INTERPROVINCIAL REGATTA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5008, 14 February 1878, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL REGATTA.

[From the Press Agency.] WANGANUI, February 13. The attendance was better than yesterday. An excursion train from Marton was crowded last night, and up to the hour of the races arrivals kept coming in. Wellington was in favor o£ the Wellington men, but the Wanganui men backed the Lyttelton crew heavily. The first race was — Thb District Race, for £20. Union Club's Transit, Spurdeel, M'Donough, Brough, Clansey (stroke) 1 Wanganui Rowing Club's Water Lily, Powell, Duncan, Holdich, Wheeler (stroke) ... 2 Union Club's Maiden ... 3 — It was a good race for a mile, the two leading boats going together, but, the Fnion men being the strongest, held together longer, and won by four lengths. Champion Outrigger Race. Heathcote, Custer (bow) Taylor, Har- . kiss, Duncan (stroke) ... ... 1 Dolly Varden, Hearn, McGrath, Walker, Wood (stroke) 2 Ulysses, from Christchurch. 3 — Time 23min. %sec. Distance, 4 miles. — For the Champion race the excitement piled up, all the Wellington people backing Dolly Varden, even at odds of 2 and. 3 to 1. The Heathcote carried a coxswain, but it was feared he would not keep the boat straight. The course is four miles straight away. Three boats started, and got away well together, the Christchurch men about a foot in advanceDolly Varden being under the bank,, slightly more sheltered, drew a little ahead of the Heathcote, and for a. quarter of a mile all the boats were within a few feet of each other. Coming into smoother water, the Heathcote first drew up to level racing with the Dolly, j and then got gradually but surely ahead. At two miles they were two lengths j leading all the boats, going splendidly, the immense crowd on horses and in vehicles along the river bank being intensely excited. Both crews were cheered on, but Duncan's magnificent stroke was not to be denied, and keeping up forty-two to el minute, he got further and further ahead. Rounding one slight bend their coxswain took them wide, and the Dolly Varden spurted to take inside position, but the crowd shouting from the bank the coxswain closed in and gave the Dolly the back wash. Coming round the bend, in view from the grand stand the boy again took the leading boat rather wide, but the lead was too good to be affected, and so, coming on with a long swinging stroke, the Heathcote won by twenty lengths, some distance separating second and third boats. The winning crew received an enthusiastic ovation when rowing past the stand. Volunteer Whaleboat Race, of £35 ; 4 miles. Three boats started. The Wanganui Rifles in the Danger, another crew from the same corps in the Elvira, and a crew from the Wanganui Fire Brigade in the Shamrock. The Wellington Dolly Varden crew, who were to have pulled in the Shamrock, did not start. Several fouls occurred, but the race was first-class throughout, the Danger beating the Elvira by half a length. A protest was entered against the Danger, which is to be considered at a special meeting this evening. Ladies' Plate, of £30 ; 3 miles. The Heathcote crew having won the Champion race, were debarred from starting, so that the Dolly Vardens had to get the Wanganui Club's boat Tiger Lily to start, to make up the race, the Christchurch men being in the Canterbury. Dolly went off with the lead, the other two keeping together for half a mile. Shooting the railway bridge; Dolly had a lead of four lengths, Wanof*nui being five lengths ahead of Cantorbury. This order was maintained throughout, the Wellington men winning easily, the Canterbury's men being outpaced and distanced. Canoe Race, of £10. This race caused great fun. There were five entries to compete of Maori crews, one composite crew, and a pakeha crew. There was no restriction as to size of canoe and numbers. The Maoris entered a big canoe and crowded it with men. At the start the Maoris went off with a terrific stroke, which pumped them. At a quarter of a mile the mixed crew made a good race with a crew from the local foundry, but the latter won by six lengths. The Champion Four-oared race, four miles, was rowed in 2T minutes 7 seconds. The Ladies' Plate, 3 miles, in 22 minutes 5 seconds. It commenced to rain directly the sports were over. The Manawatu leaves at 7 o'clock on Thursday morning.