AQUATICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9027, 14 January 1908, Page 7

AQUATICS.

> A MEMORY OF THE PAST. A correspondent, "Old 'Un," writes as follows:—Seeing the vim displayed in connection with the local aquatic sports just now, takes one back to 1883—nearly 25 years ago--when a great aquatic event took place in Masterton in the Waipoua river, behind the Park somewhat, and with your permission I will give your readers a short resume of that eventful day. I have the pi'ogramme before me now, and find that the sports were under the patronage of the then Mayor of the Masterton Borough and Councillors. The president and judge was 'Mr W. H. B«ctham, and the vice-president and .second judge Mr A. K. Bunny. Mr /W. F. Roydhouse was secretary, Mr A. Elkins starter, and Mr A. Bish timekeeper. The committee consisted of Messrs De Castro, M. Maxton, F. O'Connor, T. E. Chamberlain, C. Hounslow, A. Elkina, T. Jago, A. P. Fielding, S. H. Wickeivon, and W. F. Roydhouse. The results of the principal events were as follow: — Long Dive (youths under 18). —A. Vile (now of Eketahuna), 44yds, 1; G. Gunther, 2. Men's Long Dive.— M. Maxton, 48yds 2ft, 1; Walden, 85yds Ift, 2 (both these are now igsident in Greytown).. Maiden Race, 80 yards.—Walden, 1; M. Maxton, 2. Time, lrnin 7secs. Undressing in Deep Water.—M. Maxton, 1; Blinkhorne, 2; Cross, 3. The winner took 14 seconds, and the seoonl man j 49J seconds. Handicap Race, 160 yards.—C. Hounslow, 1; D'Arey, 2; 3. Time, 2min 2isec. A iocal paper remarked on this event: "Hounslow bounded oif like a conger eel after a pork chop (why a pork chop, I don't know), leaving Walden like a Royal duke in champagne—safely in the rear. "100 yards Handicap.- C. Hounslow, 1; Jago, 2; Maxton, 3; Wickeraon, 4. There were several more events contested, but the above give a sample of the whole. The day was a most enjoyable one, and there were some 1,000 people present. Tawhio—the Maori Kingwas to have been present, but for soms reason, now forgotten, he dia not turn up. A local paper gave the j sub-committee Messrs Cross, Wickaraon and Maxton great credit for the i way the affair was carried out. Mr ' Wickeraon was at 'hat time, like Mr i Maxton, on the staff of the Wairarapa ! >Daily Times, and Mr was a j local resident. Although no longer , in "active service," 1 wish all those.: who intend taking part in the forthcoming sports ev-di-y good wish.