AQUATICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 28

AQUATICS.

McCormick, the Now Zealand sculler, is making satisfactory progress under Neilsen. The four-oared crew continues to do good work.

Although no one is sanguino of victory on his part, it is still expected that AlcCormiok will make a good race of it. The intercolonial rowing contests wore begun on Saturday, when the Eight-oared Race took place, and resulted as follows Victoria ... ... ... ... 1 New South Wales ... ... ... 2 Queensland 3 Only the three colonies were represented. Victoria gained an advantage by t heir smartness in getting away, and at Uhr’s were a length ami a halt' to tho good. The Now South Wales crew, however, stuck gallantly to them all the way, but the Queensland men wore out of the race before a mile had been covered. At One Man Wharf the local crew spurted but could not get np, and the Victorians won by a length. Time, 17min 17sec. The Victorians have now a record of II wins against Now South Wales, and four against Queensland. Tho Intercolonial Fours .and Single Sculls aro to be rowed next Saturday.

Now that the eight-oared race has boon disposed of, all interest eontres in tho doings of the four-oared crews.

Tho Government have placed a smart steam launch at the disposal of tho Now Zealanders, both for tho purpose of coaching and viewing tho race on Saturday. The Now Zealanders have been got in rare good fettle by Richardson—in fact, the crew are almost too vigorous for tho boat fittings, and a complete set of seats, rollers and runners had to bo procured from Alelbourno, owing to the original sets having been broken.

Both tho Victorian and Now Zealand crews were on the river on Tuesday afternoon. Tho Miiorilauders got in splendid pace work, hut Daly managed to break bis scull. The Victorians, though rather jerky, can got a rare turn of speed on, and will take a tremendous lot of beating on Saturday. '1 ho New South Welshmen were training lower down tho harbour, but have now moved up tho river. Tho Queenslanders have withdrawn from the contest.

THE AMATEUR DEFINITION IN NEW

SOUTH WALES,

Tho New South Wales Rowing Association have decided to allow their delegates at the Australasian Rowing Conterouoo a froo hand in all matters except on the question of the amateur definition to govern future intercolonial contests.

Their delegates will urgo that tho definition to be adopted shall bo tho definition in forco in Now youth Wales, but tho delegates, however, will bo at liberty to concede a provi-ion excluding manual labour amatours. They will not give way on the exclusion of “ men employed in or about boats,” which caused tho disqualification of tho Queen’s Drive crow in New Zealand. The Now South Wales Association havo also declined to comply with the request of the New Zealand Rowing Association that the distance for tho Intercolonial Fours bo increased from two and a quarter to threo miles.

Speaking to a Press Association representative, a leading member of the Now South Wales Rowing Association emphatically stated that that body would not allow under any circumstances iishormon to row in intercolonial contests.