TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroha, Monday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2229, 21 October 1886, Page 3

TE AROHA. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Te Aroh a, Monday.

Sinck the rowing season set in there has been a, bteidily mci easing intexcsl manifested in aquatic sport-*. On Saturday afternoon ;i goodly concour.se of people assembled on tho banks of the river to witness a series of boat races which had been arranged during the week among our local Beache> and (Jaud.un\s, and as the weather was beautiful and the rowing pood those present thoroughly enj'>>ed tho amusement. The fii.st match was a short pull down sticam from the upper landing to the punt between Mr D. J. Frazer, in a skiff, and Mew's Cocks and Randolph in a paii oared gig. The struggle, though biief, was pretty keen, and resulted in a win for the single lower. In the second race, which was up stream from Dibeell's landing to the same goal, a distance of o\er a mile, tho competitor weie J. Johnson and M. Maingay, and the stakes £1 aside. In weight and age the pullers were well matched, but Johnson had a slight ad wintage in being better acquainted than his opponent with the liver. Though closely followed by Main 2.1 y, he kept the lead almost from the start and won by about four length. Another sculling match followed between T. Tierney and J. Potts, over the same course, for £2 aside. This was a splendid race, the boats keeping well together all through, Tieruey slightly ahead. When nearing the budge Potts put on a grand spurt, and came up almost even with his rival. At this stage the race created the keenest interest, and the excitement among the spectatois found vent in wild cries and shouts of encouragement to each of the rowers. The finish was a despeiate one, bat Potts got a little too near one of the dolphins about a score of yards below the punt, and lost a grandly contested race by barely a quaiter of a length. The concluding event was a four-oaied gig race, the boats being manned respectively by Messrs Menzies, Gordon, Quiulan, and Lawrence, with Frazer as coxswain, and Messis Btighani, Bmgess, Pavitt, junior, and Whitehouse, with Everitt as coxswain. Iv this match *,he course was from the pah to the; punt, a distance of about two miles and ahalf up stream. This also was a good race, and resulted in a victory for the first named crew, who came in about three lengths ahead of their opponents. Next Satin day there is likely to be another struggle between these ciews, and a second match between Tierney and Potts for £10 aside ii 1 * talked about, and will probably come off on the same day. An application was made to the Licensing Committee last week for a transfer of the license for the Family Hotel in Rolles-ton-street from W. H. Ritcheson (deceased) to Mrs Annie Thompson. Some doubt was at first entertained by the committee respecting the legality ot allowing a married woman living apart from her husband to hold a license, but at a meeting held on Saturday competent legal opinion was produced to show that the proceeding would not be illegal, and the transfer was granted accordingly. A morning delivery of letters has just been established, the telegraph messenger acting for the present as letter-carrier. The delivery is rather too late to be of much service to business people, who will of course prefer to call for theic letters on the arrival of the mails the previous afternoon, but it will nevertheless prove a very great convenience to a large number of persons who cannot do so. To Mr Vause, our local postmaster, is due the credit of having got the .system introduced. A stiff breeze from the south-east blew all yesterday, and culminated last night in a violent gale, but no damage has yet been reported. Wednesday. The gale that commenced to blow here on Sunday increased in violence the following day, and was the fiercest that has been experienced for a considerable time past. Fortunately it passed over without doing much injury to buildings, but a good deal of damage has been done to fences and its effects are also visible in the blighted appearance of a number ot gardens. Heavy rain fell all yesterday and flooded much of the low lying land on the banks of the ri\ er. An effort is to be made to get up a regatta which it is proposed to hold on November J)lh, the Prince of Wales' birthday. The loru? straight reach in the river near Dibsell's old landing affords g< oJ scope for the purpose and will likely be selected as being the most suitable place. The subscriptions promised will admit of some f;iir jiiijeb being offered, and as recent matches h»\e ahown that wq have amongst us a number

of excellent o.uvmen, there will no doubt bo good entries for the different events. Colnpetitnrs from Waiorongomai too are also likely to enter the lit>ts, as among the miners there are several names not Unknown to aquatic fame. Should the veather pro\e favourable, there is eveiy probability that the sports will be a great success. Active preparations are being made for the bazaar in aid of the building fund of the Church of England. The holiday on the 9th prow has been selected as tho day for the opening.