AQUATICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 866, 5 October 1888, Page 14

AQUATICS.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright, THE RACE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. KEMP WINS EASILY. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Sydney, September 27. • Hanlon and Kemp are both in splendid condition for the race to-morrow. Betting, 6 to 4 on Kemp. Ssdney, September 28. The sculling race between P. Kemp and E. Hanlan for £sooa-side and the Champion, ship of the World was rowed an the Parra, matta river this afternoon, and resulted in an easy win for Kemp by nine lengths. The wind was fresh and the water rather rough. About 20,000 persons witnessed the race. There was very little betting on the event, and offers of 50 to 20 against Hanlan found no takers. A capital start was affected, but shortly afterward a foul occurred which Hanlan claimed. As soon as the boats were clear Hanlan, who was rowing well, got a slight lead. The pace was severe to Uhr’s point, where the Canadian still had a slight lead, but after going another quarter of a mile Kemp drew up level with him. Half a mile from Uhr's Kemp had secured a lead of half a length, and Hanlan appeared to be affected by the water, as his boat was rolling a good deal. Kemp kept up a steady ding-dong stroke, and occasionally he looked across at his opponent. At the mile post Kemp spurted, and caine clear away from Hanlan. The wind at this point was blowing strong, and Hanlan was the most affected. Approaching Putney Kemp had two lengths’ lead, and pulling a strong, steady, stroke, he gradually increased it, notwithstanding that Hanlan was pulling a faster stroke ; but the latter appeared to keep too far in midstream. From Gladesvilla the race was a mere procession, and Kemp rowed in an easy winner by nine lengths. Time, 20min 30sec. The foul waa disallowed, the referee deciding that Hanlan was to blame. . , Sydney, September 29. Searle has made a match with Kemp for the championship and £SOO a side. The race comes off in four weeks hence. Hanlan considers that he was unfairly treated yesterday, and that the race ought to havo been given him on the foul. He seems anxious to row Kemp again, and intends to endeavour to .arrange another match. Sydney, October 2. Both Kemp and Searle have accepted the challenge from Teemer’a backers for a match against the latter by the winner of the coming Kemp-Searle match. , Beach has declined Hanlan’s challenge. PROPOSED TWO DAYS’ REGATTA., A meeting of persons interested in aquatic matters was held at the Royal Oak Hotel last Friday evening for the purpose of discussing a proposal that the various Boating Clubs in the city should amalgamate, with a view to holding a two days’ regatta on a more extensive plan than has hitherto been carried out. There were about 24 gentlemen present, and bis Worship the Mayor presided. The Chairman in statieg the object of the meeting, pointed out that' the ordinary regatta day, the 22nd January, waa not only the Anniversary of Wellington, but also of the Colony, and it was, therefore, only right that the regatta of Wellington should be made to embrace a wider scope, and to in fact be a colonial regatta. There was a growing conviction amongst people who had travelled in the colonies that Wellington was fast becoming the Liverpool of the Colony, and therefore the projeot which they met to di". cuss Reemed to him to be most opportune. It was, he thought, a useful thing for every youth to have a hobby, and everything that would encourage or give an impetus to a useful and manly exercise like boating should be done. He called on Mr A. G. Johnson to explain in detail the purposes of the meeting. Mr Johnson explained the proposals at considerable length, and urged that a two days’ regatta was quite feasible, and would be sure to be successful if it was properly worked up. In times past the blue ribbon of the Colony hal been competed for at Wellington regattas with a prize of £l5O, and the champion inrigged gig race, with a prize of £SO, had also been run here. There would be no difficulty in collecting a large amount of prize-money, and if sufficient attraction waa offered in the way of prize-money probably the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association would have some of their more important races run at the Wellington regatta. It had been said that it was generally too rough for rowing races in the WCellington Harbour, but it was remarkable that in January it was exceedingly rough at Lake Forsyth, where they rowedthen, and again in March at Wanganui, though these courses were supposed to be the pickofthe Colony. MrA.W. Brown said that a resolution had been placed in his hands, which he had much pleasure in moving, viz., “ That this meeting affirms the proposal of a two days’ Colonial Regatta, to consist of

• rowing and sailing races to he held at Weii lington on January 22nd and 23rd, 1889, to i celebrate the 49th anniversary of the founda- • tion of the Colony:” The motion was seconded > by Mr A. G. Johnson. Mr A. S. Biss, l speaking to the motion, said that as secre- > tary to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing i Association he might mention, as the subject I had been brought up, that the Association . rowed championship races in the towns where the Association received most support. He instanced the outrigged fours which had been rowed at Wanganui, where the Association was supported, rather than at Christchurch, where none of the clubs belonged to the Association. He might say also that prize money was not a consideration with the Association, as the value of the prizes did not make any difference in deciding where races were to be rowed. He did not think it desirable that it should be either, as if the prize'money covered expenses it was quite enough, and the surplus should, in his opinion, go toward a third prize. He agreed with what the previous speaker had said relative to the rough weather at Lake Forsyth, where they had seven boats swamped, and also at Wanganui. Mr Duncan, Secretary Port Nicholson Yaoht Club, thought 1 that as the meeting was altogether an iuformal one, they should not pass any mandatory resolutions except by way of instruction to the Regatta Committee of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club, that there should be an extra day in connection with their regatta for rowing races. The Chairman agreed with this contention. After some further disoußsion the resolution was put and "carried. Mr A, G. Johnson proposed, and Mr Hislop seconded a resolution, “ That the regatta be field under the rules of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association and the Port Nicholson Yaoht Club, and that the Port Nicholßon Yaoht Club be asked to accept the co-operation of those present in carrying out the foregoing object.” The resolution was carried unanimously. This concluded the business, end a vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings. STAR BOATING CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the above Club was held at the Club's boathouse on Wednesday. There was a very large attendance present, and Mr W. H. Field (Deputy. Captain) was inthe chair. The annual report, which was presented, statedthat the Club’s roll of member, ship numbered 306 at present. The receipts from all sources during the year amounted to £B4l 12s lOd. aud the expenditure to £BO2 3s 6d. The Committee had not been able to reduce the building debt, owing to the Urge additions to the plant which had been found necessary, and which bad coat i. 249 2s ; they, however, looked for large reductions during, the present-year. Six sets of oars and twenty.four sets of sculls had been ordered from England, and were expected to arrive shortly. The progress of the Te Aro reclamation had obliged the Committee to have the platform and skids taken up, and iu the meantime other meaus had been devised for launchirg boats. The Club had met with but poor success at the Port Nicholson Yaoht C üb’s regatta and at the Christchurch regatta, but had acquitted itself creditably at the Wanganui and Star Club annual regattas. The thanks ot the Club were due to Mr B. Dawson, the Railway Traffic Manager, aud his assistants for services on the occasion of the Club’s regatta at Pitone. The Club races and swimming races bad caused greater interest than ever, the entries being very numerous. Prices had been presented to the Club by Mrs .Jervois, the Captain, the Committee, and Messrs Bell, and Chapman. The report concluded by acknowledging the services of members who had acted as “ coaches ” during the season. The report and balance-sheet were adopted unanimously. The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Mr E. Pearce; Captain, Mr A, de B. Brandou ; Deputy-Captain, Mr E. Jackson ; Secretary, Mr A. S. Biss; Treasurer. Mr W. R. Symons ; Committee, Messrs Knapp, Govett, Chapman, Fell, Cooper, aud Baruett ; j Auditors, Messrs J. Gordon and R. S. Hirchsberg ; Match, Committee, Messrs Biss and Jaokson, It was decided that the Club be not represented at the Sydney Regatta. A rule was made that all boats be in the boathouse before dark during the coming season, with the object of preserving the plant. With reference to a proposal by the Wellington Rowing Club that the Rowing Clubs should unite to hold an opening ceremony, it was decided that owing to the difficulty in removiug boats and danger to Club plant, the Club should decline to take part in the proposed movement. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring officers, after which the meeting adjourned.

A special general meeting of the Wellington Rowing Club was held at the Royal Oak Hotel last night week. There was a large attendance of members, and Mr A. G. Johnston, captain, presided. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Ross, the by-law and raciug rules reoommended by the Committee were confirmed. Mr J. Brown was elected an honorary member of the club in consideration of his services as coach last season. Master W.' Willeaton was elected coxswain. Mr James Stewart was elected an honorary life member of tho club in accordance with a resolution passed at a previous meeting. The Chairman announced that the committee had decided that in future the club’s boats and oars should be numbered, and orders had been given to that effect. Messrs J. Brown aud W. Hoarn, who acted as coaches last year were unanimously elected to the position'again. It was decided to have the rules, by-laws, and race rules of the club, with a complete list of the officers aud members, printed forthwith. Eighteen new members were eleotod. After the members present had signed the club register the meeting adjourned.