AQUATICS.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 104, 29 October 1889, Page 3

AQUATICS.

The first hoat of the second round of the Presidant's Fouis, Wellington Rowing Club, was got off yesterday afternoon, wjjen E. Hobo's orew defeated Waters' by fully four lengths. The Captain acted as judge, and Mr. T. M'Kay was the stftrter. The course was from the Thorndon Baths to tho Club's shed, In accordance with a resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Port Nioholson Yaoht Club, the Secretary (Mr. Duncan) wrote to the Commodore asking him to convene a meeting of citizens to tike steps to carry out a Jubilee regattv A reply has been recoived from Mr. Levin to the effect that he is thoroughly in accord with tho proposal to have a large regatta here next year, and will confer with the Mayor as to holding a meeting at an early date. Mr. George Norton, of Manners-street, is justly earning a reputation throughout the oolony for building a superior olaga of rowing boats, and as a proof of this it may be mentioned that he has orders on hand from various parts of New Zealand whioh will keep hinl and an assistant busily employed until February, while he has promises of work which should oooupy his attention for several months after that. The latest specimen of the boatbuilder's art which ho has turned out is a stump outrigger, whioh can be used either as a pair oar or double sculler. She has been built to the order of the Lyttelton Rowing Club, and is in every respect similar to a boat whioh was turned out' for the Cure Boating Club, Kaiapoi, a few weeks ago. She is undoubtedly a beautiful boat, and Mr. A. M' Williams, Vice-president of the Club, who is at present on a visit to Wellington, and Mr. N. Galbraith, exCaptain, who is now a roiident of this city, have expressed their entire satisfaction at the mannor in whioh Mr. Norton haa oarried out the contract. She is 22 i feet long, and possesses a beam of 39 inches, her depth amidships being 12^ inches. Each of tbe seats is on the sliding pattorn, but Mr. Norton has ;o« troduced a couple of novelties, wltfoh, should commend themselves to all oarsmen. In the first place, each, slide works in a double frame, which kc aps the oil' from running off and dirtying tfie clothing; of the men at the oars ; and, in the Beeond place, two small pieoes of sponge are inserted in the bottom of the seat, so as to hold the oil. The lubricator is poured into a hole, on either side of the seat, and at once drops into the sponge, which continually parses backward and forward in the groove when the bcut is being rowed. The idea is an excellent one, and Mr. Rodwell, of the Union Boating Club, Wanganui, who was in Wellington on Saturday, was bo pleased with it that he has given Mr. Norton an order for two sets of slides for fitting in some practice olinkera. Tho outriggers, whioh projeot 16 inches over the side, were made by Mr. Tandy, of Vivian-street, and the swivels, whioh were turned out by Mr. Norton, are of tbe look pattern. The top aides of tho boat aro of Sydney cedar, the planking being of American clear pine. The timbers are of English aah and rata. Although she is very light, weighing betweon 75 and 801bs only, she is substantially built, and will stand a fair amount of bad usage. Instead of the strengthening bars running straight across from one tide to the other, they ourve downward in the centre, where they are screwed to the keel, so aB to keep them out of tho way of the knnokleß of the man rowing stroke. The boat was takon out for a spin yestorday afternoon by Messrs. W. Bridson and E. Rose, of the Wellington Club, who speak very highly of her. She is to be forwarded to Lyttelton by the Rototna to-morrow. Amongst the orders whioh Mr. Norton has undertaken to fill are tbe building of two racing outrigged fours for the Wellington and Christohnrch Union Rowing Clubs, and a racing inrigged four for the Blenheim Rowing Club, eaoh to carry a coxswain. He is also about to start on two scullers for Messrs G. Hill and H. Goddard, both of whom are members of the Wellington Rowing Club. These boats are for light weights, and Mr. Norton states that as they will have a beam of only 9J inohes they will be the 1 smallest scullers ever made in the oolony. We believe a fact not generally known ia

tbat oars and sonlls of a superior description are now being manufactured in Wellington in contuderable numbers. Mr. G. Norton, of Manners-street, has gone into the business and is meeting with considerable support. The Blenheim Club recently tried some of his make, and are so satisfied with the price and workmanship that they have just given him another order. He in also about to supply a number of pairs to the Union Club, Wanpanui. The timber üßed jb kauri and American clear pine.