BOAT RACES.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 24, 30 January 1877, Page 2

BOAT RACES.

Two of the boat races which had been postponed from the regular regatta day rrere pulledoff this morning at an early hour. As it was not generally known when the races would take place, there were not many spectators present at the start or finish, but a few enthusiasts congregated at Kaiwarra, and those who had undertaken honorary duties connected with the regatta were "in their filaces. The weather was fine — there was a ight breeze blowing from the north, and the water along the course was sufficiently smooth for outriggers. The first and principal race — the four-oared outrigger race — was started at half-past seven o'clock by Mr. Gair. The prize consisted of Messrs. Beauchamp, Campbell, and Co.'s cup and £25. Only the Dolly Varden and tlie Ilyssus came to scratch ; consequently there was no second prize. The starting point was at Rocky Point, about three miles from Kaiwarra. A very good start was effected. The wind was, if anything, in favor of the Ilyssus, which, being somewat flat-bottomed, runs well before the wind. For a hundred yards the Ilyssus kept alongside of the Dolly, and to a casual observer, unacquainted with the metal in the crew of the Dolly, they appeared to have an excellent chance for the race, but soon the superior reach and strength of the Dolly's crew began to tell, and the advantage they gained was increased throughout the race "until the last half mile or so, when the Dolly's crew slackened their speed. The difference in the stroke of the two boats was as marked as at the Nelson Regatta, ihe Dolly's men rowing with the regularity of a pendulum their accustomed stroke of 30 per minute. The others were equally regular with their jerky stroke of 44 per minute, which they rowed without any signs of flagging. When tlie Dolly passed the winning point, she had an advantage in time of about 10 seconds. The second race was the Senior Pair-oar Gier Race between the Star Club's Venus, rowed by Johnson and Webb, and the Wellington Rowing Club's Duchess of Devonshire, rowed by Walker and Heara, who had just got out of the Dolly. The distance was over two miles. |The prize consisted of two silver cups and £5. There was no second prize. The weather and water were equally as favorable as in the last race. A capital start was made, aud for almost a quarter of a mile Webb and Johnson held their own well, but it was evident that it was overtaxing them to keep the position, aud they consequently soon began to drop behind, while the leading boat seemed to keep up a steady pace till the end. The attempts at time-keeping in both races were not very satisfactory, and as in neither were the winners pushed, the time may safely be considered no more than ordinary. Capt. M'lntyre officiated as jndge.