ANNIVERSARY DAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2519, 21 February 1872, Page 7

ANNIVERSARY DAT.

. The thirty-second anniversary of the foun- [ dalion of this province was celebrated oa Jan. [ 29, with the usual sports, Tiz., the annual ! regatta in the harbour, foot races iu the Albert ! Barracks, school festival in the Domain, and picnics to Onohunga, Pannmre, and Otahuhu. The shops were all closed, aud business of every kind was suspended. The General and Provincial Government offices were also closed. The weather was luaguiiiceut. REGATTA. Committee:—G. Yoji der Heydc, Esq. (chairman), Captain Anderson, Mr.'ll'. Brett, Captain Casey, Captain Clayton, Mr. J. j

J Copland, Mr. i). 11. Cruickshank, .Mr. G. H. I Fletcher, Mr. A. .Nathan, Mr. T. Niccol, -Mr. B. Tonke, Mr. J. Wuymouth (son ), Mr. J. J Waymouth (juu.), Captain S. J. Williams, •Mr. Thomas Williams; treasurer, Captain J Casey; auditors, M ssrs. D. B. Cruickshank I and G. 11. li'letcher ; umpire, Mr. T. Niccol; j starter, Mr. J. Copland ; lion, peeretary, Mr. ] M. Niccol.—The annual regatta came oil' on ! Monday, and was in every way a great success. I The weather was line in the extreme, lor ; while there was sufficient wind to allow i the sailing craft to carry all sail comj fortably, the weather was not sutliciently 1 rough to interfere with the progress of the rowing boats. A number of steamers i and stiling cralt plied about the harbour J during the day, and, independent of the I racing boats, guvo it quite a lively appearance. The llagship upon this occasion was the schooner Kenilworth, which was kindly placed at the disposal of the committee for the purpose. She was certainly smaller than the usual flagship, but she was the only boat that could be obtained, and the committee were therefore compelled to make the best of her. The attendance on board was by no means so large as usual, but this is uot to be wondered at. The band of the Artillery wa3 on board during the day, and did much to eniiven the proceedings. Gunner Pennalligan and two others belonging to the Artillery had charge of a sis pounder Armstrong guu, aud did the needful during the day in the mutter of firing. Mr. Copland acted as starter, iu his usual fair and impartial manner, nnd gave great satisfaction, as did likewise the judges. The whole of the arrangements, as far as they could be with the means at command, were carried out in excellent style. The following is a list of the events :—

Fihst Race, 9.3o.—Trading vessels registered in Auckland (brigantincs, schooners and ketches) , over thirty tons. Prizes : —Ist, silver cup, presented by Messrs. Shiiw, Saville nnd Co , value 25 guuieas, and Hi 10 added ; 2nd, £10; 3rd, .Co. Course: From south side of flagship, round Tiritiri, passing from west to east outside of Shag Bock, keeping Tiritiri on the starboard hand, coining in ou south side of Uagship :—Na Noba (Eb-b-jrn), 1 ; Dauntless (Moller), 2; Aurora (Gardener), 3 ; Clio (Chambers), 4, ; Saucy Lass (Smith), 5 ; Caiubria, (Ross), 0. The time fixed for starting this race was half-past, nine o'clock. Punctual to the time, the six boats mentioned above were drawn up in a line to the south side of the flagship, ready for slipping their mooring lines. The diversity of opinion respecting tiieir merits was great, some backing one boat and some another, but perhaps the Dauntless, the new

schooner ofCapt. Moller, found more admirers, perhaps than any of the others, from the fact, perhaps, that she presented a very handsome appearance, and that it was known she had made several slashing passages to Taurauga. Some of the other boats, however, were not without their admirers, and several bets were got up on the result before the sails were set ; but, on the whole, the Dauntless was the fuvorite. On the gun tiring, all was bustle iind activity on board the vessels—thegreatest possible excitement prevailing among the lookers on — in the matter of getting a good start. A minute or two suiliced to see the whole of them covered with duck, and running down tiie harbour under every stich of canvas that would draw. The Cambria took the lead, with the JS'u. Noba clese at her heels ; tiie Dauntless third, and the Saucy Lass, Aurora, and Clio not far behind, and all doing their very best to catcli all that was possible of the breeze. The wind was direct from the south, and was just such a one as could be wished for by sailing boats desirous of carrying all their canvas. The Cambr.a got it to the greatest advantage, and Mood up well to windward, but before passing Orakci, the Dauntless managed to catch the favouring breeze more strongly, and passed to windward, and ahead of the Na Noba. Of course, almost every one said it was the Dauntless's race, but there were not wanting a few to say that she had all her work cut out to beat the Cambria, and the Ni Xob:v On rounding the Heads the Dauntless aid Cambria were running stem and stem, with every stitch of canvas set alow nnd aloft, and tiie former boat to windward. The Aurora was close behind, and the Na Nobu, Clio, and Saucv Lass not far behind. As they all rounded the lieads, the sigiit was pretty ia the extreme. Ihev looked like so many snowy birds on the wing with their clouds of snowy canvas, and as they disappeared from view loud marks of approbation and admiration were heard to proceed froiu the spectators in all directions. O:i rounding the Heads the captains of the various boats set to work in right-down earnest. They were running before a spleudid wind, which speedily brought them withia a t-hort distance of each other, and this relative distance they maintained for many miles, hardly differing by the length of a foot. With Tiritiri in view, the efforts to first round were redoubled. It required a good deal of judgment, with considerable skill, to get round this island as close as possible, and without getting ashore. All were successful with one exception. This was the Cambria, which, unfortunately, ventured too near. The consequence was, that she got on shore at S:iag Rock, and there for a time she stuck. She had Mr. D. Cruickshank on board, and several other gentlemen. They sung out to some of the other boats that she was making water fast; but she subsequently got oil' the reef, and bore away for Maiakana, being the nearest available port. After u splendid and exciting race the Dauntless was the tirst that passed the flagship, which led many spectators to suppose that she was the winner. She came in exactly at Gh. 40 inin. 31 see. The Na Noba reached the goal at 6 b. 49 min. 20 sec, thus winning the race by a few seconds only, she being allowed ten minutes. The other boats came in in the order detailed above. It is said by competent judges that the Dauntlese lost first place through making two short boards just before arriving home, instead of one long board. The first three boats were received with loud cheers as they passed the flagship.

Second Rice, 10 a.m. —Trading cutters, 25 tons and upwards. Prizes : —lst, £25 ; 2nd, £10 ; 3rd, £5. Sovereign of the Seas (Diaz), 1; Mercury (Dinz), 2 ; Mary Eliza (Mann), 3; Nautilus (Church), 4; Hero (Urquhart), 5. The start for this race was a good one, with the exception of the Nautilus, which fouled the llugship'3 bowsprit, and was so delayed for five or six minutes. The Mercury took the lead, closely followed by the Sovereign of the Seas, which appeared to bo tho general favorite, although t he first-named boat found numerous admirers and backers. The Hero was third, the M.;ry liliza fourth, and the Nautilus, as described above, some distance behind, through being blown down on the flagship at starting. Un rounding the Heads the Mercury and tho Sovereign of the Seas were running well together, it being difficult to tell which one was in advance of the other. The race lasted till just before seven o'clock, when the cutters again showed round the Heads, after going their course to Tiritiri. The Sovereign of the Seas was then well ahead, and came in victor by some six minutes, the Mercury being second, and the others as above. The race

appears to have- been a splendid one throughout, no accident occurring during its progress. TillßD Race, 10.30 a.m.—Trading cutters, under 25 tons. JTirst prize, £20; second prize, £S ; third prize, £5. Course : From south side of flagship, round chequered buoy off Drunken Bay, thonca round flagboat ofV Stokes':) Point, coming iu on south side of flagship. Vixen (Anderson), 1 ; Avon (Lombard), 2; Don (Dicloou) j Sumptcr (Cockfield) ; Tay (Hodgson) ; Agnes (Loverock} ; Victoria (Josephs) ; Wave (McDermott) ; Severn (Ebborii) ; Petrel (Stephens). This was really a Very pretty race, such a crowd of boats under all their canvas presenting quite a beautiful appearance. The boats all got away well together, there being no fouling in this instance. The first boat to reach the flagship, after going round the course, was this Avon, closely followed by the Vixen. The Vixen was the winner, however, by some 72 seconds, iu consequence of being allowed 00 seconds by tho Avon, the difference iu their time ot coming in being IS seconds. Fourth Race, 11 a.m.—Sailing boats or yachts, of any class, 5 tons and under. First prize, £10; second prize, £5 ; third prize, £3. Course : From south sido of flagship round ilagbuoy in Rangitolo Channel, thence round llagboat oil" Stokes's Point, coming in on soutli sido of flagship. Ten boats competed, consisting of:—Sappho (Barber), 1 ; Bismarck (Eckenbcrg), 2 ; Sparkle (Waymouth), 3; Sylph (ITeuderson); Dart (Jones); Dixio (Lopez) ; Cliquot (Bree) ; Knturiua (Williams) ; Grace (Williams); Volauto (Bush). This was also a splendidly-con-tested event. Tho Sappho took the lead soon after starling, and maintained it throughout, winning by about a furlong. The second and third boats were well together. Tho Sappho reached home at 0.50 niin.37sees., the Bismarck at 1 hr. 1 rain. 4,0 sees., and the Sparkle at 1 hr. 2 min. 12 sees. Tho Sappho was the smallest boat of the fleet.

Fifth Hack, 11.30 a.m.—Sailing boat?, or yachts, fixed Uei-ls only ; over 5 tons and under 10 tone. First prize, silver cup, presented by the chairman of tho Harbour Board, and £15 added ; second prize, £5; third prize, £3. Course : Same as fourth race, twice round. Calypso (Bailey), 1 ; Foam (Sandford), 2 ; Ripple (C. Dacre), 3 ; Lily (Graham) ; Sabriiii (Stoddart), -J. ; Galatea (Graydon) ; Chance (While) ; Zodiac (Muir) ; linergy (Waymouth). This race was very similar to thu last, the boats coming in as above. The wind had veered round to the south-east by this time, and had considerably freshened since tho early part of the morning.

SiXTir Race, 12 noon. —Champion scullers' match, rowed in open skiffs, not exceeding 21 feet overall, to be rowed ou the gunwale. First prize, £8, uud n, pair of gold sculls, presented by Mr. Kohu. Course : From south side of flagship, round flagboat off Freeman's Bay, thence, round the flagbont olf St. George's Uay, coming iu on the south side of flagship. Three bjats entered. Son of the Wuitemata (Clare), 1 ; Tiona (Blair), 0 ; Giant (Barron), 0. Blair, however, did not come to the scratch. Burron pulled alongside the committee boat, but afterwards made for the shore. On the signal being given, only Clare started, and the race was consequently a walk-over. The race was at first looked forward to with considerable interest, as Blair and Barron were Thames me;,. We certainly think that, having entered themselves, they should have shown what they were like, and not have allowed Clare lo have it all his own way.

Seventh Race, 12.30 p.m. — License? watermen's boats, manned by two licensed watermen; oars and sails allowed, usual working canvas only. First prize, £6 ; second prize, £4; third prize, £2. Course : Same as 6th race. Four entered : Bismarck (Johnstone), 1 ; Prince Alfred (Pillinger), 2 ; Mary Ann (Connor), 3. Only three boats started. Bismarck was manned by two young Auckland watermen (Marshall end Hunt), the Prince Alfred by Dalton (a Thames man) and Pillinger, and the Mary Ann by two Thames men. This was a capital race. The Auckland boys in the Bismarck, although they were somewhat behind at the start, soon pulled up and went to the front. The race throughout was between the Bismarck and the Prince Alfred, the two men from the Thames in the other boat having no chance from the first, although they started with a clear half boat's length in their favour. The Bismarck came in tic winner by about a length, Prince Alfrjd second, and the third boat a furlong behind.

Eighth Rack, 2 p.m.—Four-oared gigs, the property of any recognised rowing club, rowed by amateur members ; no housing or outriggers allowed. First prize, £10; 2nd, £5. Course: Same as Gth nice. There were the following entries for this race : — No. 2, Auckland .Rowing Club, 1 ; Crown, Golden Crown (Jiub, 2; No. 1, Auckland Kowing Club, 3 ; No-ipareil, Thames Xaval Brigade, 4. After some little deiuy, caused by the No. 1 Kowing Club being lute, th* boats got away well together. There was considerable interest manifested in this race, from the fuct that some of the best Thames men occupied the Nonpareil. At the start the No. 1 (Rowing Club) drew slightly ahead, closely followed by the Nonpareil, the others being not far away. No. 1 rounded the boat in Freeman's Bay ; the Nonpareil second, and about a boat's length astern,whichreiativedistauces were maintuined until passing the flagship. Our ■uudiug t.ho boat, however, in Official Bay, the Rowing Club No. 1 was three lengths ahead of the Nonpareil, the other two being the sixth of a mile behind. From Official B.iy the race was all in tho No. l's bunds. They put on ti spurt, which took them a long way ahead, coming in by seven or eight bout'slengths ahead of the Nonpareil. The Crown came in third. No. 2 Auckland Kowing Club gave up after going half round the course. Some surprise wits expressed during this raco that the crew which are to go down South were not allowed to pull against the Thames men. The result proves that if they had they would assuredly have come in easy victors. Wo think their trainer, however, did quite right not to allow them. If a man is training for a great, event, it is not worth his while to waste his strength over a small event shortly before, and so injure his chance for the bigger event. So it was with tho Auckland picked crew, and wo were very glad to see they were not allowed to pull in this raco. The crew of the winning boat consisted of Provo (stroke), Ducrc, H. Henderson, and T. Henderson (bow), Coxswain A. H. Jones. Time occupied, 13 min. 15 sees.

NIN'TH Hack, 2.30 p.m.—Ships' gigs: Merchant, rawed by bond fide ships' crews. First prize, £8 ; second prize, £-i. Course, same as sixth race. 1. Golden Crown (Ellis) ; 2. Duke of Edinburgh (Farquhar) ; 3. lioyal Alfred (Farquhar) ; 4. Konihvorth (Furlong) ; 5. Ferndule(Brough). This was a well contested race, and excited considerable interest.

Tenth Bace, 3 p.m.—Pour-oarged gigs ; open to all; for the championship; no housing or outriggers allowed. First prize, dSls° second prize, £5. Course : Same as sixth race, twice round. Four entered for this event: — Nonpareil (Savage), 1; Brothers (Robinson), 2 ; Crown (Armstrong), 3 ; Wonder (Henderson). In this race the Thames boat and the Brothers made a splendid race. The Wonder did not come up to the scratch. The Nonpareil took the lead at tho start, and maintained it throughout. Tho Brothers fought hard to come up with her, but unavailingly, and during the latter portion of the race they fell nearly a furlong behind. There was a good race between the second and third boats for the second place. The Thames boat was loudly cheered on passing the

flagship. Eleventh Bace, 3.30 p.m.—Dingies under 12 feet overall; rowed by boye under 16 years of age, born in the colony. First prize, £3 ; second prize, £2 ; third prize, £1. Course : To be decided on board flagship on regatta day. Willy (White), 1 ; Amateur (Garland), 2; Champion (Holland), 3; Alarm

(Allison), 4 ; Nelly (Wilson), 5. All five boats started. Tho course was from the flagship round a boat moored in Freeman's Llay and hack again. The boy who pulled in tho winning boat kept well in to ehore, and came iu first by more than a boat's length. THE DOMAIN. Tho Suuday Schools in connection with the Church of England, in Auckland and the environs, held their annual festival in the Government Domain. Seven or eight hundred children must havo been on the ground at once, and adults to the same amount. St. Paul's numbering 150, under Mr. Hammond, superintendent. St. Matthew's, Mr. Fleming, 353. All Saints', Mr. Ballaehy, 130. St. Mark's, Mr. Hesketb, 80. St. Mary's, Mr. Dyer, IGO. St. Sepulchre's, Mr. Biggs, 180. Trinity, North Shore, Mr. Brown, 120. St. Peter's, Onehunga, Mr. Manley, ISO. Being nearly 1400 children, and 252 teachers. At midday the children were provided with an ample lunch, when various games wero resumed, football, trnpball, swinging, and other innocent games of a fimilar character. In the evening tea and plum cako and other good tilings wero provided for tho youngsters, and games were again entered into without any apparent diminution in the zest with which they wero enjoyed. At 4.30 p.m. the children of all the schools assembled, and by direction of the Bishop (who was decorated with tlio rosettes of the various schools), Mr. Fleming gave out a hymn, " Songs of Praise," which had been previously arranged to be sung by the united schools afterwards. Tho Bishop addre.Hsed the children in a few well chosen sentences, congratulating them on the day, and the pleasant recreation ground they had, and informing them that next year he intended In give away certain prizes, to be called the Bishop's prizes,—a plan which he intended tc continue each year. At the conclusion, His Lordship was loudly cheered. Just before dusk, the children were marched or driven off to their various districts, doubtless well fagged out after their day's unclouded pleasure.

EXCURSIONS. Tho p.s. Challenger, chartered by a number of tho members of the vVellesley-street Baptist Church, conveyed some 150 happy pleasuro seekers as far as Motutapu, where a pleasant day was spent, somo rambling along the sandy beaches and amongst the leafy glades, whilst others were content to pass a few hours iu quiet contemplation. Tho Duke of Edinburgh made a (rip to ihe Lake with a number of excursionists, and was also employed with the Golden Crown, Koyal Alfred, and Comerang in cruising about the harbour, following up the various races, mid exhibiting to excursionists Auckland from her best point of view.