ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19858, 31 January 1928, Page 8

ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

Never did Waitemata Harbour look better than it did yesterday, when Auckland celebrated New Zealand's anniversary in the old-time way with a regatta. The regatta itself was in many respects unlike those of yore. The schooners, trading cutters, whaleboats, gigs, watermen's boats and Maori canoes, which once gave the carnival its distinctive features, were absent, save in the memory of the survivors of those days; and in their place were trim yachts and motor launches. Such changes belong to the seeming of things, however: at heart the sport is the same, as full of zest and as wholesome and invigorating as ever. It was a happy thought that inspired the first regatta, in 1842, got up at a few hours' notice and comprising only three events —for whaleboats, gigs pulled by amateurs, and canoes paddled by natives. In the thought was a fitting remembrance of Governor Hobson's naval career, as well as a recognition of New Zealand's maritime condition. As the years passed, the regatta be came ousted for a space by a race meeting, to the frank regret of many. "Whatever our equine predilections," ran one comment in that interval, "in a maritime colony of the greatest maritime nation the world ever saw, a regatta would be a much more national and appropriate annual sport, one which, if properly conducted, would afford quite as much pleasure, and very probably much more colonial benefit." The temporary lapse was remedied in time, and it is to be hoped, whatever attraction other sports may have, the sea spirit will be kept alive and manifest itself as vigorously as in hardier days. Yesterday's regatta encourages that hope. Beside the obvious enthusiasm of its participants there was a wealth of pleasure to be got by onlookers from its picturesqueness and suggestion of aquatic skill. It was noticeable that, even in this day of the motor, the long-familiar "white w T ings" dominated the display, arid many will wish that each recurring Anniversary Day will find it so.