wharf to witness the sports. The first race started by Captain Halliday was the Second-Class Yacht Race. First prize, £6 ; second prize, £3 : third prize, £l. Renner’s Brown Beetle .. .. -. ' * - 1 Turnbull's Fanny Goddard 2 Gaunaway’s Esk 3 A fourth .boat was entered, but she did not make an appearance at the starting-place at the appointed time. The course was from the wharf, round the southernmost mooring buoy, thence round the buoy at Point Jerningham, afterwards rounding the shipping lying at anchor; twice round, finishing at the wharf. The Fanny Goddard was the favorite. From the start there was some beating reciuired to round the first buoy, the Beetle drawing windward position, the Esk second, and the Goddard to leeward. The Beetle, being a small

light boat, was the first to feel the breeze, and —after a little pretty handling she was first to get round and take to running. The Esk and Fanny got round almost simultaneously. After the course had been rounded once, the Beetle still maintained the lead, the Fanny second, the Esk last. The wind then became light, the two leading boats passing each other alternately as a slant of wind turned up, the Beetle getting opposite the wharf first. But a misunderstanding here appeared to exist, for the two boats still stood on, endeavoring to again round a buoy they had already twice rounded, which, by a fluke of wind, the Eanny Goddard succeeded in doing first. As neither party appeared satisfied with the other's interpretation of the course, the matter will be referred to the decision of the Regatta Committee. The Esk was nowhere at the finish. The next event was the Pair-oar Eace (Seniors).—No outriggers allowedFirst prize, £5 ; second prize, £l. "Wellington Bowing Club's Alexandra Limp (Moore and Woods) 1 Star Club’s No Name (Jobnston and Webb) .. 2 Wellington Eowing Club’s Napl Napl (Brown and Eobinson) .; 3 The course was from the wharf, round all the shipping lying at anchor, round the southernmost buoy, finishing at the startingplace. The Wellington Eowing Club's Limp was considered a certain winner, the Star Club’s boat second, and the Napi Napi, being only a make-up, last. At the start, Woods and Moore took first water, Johnson and Webb pulling hard and keeping well up with them. For the first half mile—till the first vessel was rounded off Pipitea Point both crews steered any course but the proper one, thereby losing a deal of ground. The Star boys then made better rowing of it, the Limp still pulling wild, Woods, in the bow, appearing to be too much for his companion. Little by little the Stars got away from their competitors, till the distance they had gained amounted to about three lengths. Then Woods and Moore stopped their boat aud changed places, the Stars thereby gaining a couple of dozen lengths. After this alteration the Limp was put through the water pretty fast, and rapidly lessened the distance between herself and the

first boat. After the ship Avalanche had been rounded, the Star crew made a dart for the wrong buoy, the Limp, which at this spot was only a couple of lengths behind, making for the proper one. After rowing a few strokes the Stars discovered their mistake, but the Limp had taken first place. The Stars made a desperate spurt to recover lost ground, and. were rapidly doing so, the Limp making straight for the buoy. After a dozen strokes had been rowed the Stare, who had come up with the Limp, fouled her on the starboard side. Then both ceased rowing, and held a conference. Alter a little time bad been thus disposed of, the Limp proceeded on her course, rounded the buoy leisurely, followed in the same manner by the Star boat, the crew of which, on arriving at the winning-post, lodged a protest, alleging that they had been fouled by the Limp, which at the time of the foul was clearly in possession of first water. The matter will afford discussion for the committee. The next-race was the

Hour.;. FiftH’ Race, 1J miles. First prize, pair of gold sculls, presented by Mr. T. Lennox, and £5; second prize, £l. Turnbull I Werry 3

Five boats were entered, but only three started. The course was from the head of the bay, at To Aro Pa, to Pipitea Point. Gair went away at a great pace, pulling about fifty to the minute, and quickly leaving Turnbull in the rear, Werry, in a training boat, being nowhere. At the wharf Gair led by two lengths, the hard work at the start beginning to toll upon him, while Turnbull was pulling strong and steady. A little further on Turnbull began to lessen the distance, which he gradually continued to do till he got on oven terms with Gair. A small spurt then ensued, but Gair was too pumped to hold his own, and Turnbull head him home by, about half a length. THE STELLA AND DOLLY VARDEN. It was announced early on Saturday morning by the interested parties that the race arranged between the four oar outriggers Stella and Dolly Vardeu would come off in the afternoon. Excitement in boating circles accordingly ran

hi"h, each crew having numberless admirers, who backed their opinion to a considerable sum. Perhaps there was not leas than £SOO staked on the issue. The Dolly Warden appeared to have the most fanciers, her crew being considered a little too powerful for those in the Stella. Although the match was a pm ely private one, and one in which the match committees of the Star and Wellington Clubs had nothing whatever to do, still the race was looked upon as one which would show which club had the right to be considered as the champion club of the city. The men selected to row the Stella were Messrs. Joseph Ames, Cornish, Griffiths, and Lennox (stroke), all good and finished oarsmen ; and those to row the Dolly Warden were Messrs. Walker, Moore, Woods, and Brown (stroke), a crew, in every respect, equal to the first-named. One of their number, Walker, resides at Porirua, and a messenger was despatched on Saturday morning to urge him to reach town as rapidly as possible. The race was to start from Nghauranga. Atfour o’clock the Stella crew started from their shed and rowed their boat to the starting place, the Dolly Warden being towed up by the club’s whaleboat, her crew proceeding by a trap. On arriving at Ngahauranga, where Walker was expected to be iu waiting, he was found to be non est . According to the written agreement drawn up by the match makers, the race was to start at four o’clock,but before leaving town it was mutually arranged between them that, as the water was a little lumpy, the boats should not start before six o’clock. About a quarter past five a message from Walker was- received, which stated that he did not intend to come to town. He stated the note which ho had received that day reached him too late to admit of his being in town in time to row, he having received the letter a little after two o’clock. About sixty people had by six o’clock reached Ngahauranga from'town, all of whom were apparently deeply interested in the result. Just at six o’clock the matchmaker, on behalf of the Dolly Warden, finding it impossible to send his boat, tendered the amount of the stake to the other side, at the same time informing the starter (Captain Halliday) that he objected to the other boat having a start, as the race had lapsed. The representative of the Stella would not accept the stakes, and insisted upon his boat having a start, which Captain Halliday gave him. The Stella then pulled leisurely over the course. Those at Ngahauranga who had backed the Stella to. win then claimed the amount of their bets, but the Dolly Warden’s backers repudiated their liability, alleging that as it was a private match which had lapsed, all bets were off. There appearing to be no authority in the matter present, it was unanimously agreed, and in thorough good feeling, to state the case to the sporting editor of the Australasian, all parties agreeing to abide by his decision. When the Stella arrived at the wharf, where about three hundred people were anxiously watching for the boats, and the facts were made known, disgust and disappointment were loudly expressed, and considerable discussion ensued between backers as to how the result would affect bets. Some bets were paid over, but the majority stand, pending the decision of the Australasian. It is supposed that Walker was unaware of the extension of time for starting from four till six o’clock, and finding that he would be unable to reach town by four o’clock he decided to remain at his home.