ATHLETICS. (By ActecoN in the " Auckland Star.")

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 358, 10 April 1889, Page 3

ATHLETICS. (By ActecoN in the " Auckland Star.")

BASEBALL. The editor of the Dublin " Sporfc " has inaugurated a movemenbin favour of baseball as one of the established Bports of Ireland. Cricket has never taken well in Ireland, nob like ib has in England. In the colleges it is played to a certain extent, and each military station has its regimental clubs, but beyond this the interest in the game has not been great. It is a question whether baseball will take any better, but it has one very important recommendation to the Hibernian — it is Yankee. Mr Simpson, the ex-member of Spalding's teams, is now arranging for three games between Victoria and Soubh Australia, for Easter, on the East Melbourne cricket Ground, which will prove very interesting to all livers of baseball. Mr Simpson now divides his time between Melbourne, Adelaide and Broken Hill, teocinsr clubs the game.

AQUATICS. The following is taken Irom the last; number of the Sydney " Town and Country Journal :" — The sweepstake race of £10 per boat between the 6- ton clippers Sao, lolanthe, Assegai, and Akarana took place on Saturday last over a course from ott Farm Cove to the buoy at Manly and back twice. The weather was not the most desirable for such a race, as, besides promising rain, the wind was very puffy and shifty, and caused various changes of position during the race ; some of the boats getting splendid slants at times. Thjs is the second race the little New Zealand Akarana has sailed here, and she met the other boats at a great disadvantage, besides being unfortunate in carrying away sails during the i*ace. She was sailed by Mr Aud. Adam? — one of our well-known amateur boat-sailers. This was his first time in the boat ; and he could not, therefore, be exptcted to sail her as" well as if he had been accustomed to hei. GreaD interest was nianitested in the race by thos>e who followed in the steamer, which was under the care of Mr Andrew Dunn. The conditions of the race were that the yachts should be sailed by amateurs except the man in charge. Had it not been for this restriction as to being amateurs, it is not unlikely that the positions of the yachts at the finish would have been different. As the flag dropped the yachts got away well together. The Akarana immediately sent up a balloon ]ib, which no sooner had it received a strain than it split right across, and thus lost her a lot of ground. Aka>*ana then set a jack-yarder over working topsail. The order rounding Bradley's was Assegai, Sao, lolanthe and Akarana. After rounding this point the other yachts sent up jack-yarders ; and the New Zealander set small spinnaker on bowsprit end and ringtail, and soon passed lolanthe and Sao, and closed on Assegai. As the yachfes approached Middle Head the wind freshened ; and nas they had their spinnakers set square they gave some trouble. Akarana had her large one set square, and found it better on board. So she took it in again. The others, having small ones, managed better, although nob without difficulty. The buoy at Manly was rounded by Assegai at 2h 21nnn 20sec ; Sao, 2h 21min 33sec ; Akarana, 2h 22min 48sec -, lolanthe, 2h 24min 33sec. All (.he yachts stood well over to the coal wlurt before throwing round, and then fetched about Dobroyd. A choppy sea was felt as they approached the harbour entrance. To avoid this head &ea, Akarana's skipper, after making a short leg out from Dobroyd, threw round, and made towards Middle Head. Thi? proved a great mistake, as the Sao and lolanthe, going well over toward Quarantine Ground before going round on the port tack, got easterly slants, which put them a long way ahead. The Assegai had in the meantime stretched across Middle Harbour entrance, and also lost this slant. However, her turn was to come, as when she made the eastern shore, she got her share of the easterly, and again took first place. Akarana had dropped behind a lot ; and the island was rounded in the order of Assogai, lolauthe, Sao, and Akarana. Jib topsails were set on the first three, the Akarana setting small spinnaker on bowsprit for the lead to Port .Denison, and the same order being kept round there. Sao used her jib topsail on the way to Bradley's and Manly. The other yachts used working sails to Bradley's, after passing which point the Uvo leaders set jib top sails and also small spinnakers square. Akarana on rounding set small spinnaker on bowsprit end and ringtail ; the lastnamed sail split almost acioss shortly after setting, and had to be taken in. Manly was reached the second time by Assegai at 4h 19min 33sec ; lolanthe, 4h 22min 22& ec ; Sao, 4h 23min ssec ; Akarana, 4h 30min 42sec. The wind was more easterly on the beat to Shark Island ; and the dis tancos varied between the yachts all the way up. The island was rounded in the same order, and then extra sail was set for the lead horne — the flagboab being. passed as follows : — Assegai at 5h 40min ; lolanthe, 5h 42min lOsec ; Sao, 5h 57min ssec ; Akarana, 5h 57min lOsec. This being a scratch race^ Assegai wins first, and lolanthe second prize. The Assegai was sailed by Mr Smairl, lolanthe by Mr Sid. Wilson," Sao by Mr Fred McLeod, and Akarana by Mr Adams.