AQUATICS AT MERCER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 170, 13 February 1914, Page 1

AQUATICS AT MERCER.

Thus the aquatic writer in the "Star'' 'I he growing fleet of motor launches on tie Wnikato river in the vicinity of Mercer brings prominently i-jti notice a problem that has had to be faced by repatta committees all over New Zealand in recent years. It is not a very difficult problem if it is tackled in the right way, and by the riglt men. Motor boat otvnerp, reasonably enough, assume that thej have just as much light cn the water as the rowing men have. No one di* mes that point. But, as sport' they will readily n the matts: i\ mentioned, " " the wash from a motor boa' its very grave difficulty, and even darger, to an outligged racing boat that is being driven along at ful! speed. Only rowing men can appreciate this circumstance, and it is a great pity that steps were not taken to cxphin tte position to the launch owr.eis b.fnie the regatta at Merrcr. In these days it is recognised es being correct etiquette, as heir.g good wa'er-

manors so t) tpeak, fcr motor launches to I ave r r2cing boats a perfectly clear cnu'te. A friendly talk ! would lead (o a sstisfactoiy under- j standing that would make the things right f r all time. A suggestion that mifiht be taken j into coraidmti n by the jromoters; of retattai on the Waikato liver c(ncerts the Administrative d. tails of the finishing prst. At Mercer a d j at Ngaruuwahia UoJFar.ds of people i combine a keen interest in rowing with the 11 aeures of picniiking. 1 With the idta cf making the moet ol | the c'ay th(y lird a thsdy place with i a good view of the course, and divide their attention between egg- , j sandwiches and the boat-race. This i is precisely the sort of holiday outing ! that these riv c r regattas cater for, and when the picnic aspect (with , its altugether desirable feminine element) is lo:t sight of, much of the attractiveness of the regattas will have gone. Now, when a | i man has a leg of fowl in one hand, and a slice of peach pie in the other, he doesn't feel quite that he tugftt to tush along to the fit ishing post to see how the crews finished past the judge. It is just here that the suggestion of finishing Hags is submitted to Mercer bnd Ngaruawahia committees. A light flagstaff i 1 could bs seen all along the river j ' bank, and when the club colours were ! hoisted, one above the other, pic-1 nickers would know at a glance the positions in which ccmpetng crews ' i had finisher 1 . It would add a whole lot to the enjoyment of the regatta for thousands who don't care to crowd jound the judge to get just a glimpse • of tne finish. 1