NGARUAWAHIA REGATTA.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 261, 19 March 1898, Page 3

NGARUAWAHIA REGATTA.

It was most unfortunate for all concerned that the weither turned out so unfavourable for the monster aquatic gala held at Ngaruawahia on 17th March (St. Patrick's Day). It is doubtful if ever on previous occasions there has ever been such a crowd as that which assembled at the Delta township on Thursday. The weather looked dull and threatening on Wednesday n ? ght, and about 8 o'clock on the eventful morning sufficient rain was falling to considerably reduce the number of passengers from Hamilton and the surrounding districts ; but by this time the unfortunate excursionists from the other places were well on the journey, from which there was no escape. The carriages and covered trucks—principally the Utter—were crammed in such a manner that once inside there you had to stay. The trains from the Paeroa, Cambridge and King Country sections joined forces at Frankton Junct : on, and about an hour later some fifteen hundred or two thousand pleasuie seekers were landed at Ngaruawahia in a curl - destroying drizzle, which quickly removed every vestige of starch from the gay coloured sun-bonnet and played lavoc with summer finny generally. An hour or eo later, when the Auckland trains ai rived with at least five or six thousand passeugers, the rain was falling heavily, and a rush was immediately made for shelter. and in less than no time every nook and cranny in hotel, shop verandah, shed and station building was filled with a sad, bedraggled, home - sweet - looking crowd, who will not forget* March 17th, 1898, for some time to come. Just about this time, whether by accident or design we cannot say, King Mahuta's Royal Native Band struck up Sankey'R hymn, " Oh, What Must It lie To Be There." It wan singularly appropriate to the occasion, and was doubtless the very question those who had stayed l.chind were wisely asking themselves. Then follow el " Shall We Gather at the River," and, as if in defiance of the elements and a reply to the query, the Royal bandsmen attempted to raise the drooping spirits of the multitude with " Pull for the Shore, Sailor," and " We Shall Meet on That Beautiful Shore." Though in the ciowd there were no doubt many ardent lovirs of Sankey'a hymns, all will admit that on this occasion they had a decidedly ccmic effect, which the writer hardly anticipated. The morning was a beautiful one when the train It ft Auck r and, so the excursionists had come totally unprepared for the rain, and many therefore never ventured out at all. Hundreds remained in the railway carriages, while the Pnshytcrian Church, which was good-naturedly thrown open to the visitor?, had an overflowing congregation all day. About midday some fif'y dusky warriors marched up for the l.aka. They were dressed as of old as regards quantity but not quality of the cloihng, in nearly every instance chc p fabrics taking the place of the short n.ata their ancestors used to wear ; but the men themselves were a. powerful, handsome set. The dance on this occasion was performed on the river bank behind Dickescn's brewery, where everyone could obtain an excellent view of the whole show. Alter the haka the natives led the way down to the Waipa bank, where the la'ge luncheon booths of Measrs J. Bettl.y, T. M. Hill and J. T. Home were erected. It is perhaps unnecessary to add that these received every attention at> the hands of the hungry holiday-makers. Close handy was a couple of .shooting galleries, where the youth from the country could try his skill as a marksman. Slavin and Peter Jackson, or two equally famous pugilists, were billed to kneck each other into pulp all day long for the.tmall sum of sixpence. Next door was a circus composed of dogs aud monkeys, then a gentleman who toik, finished and framed your photo in five minutes, and to crown all a couple of lrard-visaged three-card men who treated the hard earnings of the unsophisticated son of the soil in a similar manner in less than half that time. So it wi'l be ven that ample amusement was afforded for visitors of all shades of opinion. One very noticeable feature was the number of new mackintosh;s and umbrellas in evidence, and from this we iufer that the popular firm Messrs Friar, Davies and Co. did a really good line in these articles. Durirg the day the Rotorua Maori Brass Band played some choice selections, aud the members are to be highly complimented on the progress they have made. Complaints were rife regarding the train arrangements, but the rhief trouble lay in the fact that one of the trains pulled up at Rangiriri for over an hour; but it must be remembered that there was undue pressure upon the rolling stock on account of the Paeroa and Avondale races, which were both heM the same day. The racing was for the most part exceedingly interesting, but in the rowing events the West End Club again demonstrated its superiority and made a clean sweep of every race with the exception of one. That was the senior gig race,

which produced a big struggle. The St. George's crew weut to the frout soon after the start, and leading all the way by about half a length won by that distance. The tuccess of the western: rs reflects the utmost credit on the popular and painstaking conch and Captain, Mr J. Clarke. It is only natural to suppose that the Maori events attracted most attention. The war cauoes, manned by over twenty natives, working in perfect uni-on, with their fuglemen beating time and making the pace with their coloured fligswasa most attractive sight; but the fact that the "Publicana" crtw romped over their opponents in instance was disappointing to everyone bar themselves. The canoe hurdle racs were also watched with fcreat interest, bnt more particularly those iu which the Maori women were engaged. They proved themselves remarkably elever at this branch of sport, and were a grcit deal more succesbful than the men. The SwimmiDg races produced large fields

and exciting finishes, and the handicaps were certainly most satisfactory. Great interest was ceutred in tho Ladies' IVr Oar Race, which brought out three crews. The local ladies made a rea'ly good fight, hut were beaten by a boat's length by the Misses Kvers, of Auckland, who, it will be icmen.bctod, won this event last year. Tho Mounted Swimming Race was quite a novel y. and the antics of the horses cased n i end of fun. About seven starle 1, and » grey horse bearing the name of ILkarimata won all the w..y. The gr asy boom competition fell to Mr G. Jack, of Hamilton, who usually distinguishes himself in competitions of th s kit d. The arrangements for carrying out the eports were most c. mp'ete, and bul for the lateness of the trains and the indent enc.y of the weather everything would have worked as smoothly as possible. A* it was the officials cannot be too hi.lily praised for the success which attended their eff its in an affair of such macnitude. We might specially mention Mr T. U. Wells, the courteous sccretaiy, who had the affair quite under control. Mess s T. W. Davies and S. D. Hanna wore tin; judges of the rowintr races, and Messrs A. Gold water aid E. J. Carr acted in a similar capacity in connection with the swimming races. The following are the results: Maiden Gigs (open). About one mile. Prize, £B. West End Roving Club : G. 0. Stevenson, stroke ; C. Fricker, 1 ; C. Stev.nson, 2 ; J. M. Hickson, 3 ; E. Carter, cox 1 Auckland Rowing Club : L. Brodie, stroke ; F. Brodie, 1; Lovett, 2 ; Russell. 3 2 Ngaruawahia Rowing Club: F. W. Hunt, stroke; A.~Payntcr, 1; J. Marshall, 2; F. James, 3 3 Weit End won easily by two or three lengths. 220 Yards Swimming Race. First prize, £2 10; s-cond, £1 ; third, 10s. P. H. Hughes (24acc.) 1 J.T. Fraser (21sec ) 2 H. J. Bailey (scr.) ... . . .. 3 This was an exceedingly close finish between the first and second men, and there is little doubt that Fraser was in the lead at the finish, but the rope across the river which served as a tape had a slant, which enabled Hughes to reich it first. Ganob Hitudle Rach (for men). First prize, £2 10s ; second, £1 ; third, 10« s. "Kahißaiti," entered by P. Aubrey 1 •' Powhiri, " entered by Karaka Rotana and Harena 2 " Vaori," entered by Caleb Rotana... 3 Maiden Gigs (under lOst). Distance, about one mile. Prize, £3. West Eud Rnwiug Club : L. Guuson, stroke; H. Adams, 1 ; C. Slyfield, 2 ; St. George's Rowing Club : F. J. George, stroke ; S. Kissling. 1 ; H. Roinger, 2 ; H. Littiejohn, 3 ; L. Whitley, cox 2 Auckland Rowing Club : C. Fookes, stioke ; F. Baker, 1 : McKnight, 2 ; Wade, 3 3 The Ngaruawahia crew also competed. West End won easily, but a splendid race took place for second place, about half a length separating the boats. 150 Yards Swimming Race. Prizes : £2 10s, £l, 10s H. J. Bailev (scratch) 1 T. V.Frost (14sec.) 2 Hr.ey 3 Won by a yard. Junior Gigs (open). Distance, about 1 mile. Prize, £9 West End Rowiug Club : H. H. Bach, stroke ;H. Sands, 1; R. W. Rees, 2 ; F. T. Hales, 3 1 West End Rowing Jlub : G. O. Stephenson, stroke ; C. Fricker, 1; C. Stephenson, 2 ; J. M. Hickson, 3 2 Auckland Rowing Club : L. Biodie, stroke ; F. Brodie, I ; Lovett, 2 ; Russell, 3 3 This furnished a very pretty race, about a length separating the boats at the finish. War Canoe Race. Prizes, £3O, £l2, £B. " Publicana " (Ngatiwhawhakia tribe) 1 11 Hekene " (Ngatihourua tribe) ... 2 " Kaiwha" iWaikato tribes) 3 Won by over 100 yards. Ladies' Pair Oar ; half-mile Prizes, £3 and £l. Miss°B Erera (Auckland) 1 Misses N. Aubrey and M. Paki (Ngaruawahia) 2 Misses Mallindine (Ngaruawahia) ... 3 Canoe Hurdle Race (over and under). Prizes : £2 10s, £l, and 10s. " Maori," entered by Caleb Rotana... 1 " Kahi Raiti," entered by P. Aubrey and fleta Tenwhiti 2 "Rawhiri," entered by Rotana and Harena 3 The " Maori " negotiated her obstacles safely and won easily. Junior Gigs (um'er lOst). About one mile. Prize, £9. West End Rowing Club : L. Gannon, stroke ; A. Rose, 3 ; C. S yfield, 2 ; H. Adams, 1; F. Carter, cox ... 1 Auckland Rowing Club: Fook< s, stroke : Woods,~3 ; McKnight, 2 ; Wade, 1 2 Ngaruawahia did not start. West End had no trouble in defeating their opponents. War. Canoe Race. Prizes : £3O, £l2, and £B. "Publicana," Ngatiwhawhakia tribe 1 "Kaiwha," Waikato tribes 2 " Hekene," Ngatihourua tribe .„ 3 The " Publicana" crew again won without an effort. Senior Gigs. Prize. £lO. St. George's Rowing Club : J. Thomson, stroke ; A. Busby, 3 ; A. MaHardy, 2; J. W. Winks, 1 ; L. Whitley, cox 1 West End Rowing Ciub : A. Bailey, stroke ; C. O. Hughes, 3 ; J. Hewson, 2 ; W. Conway, 1 ; E. Carter, cox ( ... 2 These were the only starters in this event, which produced a great strugele. St. George's crew obtained about half a length advantage after the start, and won by this distance with a bit in hand. Canoe Hurdles for Wahines. Prizes : £2 10*, £1 and 10s. Canoe entered by Aubrey 1 Cance entered by Caleb 2 Canoe euttred by Clarke 3 Lakge Canoe Race, for canoes manned by from ten to fifteen Maoris. Prizes, £lO and £5 " Publicana " (Ngatiwhawhakia) ... 1 "Hekene" (Ngatihourua) 2 " Karakntea " (Hiki Mahuta) ... 3 Six canoes competed, and a glorious race ended in a win for tli3 " Publicana's " crew by a length. Canoe Hurdle Race, for wahines (over and under). Frizes, £2 10s, £1 and 10s. Canoe entered by Aubrey 1 Canoe entered by Cabb 2 Aubrey's canoe fenced beautifully and never shipped a drop of water, winning easily. Dingy Races. The dingy races were both won by P. H. Hughes, of Auckland. At the conclusion of the sports the committee entertained the competitors and a number of friends in the Public Hall. A delightful repast had been provided by the ladies, and it certainly proved most acceptable to the visitors. Mr F. W. Lang, M.H.R., the President, spoke a few harpy words of welcome to the Aucklandtrs and hoped that in future the weather would prove more favourable- Mr Rtt'Sell, of the Auckland Rowing Club, proposed the toast of the ''Ngaruawahia Rowing Club." This was followed by the toast of "The Ladies," which was responded to by Mr Wells, for whom three hearty cheers were given, to the accompaniment of " For He's A Jolly Good Fellow." All the trains were got away safely soon after six o'clock, and we ire pleased to be able to report that there was not a single accident during the day.