The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1939. DAY OF WHITE WINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 8

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1939. DAY OF WHITE WINGS.

For the cause that looks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future »»» the distance, And the good that we can do.

Judged by the standards of the Old World, New Zealand has no traditions which might bo called " old," but if there are any local traditions worthy in any sense the name, the Anniversary Regatta must be numbered amongst them. European history lirre goes back just one year short of the hundred, and the first regatta was held only ten years after the beginning of. that history, in 18">0. Exocpt for one year, the first of the Boer War, there has been a regatta on every Anniversary Day, so that the event to be held on Monday will be the eighty-eighth. The event has becomc one of the institutions of the city, practically synonymous with the day; though there are now other holiday attractions the regatta, the oldest of them all, is still the most important. It is so because it has retained its popularity. It is the most important aquatic carnival in the Dominion, but more than that, its lame has spread overseas, for it has become the largest single-day event of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

Since Aucklanders take naturally to the sea for their sport, it is understandable that the popularity of this and other regattas should have grown with the years. With the Waitemata, one of tho finest harbours iu the world, especially for yachting, right at the city's front door, the foundation and fostering of boating clubs of all sorts have presented no difficulties.' Furthermore, the very fact of a good harbour has given the city its unrivalled opportunity for growth aa a port and thus engendered a sentiment of " sea-mindedness " even in those who are not actively interested in boating. All these factors have contributed towards making Regatta Day what it is. Changes of healthy growth have taken place in its form, but let those who arc apt to think that the new is never as good as the old be consoled by the knowledge that entries this year are a record. They are greater than last year and that was also a record. Gone are the days of the hectic excitement of the Maoris and the crowd at the war canoe races. Old-timers say that among the native spectators tribal battles were nearly fought again as the rival canoes battled their way down the harbour. Gone, too, are the old trading schooner and cutter races. In the 'eighties there were more than 200 trading schooners owned by Auckland merchants on the register, and for many years one of the highlights of the day was the race of this class to Tiritiri and back. Even the scow races have been dropped in recent years.

Their place, however, has been taken by a host of pleasure sail craft, boats which are manned by all the zest, skill and pride of the older types. One has actually to see the harbour on Regatta Day to realise how numerous the pleasure fleet is. Nevertheless, age baa not quite gone from the Waitemata, since one of the features of this year's event will be the meeting for the first time of the 41-year-old Rainbow and the most modern Ranger, which was built only last Christmas. Perhaps, too, memories of other days will be stirred on the occasion of the Centenary regatta next year, for no occasion would be more suitable for the appearance of the fleet of mighty war canoes which Te Puea Herangi is having built for the pakeha hundredth anniversary.