YESTERDAY’S HOLIDAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 443, 5 February 1890, Page 4

YESTERDAY’S HOLIDAY.

NORTH SHORE AMUSEMENTS. ROWING ASSOCIATION’S REGATTA. MAORI CANOE RACES. THE NATIVE DANCES. Splendid weather has attended the four days’ festivities in connection with the local celebration of the New Zealand Jubilee, and the greatest success has throughout attended the celebration, so far as the numbers of visitors, the amusements provided, and the very satisfactory financial results are concerned, yesterday, although rather hot, was one of the most enjoyable days out of doors experienced here this season, and the fine breeze blowing through the afternoon proved very favourable for the special handicap yacht race. This breeze, however, though proving just the right thing for the sailing race, was a source of considerable inconvenience to the craft competing in the Rowing Association’s Regatta at the North Shore. The S. W. wind raised a rather nasty jobble along the Shore, and through this one or two boats were swamped. Owing to this it was necessary to abandon several of the races for the gigs. The native canoe races and the Maori war dance, however, came off, and were very interesting and successful. Great crowds of visitors from town again visited the North Shore yesterday, although in numbers the attendance at the sports across the harbour was much less than on the previous day, Thursday, when the enormous throng who crowded to see the native events has in magnitude never been equalled in Auckland before. Still it is estimated that very close on ten thousand people crossed over to Devonport by the ferry steamers yesterday, and the beach and foreshore on tho other side were quite black with spectators of the rowing events and canoe races. THE ROWING REGATTA.

Although several of the races of the Row ing Association’s Regatta were postponed yesterday owing to the rather nasty sea raised, still there was a fair afternoon’s sport. The courses were from the vicinity of the Calliope Dock to the Devonport Wharf. Mr G. S. Kissling acted as judge, Mr J. M. Brigham as umpire, and Mr J. F. Haultain as starter. As on Regatta Day, the starter had the use of the smart little torpedo launch belonging to the North Head Defence Works, and the umpire also had his station on the launch. The first race was the Maiden Whaleboats, prize £lO. The competing crews were the Waitemata Boating Club, Hauraki Rowing Club, St. George’s Rowing Club, Ponsonby Rowing Club, North Shore Rowing Club, City Rowing Club. The six boats were got away by Mr Haultain at 2.30 p.m. The start was a fine even one, and the race was very hotly contested. Ponsonby won by half a length, Hauraki being second, and Waitemata close up. The winning crew were : S. Bowden, E. Taite, D. Cole, J. Cole, P. W. Scott, stroke ; J. Scott, steer-oar. Champion Gig Race. —For this race the Auckland and two West End crews declined to start owing to the rough water. The starters were: Waitemata, North Shore, Poverty Bay, and Ponsonby. The two latter swamped. The Waitemata crew, in Bailey’s fine new kauri boat, did splendidly and won easily. The winning crew were: R. Moore, G. Barrett, T. O’Connor, M. Keefe, P. Bailey (cox). Dingy Race. —A. Bailey easily beat Cooke and Masefield. Maiden Gigs (under 10 stone).—Seven crews entered, but West End did not start. All were swamped at the post before ;they could be started. The Waitemata crew,, .stroked by E. Bailey, alone went over the ■•course. ■ .... The junior maiden and senior bona fide -gig races and scullers’ races were abandoned • owing to ’ the unfavourable, weather, and. the senior whaleboat event was also put .-•'Off. r.iy: ‘ '