LYTTELTON NEWS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20087, 17 November 1930, Page 16

LYTTELTON NEWS.

CRICKET. The nowly-formcd Miniature Rifles Cricket Club opened its first season on Saturday afternoon at Officers' Point. In declaring the season open the Mayor (Mr \V. T. Foster) congratulated Ilia club on having again established the game in Lyttelton. It was a matter for regret that there had been no club in port for many years. A match was played between teams fcolccted by the captain and vice-cap-tain. The Mayor opened the season in a practical way by bowling the first over of eight balls, the analysis showing no wickets for seven runs for the over, and he then umpired for the remainder of the match. Sailing. The strong nor'-wcst.crly gale which blew at Lyttelton on Saturday afternoon made sailing conditions unpleasant and hazardous, but the races were held. About half an hour before the start of the open race, Irene, the new fourteen footer was dismasted by a squall while practising in the inner harbour, and robbed the race of much of its interest. The boat was taken _in low by a launch, a proceeding in which further excitement was caused by a. member of Irene's crew, P. being pulled overboard by the tow-line. A second mishap occurred a couple of minutes before the flags went up for the open, race when Water Beetle, one of the entrants, was also dismasted. This keel yacht was manoeuvring between the moles when she was struck bv a tremendous squall, which whipped the stick out of her and mast, mainsail, and rigging went overboard. Another launch had to be requisitioned to tow tho derelict back to the boat harbour. The raco started at 3.15, four boats crossing the line. The two fourteen footers, Colleen and Usher were soon in the lead and some time after rounding the Pile Light they took a risk with their spinnakers. Reverie retired at the end of the first round, leaving only Cherub and the two fourteen footers. Cherub was left well astern by the others. Usher (smin) finishing at H. 5.52 p.m., won on her handicap, 00lJeen (ljmin), 5.3.31 being second and Cherub, 5.30.40, being third. A race for Takapuna sailing punts was won by a new boat, Dorothy, results, and finishing times being as follows: — Dorothy (2min) .. .. 1 j Wee May (scr) 4.23.20 ..2 Zita (scr) 4.23.20 .. 3 j Wet-U (2jmin) 4.25.36, and Uira (scr) . 4.26.1S finished in that order. Heavy Sea Off Lyttelton Heads. On Saturday morning the heaviest j north-easterly sea for many years, was running off Lyttelton Heads, and at times the swells were breaking right across the harbour entrance. The Port Levy passenger launch was unable to make the trip to Lyttelton, and the owiier, Mr H. Grennell, travelled overland with the mail from Port Levy to Diamond Harbour, thence by ferry launch to Lyttelton. In the upper part of the harbour there was very little more sea than usual, and there was no range at all in the inner harbour. Only small craft were affected by the heavy sea outside the Heads. It did not affect shipping, and two small coastal steamers and the Wahine entered and berthed as usual. Those who travelled to the City by •car during the morning, had a magnificent view from the hills of the coast from Sumner to New Brighton. They state that Sumner Bay, the bar, and tho Now Brighton beach were a mass of boiling surf, with tremendous waves pounding up on the beaches. In the afternoon the sea moderated considerably, and subsided further yesI terday.