LYTTELTON REGATTA.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9303, 2 January 1896, Page 5

LYTTELTON REGATTA.

Patrons—His Excellency Lord Glasgow and Hon. R. J. Sedi.on. Joyce, Esq., M.H.R., Chairman Lyttelton Harbour Board. Vice-Coin-ii-odorus—F. Wayiuouth, Esq., and Captain T. Jl'-'tlaU-h-e. Hon. Treasurer—Mr T. L. Smith. Hon. Secretary—Mr ... A. Lawin. Hon. Assistant i>-cre_iry—MrD. Jack. Judges—His Lordship the Bishop of Christ-burch, his Worship the Mayor of Christehurcb, his Worship the Mayor of Lyttelton, Captains J. W. Clark and Cornwall; .Messr.ll.R. Webh, H. Thomson,M. Nalder, J. T. Brice, Commodore and Vice-Commodore. Timekeepers— Messrs M. San__tein, 11. Kohn and F. J. Smith. Starters—Messrs F. Fuller aud H. V. Styche. Battery and Flas-.—Messrs I). Dimond and F. C. Field. Flagship Committee—Commodore, Vice-Commodores, Captains G. Coltar aud S. 11. Willis, 31e..-. G. Laurenson, A. Rhiud, J. Ashley, W. F. Mit-ord, J. T. Bricc, N. a Schumacher, and his Worship the Mayor of Lyttelton, Mr J. Stinson. Course Committee— Sailing, Messrs J. H. Collin, and O. Dimond ; roMiujr, Messrs J. So.vdeu, J. E. Galbraith, W. Karkiss, H. M. Griffiths, C. Ferrier and T. L. Smitlu Fireworks Committee—Messrs A. Rhind, J. Sowden. and J. Tooniev (Superintendent Lyttelton Fire Brigade). Sailing CommitteeCaptain Clark, Rev. E. E. Chambers, MessreC. Ferrier, R. Wesi-iira, F. Wavmouth and G. A. Lewin. Flagship—S.s, Duke "of Sutherland, 3217 tons, Captain G. Coltar. The Lyttelton regatta took place yesterday under auspices of the most favourable character. The weather was simply perfeot. The heat in the morning waa somewhat oppressive, but shortly before noon a beautiful breeze came in from the north-east and made the day most enjoyable. The railway returns showed the attendance to be within a fraction of last year when between 24,000 and 25,000 visited Port by road or rail. It reflects undoubted credit on the carefulness of the Railway Department that not a single accident occurred. Every vessel in Port had a plentiful display of bunting and the harbour looked extremely gay, while numbers of pleasure boats flitting hither and thither about the harbour made the scene most animated. The Uuiou Company's steamer Corinna ran trips outside the Heads, and took a very large number of passengers. The steamers John Anderson, Wakatu, Jane Douglas, Akaroa, and the launches Canterbury and Waiwera were crowded with pleasure seekers. The torpedo boat manoeuvred in the harbour, aud the Commodore of the regatta, Mr J. Joyce, M.H.R. for Lyttelton, gave quite a number of people the pleasure of a spin ia the smart little craft. The Hon. R. J. Seddon and party and the Hon. W. P. Reeves paid a visit to the Committee stand and flagship. The New Zealaud Shipping Company's fine steamer Duke of Sutherland, 3217 tons, was flagship, and Captain Coltar had her looking like a, new pin, while the great amount of awning spread over her decks was much appreciated by those who visited her. She was smothered in bunting from stem to stern and looked extremely gay. The Committee were fortunate in securing such a magnificent vessel for the purpose, and Captain Coltar omitted nothing that could conduce to the pleasure and comfort of his visitors. The Lyttelton Garrison Band, under Bandmaster McKillop, played selections on board. The officials rivalled each other in their courtesy to visitors. A special word of praise is due to tlie Secretary, Mr A. Leivin, who was a host in himself, and kept everything moving smoothly throughout the day.

Iv the rowing events the Wairewa Club were the most successful, securing the Commodore's prize of £5 5s for the Club scoring the highest number of points, with 2l) points. Lyttelton came next with 13 points, and Akaroa third wibh 8 points. The following are the results of the racing :— Maid ex Pair oar Race; first prize £8, second £3. Wairewa Boating Club—G. Coop bow, F. McManus stroke, Read cox ... 1 Canterbury Rowing Club—T. L. Cowlishaw bow, L. W. Appleby stroke, Winstoue cox ... * ... ... 2 Lyttelton Rowing Ciub—C. Curtis bow, W. Arnold stroke, Wilson cox ... 3 Akaroa—S. Wolfreys, T. Penliugton ; Avon—W. Bastion, W. Beattie; V.M.C.A. F. Saxton, G. Saxton, also started. AU six boats were sent away to a splendid start. At the dock flags Canterbury turned slightly to the good, wibh Wairewa second and Lyttelton third. On the return journey Wairewa went to the front and finished a length and a half to the good, Lyttelton a good third, Akaroa fourth and Avon fifth. Time, 6m in 6seo.

Senior Pair-oar Race ; First prize £15, second £5. Canterbury Rowing Club—J. Y. Daly bow, F. I. Cowlishaw stroke, Winstone cox ... ... ... 1 Wairewa Boating Club—W. Reed bow, C. Chapman stroke, Reed cox ... 2 Union Rowing Club—W. F. Samuels

bow, R. F. Crosbie stroke, E. W. Davidson cox ... ... ... 3 Lyttelton (D. Page and J. Page) also started.

Canterbury led up to the Gladstone pior stakes and turned a length to the good. Tbey continued to improve their position to the Dock stakes, where Wairewa turned second and Lyttelton and Union together. On the pull back Canterbury practically paddlod home, and won by four lengths from Wairewa, Union a good third, and Lyttelton threo parts of a length behind them. Time, 9inin ssec. Junior Pair oar Race, (New Zealand Rowing Association Definition); first prize £8, second £3. Wairewa Boating Club—W. Chapman bow, H. McGloin stroke. Reed cox ... 1 Uniou Rowing Club—E. C." Ebert bow, A. NichoUs stroke, E. W. Davidson* cox ... ... ... ... 2 Akaroa Boating Club—A. Noonan bow, J. Woodill sbroke, McGregor cpx ... 3 Lyttelton (H. _Y.eit_.le, E. Sinclair), and Cauterbury (F. E. Wright, E. F. Nicholl), also started. Akaroa, Wairewa, and Canterbury turned at the dock flags in the order named, with Lyttelton and Union in close attendance. The pull home was a magnificent contest Wairewa, Union, Akaroa and Canterbury fighting every foot of the course. The Wairewa men came to the front at tbe last instant, and gob the nose of their boab home by a couple of feet, Akaroa a good third, and Canterbury olose up, Time, 6min 6scc. Yaoiit Race, for yachts over 1 rating and nnder 5 rating; first prize £17, second £3. Kiao.a (J. H. Collins), 2.1 rating, lltnin 45sec ... ... .. ... 1 Onawe (C. Brown), 4.8 rating, sor ... 2 Miss Puran . VV. Dean), 1.3, 19min 36aec 3 Ventnro (W. Newton), 1.9 rating, 13min 18«o ... ... ... ... 4 Venture carried away her bobstay a few minutes before the starting, and lost a good deal of timo at the po.b. , TKiaora gob away beautifully, bob the others were some distance away from the line, which was crossed as follows :— H. M. s. Kiaora ... .„ 12 1 0 Onawe 12 1 58 Miss Puran ... 12 2 0 Venture ... 12 3 0 Onawe soon took command and made a gallant attempt to shake off Kaiaora. The latter, however, stuck to the bigger vessel and saved her time at tbe finish by 2min 3lßec, thus securing first money. Pair Oar Rack for youths under 21 years of age ; first prizs £8, second £3. Wairewa Boating Club—G. Sefton boar, P. Joblin stroke, Reed cox ... ... 1 Lyttelton Rowing Club—L. Smith bow, S. Sinclair stroke, Wilson cox ... 2 Akaroa Boating Club—S. Bamford bow,

J. Hemingway stroke, McGregor cox 3 Union (L. Longuet, L. Hardie), Canterbury (W. G. Wray, A. S. Hardy-Johnstone), Cure (W. Keetly, A. Clarke), V.M.C.A. (G. Robinson, P. Hardcastle), also competed. Care and V.M.C.A. fouled soon after the Start and both were practically out of it. Wairewa turned first and Lyttelton second. Another magnificent contest ensued on the return trip. The Lyttelton men made a grand attempt to get on even terms with Wairewa, while Akaroa on tbe other Bide was pulling a splendid race, . Wairewa, however, succeeded in getting home by half a length from Lyttelton with Akaroa half a length behind. Canterbury a good fourth. Time, 6min 22sec. Champion Yacht Race; for yachts five rating and over; first prize £100, second £25. Zephyr (R. J. Scott), 5.1 rating, 9_nin 18.cc ... ... 1 Waitangi (Georgeson and Co., Welling* ton), 11 rating, scr... ... .... 2 Pastime (M. Miller), 7.5 rating, 4__in 27* ec ... ... ... ... 3 Mascotte (J. Sinclair), 11 rating, scr, also started,

Very great interest waa centred in this race, and as the hour of starting, 1 p.m., drew near all eyes were turned towards the starting point, where the four yachts engaged were mana_vreing just inside the line. A magnificent start was effected, Zephyr being beautifully timed and crossing the line 12.cc after the gun fired, Pastime 13.cc behind her, MascoUe lOsec liter, and Waitaogi last, lmin 9seo after gun fire. Soon after ronnding the Raupaki buoy Waitangi commenced to go to the front, and oa the beat across Church Bay passed Mascotte and Pastime, and then put about, while Zephyr held well over to the other shore. Waitangi rounded the Camp Bay buoy first, and headed away tor the Raupaki buoy, but on passing the Committee's stand the first time, it was seen thab Zephyr was well within her time, and that unless the champion could manage to shake off ber plucky little rival iv the second round, the colours of the champion would certainly bo lowered. Both craft were kept going for (all they were worth, aud the interest increased greatly when it was found that the Wellington boat was nob to have the walk over generally predicted for her. Pastime in the meantime was sailing a splendid race, but, though she was holding the second position, ib was realised that on time allowance she would be beaten. Waitangi retained her position in the lead, and eventually crossed the line ab 3h 53min ssec, and received a hearty cheer for her performance. Pastime finished 4h lmin later, and Zephyr was still a long way from home. The wind, however, was fresh from the north-east, and with Zephyr's well-kno.vn ability to run, there were many who thought she would yet be able to save her time. Every inch of canvas she could carry was spread upon her, and she came tearing up the harbour t_t » terrific pace. As she passed up by the Moles it was realised that she still had time to win the race, and her orew were urged from thousands of throats to do their level utmost. With her owner at the tiller, she eventually shot over the line at 4h lmin Usee, or lmin 12seo to the good, and her plucky owner, who had simply entered, the race for pure sport and without a hope of winning, received quite an ovation from those on shore and from the oiher crews.

Mascobte's owners had taken two tons of .alia., oat of her, and reduced her sail ama to lighten the handicap, and tho erstwhile champion did not by any means do herself justice. The times of the yachts were as follows:— Start. H. M. S. Zephyr .__, ... 1 0 12 Pastime ... ... 1 0 25 Mascotte... ... 1 0 35 Waitangi ... 1 9 0 Finish. Waitangi ... 3 53 5 Pastime ... .„ 4 1 0 Zephyr 4 1 11 Mascotte... ... 4 2 40 Yacht Race, for yachts not exceeding one rating; first prize £12, second prists £o. Waterwitch 11. (R. Rennet), .90, scr Aone (A. L. Smith), .90, scr Pakeha (G. H. HobWs), .90. scr Petrel (Burkley and Denham), .84, slseo Battina (W. Sinclair), .59, smin 25seo A magnificent start was effected, the boats getting away in a perfect cluster. Waterwitch rounded Raupaki buoy firsb, followed by Bebtina. On Pakeha attemptiug to round, however, she caught a sudden puff while jibing and instantly turned turtle. Aone, Petrel and Bettina, and the launches . Waiwera and Canterbury, which happened to be close by, at once went to her assistance. The Committee decided to order the race to be sailed over again, and sent the torpedo boat to recall the Bettina. The Sailing Committee held a meeting afterwards, and decided, under the power conferred upon them by their sailing regulations, to sail the race again on Saturday at 2.30 p.m. SiAPd' Boats Rowing Race (four oar); first prize £6, secoqd, £2. Nino boats entered for this event. Some difficulty was experienced in the Btiff breeze in gobbing bhem away on equal terms. A splendid race took place. The Takapuna's crew, which were much fancied from the start, got home a length to the good from the,Tekoa'a men, who in turn heat the Mount Sirion's men by a length or two. Time, 12min lOsec.

The Grand Submarine Explosion proved more successful than on . any - previous occasion, the volume of water thrown up being immense. Captain Falconer was heartily congratulated on all sides on the decided success of the explosion, which was fired by Mrs J. Joyce. To the onlookers ab any rate the most amusing part of the blowup was the drenching received by.the.Jargo orowd of people on the western breakwater.

Senior Double Sculling Race, first prize 7 £15, seoond£s.

Lyttelton Rowing Club—D. Page bow, J. Page stroke, Wilson cox... ' .„ 1 Wairewa Boating Club—W. Reed bow, 0. Chapman stroke, Reed cox ... 2 Union Rowing Club—o. E. Ebert bow, A. NichoUs stroke ... .„ ... 3 Union, W. F. Samuels, R. E. Crosbie, also started.

Lyttelton led to the eastern flags and turned firsb. with Wairewa and Union (Crosbie and. Samuels) close wibh them. Lyttelton were challenged by Wairewa, but pulling a pluoky race, kept their lead and eventually won by four lengths, with Ebert and NichoUs a good third. Crosbie and Samuels, the Union men, retired when twothirds of the course had been rowed. Time, lOtnin.

Double Sculling Race ; for youths under twenty-one years of age ; first prize £8, second £3. Lyttelton Rowing Club—L, Smith bow, S. Sinclair stroke, Wilson cox .., 1 Akaroa Boating Club—S. Bamford' bow, J. Hemiugway stroke, McGregor cox 2 Y.M.CA, Rowing Club—G. Robinßon

bow, P. Hardcastle stroks, Badger oox 3 Cure (W. Keetley and A. Clarke), Union (L. Longuet and L. Hardie), Wairewa (G. Sefton and P. Joblin), Canterbury (W. G. Wray and A. 8. Hardy-Johnstone) also started. _,

All seven boats on the card went to the post, and were sent away to a beautiful start. Most of them turned together and Lyttelton then assumed command. Akaroa pub in a strong challenge, bnt Lyttelton, rowing well, won by about four lengths, Robinson and Hardcastle a good third. Time, 6tnin 30sec.

Maiden Double Sculling Race; first prize £8, second £3. Wairewa Boating Club—G. Coop bow, F. MoManus stroke, Reed cox... ... 1 Lyttelton Rowing Clob—o. Curtis bow, W. Arnold stroke, Wilson cox ... 2 Akaroa Boating Club—S. Wolfreys bow, T. Penlington stroke, McGregor oox 3 Canterbury (T. L. Cowlishaw, L. W, Appleby stroke, Winstone cox) and Y.M.O.A. (Saxon Bros.) also started.

This proved another close contest. Arnold and Curtis for Lyttelton put in a strong claim for a lead soon after tbe start, and turned the lower buoys in company with Wairewa and Akaroa. One the way home Wairewa gradually worked to the front, with Lyttelton in close attendance, and finally got home with about three feet to the good, Akaroa an excellent third. Time, 6min2lsec.

Single Sculling Race; First prizs £5, second £2,

Wairewa Boating Club-C. Chapman ... 1 Union Rowing Club— R. F. Crosbie ... 2 Union—W. F. Samuels ... ... 3 Canterbury, J. Y. Daly; Lyttelton, J. Page; Cure, R. Harper; Wairewa, McGloin; Lyttelton, W. Harkiss, %lso competed. ... This was a very interesting item. Harkiss (Lyttelton) carried a coxswain. Page (Lyttelton) was one of the first round the lower buoy, but was fouled by Canterbury and retired. Time, 6min 58.cc

Single Sculling Race, for youths nnder twenty-one years of age : Prize £3. Akaroa Boating Club—J. Hemingway... 1 Lvttelton Rowing Club—S. Sinclair .... 2 Wairewa Boating Club—P. Joblin ... 3

Y.M.CA. (P. Hardcastle), Canterbury (A. S. Hardy-Johnstone). Lyttelton (L. Smith), and Canterbury (W. G. Wray) also competed. Time, 6min s.ec