AUCKLAND REGATTA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2995, 31 January 1881, Page 3

AUCKLAND REGATTA.

(Br Telegraph.) Auckland, January 31. The Aucklaud Kegatta on Saturday passed off very successfully. There was splendid weather, and a large concourse of people were assembled. The Lady Jocelyn was the flagship. Owing to the breeze freshening, the outrigger, inrigger, and sculling matches were postponed till Monday. CHAMPION ItACE. For brigantines, schooners, and ketches of 50 tons register and upwards. First prize, £100; second prize, £25; third prize, £10. From the flagship round Tiritiri and back. Sovereian, 85 tons, W. H. Brown ... 1 Torea. 78 tons, E. Michelaon ... 2 Borealis, 130 tons, K. M'Kenzie ... 3 The other entries were the Caledonia, 58 tons, M. Niccol; Linda Weber, 114 tons, D. H. M'Kenzie ; Edith, 63 tons, H. Pughues; Belle Brandon, 65 tons, T. Henderson, jun.; Myrtle, 167 tons, S. Lane. Eight other sailing races took place, and a gig race. A North Shore gig was run into by a yacht, and the crew were taken on board the steamer. Planet. The Auckland boat was swamped. On returning to the flagship, the Edith, when sailing in the Champion Kace, ran into ibe Planet, smashing her funnel, steam pipe, and bulworks, and breaking her own jibboom. There was a great scene of excitement. The people on hoard the Planet, fearful of an explosion, leaped overboard. Among them was Mr Alfred Whitaker and Mr Joseph Bennett, but they were rescued. The steamer was towed to the wharf. The winning ship's gig Dunloe capsized. The men in her swam to the ship. The champion four-oared outrigger race, which was postponed from Saturday, took place this morning under fair conditions. The course was three miles straight, and the prize £100 and accompanying trophies, while the competing crews were the Traneit, of the Thames, the Mercury, of Mercury Bay, and the Auckland, representing the city. A start was effected at 10.20 beyond the Watchman. The Mercury crew at once aseumed the lead, and with a regular and powerful stroke and a good reach came right away from the othera, who pulled more directly towards the wharf. After a brief struggle between the second and third boats the Thames dropped slightly to the rear, while the Mercury went on increasing the lead. They made a mistake in keeping too far in the channel, and consequently had a heavy rip to contend against. Each splash of the oars washed a volume of spray over their heads, and at times the boat was almost hidden from view. When off Stokes Point the Mercury Bay crew were pleading :hy fully half a mile, when suddenly the boat filled and went down, while the crew supported themselves as best the* could in the water. The stenmer which accompanied the race went off to their assistance. The Auckland and Thames crews meanwhile kept eteadily on, the former when passing the coal-hulk, having a clean lead of 40 sees. The Thamee put on a spurt, and by dint of better rowing lengthened the disparity somewhat, bub not sufficient to alter the result. Auckland finished a good first. General regret was expressed for the mishap which befell the Mercury Bay boat, and if the race is not ro-ved over again a challenge will probably be the result. The spectators numbered about 3,500.