THE REGATTA MERRYMAKERS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14611, 19 February 1908, Page 3

THE REGATTA MERRYMAKERS

CHARGES OF ROWDYISM TO BE INVESTIGATED. _ , • At its meet'qg to-night tho Christchurch Reg; Ita Committee will discuss and probably ‘'investigate, the charges of rowdy behaviour and ribald singing made against a number of rowing nten in connection with the return train journey from Lake Forsyth Regatta last Saturday. •Mr J. R. Morrison is chairman of both tho Regatta Committee and the Rowing Association, and although he did not see any of th G rowdy.behaviour, he states that something will have. to be done in the nature of an inquiry probably to prevent. a recurrence of Saturday’s bacchanalianism. He is not sure what the Association may do, but understands that the clubs will inquire how far their riien. were implicated in t-ho disturbance. From inquiries made, it'appears that there was a certain amount of horseplay in most of the smoking carriages, buh fortunately it did not extend to the carriages where any ladies were p resent. It is certain that no trouble will take place next Saturday, when the regatta will be concluded, for the officials of the club lmve undertaken to ensure good behaviour throughout the train. A good deal of Saturday’s license was caused by the fact that a ffC ction of the men were deeply disappointed at the postponement of the regatta, and, having nothing to occupy their minds, turned their to boisterous merry-making in the train. There were no indications of intoxication at the course, and it is supposed that the liquor was consumed in the train.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l was very pleased to read the letter in to-day’s issue under the. abov o heading, as I wao a spectator of some of the objectionable happenings which the writer refers to on. the homeward journey. I can readily bofieve that the writer does not exaggerate in any particular. This is the first regatta I have attended in Canterbury, and I mentally concluded it would be the last. The event from beginning to finish was a fiasco. Two races only were rqn, and these, if the management had possessed any gumption, should never have been attempted. Most* of the boats taking part in the events referred to got swamped on account of the extreme roughness of the water, and the'one or two who managed to finish did eo only because they occupied a more fortunate position on the course. I do not know whether it is intended to run these two races over again, but in justice to those who won. as well as to those who got swamped, it seems to me to be tho onlv reasonable thing to bo done.—l am, etc., A SPECTATOR. TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—l am very pleased to. see by this morning’s paper that someone. has had the courage to write concerning the conduct of como of the members of the clubs who took part in the regatta on Saturday. I know the young “ men ” .in question were “ first-class ” passengers, or rather, travelling first class. I was in a second-class carriage, and the occupants were very much annoyed by them passing to and from the . lavatory, where they were congregating to drink. Their conduct was disgraceful, and T hone there will be a searching inquiry, as their conduct is likely to reflect on the members of other clubs. As the regatta is to take place next Saturday, T hone the two races which were rowed .will he included in the programme, as the crews which did

win only did so by luck and all tho other boats being swamped. Their success was due to anything but skill. I think it would be more satisfactory to all parties, the spectators included. —F am, etc.£ A WOMAN.