AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12272, 16 May 1903, Page 7

AQUATICS.

There is a splendid picture of Shamrock in. and a number of interesting pictures of the new yacht Ilex in this week's Auckland Weekly News. The yachting and rowing season may be now said to have practically closed, -the last of th& yachts having gone into winter quartors, and tho rowing men are taking a wellearned rest after a busy season. 1 hope that all the yacht and rowing clubs will do their utmost by providing some sort of amusement to keep their members in touch with each other during the winter month:'., as by this means a great, amount of good ensues not only to the clubs themselves, but to the young men who take an interest in the sport. The prizes won in connection with the season's races of the Royal' NowZaaland Squadron were presented to the winners at •the clubrooms on Thursday evening. A very interesting social evening took place on the occasion, a programme of songs, recitations, and musical items being rendered. There was a large attendance of members and their friends, and the entertainment is considered the best evening that the club has ever had. 1 hope that during the winter the committee will see their way Ic give several similar entertainments, as a means of keeping members together as much as possible. The committee of the Anniversary Regatta met on Wednesday afternoon, when Mr. W. O. Somen*, the treasurer, had the pleasing duty to announce that after paying all prizes and expenses in full there was the substantial sum of £67 in hand towards next year's regatta. The committee, as a whole, are to bo cordially congratulated upon the successful manner in which the regatta and the details were carried out under the circumstances, but it is only another instance of when several energetic men take matters in hand, even at tho last moment, as in the case of this year's regatta, wonders can be accomplished. A proposal is mooted, and is meeting with a good deal of financial support amongst those interested, to have a handsome silver cup obtained for the motor launch race, run under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Tho idea is to m_K.e tho cup an annual event, the winner of each year's race to hold it until tho next year, and to be presented with a trophy as a memento of his win. I hope that the proposal will meet with success, as the races of this class of boat last season created a great amount of interest, and as a. number of new boats are sure to be built before next season, the interest is likely to bo maintained. A public meeting of subscribers to tho Anniversary Regatta is to be held on tho second Tuesday in June at the offices of the Harbour Board, to discus the carrying out of the regatta of 1904. The most important question for discussion will be the fixing of the date on -which the regatta is to be hold there being a proposal to fix some, other date than January 29. 1 trust that there will be a large attendance of the general public on the occasion, in order that a full expression of opinion upon such an important matter may be given and a definite conclusion arrived at. Mr. Charles E. Palmer, ono of the lion. secretaries for St. George's Rowing Club's annual ball, has received word from Major Dudley Alexander that His Excellency the Governor, tho Countess of Ranfurly, Lady Constance Knox, and His Excellency's staff will be present at the ball on. the evening of the 28th inst. THE VALHALLA. The steam yacht Valhalla, with Earl Crawford on board, arrived at Apia on April 24, from Tahiti. The yacht, which is on a cruise round the world, is a full-rigged ship, and belongs to the Royal Yacht Squadron. Her register is 1490 tons, and she steams ten knots and sails fourteen knots. The Valhalla carries 61 officers and men. She left England in November last, and colled at Bahia, Valparaiso, Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, Tahiti, Tutuila. and other places before going to Samoa. The Valhalla will not come to Auckland, as was first intended, she being now on the way to Fiji, Singapore, Suez, and Home. Lynx.