THE BOATING SEASON.

Press, Volume XV, Issue 1998, 10 September 1869, Page 3

THE BOATING SEASON.

[Communicated.] The season of 1869-70 opens on Saturday, and the occasion is to be inaugurated by the usual procession of boats, to be followed by a series of bumping races. Aβ these races are something new in Canterbury, a short description of them may not be uninteresting, although it is not likely that the old rales will be adhered to in every particular. All the boats intending to take part in the races are pulled up to their allotted positions on the river, about twenty yards apart. These starting points are signified by white posts stuck upon the bank. A. rope is generally fixed to the post, and it is held by the coxswain until starting to prevent his drifting from his plaice. When the boats are awaiting.the signal the sight is particularly imteresting, the whole stream for a long distance dotted here and there with boats at fxed distances apart j the colours of the different uniforms, and the eager expression of the oarsmen as they are stooping forward ready to "datch it at the beginning," all go to .heighten the general effect. Of course the great point, as the name of the race indicates, is to try and run into the boat that is immediately before you. Should you succeed, you change places in the next race, and thus to use the technical term, " you have gained a place upon the river." These races on Saturday will be a scratch pair-oar, and we hear that there will be about a dozen entries. In the procession it is anticipated that there will be a muster of about thirty boats. The proceedings will begin at two o'clock, as it has been found by experience that three o'clock ie too late in the afternoon. We are told that there will be four, bumping races, and as these always occasion great amusement, we have no doubt that the number of spectators will testify by their presence the interest that is taken in this truly popular and time-honored sport. It has been suggested, and with a certain amount of feasibility, that a Canterbury crew should be formed of the picked men from each club, to meet periodically for practice, in order to be enabled to give or accept a provincial ohaUenge. We also trust that the time is not far distant when our clubs will be able to start something beyond a four-oar, as the larger crews always cause the more excitement. We must congratulate the members of our several clubs on being so admirably officered, and remind them that implicit obedience is a sine qua nan to success in boating. The subject of training is a Vexed question even yet amongst the authorities at hoaae, but one thing ie to be guarded against especially, and that ie immoderate drinking. We are not alluding alone to wine, beer and spirits, but to the quantity of liquid of any kind consumed, which not only weakens the stomach, but materially affects the respiratory organs. The advantages to be gained by this healthy exercise are manifold, and the rise or nil of the boating interest will, without a doubt, materially affect the future of our province: this, together with cricket and hunting, having gone far to form the national character of Englishmen.