AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 271, 13 November 1909, Page 16

AQUATICS.

ROWING. In view of the fact that Auckland oarsmen will be competing in three out of the four championships at the New Zealand Association's regatta in January next, it might come as a good suggestion that a bid should also be made for the remaining event. Auckland crews will be found in the senior fours, single and double sculls, and the championship which goes a-begging among them k the •pair oar event. Surely one or other of the clubs is capable of' putting in a crew for this race. The Waitemata Club, for instance, might easily do it, provided ways and means are forthcoming for the purchase of a suitable .boat. The club is sending its four-oar crew to Blenheim ti defend the championship, and as this event is the first on the programme! there is no reason 'why two of the men —cay, Herring and Andrews—should not. be entered for the pair-oar championship. A complaint has reached mc to the effect that oarsmen generally are much dissatisfied with the action of committee 3of local regattas in not placing on their programmes races for double-scull and pair oars, thereby discouraging the convertible double sculls, which have the advantage of being suitable for both those races, and therefore economical. Both the. double sculls and pair oai races are championship events at the New Zealand Regatta; the rowing associations throughout New Zealand always make provision for them, and in Xciv South Wales no regatta is held without both races being included in the programme. In view of all this it is passing strange that the committees of the citizens' regatta do not provide the races required, especially so as three or four clubs have these boats, which means, of course, that they would enter for the two events were they put on. The Ponsonby regatta committee are the latest offenders in this respect, having overlooked both races. It is to be hoped the anniversary regatta committee will not follow suit, if it is decided to again have rowing races on the programme. The '• At Home " held by the St. George's Club at the boathouse. Judge's Bay, on Saturday last, was a very successful function, being attended by some 600 people. The weather was perfect, a light south-westerly breeze prevailing, and the natural beauty, of the bay was enhanced by the gay decorations of bunting flying from the boathouse, and the summer frocks of the fur sex. A musical programme was rendered by the Newton Concert Band, and afternoon tea- was served to the guests by Mrs. S. J. Steele and a committee of ladies consisting of Misses Harrowel!, Douglas, Mitchell, Steele, Niccol and Konderdine, a marquee having been erected on the ground adjoining the beach, kindly opened by Mrs Street for the occasion. The trial fours were held during the afternoon, for the silver cup presented by the commodore of the club, Mr. Thos, Russell, who was unfortunately unable to attend s as he has been in indifferent health, and is now recuperating at Rotorua. Keen

interest was taken in the rowing, and some of the finishes were pood. The club has selected a light weight maiden crew for the Ponsonby regatta, which ia now in training. The North Shore Club will open their season on Sa.turda3 - , November 20, when an "At Home" and trial fours will be held for trophies presented by Mr. W. J. Napier, president pf the Club. Entries close at the Club-house to-night. Patrons and friends of the West End Club spent a very enjoyable afternoon at the Club's beautifully situated boathouse, at St. Mary's Beach, Ponsonby, on Saturday last. The Bavarian Band was in attendance, and afternoontea provided by the Ladies' Committee. Tile trial fours proved very interesting for the first of the season, and despite the fact that the water was rather lumpy. The secretary of the St. George's Club reports that 32 new members have joined the Club this season, which is, indeed, an indication of prosperity. The trial fours held by the Waitemata Club on Saturday afternoon last, while of a rather informal nature, proved interesting enough. One of the heats was pulled off by a length, and in the other the winners had only threequarters of a length, and half a length to spare respectively. The final was also close, being won by a crew stroked by Herring by a matter of half a Jength. All the clubs are now in training for the Ponsonby regatta, which takes place on December 18, but owing to the shortness of the time at their disposal it is very doubtful that the best will be got out of the crews. To date there has been much chopping and changing, but it was thought that by the end of this week the personnel and number of each club's crews will be pretty well known. About one crew apiece is all that the clubs have mentioned so fur. There still seems to be doubt in the minds of some oarsmen as to the date on which the professional exhibition will take place. The (late is December 11, as originally decided on, and it will be a matter for regret should the Association,

decide to adhere to that date for their gala. So far the Association seem to have made no move in the matter, but their position is an unenviable one, as Christmas Eve seems to be about the only other date suitable. E. McDonald, who , took part in the single sculls championship at the last \ New Zealand regatta, and who last year was a member of the St. George's Club, ' has joined the West End Club, having transferred his residence to the Ponsonby ' district. McDonald is taking up rowing in real earnest this season, and it 13 stated to be quite on the cards that he i will be again a competitor in the champion single sculls. ' YACHTS AND MOTOR BOATS. A speed launch named the P.D.Q. has been fitted with a 25 h.p. Ferro engine for Messrs Whitson Bros (W. A. Ryan and Co.). The launch is somewhat on the lines of the old Togo, and specially designed for speed. The P.D.Q. is 30ft long, with a beam of 4ft 9in. At a trial spin a good rate of speed was attained. Messrs Masefield Bros. , steel yacht Thetis is again in commission, and was away for a short cruise on Saturday and Sunday last, going down as far as Kawau, where were also Rawene. Victory, Tahuta and another small yacht. There was quite a fleet of yachts, both sailers and motors, down Waiheke way on the King's Birthday, Awaro.a Bay being the favourite rendezvous. * The weather was pretty squally most of the time, and some of the smaller boats had a pretty rough time of it. Ponsonby Regatta Committee did not meet on Tuesda3' night last, owing to the holiday, but a meeting takes place on Tuesday evening next in the Ponsonby football shed. I understand that matters j are progressing very satisfactorily regarding the forthcoming regatta, to" be held on December 18. and that funds are coming in pretty freely. That the members of the Devonport Yacht Club who attend the technical classes inaugurated this season recognise the seirices of Mr C. P. Murdoch, the commodore of the club, was in evidence at the club rooms last week, when the commodore was presented with a handsome case of pipes as a slight recognition of the interest which he takes in instructing the members in yachting matters. I think that the officers of the New Zealand Power Boat Association were unwise in altering the date of the official open ; ng from November 9 to November 6, for the reason that when r he first date was fixed it gave general satisfaction to owners of boats, who, thinking that they had plenty of time to get their boats in readiness for the Oth, were not prepared to find at the last moment that their time of preparation had been curtailed three days. Consequently, on the opening daj r there were only about 13 l.oats out of a total of 85 on the Association's register taking part in the proceedings. The opening of the yachting season took place on November 9, but was of a very informal character. There was nothing approaching a general muster of the yachts and sailing boats, as was expected. Some years ago the opening of the yachting season on the Waitemata was a ceremony to be looked forward to by the large crowd of yachts which assembled and went through a series of interesting, .manoeuvres by the officers of the old Auckland Yacht Club. I think the late Mr John Waymouth was the first commodore of the old club to inaugurate the ceremony. This good example was followed up in nfter years hy the various commodores, but latterly, for some reason or the other, it has fallen through. If the various yacht and sailing clubs in Auckland harbour want the general public to take an interest in aquatic wnatters. they will have to bestiV themselves in the way of making displnys. and show that they are prepared to give the citizens some return for the money which they donate towards the sport.