AQUATIC GOSSIP.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4921, 30 December 1876, Page 3

AQUATIC GOSSIP.

' (BY CHAKON). The event of the week has been the meeting on Thursday night, when it was decided to hold a , regatta to celebrate the anniversary of the foundation of the colony, - Although the attendance was not large, the right men were there ; and now that we are to have a regatta, there can be no doubt that with the influential committee which has been appointed it will be a success. The r prizes offered by Shaw, Savill, and Co. and by the New Zealand Shipping_Oo. seem to have stimulated others to come into the field. Yesterday Mr. Sam Howard waited upon Mr. Gair and offered to give a clear half, of the proceeds of a performance to be- held in - the Theatre Eoyal for a prize, to be called “The Theatrical Prize,” to be rowed for upon such terms and conditions as the committee shall think fit. It has been the custom in Sydney for many years for the theatrical managers to offer a similar prize. Mr. Howard deserves every credit for following so excellent a precedent, and no doubt his liberality will meet with the return which it merits. Before leaving the subject of the meeting I venture to express a hope that Mr. Gair vvfll reconsider his decision and continue to act as secretary. There seems to be, and it is a matter, to be deeply regretted, a want of that cordiality between the Various rowing clubs in the city which should exist. It does not arise from a spirit of healthy rivalry, and I think Mr. Gair is about the only man who would get the confidence of the boating men in all the clubs. If business engagements do not interfere, Mr, Gairis continuance as secretary will be an additional guarantee for the success of the regatta. The Nelson Eegatta is getting a subject of more interest day by day,; and all the local crews are doing their best in the way of practice. The Wellington-men. have been out together very regularly, although Woods appears to be more out of condition than his first performances indicated. If they mean to go in and win, nothing but good steady training by every man in the boat will do it, and one sheep who goes astray may lose the race, not only for the club, but for Wellington. The junior crew have also been hard at work, and they are pulling together-very creditably. The whaleboat is expected from Hobarton by the Tararua on Monday. The" s Star Club have definitely fixed upon Joe Ames as their fourth man,’ and the champion fouroared crew now make a very good show. It is hardly fair to enter into details as to their practice until they have beep, together for a longer time. Taking the Wellington and Star crews, and the whaleboat crew of the Port Nicholson Club, Wellington should make a very good show at the forthcoming regatta. The new whaleboat by Crook and Harrison, for the last-mentioned club, has been launched, and provided with a crew. At present Curry (bow), McDonald (2), Harris (3), Howard (4), and Floyd (stroke), man the boat; but their places may ,be changed, or some removals or additions may take-place. Captain Kennedy acts as coach, and on Thursday evening they took a trip to Ngahauranga and baclij the men appearing on their return fresh and in gOa-1 condition. Their boat has plenty of floor to her, but is too light in construction for anything, like a heavy sea. The Thames people X hear have put together a very stiff crew for the champion four-oared race, and are going to row in a new outrigger, built on the English principle, and carrying no cox, by Mr. Savage, of Auckland. The Thames Bowing Club have had several trial fours at work for the last few weeks, and , the. result is .. .the present .crew ; the names however have not yet been .published. The Naval Christjr Minlstrel . Troupe are giving a performance in aid of the fund, £IOO being required if the crew is to compete at Nelson;

and it is to be hoped their efforts will he sue-, cessfnl. The championship gig races of the Auckland Bowing Club came off last baturday and caused considerable exciteinent,: ine course was 1J miles, ending at the. Queen s Wharf, and a good start was made by the three boats which entered; but owing to a foul between Henderson’s and Yates boats, Clarke’s crew, with the Manukau Maid, got -well away and maintained the dead, a he. names of the winning crew were—E. G. B. Moss (bow), W. W. Gudgeon W. J. Caverhill (3), E. M. Clarke (stroke), and Warner (cox.) The Auckland: .four for* Nelson are highly spoken of, ; and a Wellington , i betting man has been getting heavy odds against" our local t crews. There is to be a regatta at Greymouth oh New Year’s Day; and judging the number of influential names on the committee, it pro ; rinses well. Prizes of a substantial nature are offered for champion sculling, fourroared, boys’ pair-oared, champion four-oared, youths’ ..pairoared, and* all-comers’ pair-oared races, and rowing on the Grey seems to be as popular as *ever. There is. still no pqsitive/news of the crew which is to represent the West Coast in the Interproyincial; but their .reputation since last week;has,-like the number pf Falstaff’s men. in buckram, considerably increased. '