KAWHIA REGATTA.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 91, 28 February 1885, Page 6

KAWHIA REGATTA.

This event took place on Friday, the 21st February, during excellent weather, and in the presence of a large number cf spectators, Maoris and Europeans. The several events on the programme were well contested, and a highly-successful regatta was gone through with honour and applause. The e.s. Haunah Mokau, which put in an appearance in the early morning, acted as flagship, and was gaily decked with bunting in honour of the event. The members of the dusky race congregated from far and near, and there \va9 a good sprinkling of palefaces, amongst whom we noticed Captains Taylor and Morrison, of the Constabulary ; Mr C. R. Johnson, of Hamilton, who drove a horse and buggy through from Alexandra to Kawhia, a feafc involving no little dexterity, skill, and peril ; Mr Bregmen, of Raglan, also drove a light spring cart along the Aotea beach to Kawhia to witness the sports. These wero two great equestrian triumphs. Mr. C. S. S. George, of Auckland, Captains McCarthy and Windsor, and Mr C. A. E. Abbott, of Auckland, also graced the proceedings by their presence. The Amateur Band of the Constabulary enlivened the meeting by playing a variety of selections. A dazzling sun set off to advantage the gorgeous costumes of the natives, Every conceivable variety of colour appeared to be represented, and where clothes were not to be had, paint served instead. The harbour is of a capacious extent, and affords a fine field aa a practice ground. It is doubtless this fact which accounted for the excellent rowing which took place The native races formed the pieces de resistance, and afforded considerable diversion. The first of these was a canoe hurdle race, a kind of aquatic steeplechase. The hurdles are formed by driving two posts into the ground at low tide ; a cross-bar is rested on the poles, and shows up above the waier about nine inches at high tide. The Maories have to shoot their canoes over tho various hurdles along the course. The skill and dexterity with which this is done is admirable. Before crossing the obstacle the Maoris jump into the stern of the canoe, and so raise the bow; they as quickly transfer themselves to the bow, and thus the hurdle is cleared. There were many collisions in this race, and not a few were upset. The fun was fast and furious during the whole of the contest, and laughter reigned supreme. Perhaps the most imposing spectacle of the day was the race in the war canoes, which were manned by about twenty - five men each, sparcely clad but in full war paint. This was a grand, spectacle, and is every year becoming more raro, and will soon, like the m?a, sink into oblivion. The victorious crew were welcomed with a "haka" by the women of their tribe. Amongst the by-play may be mentioned the game of picking up sixpences with the teeth from tub 3 of water by the Maori women, and the boys trying to catch apples steeped in treacle in their mouth 3. This caused considerable fun. The proceedings were brought to a successful close by a dance in the library. Thus finished a redletter day in the annals of Kawhia, thanks to the efforts of Major Tuke and the Regatta Committee. On the Saturday the s.s. Hannah Mokau made an excursion to Gannet Island, which is situated N.W.^from Albatross Point, and is about sixteen miles from Kawhia. It is a kind of terra incognita, and is only about three acres in extent. It> consists of a rock rising on the north side to 70 feet in height, but tapering down to the southward to the water's edge. The excursionists were enabled to land owing to the fine weather. The shores of the island were covered with gannete, which seemed innumerable, and were very tame ; each man might have knocked over hundreds of these stupid birds, which were as thick as hops and as tame as ordinary poultry. One of the Maori anglers caught a hapuka weighing upwards of 50 pounds. After a pleasant day's excursion Kawhia was reached at 6 p. m. —(Correspondent. )

Volunteers who were at Parihaka want to go to the Soudan. They probably think the Mahdi is a sort of Te Whiti, but they will find their mistake when they go. A buggy has just been driven for the first time from Alexandra to Kawhia. The round trip can now be made from Hamilton to Kawhia by way of Alexandra and Bikurangi, and hpme again by Aotea and Waitetuna. A Wanganiii barrister, who was lately rescued from drowning at Wellingfson,tried to batter out his brains against the walls of the cell in which he was confined, and had to be taken to the hospital. '