THE AUCKLAND REGATTA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10046, 5 February 1896, Page 5

THE AUCKLAND REGATTA.

A meeting of the committee of the Auckland Regatta was held in the Harbour Board offices last evening, Mr, A. H Nathan presiding. It was decided to row the soulliug race for the Marshall prize over again on Saturday afternoon next at half-past three o'clock, Messrs. A. McHardy and T. B. O'Connor consenting to act as judge and starter. These gentlemen will arrange the course to he rowed according to the state of the weather. The protest of the Irene against the Orakei in the scow race was considered. It appeared thattho Orakoihad rounded the mark-boat off Brown's Island on the wrong side, which was acknowledged by Mr. Biddick, the owner of the Orakei; but as he hid been misled by the man who was in the mark-boat as to how the mark should have been rounded, it was resolved not to sustain the protest; though the deposit of the Irene regarding the protest was ordered to be refunded. The protest of the Ettic White against the Harvest Home and Henry, in the Trading .Cutters Race, was not sustained, and the prize goes to the Harvest Home. Alter considerable discussion, it was decided to ask the Sailing Committee to decide the protest against the Cynisca taking second prize in the Cruisers Race. The owner of the Anita, which competed in the race for boats 22 feet and under, wroto stating that he had entered his boat as being 20'9 feet long, whereas she was only 20*4 feet, and as this would give her a larger time allowance against the Welcome Jack, he asked that the prize be awarded him. The judge reported the race as a dead heat between the two boats, and it was resolved to uphold the judge's decision. The race for yachts of 2 rating and under is to be sailed ovor again. Captain Parker, of the Devonport Naval Volunteers asked that the Naval Cutter race be rowed over again. He did not wish to enter a protest, but his opinion was that the finish was too close for a proper opinion to be formed as to which was the winning boat. He did not wish to detract from the opinion of the judge in the matter, but his own opinion was that the Devonport crew wore the winners. Mr. S. D, Hannti, the judge, explained that he had been most careful in taking tho bearings of the competing boats by compass, due north and south by direct line from the compass on the bridge of the Flora. He unhesitatingly asserted that his judgment was correct—that the Goldfinch crew had won by three feet. It was decided to uphold the judge's decision. Mr. mouth's report on the sailing events was read. Regarding the raoe for yachts of 7-rating and ovor, his opinion was that the Halcyon and Aorere were not eligible to compete, inasmuch as they were under the rating. No yacht's rating could bo altered unless a month's notico was given, and as this had not been done, the Halcyon and Aorere were wrongly entered and therefore were debarred from competing, not having complied with tho regulations. The opinion of the meeting was that the owners of those two yachts should have protected themselves in the matter. It was decided that tho Haloyon should be disqualified for being over the line at the start, and for going inside the marks during the race. The Aorere was disqualified on the ground of being under tho rating for tho race, and the prize awarded to the Volunteer. It was resolved to give the prize iu the Cigar and Umbrella Race to Dean, Mr. Nathan read a rough balauoe-sheefc, which had boon prepared by the secretary, from which it appeared that the estimated receipts were £260, and the expenditure £343. Messrs. Hanna, Hughes, and Reynolds volunteered to make a further canvass of the city, to endeavour to raise sufficient money to pay all prizes and expenses in full. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meeting adjourned for a week, by which time it is hoped that the sub-committee will have collected sufficient money to meet all demands, The race for yachts of 2-ratiug and under, to be sailed over again, is to take place on Saturday afternoon next, at a quarter past two o'clock, Messrs, Reynolds, Jidgcumbo, and Carlaw to arrange the course.