ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 1724, 8 February 1862, Page 6

ANNIVERSARY REGATTA.

(From the “ New Zetland Spectator,” Jan. 25, 1862.) The Twenty second Anniversary of the Colony, which happened oh Wednesday last, the 22nd January, was kept as usual as a general holiday. The day was splendid; an almost cloudless sky, and a nice light breeze from the S.E. which added greatly to the Regatta, was all that could be wished by the spirited supporleis of this aquatic holiday pastime, combining as it does the useful and the amusing. The ships in harbour, as is their wont on such occasions, were gaily decorate.l wi.h theii flags, as were likewise several places on shore, giving the tout ensemble the appearance of a (lav when *• dull care” is cavalierly told to be after tak'ng himself out of the way. The rendezvous for those principally concerned in the Regatta was the extensive and commodious premises of G. Hunter, Esq., and there the great body of. the people were assembled. A Land of music was in attendance, w hose excellent performances added much to the gaiety of the scene. The Regatta was conducted throughout with that business decorum for which Mr. Hunter, who has always taken the most lively interest in these manly and useful holiday amusements, is deservedly so proverbial.

Captain Rhodes, and S. Carkcek, Esq., of H.M. Customs, were the Judges, and the fairness with which they performed their onerous duties gave the utmost satisfaction. Oo the signal gun being fired the boats entered (or the races took up their respective positions at Messrs. Bethune & Hunter’s jetty. The following is a list of the races in the order in which they took place :— Ist Face. “ Giaftacc.”—Entrance, 10s. fid. First Prize, £lO. Second do., .£5. Course—From abreast Messrs Betjiune A Hunter’s wharf, round a flag boat off Pipitea Poiut iijd another off Point Jerninghain, keeping all the shipping on the port hand, twice lound, and buck to the wharf. Distance about 3 miles. The following boats started for the race:— Mr. A. Hickson’s Watenviteh.............. 1 Capt M undle’s Wild Duck .............. 2 Mr. 11. Owen’s Undine .................. 3 At 11.5 a.tn. the second gun fired for the commencement of the contest, The start was excellent, but the Waterrdtch soon took the lead closely followed by the Wild Duck, the Undine losing ground considerably in consequence of being very badly steered The boats kept nearly the same distance until they rounded the flag boat off Pititea Point, the Waterwitch being neared by the Wild Duck, whijh greatly increased the distance between them and the ( Undine. The I Vater witch then went ahead and increased her distance al) the way round, coming in about 100 yards a-head of the Wild ( Duck, the Undine about 300 vards behind her. ( ft was a beautiful race throughout, the men in each boat manifesting real good English pluck. 2nd Race. ' “ Dingies or Ships’ Cutters” nut exceeding 22 feet I keel, over 22 feet, to allow one minute per foot—Eu- I trance, I Os. (id., First Prize, .£(>. Second do., .£3. ( ’Hie Course was reversed. The following boats were : entered: — Mr. 11. Owen’s Swift .................... 1 Mr. ,1. Underwood's Albemarle ......... 2 1 Mr. J. Hebherley’s Nautilus 3 ’ This was a very pretty race, and seemed very ‘ much to take the fancy of connoisseurs in sail- j ing matches, the boats all being very smartly j handled. An excellent start was effected. The , Swift was the first round the flag boat off < Oriental Bay, Nautilus second, and Albemarle J third. The boats changed their relative post- j tions several limes during the race, when at the ( finish the Swift came in first, the Albemdrle 1 , minute after her, the Nautilus 2 minutes later. < 3rd Pace. “ Cargo Boats” of any description.— Entrance, .£1 Is. First Prize, .£lO. Second <Jo., £-1. Third boat save entrance. The Course same as for the Skiff race. The following boats were entered, — Mr. Milo's Pearl .................... .... 1 Mr. W. llaybitlle’s Petrel 2 Mr. G. Houghton’s Try Again 3 Mr. G. Houghton’s Drothers 4 Mr. R. Haybittle’s Try fir II .............. 5 Mr. A. Hickson’s H unti1am................ 6 Mr. J. F. Wills' Ma0ri.................... 7 From the number of boats entered for this race it was natural that it would excite, as it certainly did, a very great amount of interest, and turned out one of the best affairs of the kind that has taken place in this harbour for a number of years. The Pearl was the winning boat in this well contested race, but unfortunately a dispute,arose between the Pearl and the Petrel, the owner of the latter declaring that the Pearl did not go round the stipulated course.

4ih Race. Gig Bace,” Amateurs.—Entrance, 10s. Cd. First Prize, .£l. Second Prize, .£2. • For this trial of strength the following boats entered the lists: — Mr. A. Hickson’s Waterwilch ............ 1 Mr. Haybittle’s Undine .................. 2 Mr. Alex. Bowler’s Wild Duck 3 This was a well got up p tiling match, and elicited a great deal of applause from the lookers-on. The Waterwitch was the winner, the Undine second, and the Wild Duck last. sth Race. Waterman’s Boat Race, pair of sculls.—Entrance, 10s. (id. First Prize, £2, second £‘l. The following boats were entered :— Mr. E. Hewitt’s Hannah 1 Mr. J. Hebherley’s Allow me to be There .... 2 Kir. C. Goodins* James Phillips ............ 3 This race, which was well contested throughout, was won by the Hannah. (Jth Race. Sculling Klatch for dingies.—Frist Prize £4, second .£2. The following boats were entered :— Mr. J. Hebherley’s Sarah 1 Kir. J. Davison’s Ztando/p/z 2 Kir. Short’s Alert ....................... 3 Kir. Phillips’ Sisleis ...................... 4 In this race the Sarah came ofl’ the conqueror. 7th Race. Duck Race. —Entrance, ss. Prize ,£L. In this race the Duck was personified by Milo,"and llebberlcy and Hewitt went in pursuit. As is wont this race caused very great merriment. The Duck from exhaustion gave up before the appointed time, ami Hewitt and Hebberley were of course the winners. Here ended aquatic sports, which afforded throughout the greatest satisfaction to all concerned. Then commenced the Rural Sports,

Climbing the greasy pole, for a leg of mutton and 10s., did not come off, as there was no one that would try for it.

Jingling Match, for ss. Job Short, jingler, won by Cruwson. Second tune by Costello. Jumping in sacks for 7s. 6d., won by Walsh, second time, 55., won by the same. Wheelbarrow Race, blindfolded, for 10-., won by Howell; second time, by Walker; third time, by Stapleton. Foot Race ; first 55., second Is. Lee, first ; Booth, second.

Boys’ Race, ss. first, Is. second. M'Carty, first; Clout, second.

The day’s festivities were brought to a close by a ball at the Odd Fellows’ Hall; and thus ended the inauguration of the Twenty-second Anniversary of a settlement .which bids fair to be an acquisition to Jbe British Crown of the first J order as a Colonial possession.*