AQUATICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 880, 11 January 1889, Page 14

AQUATICS.

THE TWO DAYS’ REGATTA. A meeting of the committee and delegates in connection with tho proposed two clay's’ regatta was held at the Po=ct Office Hotel last Friday. There was a good attendance, pud Mr E. W. Mills (Vice-Commodore of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club) occupied the chair. A letter was read from Captain Duncan with reference to the races in which the Naval Brigade could compete. The secretary was instructed to inform Captain Duncan that the Brigade could compete in the ten oared cutter race. A letter was read from the Governor’s Private Secretary, intimating that his Excelle cy would tender his patronage to the regatta. His Worship the Mayor was added to tho list of patrons, A letter was read from Mr J. D. Treanore, asking that a dogs’ swimming race should be placed on the programme. _ The Secretary was instructed to reply that if Mr Treanore could procure a prize for tue racs the event would be put cn the programme. The canvassers reported that subscriptions amounting t\, £225 could be collected, which would be about £1:0 short of the amount required. The members of the Star Club had promised £4O. The canvassers will bring up a further report at next meeting. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Mee, that the third prize in each event should be struck out. The name of Mr Hawke was added to the Thorndon Canvassing Committee. A deputation consisting of Messrs W. H. Levin, E. W. Mills, and W. H. Quick were appointed to wait on Admiral Fairfax on his arrival here, for the purpose of asking his co-operation in making the regatta a success. A sailing cutter race for Naval Brigade and men - of - war boats was added to the programme, and the tenoared cutter race was made to include men-of-war boats. Mr A. G. Johnson thought it would be wise to decide that boats only of the qualified size should compete in the ship’s gig races ; that they should be bonS, fide boats' of the same description. He gave notice of motion to this effect for next meeting. If funds permitted, it was decided that the prizes in the men-of-war boat races should be increased. The secretary was instructed to telgraph to Admiral Fairfax informing him that it was the intention of the Committee to put several races on tho pro. gramme for which the boats belonging to tho vessels of the squadron could compete. It was decided on the motion of Mr Biss, seconded by Mr . J ohnson, that a sub-committee, consisting of the delegates of the city rowing clubs should manage the rowing, regatta on the 23rd February, it being understood that tho rowing delegates would assist as agreed at the sailing regatta on Anniversary Day. It was decided to refer the rowing programme back to the sub.committee. The rowing races under Association rules on the sailing programme were struck out, on the motion of Mr Biss, seconded by Mr Johnson. It was decided to ask permission of the Harbour Board to barrioade tho wharf on the occasion of the regattas. A motion by Mr J ohnson, that a sub-committee be appointed to manage tho land sports ou Anniversary Day, was deferred for consideration until next meeting. The Vice Commodore, the Mayor, Captain Rose, Messrs A. W. Brown, aud J, H. Cock were appointed a committee to arrauge for a flagship and other matters in connection with the regatta. After some further routine business had been transacted, the meeting adjourned until next Friday to-day.)

A very pleasant gathering of the Wellington Rowing Club took place at the Club s shed on Saturday, the occasion being the celebration of the Treasurer’s (Mr G. H. Myers) marriage, which took place in Sydney on Wednesday. Mr A. W. Brown, President of the Club, proposed the health of the bride and bridegroom, and 'after _ this had been drunk in bumpers, the following toasts

wete duly honoured : —“The Bridegroom's Parents,” “The Wellington Rowing Club,” “The Port Nicholson Yacht Club,” “The tJonor of the Champion Vase (Mr John Young),” “Captain Falconer,” “Our Boatbuilder (Mr George Norton),” “ The Senior Four.” The meeting dispersed on according Sheers to Mr aud Mrs Trask and Mrs and the Misses Beavers for their treatment of the crews who went to Nelson to compete in the recent regatta. We have to acknewledge the receipt of a copy of the “New Zealand Rowing Almanac and Oarsman’s Companion, ’ compiled and edited by Messrs W. H. Field and A. S. Biss, and published by Messrs Brown, Thompson, and Co., of this city. The “ Rowing Almanac ” is the only work of its kind published in the colonies, and is a highly creditable publication. It includes several articles, specially written for the work, on rowing, “Some faults noticeable in New Zealand rowing,” “Elementary hints,” “What is the use of rowing,”.eto., etc. The first-named article is by a late Oxford coaoh, and embodies all the most modem theories on rowing, including bints to coxswains, and all the articles are by standard authorities. The book also contains an excellent photograph of the Canterbury Rowing Club representative crew, the winners of the Champion Amateur Fours for the past season, beside a complete record of all the principal regattas. The “ Rowing Almanac” is a work which should prove invaluable to every amateur oarsman in the Colony. The crews for the Junior Pairs (Star Boating Club’s) have been drawn as follows : W, H. Cruickshank (bow), G. Wallace (stroke), A. D. Thomas (bow), W. D. McLean (stroke), O. Cooper (bow), Heywood (stroke), E. Red ward (bow), Burnes (stroke), Brabazon (bow), L. Storey (stroke), Clark (bow), Swainson (stroke), D. Barnett (bow), Mitchell (stroke). Pearson (bow), Seed (stroke), Duncan (bow), F. L. Biss (stroke), Shortridge (bow), Bethune (stroke), E. L. Widdop (bow), L. G. Maokay (stroke), A. H. Maokay (bow), J. A. Tripe (stroke), C. J. Hickson (bow), H. Eliott (stroke), A. G. Millward (bow), G. G. Gillon (stroke), E. Thomas (bow), C. Pearce (stroke). An exceedingly handsome trophy, presented by the Wolffe Schnapps Company through Mr Walter Nathan, of Lambtonquay, to the Regatta Committee to be competed for in the soulling race, was on view at Mr E. C. Batkin’s shop on Monday, and attracted considerable attention. Another handsome trophy, presented by Mr Walter Nathan for competition in Men-of-War, Naval, and Torpedo Cutter Raoe, was also on view at Mr Batkin’s shop. Both events take place at tin; forthcoming regatta. Mr H. Fielder, of Manners-street, has also presented a trophy to be competed for. We understand several other gentlemen have promise 1 trophies, and altogether the gentlemen who have kindly undertaken tho duties of canvassers have met with a gratifying amount of success. Another heat of the Johnson Sculls (Weilington Rowing Club) was got off Wednesday, the competitors being S. Waters and T. Bacon. The men got away well together and kept level for about half the distance, when Waters gradually drew away and won by seven lengths. Mr J. Ross, one of tho vicepresidents, acted as starter, and Captain Johnson judged the race. Alabaster did not turn up. so bis heat with Bridison will come off this evening, if possible. The drawing for the second round resulted as follows: Barber v. Waters, Marsh v. the winner of the Alabaster-Bridsou heat, Speed v, Darby, Hill taking the bye. - (per press association.) Lyi’telton, January 6. A yacht race for £25 a-side between tho Akaroa yacht Mahanga and tho Lyttelton champion Pastime was sailed in Lyttelton on Saturday. Considerable interest was manifested in the result, and both boats had numerous supporters. There was a fresh north-east wind blowing, and the Mahanga won a splendidly contested race by lmin 43sec. O’CONNOR t. TEEMER. The Turf, Field and Farm, gives the following account of the race between W. O’Connor, of Toronto, and John Teemer, for the championship of America, rowad on the Potomac, on the 24th November : O’Connor caught the water first and started away with a magnificent burst of speed which sent his boat a full length ahead at the very start. He was pulling 34 strokes to the minute with the regularity of clockwork, and did not seeip to be making any unusal effort. Teemer Btartod away with 36 strokes to tho minute, with which he followed O’Connor about one length behind. At the half mile O’Connor had in? creased his lead to two lengths, pulling the same long, even stroke and keeping up the same rapid speed. When the half mile was passed Teemer slowed down to 32, and was apparently rowing a waiting race. O’Connor also slackened his speed, and both settled down to their work. At the mile O’Connor had Blightly increased his lead, but a moment later an exultant about went up from the Teemer men, for in picking his way along the stake lined river the Canadian had got far put of his course, and was obliged to turn almost at right angles to reach the stakeboat. Teemer, who had been watching his opponant, saw the advantage he had gained, and he made a spurt for the turning boat. But O’Connor soon saw bis mistake. Making a magnificent spurt the two reached the turning boat almost neck and neck, O’Connor a little in advance, having recovered his lost ground. O’Connor was now three lengths ahead and Teemer Btoek went down with a drop. From this time on the race was merely a procession. Teemer fell baok beaten. His vaunted staying powers had vanished, and for the rest of the distance he rowed as if his strength had forsaken him. Hamm, his trainer, who had started from the turning point to coaoh him, gave that up as a bad job, and pulled his own boat ahead of that <?f the champion, while

Lee, who was on hand to urge O’Connor, anticipating a oldse race, rowed slowly along beside the referee's boat ahd laughingly declared that O’Connor was so tired that no one on the rivef could catch him. The race was practically over, although there was still a mile to be traversed. O’Connor reduced his stroke to 28 to the minute, and pulled to the finish as easily as if he were merely out for exercise. Teemer, on the other hand, to use the phrase of a jubilant O’Connor man on the Boston Globe tug, ‘was rowing in three pieces.’ Back, legs and arms were all hard at work, but they didn’t seem to keep perfect time. Tho result was an easy victory for O’Connor by fully eight lengths, in 21min 29sec. Teemer finishing in 21min 54sec. The first mile and a half was made in Bmin 35seo, the beat time for the course. O’Connor waited after the race with hand extended, expecting that Teemer would submit gracefully to his defeat, but tHe defeated champion studiously avoided the overtures of friendship made by his successor, and after stopping a moment to catch his breath he started for his boat--house. O’Connor then pulled ashore, where his arms were given more violent exercise by his enthusiastic friends than they had received in the race. O’Connor weighed 164 pounds and Teenier 162, In a subsequent interview Teemer said : The race was not satisfactory to me, aud I do not think any more of O’Connor now than I did before we rowed on Saturday. I lost the race because the cold weather affected me. I was stiffened up by it and could nob row ; that is the cause of my losing the race. I can defeat O’Connor, and the day will come when we will row on equal terms, and I will prove it.’