YACHT CLUB PICNIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 43, 22 February 1897, Page 4

YACHT CLUB PICNIC.

The Auckland Yacht Club's annual picnic on Saturday afternoon was as usual largely attendsd. The weather was fino enough in the early part of the afternoon, and nearly seven hundred excursionists left by tho firat steamer, the p.s. Eagle, for Motuihi. tho spot chosen for the picnic. Tho Tainui followed with about another fifty. Landing waaisuccessfully effected in small boats, and by half-past four everyone was ashore. Tho yachts, which had a strong beat down, put in an appearance one by ono, urt.il fully forty of them lay anchored off tfco beach. Thanks to Mr C. P. Murdoch's energetic efforts, a plentiful supply of hot tea was soon distributed among the picnickers, and after tea the aquatic sports were proceeded with, the following events being decided :—Ladies'pair oar dingiest: Misses Evers and Evitt, 1 ; Misses Smith and Brett, 2. Sculling dingey race: P. H. Hughes, 1~- Bailey, 2. Blindfold dingey race : V. Masefield, 1 ; P. Graham, 2. Ladies' dingey race : Miss Ada Smith, 1 ; Miss Alison, 2. The bulk of the work fell upon Meears G. Gilmer (receiver of entries and /handicapper), R. Logan (judge) and T. Henderson (starter), who discharged their duties in a most creditable manner. Darkness cut bhe programme short, hewever, bo an adjournment was made to the quarantine building, where a concert was held, tho arrangements being admirably carried oub by Mr L. Lewis and others. Items wore rendered by Miss Best, Madame Anderson, Messrs Burcti, Fountain, Fernandez, Wynyard-Jose, Niccol, Rowe, Lees, Trenwitb, Hill. Queree, Hall, George and M. Lewis and Hunter's Band. A start was then made for home to the accompaniment of a heavy downpour of rain, which lasted all the way home, and though ib was a very bedraggled looking picnic that was deposited upon the wharf ab half-past ten, everyone enjoyed thoir outing thoroughly. Thanks are due to Mr Heighton, tho caretaker of the quarantine buildings, for the kindness ekown to the visitors throughout the day.

Tho telegram which appeared in our columns en Saturday evening announcing various reductions in the New Zealand Shipping Company's wool freights was somewhat mutilated in transmission. The reduction really is Jd on all classes of wool by both sail and steam. ,