NORTHERN WAIROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4481, 24 March 1876, Page 3

NORTHERN WAIROA.

KAIHtJ AND MATJNGAWHARE .REGATTA. '• ' ■' DEATH BM DROWNING. [from opr special The annual regatta of this part of the river was held at Kaihu od Friday last, St. Patrick's Day, when a numerous concourse of people, consisting of bushmen and settlers, assembled from the various districts within a radius of 50 miles, many hailing from n e ar Whangarei, on the East Coast, and ETokiang a , on the West, while , the thinly-populated portions at the various branches of the mighty Wairoa sent in their representatives. The highway of the settlers and for those residing in its vicinity, ia the river, consequently infants as soon as they can. toddle become expert in the use of the paddle, and every family or single person is the possessor of one or more skiffs. The frequent use of these flat-bottomed skiffs (the majority out-riggers, and mere cockleshells, are preferred to keel boats, owing to the ease which they are launched over' the mud), makes the occupants indifferent, licl h ere a stranger would, see or imagine danger, iose accustomed to them see none whatever. It is seldom, however, that sober and steady men lose the number of their mess, but I could not help but foresee that the holidays would be fraught with danger to many bushmen or gum-diggers, and death to one or more of those who were drinking heavily, and had to return home incapable of managing themselves or a boat. The regatta day, however, passed off without any accident beyond a few upsets, imperilling the lives of several, who were speedily rescued from their positions by passing boats, and it would only be well if my story of mishaps ended here,, but : l regret to say such is not the case, and that one poor fellow, through his own folly, has gone to that " bourne from whence no traveller returns."

However, to return to the regatta. It cannot surprise those conversant with aquatics that a people who spend a great portion o£ their time upon the water should produce good oarsmen, and the fame of many of these pullers has reached far beyond the waters of the Kaipara. How they would compare with the Goldsworthys and Newdisks of the Thames ortheKeans and Clares of Auckland I am not in a position to say, as their racing skiffs are totally different from those gigs which the above well-known men pull in; but, through a suggestion thrown out by your representative, next year's regatta will offer a special inducement to an Auckland and Thames gig, when the strength of the renowned oarsmen of these towns can, and it is trusted will, be severely tcstedby Wairoa men. By offering a liberal prize for an all comers out-rigger race the merits of the Wairoa men will be known, aud their prestige and status recognised in the boating world, should a crew ever be required for an international race. That the river possesses splendid oarsmen there can be no question, such as Pattons, Wilsons, Kings, Campbells, and Prices, and out of such a number of men of immense physique and stamina there would be no difficulty in picking up a couple of crews that would warm the jackets of any professional crows that might compete against them. That the residents intend to see what their men are in comparison with other districts, is evident from the sympathy which was shown when the formation of a rowing club was moved,- and in a few minutes £50 was promised for the purchase of one or more rasing gigs, M hioh will, no doubt be largely supplemented when the movement is made public, in the course of a few weeks. The number of people in attendance at the regatta was, I understan d, not so numerous as last year, but this, in a •measure, is accounted for by the fact that the To Kopuru and Aratapu mills were unable to cease operations, in consequence of several vessels arriving at each mill that required immediate loading. Although the presence of such a number of people as are employed at those places would have largly conduced to the festive occasion, yet, uuable to be present, their interest in the sport was manifested by the liberal manner in which they subscribed to the regatta fund. The amount of money subscribed, aud at the disposal of the committee, was £95, a very creditable sum indeed, and one that speaks well for the prosperity of the river and the interest shown in sport of an athcltic, pleasing, and exciting nature. The races call for no criticism, as many of them were a foregone conclusion with some of the competitors, aud with, one or two exceptions there were none of those brilliant spurts that usually take place in well contested races, and which enhance the interest in the sports. To avoid a repetition of this is the aim of the committee in their desire in future to offer a liberal prize or two, which will induce other districts to come in and compete. I cannot, however, pass over the winners of the Five-oared Whaleboat Eace, a crew of half-castes, who for physique and bottom would be hard to surpass in any part of the world. These men are accustomed to heavy boats in their daily occupation of rafting, &c. The second boat was a scratch crew, men I having pulled off several races during the day, aud who merely pulled round the course to make a race. The flagship, the Telegraph, Captain Smith, was moored in the centre of the river opposite the Kaibu Hotel, and was largely patronised during the day with the fair sex, and gentlemen visitors.

President- J. M. Dargvdlle, Esq. Treasurer- W, A. alarrincr, Esq. Secretary— A. J. Archer, Esq. General Committee—Messrs. K. F. Spencer, nigg?, llazlitt, Wenua, Dunn. Downing, Thompson, Geo. Clarke, Uaynes, King, Wilson. Starter—Mr. W. A. M.irriner. Judge— Capt. Smith. Amateur Skiff Race (not exceeding 20 feet); Ist prize, £5 ; 2nd, £2 ; distance, 4 miles. Pour entries; four started. Ernest Smith's Amateur .. .. ..1 11. Dunn's Marim 2 P. Wlson's Morning Dawn 3 De Labrosse's Star 0 A very good race, "Wilson steadily keeping the lead until within a few lengths of home, when his wrist gave way, and Smith, who was close behind, sheered ahead, followed by Dunn. Single-handed Pctxt or Skits Race—2 miles ; four entries ; Ist prize, £4 j 2nd £2. Wm. Patton's Snowball 1 J. Kidri's Spurt 2 E. Thompson's Quiver 3' Thompson led to the upper buoy and pastflagsliip, but got out of course through the wind, Snowball and Quiver keeping well in-shore, when, on rounding the lower buoy, Patton gradually led, and won by four lengths. Sailing Race, for boats 25 feet and under ; 4 miles ; four entries, three started; Ist prize, £10; 2nd, £4. Miichel'on's Frances Harriett .. .. 1 Hajlett's Gipsy.. .. ■ 2 Slarriner's Violet ... ... . . .. •• 0 The winner came in 1J minutes before the Gipsy, exclusive of SO seconds allowed her by the Gipsy for length. - . CnA3tpioN Skiff Bace (not exceeding 20 feet on bottom). • Distance, 4 miles. Ist prize, £6 ; 2nd, £2. Three entries. ■William !'?.trra's bnwn of Bay .. ..,1 ■ William Price's-Morning Dawn .. ..-2 De Labrosse's Star .. .. .. ..">3 The two first boats kept well together throughout the whole course; but it could be seen that the uncle was shewing his nephew round, for, after turning the buoy, "Uncle Patton gradually left his nephew be-

' Young Price"will- be a formidable, competitor next year, acd it will take all the cunning o£ .tke seniors to beathim. should he develop his present form. * .?.. Five-oabed WhaLeboat Race. Distance, ' '4 miles. Ist prize, £10; 2nd, £3. King's Two Brothers ■:..... 1 J. Uennin's Awtapn ~..-... 2 J.Dennin'sKoHame., .. .... 3 From the start the second boat had no show, the winners having it their own Tray, and eventually were left three-quarters of a mile behind. It was ■ merely a scratch crew to make the race. • Two-oared Gig Race. Distance, 2 miles. Ist prize, £4; 2nd, £2. Five entries. King's Tβ Kopnra 1 Orchard's Energy 2 Mariner's Mary.. .. .. .. .. 0 Spencer's Agile ..0 Stehrs Bessy 0 A few strokes after start, a foul occurred between the Agile and Bessy, which, put them out of the race. At the finish, there were several lengths between the winner arid the ether boats. Dquble-handed Punt Race. Distance, four miles. Ist prize, .£5; 2nd, £2. Four entries; three started. E. Thompson's and J. Patton's Quiver ..1. James' swan .. 0A very good race, the two winners pulling well together, and gradually left their opponents several lengths behind. Four-oaked Gia Race. Distance, four miles. 'Ist prize, £S; 2nd, £3. Three- ■ entries. Blitrh?lson's Vivid 1 Hazletfs Quiver 2 ' Denning's Hit or Mlse . .. .. 0 This was about the best race of the day, the two leading boats for a considerable distance, keeping well together; but, about half-way over the course, the winners came home with a stroke of 33. Canoe Bacb (eight paddles). Distance, three miles. Ist prize, £0 ; 2nd, £3. Bingori's Kaihu ..1 Kaio'a Tulwtahai 2 liaimona's rutonaa 0 A very exciting race and a source of great amusement. .

At the conclusion of the races, the 'committee adjourned to Maungawhare Hotel, where Host Downing had provided dinner of a substantial nature, which was heartily partaken of by the committee and friends, —Mr. W. Marriner in the chair, and Mr. Higgs vice. The following were the toasts : —Chairman, ",The Queen," "Success to the Northern Wairoa District " coupled with the members of the Regatta Committee, by Mr. Joshua Jackson; "Successful Competitors,"- by Spencer; "Unsuccessful Competitors," "Health of the President" (J. M. Dargaville, Esq.), and "The Office Bearers," by Mr. Spencer, responded to by Messrs. Archer, Higgs, and the Chairman; "The Press," responded to by the representative of the Herald.

In the course of the remarks made by the proposer of the "Northern Wairoa District and Begatta Committee " it was pointed out that great advantage would be derived by the introduction of an all comers' gig race, offering a sufficient sum of money that would induce boats from Auckland and the Thames to come vp. To do this would necessitate the formation of a boating club, in order to purchase and have the sole control of the racing gigs. The suggestion was immediately taken up by those present, and Messrs. Spencer, Haynes, Archer, Clark, Marriner, Patton, Stanaway, and others, promised sums of money that- amounted to £50 in the coarse "of a few minutes. It' was decided that a public meeting should be called at an early day in order to receive co-operation at the hands of settlers in other parts of the river who were then absent. It is hoped that those who have the matter in hand will not let it rest, but that the fruits o£ their labour may be visible in the appearance of a crew at the next provincial regatta. Would that I could cease my remarks about the Northern Wairoa at the close of the regatta, but as a matter of .duty I am compelled to record most unpleasing scenes, pan it be wondered that the Wairoa en- ■ gulfs so many that make their calling on its bank, when we see the state in which they leave the public-houses, and then perhaps have to go thirty or forty miles up the river to tho bush in a light skiff; few to warn them of their danger ? It is remarked here that not one-half the deaths by drowning were properly recorded, many were never heard of bej'oud their own locality, and on occasions like the present, or other holidays, if only one or two are missed, it is an unusual occurrence. Will it be believed that thirty-four deaths occurred within a twelvemonths ? thirty of these traced to indulging too freely. I- am no believer in Good Tenaplarism, aud during my ramblings North have on one or two occasions felt the want of a nobbier, but I would heartily support the cancelling of licences where such scenes occur, aud where liquors are dispensed on Suuday. The class of men who usually commit themselves in such a disgraceful manner, are chiefly gum-diggers and bushmen, and it was very evident that at the close of the regatta there would not be those social reunions in the evening such as a traveller is wont to see on a holiday in the North. The settlers and their families began to pull away at once, anxious to get beyond the pandemouium that invariably winds up an holiday in these parts. The settlements of Kaihu and Maungawhare are about half a-mile from each other, divided by a small tidal creek. The resident population at tlie two places cannot exceed 100, yet there are two very extensive hotels unsurpassed out of Auckland. The hotel is now leased by Mr. Jtaynes, and is a model of neatness, aud capable of accommodating GO to 70 people at a push ; and, so far as I have seen duriug these holidays, conducted the house under the circumstances very creditably. In addition to the hotel, Mr. Dargaville erected a store, butcher's and baker's shop. The chief trade is the buying of gum, supplying of goods to the bnshmen aud the scattered settlers. Of gum, there is a great falling off in the output, notmorethan 35 tons per mouth being produced, whereas there was formerly double that quantity. Most of the known gum land has been worked over and over again, aud what untried land remains is yet in the hands of the Maoris. Some miles up the Kaihu Creek, the flax and fibre mills of the company represented by Messrs. Fraser and Tinne are situated ; but at present their ojierations are very liuiiis.l; yet I have heard, within the last few minutes, they are about to resume operations, contracts having been given out for the cutting of ilax. There is also some splendid open laud iu Upper Kaihu, which, for quality, is reputed to be superior to anything North of Auckland. This land, I uuderstaud, has recently been purchased by the Government, aud, it is trusted, will shortly be open for selection.

Maungawhare is about half a mile lower down the river to Kailiu, and, like the latter, possesses a very large hotel, recently built by Messrs. Brown, Campbell, and Co. ft is under the management of .Mr. Downing, who has leased the premises. It is capable of accommodating 75 persons, but on the eve of the regatta day they must have had nearly double that number, chiefly bushmen and gum-diggers. Tne scene around the hotel that night was something I can never forget., Fight succeeded light, of a rough-and-tumble description. Harmless, these, in comparison to what took place about ten o'clock, when two incapables stripped to the skin, and fought until, from severe beating and exhaustion, one gave in. I should have liked to have seen an attempt made to control them, but it was not done, or perhaps the well-disposed could not do it. On Saturday things were not much better.- For a time disorder ceased, and those -who had refrained from indulging too freely got up a few sports. In the evenf ins; the mob, I understand, was but : of this I am unable to speak,' inasmuch as I was not an eye-witness, and am desirous of recording nothing except ■what came under my own. observations At the close of the regatta, the rush of people set in for I£aihu Hotel, and at one time, through the pugnacity of one or two individuals, there was every ap- | pearance of a free light, but through

the exertions of Constable Madill the disturbance was quelled. About noon, on Sunday, one or boats came up the river from below, containing men intoxicated; ■who demanded to be served, but this the landlord refused, and where possible closed the doors and windows,** much to the discomfort of the Visitors, but adding'to the peace of the vicinity. It was about this time that two young men, formerly residents at the Thames, put in their appearance, and after having dinner and a glass of beer, set off to return to the bush. The writer and others begged of them not to attempt to set the sail, but in defiance of their promises, when-fifty or a hundred yards from the wharf, with a three-quarter ebb-tide running, the fools got up, attempted'to set sail, and were immediately precipitated into the water. One of them fortunately, who could not swim, managed to get into the boat, but the other was being gradually carried away by the current. The unfortunate man in the boat having lost self-control, was utterly incapable of assistiug his drowning comrade. A friendly eye had been watching from the verandah, an.l, swift as an arrow, two -Thames men were speeding on their inissiou of mercy to endeavour to save their former acquaintance. Another second and all would have been over, and it would have fallen to the lot of the writer to have conveyed a sorrowing message to a large and respectable family on the Thames. A few hours after this, three boats, crammed with living freight from below, landed at the same wharf, and demanded to be served with liquor, but, with the exception of a few, they were refused. About this time the out-rigged skiff (24 feet in length) of Charles Adamson put in an appearance, and at the bottom was a brandy bottle, which, it is , said, was purchased at the Maungawhare Hotel the night previous., In fact, this is admitted by those people, who state that Adamson gave it in charge to a resident and he called for it ou the' .following day. When he arrived at Kaihu he was seen draining the bottle, and was warned of the danger he ran in taking too much with such a journey before him. After an hour's spell, in which he. had one glass more, he started to return home, resisting the invitation to stay until morning.. Ac' company ing him was a man named Charles Nooman, who at once lay down in the bottom of the skiff", and, no doubt, fell asleep at once, being strongly under the influence of liquor. Strange to say, at my elbow, when Adamson was leaving, a voice remarked that the skiff would yet be the death of him, and sure enough the words were truly prophetic,' for, in less than an hour, news arrived that poor Adamson was drowned. Adamson left the wharf with a steady stroke,, and there is no doubt that, had he maintained his . seat, he> would have been alive now. Several boats passed him close to the mouth of the Awakino Creek, and about li mile above Kaihu, and all was well, but after getting 100 yards ahead a cry was heard, and the occupants of a black punt which was last looked round and saw Adamsou apparently standing up, and then immediately .fall overboard. The punt immediately pulled back, but too late to save their, former friend. The black punt contained five men, but from its crowded state, combined, probably, with their condition, they had the mortification of seeing their friend sink within twenty ■ yards of them, never to rise again. Nooman was asleep when the punt came up. One can imagine the feelings of Nooman when he was ' asked what had become of Charley. The arrival at Kaihu of the punt, with the skiff in tow, was very different to its departure, scarcely an hour before ; and had we not heard of the accident, it could easily have been conjee-, tured that something was amiss, as their return was a strange contrast to their departure. Adamson was about 28 years of age,.single, in the prime of youth, and the very picture of health. A few minutes previous to his departure, several persons were chaffing him to get a ladder—it being a mania with poor Adamson to climb ladders when a little sx>ruug with liquor. He has a sister on the river, Mrs. Watson, the wife of Captain Watson, of the topsail schooner trading to Sydney. Bis body has not yet been discovered, and it is useless dragging owing to the under current; but a search will be made in aix or seven days, when it may rise to the surface.

The above is a faint outline of a holiday on the Northern Wairoa, and my only regret is that I am incapable of giving a complete picture of the disgusting scenes that I there observed. To those iu authority I commend the above, and have only to say that the law is a dead letter.