AQUATICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4338, 13 February 1875, Page 7

AQUATICS.

Boat racing has been the principal sport indulged in since our last summary. On the 22nd ultimo—the anniversary of the foundation of the colony—the annual regatta was held. It passed off with great eclat , the weather being all that could be desired by the most fastidious. There was not a single accident on the water to mar the pleasure of the day, and all the races were fairly contested. There were nine of the twelve events on the programme got off, four • of the pulling races falling to the Wellington Rowing Club, the Eangstone’s crew winning the ships’ gig race. A crew from H.M.S. Rosario won the whaleboat race ; the Anne Melhuish’s sailing boat won the ships’ cutter race. The prize for the first-class yacht race—a cup presented by Messrs. Shaw, Saville and -Co., and a sum of money added by the committee—was won by Mr. Firmin’s new yacht Xarifa. A four-oar Volunteer race was won by a crew selected from the Central Volunteer Fire Brigade. The' day’s proceedings were brought to a close by a dinner in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, his Honor the Superintendent being in the chair, and by a soiree on the ’tween decks of the fine ship Soukar, which was lighted by gas on the occasion. Four hundred people attended the soiree, a portion,, of the proceeds of which, amounting to £l3, was devoted to the funds of the English Sailor’s Union. Three races held over from Anniversary Day, were contested on. the 30th ultimo, and afforded a fair amount of amusement for the afternoon. The secondclass yacht race wa*» won by Mr. Turnbull’s Fanny Goddard ; a pair-oar race by the Star Boating Club ; and a scullers’ race by Air. F. Turnbull. On the 6th instant, a match which excited considerable interest was sailed by the yachts Xarifa and Garibaldi, but after about a fourth of the course had been sailed the latter yacht was compelled to nm for the beach, the heavy press of canvas which had been placed upon her having opened her seams and she became water-logged. The Xarifa accordingly won the stake, which amounted to £4O. On the Bth instant a scullers’ match for a pair of gold sculls* presented by Mr. F. Turnbull, was rowed. The three scullers who started were Messrs. Cornish, Turnbull, and Griffiths —the trophy being secured by Air. Cornish, with Turnbull second and Griffiths last.