AUCKLAND'S ANNUAL REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 24, 30 January 1888, Page 5

AUCKLAND'S ANNUAL REGATTA.

Flagship: New Zealand Company's Waitangi. Patron : A. Devore, Keg., Mayor of Auckland. Vice-patrons: vv .K. Waddel, Esq., Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board; J£, Mitchelbod, Rug., M.H.R, Minister oJ: Public Works. President: D. H. McKenzie, Ksq Vice-Presi-dent: G. S. Kissling, Esq. Committee :Mr T, Henderson, Captain Nearing, Captain I'ishcr, Mr C. C. Dacrc, Mr H. Parker, Mr G. Cozens, MrD. Oxley, Mr A. Buchanan, Mr. I) Aiille , Mr K. Reynolds, Mr C. Bailey, Mr C. Webb, Mr J B Morpeth, Mr J. Haultain, Mr C. F. James. Umpire: Mr 1). Qxley. Judge of sailing races :Mr H. Parker. Judge of rowing races : Captain Fisher. Measurer; Mr C. Baile/. starter: Captain Hearing. Handjcappcr: i\ir H. Parker. Treasurer: Mr George (3(«ons. Hon. Secretary : Charles C. JJacro.

The Auckland Annual Regatta is an institution essentially linked with the history of this province, and ifc is deserving of a promiritJnce above all other sports or iiniusemeute provided on our Anniversary Day. There aitf always some "croakers' to be found, and for tk(i past few years the " croakers" prophesied fetfure for our regatta ; bub these were false propfaitg, and year after year success has followed success. There have been great changes in the character of our regatta, it is true, but thssy are only such as might have been anticipated, Owing to the frequent alteration in the class of vessels belonging-to our port, events which formerly held the premier position c;n the programme have been allowed to drop «ub ; but they b»vg S?eon replaced by others of equal or greater interact, ftnd so we advance with the times. Forty-eigUfc-years ago the city of Auckland was founded on ifchp banks of the Waitemata, by Captain Houwjj, R.N., the first Governor of %w Zealand, and just thirtyei^hfc years .ago the Auckland Annual Regatta was inaugural in honour of thafc event. Looking over the program me of the first regatta, and comparing ibwm W8 pro-p-ramme of to-day, one cmmoP hejp bsjng struck with the wonderful change* that have come over our port. The amount of prjze money given at the first regatta is not re. corded, but at the following anniversary festival about £100 was distributed. The first; programme included races for decked boats under 25 tons, whaieboftte (and they were nob "racing" whaleboats by any means), saMnff boats under 4 tons four ; oared fi e s, watermen 's boats, dingies, Maori canoe", duck and drakarace. That provided a day's sporb wliich q»ift* upset the httle capital, and everybody and Ms wife pub their shutters up and went to see the fan, The flagship on thafc occasion vas one of Her Maiestrs ships, and in honour of SfocStan she tired a royal salute The Wtators assembled at Fort BntoS Smole's Point, and other elevations along the shore, which have since dbappSa, and.from all account, betore i,sthe iWte appears to have been an unqualified Faucet ?««■ by year since £ the Re^tta has increased in^impon. ance, and the programme ofec"thj ha S un and repeated suscitate it, but wicwut- , . £» cutter race apge^tP^be in^a vetseirwhS'hittrto existed having vessels wmen steam e rs , and hSe tiSeS^S-d diaappcaranc^ from our

besides trophies. The schooner race foil through and £iGQ was thus saved, arid this was increased by the largo trading outters failing' to provide the hooeeeary entries to ensure a contest. The raoo for merchant vessels' gigs also collapsed, and the total saving in this respect Wtt3 £185, leaving a liability of £347 to be met by ordinary revenue. The Regatta Committee now in office include a great many very enerfetic members, and they deserve the ighest praise for the measure of success achieved, notwithstanding very many drawbacks. Hitherto the Committee were content to confine their canvass for subscription to the city, and the large storekeepers and wholesalemerchants were almost the sole subscribers. Nowit has been found necessary to go further afield, and the suburbs were called upon to contribute their quota towards the funds. The dulness of trade made the work of the collectors a difficult and unpleasant undertaking, but it is estimated that in a financial respect the regatta of 1888 will not be behind any of its predecessors.

The morning broke with very unsettled weather, and at the time of starting the first race heavy rain fell, and tilings generally looked very unpleasant. Later on, however, the weather improved somewhat, but continued unsettled. A south - westerly wind was blowing , freshly, and there was a prospect of fair contests in the sailing- races. The iine ship Waitangi, Captain Leoinan, was flagship, and a more suitable vessel could not have been desired. She was, however, not very liberally patronised during the earlier part of the day, the majoriry of spectators congregating on the end of Queen - sbreet Wharf. The Artillery Band were on board of the flagship and discoursed appropriate music at intervals, and at. midday Mr T. McEwen provided luncheon in his usual liberal style. FIRST RACE. TRADING VESSELS, 00 tons and upwards ; any rig excepting cutters. This event fell through from lack of competition. SECOND RACE. TRADING CUTTERS, 25 tons and upwards.— No entries.