PRESENTATION "SILVER" CUPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 79, 11 April 1885, Page 2

PRESENTATION "SILVER" CUPS.

QUITE a little sceno took place at tho meet- , iug of tho Ponsonby Regatta Committee last evening, whon prizes won at tho lato regatta were handed ovor to tho successful competitors. Captain McKenzie occupied tho chair, and in making presentations complimented tho winners on their victories. In handing over the prizes won by tho open boat Mascotto to Mr Waymouth, sonior, the Chairman congratulated him on possession of so fast a boat, and also on tho ablo manner in which she had been sailed by Mr 0. Waymouth. Mr Waymouth received tho prizes, which |included a silver cup, presented by Mr F. H. Lowisson, valued at £7 10a ; a flag, presented by Miss W. Farquhar, and £5 added. He said ho was proud of his boat. Auckland had tho best lot of 20----feot open boats in tho world, and it was something to have the fastest boat amongst them. He thanked the Committee for tho prizes, and expressed a hope that what ho waa about to say would not bo considered offensive, either to them or tho donor of tho cup. As for tho Hag, it was a handsoino piece of work executed by somo young lady of Ponsonby, and ho valued it highly ; but as for tho cup ho considered that it was his duty to make somo protest against such oleetroplated leaden things. As for himself ho would prefer a real silver cup wero it no bigger than an egg-cup. Tho one which he hold in his hand was a "sham," and ho would be ashamed to placo it on his sideboard. To indicate tho value which ho placed upon it, Mr Waymouth thon cust the cup on the floor, trampled upon it, and then picked it up again in a battered condition. There was a good attendance of prizo-winners and others, and at conclußion of Mr Waymouth's speech both cheering and hissing wore indulged in. Tho Chairman said that tho cup was a very nice one, and he was vory much surprised at Mr Waymouth's behaviour. Ho hoped tho young follows present would not tako example from him. Othor business passed over quietly. This morning a reporter received from Mr Waymouth an explanation of his course of action, which appears to carry considerable weight, Mr Waymouth sajs that for many years ho has been an ardent supporter of aquatic sports. Ho always liked to have things dono straightforwardly, and ho has an intense hatred of all kinds of shams. Ho repeatedly objected to the practice of giving " sham " silver cups for prizes, and sotting upon them three or four times their real valuo, In the past, ho had gone to tho donors of ). cups, and by paying something, secured a real silver articlo, and a few days ago he went to Mr Lewisson with a similar object in view. The lattor declined to accommodate him, and Mr Waymouth explained that he would take tho course which he pursued last ovoning. Mr Waymouth says that almost all cups given for sports aro of a similar stamp, and that others which wero given as prizes last evening wero no exceptions. In acting as ho did he meant no disrespect to oither the committee or the donor, for both had acted handsomely. What ho had dono was for the purpose of exposing a " sham," and in doing so ho had only performed a duty to tho public. Ho says that tho cups usually given as prizes soon become black, and if any attempt is mado to clean them, the silver comes ofT,and tho winnor becomes ashamed to show tho articlo aa tho result of his victory. Mr Lewisson informs us that the cup won by Mr Waymouth cost him £5, and that it was really a handsome articlo. He did not givo it as a real silver cup. It was a plated articlo, and he valued it at £7 10s.