THE CENTENARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1888, Page 5

THE CENTENARY.

BANQUET OF THE LONDON COLONY. ***>- London, January 27. MrDangar banquetted fifty colonists' chiefly belonging to Sydney, in honour of the centenary. The speeches on the occasion reviewed the progress made by the colony during its first hundred years.

Sydney, January 27. The centennial regatta, which took place to-day on the Paramatta course was a brilliant success. The day was very fine, with a fresh breeze blowing. His Excellency the Governor and party, accompanied by most of the distinguished visitors in the city, went on board the flagship. The senior fouroared outrigger race was won by the Sydney Rowing Club. The sculling race in wager boats was won by Peter Kemp (Hawkesbury), W. Hearn (New Zealand) second, O. Nelson (Sydney) third.

The yacht race was won by Milson's Era by twenty minutes. Four others started, but the Era was at scratch.

The 40-ton yacht Era, which won the Centennial Yacht Race at Sydney yesterday, was designed by Mr W. Reeks, and built by Mr G. Ellis, of Sydney, for Mr A. G. Milson, Vice - Commodore of the Royal Sydney Yacht Club, and the owner of the Auckland - built yacht Waitangi that swept the board last year. Her dimensions are: Length, from outside stem to outside taff-rail, 72ft; on water line, 58ft; beam, 12ft 6in ; depth, 9ffc 6in; displacement, 50 tons ; ballast, 30 tons; mast, deck to hounds, 37ft; main boom, 52ft; gaff, 35ffc ; and the total sailing area is 4,136 square feet. She is a new boat, having been built during last winter, and launched a couple of months back.

During the day a number of boats a psized or swamped, but fortunately none of the accidents were attended with fatal consequences. The harbour illuminations took place this evening, and were a grand spectacle. The Bay was lit-up with the electric light, shown from the squadron and other vessels ; and there was a continuous blaze of rockets, which were fired from all points in the harbour.