MERCER REGATTA.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2910, 10 March 1891, Page 2

MERCER REGATTA.

It was generally expected that a large number of people ".vould avail themselves of the excursion trip on Saturday to witness the snorts at Mercer, bat few were prepared to meet hitch a crowd of holiday seekers as was there gathered togelhor trom Auckland and Waikato. The trains from Te Kuiti and Cambridge had more than their complement of passengers before Franktoii was reached where between IUO and 200 intending passengers hail to be accommodated. All available passenger carriages were in use and there was nothing for it but to press the " I'tilman " cars into the service. Those cars by the way are referred to as Pulman's cars but in reality aro really coal trucks with a canvas awning. <Juite a number of passensers who had paid first class fares had to content themselves with ti:i. third rate accommodation both going arid coining and complaints were verj naturally indulged in against the want ot management. People argued, anil with justice, that the railway authorities had no ri"ht to issue tickets beyond the accommodation provided. As it was, every carriage platform was crowded to excess, and it is a matter for congratulation that no accident occcurred. At every station below 1< rankton large additions were made to the already over crowded train, and by the time it reached Mercer fully InOO people must have been on board There was a big crowd already assembled at Mercer when the Waikato train drew up at tho station, a large proportion being Maoris, and when the Auckland trams had added t.heir complement between 4000 and 500 people were on the ground, ihis vast crowd of holiday seekers dispersed in various directions, many picnic parties betaking themselves to the pleasant island opposite, to which a fleet of boats and canoes plied regularly during the day. Lord Onslow and party arrive, by " special " shortly after midday, and were at once escorted to a reserved pavilion on the wharf by Mr Porter and his fellow officials, to whom great credit is due excellent programme of sports provided. A start was at once made on the programme. Tho following aro the results Maori Canob Hukdi.k kACB.-I'irst prize £3 ; second, £1. Seven crews entered for this race. The various mishaps caused immense amusement to the spectators, the Mapere was the first to negotiate the last hurdle, winning easily ; Tuakau, L ; AVoolbroker, 3. Et'itoi'KAN Canof. Hur.m.K Kack. L'lrst. prize £3; second, £1. As with the previous race the difficulties of the crews provided lots of fun to the on-lookers, and volleys of good humoured chat,ing was indulged in. Vincent. Bros., I; MacUibe,

'Skniol! Glti It.U'l-:.—GnM rnedMs val-md j,t ,Ul2. X- rlli Shore won by fully four lengnli" from Waitemata, l.'onsonby being several lengths beh I tit 1. WtiAKAiiw.M Canoi: liAcr..—.-.s only f..iu-entries had been ni;ule. for «}•'• "ao! tle prize UJDII'W was reduced frtcii tloo to t-H). ft was rumoured that thiee < »tll er canoes tml'>;!"i»2 to the ICingits natives sit the list 11*1 li'ifMi t declined to en till', it »'■« said under orders fr»:n Tawhiio, who, from some cause or other, Inifl taken offence. Ino fact that, this worthy potentates did not grace tlio meeting with his presence gives some colour to the report. A Maoti canoe, i ace H always an imposing sight—the beantitul time the, paddlers keep, the whole body of men moving like a piece of macluneiy lworth going a Ions; way to witness, before the race was half over it was evident that two of the canons had obtained a considerable lead of the others, the first prize falling to thn lot of the same canoe which won last year. The most cxciting portion of the raco was between the last two canoes, the fine new cmoo cut from a tree in the l'aparata Valley, however, eventually Rained, a vara or two advantage just on the pest. .There was some tii 1U of.ii foul, but there was no protest lodged. Pnpurikaua, 1; Momom, 2 : Gig Race.—Gold medals valued at £!)■ Four crews entered and the race was well contested till near the winning post when the Oitv Rowing Club spurted and won with something in hand, ionsonby Rowing Club with Waitemata next, nnd North Shore last. Wakatiwa; Canok K.\un(for fcnrnponns). —First prize, £lo» second, £5. Iheie were four entries tor this race, but owing to some misunderstanding, only three cr™» arrived at the starting point in tune. lie race was but a pool exhibition after the Maori "raco, every individual almost pulling a different stroke. Ptipnrikaua (manned by Huntly men), 1; Tuakau, 2 ; I^omoni,

Junior Gig Race.—Gold medals valned at £9. This race was well contested, Tonsonby coming in first, Waitemata second, and North Shore third. Wahine Canok Hurdle Race.—lour canoes started in this race, which had been looked forward to as likely to afford considerable fun. The spectators were not disappointed, as all the canoes had great difficulty in getting over tho hurdles. Rokokino, 1 : Kingiringi, 2. Professor Pannoll next, gave one or its natatory exhibitions, assisted by one of his pupils, Mr Dalton, Sonic of their feats rather astonished the natives. Fight competitors part m the quarter of a milo swim, which was won by Crozier (nOsec.), Dalton (Msec.) being second. The programme was much too long to get through in the time. The Waikato train and one of the trains for Auckland had left whiUt there were yet a number of the events on the programme undecided.