THE MERGER REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 293, 10 December 1900, Page 3

THE MERGER REGATTA.

CANOE AND ROWING RACES.

The pretty little village of Mercer looked at its best on Saturday last, when the annual regatta was brought to a successful issue on the Waikato River. Both trains from Auckland had large numbers of passengers, while the Waikato tram was also well filled. The settlers from the surrounding districts came into the township by horse, cart, or boat, and altogether the number present must have totalled over three thousand. The spectators lined the right bank of the river, most of them congregating on the wharf, where a good view of the races could be obtained.

The Hon. J. G. Ward, Minister of Railways and his party, who were passing through Mercer on their way to tne WuiKuto, stopped for a couple of hours in order to see a few of the events. At luncheon, the Minister was thanked by Mr 1«\ Lang, M.H.K., on behalf of the Regatta Cummittee, for his attendance. In a brief response, Mr Ward thanked the committee lor the cordial reception given him, and for the courtesies shown. Such a regatta was untiue to a southerner, and he hoped it would grow in attractiveness.

On arrival of the 9.15 a.m.* train from town, the regatta was commenced by a procession of tne competing boats. Tne outriggers led the way, ana these were ioilowea by the big canoes, with the smaller ones in their wake. As the craft passed the wharf, the rhythmical beat of the paddles was, at regular intervals, interrupted by the natives simultaneously nourishing them in the air, while the biades were struck with resounding thwacks. Returning down stream, the paddlers gave a ngeri as they passed the wharf, chanting a war song, to which they kept time by flourishes and strokes of the paddles, making the scene very effective.

The Northern Rowing Union combined with the Mercer Regatta Committee, the outrigger races of the Union being interspersed among the Maori races. A strong committee was formed to carry out the details, Messrs C. T. Edwards and J. Thomson being the joint secretaries. Mr M. Gallery started, and Mr D. C. Sheffield judged the canoe races, while the rowing races were started by Mr D. Miller and judged by Mr Robert Logan, junior.

The war canoe race was spoiled by the disparity in the size of the canoes. Paparata, the largest, could have taken both her rivals aboard. She carried a crew of 35 men, while Tuakau had eight and Waiariki nine. On the run against the stream to the first turn, Tuakau held well with the bigger boat, and turning* more smartly, got away a clear length ahead, Waiarika being then far in the rear. Down stream Pa parata drew level with the Tuakau, and they started on the run home together. Faparata's fugelman then commenced business, and the crewsetting to work with more earnestness, drew away and won by a length or two from Tuakau, Waiariki pluckny finishing some minutes later.

The chief interest to town visitors was the canoe hurdle racing, and much amusement was proviked by the numerous upsets, stoppages, 'and swampings that occurred, and the efforts of the crews to rectify matters. Following are the results:—

Canoe Hurdle Race (Maori Men).—Tuakau, 1; Hikurere, i; Maori, 3. Some half dozen canoes,-each containing two men, faced the starter. Four of ttiese struck the first hurdle simultaneously, and all were poised on top of it when the bar gave way, letting them through. A rush was made for the next huraie, but the race is not always to the swift, and the first canoe to reach it, the Hikurere struck on an angle, and out went the occupants but on the right side of the obstruction, and the crew instantly seit to work to empty their "dug out, getting aboard her again with remarkable smartness, and then away to complete the race Meantime the other canoes bore down ou the hurdle, some to get over safely, others to capsize, or to swamp as they slid from the bar to the water, luakau negotiated the obstacles safely, and Hikurere also cleared the remaining flight without mishap, running into second place. The race home from the hurdle ended in a win for Tuakau by a couple of lengths. Wahines' Hurdle Race.—Hikurere, 1; Tuakau, 2. Only these two canoes started, and the race proved very amusing. Hikurere had the lead at the first hurdle, and Bhe cleared it in fine style. Tuakau was not so fortunate. She stuck on the top, and the efforts of one of the crew, a dusky beauty of about 35 summers, and 15 stone, to heave the canoe over the bar -were irresistibly funny. Finally their efforts were successful, and away they dashed in pursuit of the leaders. However; just as the hurdle was within measurable distance the old lady, who looked too dis- | tressed to risk a ducking, deftly turned j the bow aside, and had a spell before attacking the jump. The other canoe had ; capsized at the same obstacle, but she was dragged to the bank, and was soon righted The second canoe then cleared the jump, and the third was also passed with some difficulty, but Hikurere was well it. the lead, and she paddled home an easy winner. Itinior Gigs (heavy weight).—North Shore Rowing Club (L. Bakewell G. Wynyard, F. Burgess, F. Best), 1. West End ' St. George's and Waitemata were disqualified by the starter for refusing to take up their indicated places. The first crew to arrive at starting post was ten minutes late, while the last did not arrive until 20 minutes behind time. When all the boats had reached the post none but North Shore would come back to thoir starting buoys (the complaint being that; those were not in line), and accordingly the remainder of the crews wero disqualified The boats, however, all started together West End getting away a length Tn front. A good race nil the .way resulted in West End finishing half a length ; in front of North Shore. St. George's boing a few feet away third, and Waitemata fourth. •200 Yards Swimming Handicap—Tl. E. Hell 14s, I*. P. D. Rylance, 20s. 2; R. G. Ralnger. 10s, 3. Hall won comfortably by three or four yards, Rainger being a yard behind Rylance, while the rest of the competitors were bunched. Greasy Boom.— George Jack. 1; Wi Maki, 2. Two others started. The event differed from the ordinary greasy boom in th*=t the competitors had to sit on a barrel, through which tbe boom ran. and "ii"" themselves towards the end. 'Ladies' Pair Oar.—Waitemata (Misses M Garnaut and E. Smith). 1: Ngaruawahia (Misses M. and N. Paterson, 2. Tho Waitemata crew drew away from the start, and won by several lengths. Canoe Hurdle Race fAll-comers).— Hikurere. 1: Maori, 2; Waikato, 3. In this event the canoes went under, while the crews jumped over, the bar. One of the Waikato crew made a bad jump, and she ennsized at the second hurdle, but the others got through in fine style, and a spirited race resulted in a narrow win for HH'iirere. ' Cigar and Umbrella Race.—G. E. Tyler, 1; P. D. Rylance, 2. Only these two started. Tyler won easily by several yards.

Junior Of _s (under 10 stone).—West F.nd R C. (W. Stephenson. J. Bisrelow. J. Carritran. A. Stenhensori). 1: St. George's (S. Kissling. L. Hay, W. Jap-gen W. S. Whitley) 2: Ne-aruawahia R.C. (A. Lockle. A. Kav V C.im.nrler. O, Henderson). 3. Won by' a couple of leneths. Ngaruawahia several Ipnerths away third. Canoe Hurdle Race (AU-comersV-Wai-kato 1; Hikurere. 2; Maori. ?.. This was the best hurdle race of the day, en oh of the canoes t_Vins the hurdles without accident. Waikato finished a length 1 Tl A*_ _ _ fWor Gies.-West End R.C. (W. Roes. a Stenhen.cnn. A Stenhenson. A. LittlPnrond." 1: North Shore R.C. (T,. -Rakewell. V Biirwwwi. F. *•«♦.. 2: St. rWe-n's R.C (T Rich nrdo. H. P. A'^»«----f-ac-p V Littlelr.hn. C X RfoneV 3. W«( W-nrl rowinc* with nlenty in hand, finished ctronsrlv nearly two tenet, s abend nf Mnrth Shore, who just flef enter! St. Oeorfte's on the nost for second place.