THE ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

Evening Post, Volume V, Issue 288, 17 January 1870, Page 2

THE ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

We understand that the Lyttelton people have sent up to know the amount of our prizes for the forthcoming Anniversary Regatta, with a view to sending up a boat's crew. An impromptu meeting of the Regatta Committee was hastily . called, at which it was decided, to be as liberal as possible, and the prize for the four-oar gig race was one which it was agreed to increase by £10, should a boat's crew come, and of which word was sent off by the Wellington. The committee deserves credit for this prompt little bit of courtesy. While on the matter of regattas, we have a few words to say to the committee, and to the public generally. For 30 years we have celebrated each anniversary by holding a regatta, until it has settled down into a regular usage ; so much so, that any other mode would now seem unorthodox. The last few regattas have raised more interest than was usual, and various opinions were freely given — both in the Press, and on the pavement ; but, so far as we could observe, the only matter in dispute '' seemed to be the course — that is ics length and form — that was the only bone of con- ! tention. This is- a small matter, and ought to be readily settled. As we have already said, we have always celebrated our anniversary by regattas, and yet no two courses have been exactly alike. This, as far a& the mere celebration ceremony is concerned, is well enough, for which, if that were the only object in view, it would be of little consequence whether the course was round, square, or oval; but as the plan subserves nothing else when it mfght be made to do so, it is time an alteration was effected. [ It is' necessary that we should have a course — not variable, but as much a fixture as a race course, or a rifle range ; we should have something in the way of land-marks, . something to mark in" our aquatic chronicles, so that note may be taken, time kept, the prowess of one year compared with the oxploits of another, tho efficacy of certain strokes, the style of boats, the stamp of men, something, in short, to enable us to try comparisons with our neighbours in these matters, and see the stuff our young men arc nir.de of. Hitherto, our regattas have been objectless towards this end — have been child's play ; to-day an oval course, tomorrow a round ; oue day long, another day short. JSTow we want, and should have, a good medium course ; neither too long nor too short ; not favourable to any particular class of boat ; but something that will be a fair test for the men without unduly taxing their energies, and at the same, as fair as is possible to the ordinary build of boat, whether it be one that is best against the wind, or one that runs like a racer, and turns like a saucer, as fair a course as can be laid out under the circumstances ; but above all, it should be a, permanent one, laid down with an eye to some immovable land-marks. The public should be studied, and should see as much of the race as possible, it has been said ; but we think if the public see the start and the finish — about a mile each way — they will see all that is generally cared for, and more than is seen in a great many parts of the world. Whatever interest may be made to attach to regatta exploits under different arrangements, there will certainly not be much under the present. Imagine the same priuciple applied to rifle-shooting or horse-racing, and the result is not hard to guess.