THE INTERPROVINCIAL BOAT RACE.

Evening Star, Issue 5608, 28 February 1881, Page 2

THE INTERPROVINCIAL BOAT RACE.

[Ffiosr our Special Reporter,]

From a variety of causes, which it is not necoseary to epeoify here, aquatics is a branch of epoft not extensivdy followed in Otago. This being so, the rowing world of Dunedin. is comparatively small. This will ace uat fcr the faot that very few people seemed to be aware until within the last few days that euc'i an event existed as an interprovincial rowing matoh. Such, however, is tho case. It is an annual fixture between the Canterbury and Otag-) Rowing Ciuba, and it is not unressonablo to suppose that in course ct time it will rival in popularity the interpfevincial contests in other lines of tport. The first meeting between liho representative crews took place a day earlier last year, when the Otago men visited Christchnrch and handsomely thrashed the local men. To-day tho iables were turned, the Canterbury men scoring a victory. Tho race was rowed on the Taieii River, over a two and a-b»lf mile course picked cuS just below the old ferry bridge at lierslcy. The fallowing were the

crews : Canttrh.-ry Rowing Club. J. R. DnL.ford, bow G. B. E. M. Boulton, 3 J. V. G'iemjii. stroke. J. Lawric, sst 61b, cox. OTAOO ROWIKO ClAiB. E. Fulton, bow J. Allen, 2 R. Allen, 3 W. S. Roberta, stroke. George Langley, 4st 710, cox.

Tempted by the gloriously fine morning a large number of people, including a good many ladies, took passage in the special train leaving town sit 10.10 o'clock. Arrived at Titri, the company walked up the river lank to soe the start, the officials and Pre*s being accommodated on the launch AVaiau, which took them duwn the river at a srrnrt pace as far as the Maori Lcip, and then returned and waited at the starting point for the C«nli.rbury crew, v,ho did not arrive ut the post ti-itil a quarter ef an hour i-fter the Otago men. Mr J. C. Mveha-ll acted as s-arter and referee, and Mr Franckueh as juJ:o. "The race r.cgm at p.m. Canterbury li-,«.i a s'iyht lc;;d at the cU:rr, and dash?-' cfl with a -quick strok" of fofty-four to the minute, f K?.g-> lo.'-..;;.; ..t a leisurely i rae <;f tlbty-throe. After rowing ft few second? Canterbury led by a hngth.hoth crews Hilling down to steady work. Then CV 'iter;, ury spin", cd a bltlc, and after about five niiuu'to;, hwing a clear rro;-?cd Ot-;g,;\3 hows and gave f h < Litter their witch. It whs a rivky thini; to do, for if O r :igo had spurted a liitit more ti: *n tlify aid, it is >'.u open question whether a f mi v.ould not have lesuked, ai;d peihapa the race have ! e-n lost t'i Canterbury. However, no protest was entered, nor, indeed, could it have been sustained, though it was quite close enough. After ero:"-«i >;/,', Canterbury got a losd of two let<ythb. Then the Otigo mcn increased their strike n thirfy-live r.i'd eb..sed up a hit, but Canterbury, slowing d-"?;i to forty-three, drew tT-'iult w.is never in doubt. Ti:e fNi:t?rbu:y men iowed iii:e a machine, ?nd being; he'psel bv the bid Htt.enng- of the Otago coxswain, won easily by two lengths. Time, llmin 55sec Canterbury rowed iu a boat built hy Salter, of Oxford, and Otsgo in a Clarpcr hoi-.1. thicc ehcejs were given at the fini'di for C:tt;terbu>y, and then the evews adjourned to JTKe-re;'6 Ilttel. The race waa rowed on the young flood tide, running i>l;out two

t'.nd a-hali knot?. Tho Otasro beat had r» 20-inch slide, and the Canterbury a 11-inch one. The arra.i.'« niciitfl cf the Otrgo Rowir? Ciub were all that couid bo desired.