OPENING OF THE BOATING SEASON.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12015, 17 October 1904, Page 9

OPENING OF THE BOATING SEASON.

CHRISTCHURCH. ; Tluufc the opening of the boating season has lost none of it*« popularity wae demonstrated on Saturday by - tlie largo concourse of people wiho assembled along the t banks from the Union shed to the Stunmore bridge to watch the proceedings. The I course of emit* was similar to that followed in previous seasons. A long procession of boaite, some of them decorated, pud most of them containing ladies, left the Union Rowing Clttb'a Boathouso at a quarter to three, and proceeded in singlo file down the river as far as the Stanmoro bridge, when fcl»ey returned to the Parting point. Afterward* two scratch races were held, double sculls and fours, and finally afternoon tea was nerved at the different boathousea. All the clubhousw were decorated withjlags and bunting, and the Christ/church Amateur Club's new* and commodious shed was open for the first time. The prize for. tho beet d«:orated boat in the proowssion was awarded to a Canterbury cron , , whose boat was very prettily decorated with lilies. A crew from the- Avon Rowing Club, representing the Discovery expedition, gained the prize for the most original crew in tho procession. [ Tho racing events resulted as follows: — Double iSculls—FiTst heat: H. R. Mans-' field (stroke) and B. R.. Guthrio beat J. Woodward (stroke) and M. Ryan. Second heat: F. Deighton (stroke),and C. H. Hobbs I beat A. E. Webb (stroke) and L. Deighion. Final heat: Guthrie's crew beat Dcignton's crew by a length. - Fours—First heat: A. H. Tucker (stroke), T. Chambers, W. Duggan, r.nd P. McCntee beat E. Ebert (stroke), Little, L. Gibson, 'and It., McllrtUth. Second iieat : D. Mahoney (stroke).' I Applcby, H. S. Hobbs, and T. McClay beat A. Evans (stroke), C. Watts, J. Mahoncy, end J. Bluckmore. Final heat: Mahoney s crew beat Tucker's crew by three-quarters of a length. The Elite Band played a varied programino of music during the afternoon. AKAROA. The opening of the boating season at Akaroa, which had to be postponed owing I.to severe, weather on Wednesday, took [ place under the auspices of the Akaroa. Boating Club, with tho usual formalities, oti Saturday. was a good attendance, despite the weather, wnkh. was occasionally showery. Mr E. E. Lelievre, who performed "the ceremony, apologised for the absence of the President (Mr C. L. Milne), and, while complimenting the club on their efforts in the past, wished them every success in the future. The principal event of the function was a. Indies' sculling race, which was rowed in six heats and caused great excitement, the winner being Miss Newton, with four firsts. Mssses A. Nichoils and A. Anderson, and Misses [M. Jacobson and W. Westenra tied for I second place, and the former, after rowing oft, secured the prize. All the heats wero cloeely contested and well rowed. After-' noon tea was served at the bonthouso by the officials of the club. In the evening tho usual social yrae held, which wns well attended and in every way proved a success.