AQUATICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4904, 9 December 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

AQUATICS.

Eaoes to come:—Nelson Intcrprovincial Begatta, 17th and 18th January; Wellington Annual Eegatta, 22nd January. The amended programme for the Interprovincial Eegatta, to be held at Nelson on the 17th and 18th January next, has now been printed and distributed. It is really a very liberal one, and reflects great credit on the Nelson people. They offer £462 in money prizes, besides two cups—one for. the Yacht Race, and another for the Champion Gig Race. There are fourteen events on the programme, consisting of nine rowing and five sailing races. On the present occasion our remarks will be confined tu the principal pulling events. First, then, comes the Champion Whaleboat Kace; distance, 5 miles. First prize, £SO ; second, £5. It is anticipated that there will be a large number of entries for this event. • The Wellington Rowing Club evidently mean mischief, for they are importing a new whaleboat from Hobarton. The Star Club will be represented. The Port Nicholson men, who have been practising hard for some time past, are having a boat built by Crook and Harrison especially for this race ; and it is also possible that a crew of " lumpers" may be got together. We now come to the Champion Four-oared Gig Bace ; distance, 3 miles. First prize, £SO and silver cup (presented by Captain Cross); second prize, £10; The entries for this event will be almost the same as for the Champion Outrigger Bace, with the addition of a crew from Otago. The Greymouth people will also be represented, having recently imported a boat from Melbourne, and got together four very "hot" men, at least so sayeth report. ■■.,-■''■ The Star and Wellington Clubs will probably have the same crews as for the Champion Outrigger Bace. The Nelson Club will also be represented, and are having a gig built in Melbourne expressly for this event. We wish them luck; but they will have to show a deal more energy than they have yet displayed if they expect to win. They are straining every nerve to make their regatta a success, but their actual rowing men seem to have lapsed into a state of lethargy. The first day's racing concludes with a Junior Four-oared Gig Bace, open only to men who have never won an advertised champion race; distance, two miles. First prize, £ls; second, £5. The second day opens with the Champion Pair-oared Kace, distance; two miles; first prize, £2O. • There would be more entries for this race if it followed, instead of preceded, the Champion Bace. It is hardly probable that any crew will look upon their chances for the latter event as so " rosy" that they can afford to allow two of their men to row for the " pairs" first. Perhaps it is just as well that it *hould be so, as it will give outsiders a chance, and prevent anything approaching . a monopoly. The Auckland Club will be represented by Henderson and Dacre, and a very good show they will have too. It is to be hoped that if the Canterbury Club fail in their endeavors to get a crew together for the Champion Outrigger Bace, they will at anyrate send two, men to compete for this event.

Next on the programme stands the Champion Four-oared Outrigger Bace ;, distance, three miles. First prize, £l5O ; second, £lO. This is, of course, the race of the meeting, and a very exciting one it promises to be. The Wellington Club will be represented by Woods, Walker, McGrath, and Hearne. They have been practising very regularly lately, Muir rowing No. 3, pending Walker's arrival here. McGrath, their newi man, is a.strong looking fellow, and when licked into shape should row a powerful oar. They acted wisely in placing in Hearne'a handß the responsible duty of steering. Hiß sculling experience will prove of great advantage to him. The Star Club do not* have definitely fixed their crew yet, although Walden, Webb, Johnson, and Gair have been seen out together pretty frequently. They have no time to lose, and the sooner they get regularly to work, so much the better for themselves. The Kaiapoi crew will consist of Winterbourne, Perrin, Weaving, and Wright. They are working hard, but to have anything Jike a show for the race, they will have to get far more speed out of their boat than they did at the last Wellington regatta. TheOanterbury Club is waking up a little, and strenuous exertions are now being made to get a crew together. They are at present stumped for a fourth man. It is doubtful whether the Nelson club will Compete. They have just purchased a splendid outrigger boat; but there seems to bo a difficulty in getting four men to sit her properly. It is also rumored that the Thames crew are getting a new boat. With regular practico and proper " coaching," it is quito possible that they may occupy a much better position, at the finish than they did in the Champion Bace rowed here last year.

The Nelson people may safely look forward to at least six boata starting for this race ; but it would be premature at present to offer an opinion as to the particular merits or otherwise of the various crews.; More anon. So much for Nelson. Now for ourselves. It Bo'ems high time that we were making arrangements for our own regatta on Anniversary Day. It follows close upon the heels of the Nelson races; and if advertised at once, it is very certain that crews intending to compete there;;would also make their arrange meats so as to visit us. There is no time to lose ; and it is to be hoped that the, boating men will take the matter up at once, and spare no exertions' to make pur regatta as groat a succeßS as possible. : By the way, what is an amateur oarsman ? Everybody wants to know, but, alas ! no one

can say. The Nelsonites have a very hazy idea on the subject, and have accordingly invited the various clubs in the colony to favor them with their views. It is a much vexed question, and the sooner it is settled the better; but it vvill be found a very difficult riddle to solve. We may yet have occasion to express our opinion, but meanwhile it is to be hoped that the rowing men of Wellington will, out of courtesy to the Nelson people, as well as in the interests of rowing, take the matter into calm and unprejudiced consideration. A race will be rowed this afternoon between crews from the N. Z. Times and the Theatre, The votaries of Shakspere will be represented by Alexander, Hillsden, Eitson, and Shiek, and the Press by Muir, Robin, Keatch, and O'Connor. The latter are the favorites, but a close race is expected. The distance is one mile, but the exact course has not yet been definitely fixed. The race is to start at 2 p.m.