AQUATICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7222, 18 July 1884, Page 7

AQUATICS.

SOUGHING MATCH BETWEEN lUNHAH AND lIBARN. A meeting was convened at tile Pier Hotel at 8 p.m. on .Saturday for the purpose of making arrangements to secure a sculling match between Edward H.-vslau, champion of the world, and William Hearn, champion of New Zealand. About twelve or fourteen gentlemen attended, and Mr Charles Hill was, in the absence of'thn Mayor, voted to the chair, and formally opened the meeting. Mr E, O. Batkin, who had convened the meeting, stated that ho had had certain correspondence with Hanlan, which ho read as follows : “ Petty’s Hotel, Sydney, May 2.—Dear sir,— In reply to your letter of the 21st of March, I have to say that my visit to Niw Zealand will depend a good deal on what prospects archeld out in the way of rowing exhibitions or matches. I am quite prepared to make a match with Hearn, the Kew Zealand champion, on the following terms :—Slakes to he £SOO a-side, and I to ho allowed £l5O for expense of going to New Zealand. Write and let mo know if these conditions are acceptable, also any information that may he of use to mo regarding your colony.—l remain, yours truly, Edwaud Hanlan.” Mr Batkin said that ho had consulted the principal bankers of Hearn, and that tha latter came to the conclusion that the terms asked for were exorbitant. In consequence, bo sent the following letter to Hanlan :—“ I am in receipt of yonrs of the 2nd, in which you state terms on which you arc prepared to make a match with Hearn. Your propo-al to row for £SOO a-side and ha allowed £l5O for expenses cannot ho entertained by Hearn’s supporters ; hut if you can see your way to a match for £2OO a-side, allowing you £SO for expenses, please say so, and one will be arranged at once. With regard to rowing exhibitions, I think there is little doubt that, notwithstanding the small size of the chief towns, rowing exhibitions in the principal centres of population would prove lucrative. It is needless for me to tell you what pleasure it will give the people of this colony—the rowing section more especially —to see you in New Zealand.” In reply to this, a cablegram was received as follows r— * 1 Accept match with two-thirds gate money.’’ Tho position was now as follows :—A match could he made between Hearn and Hanlan for £2OO a-side with two-thirds of the gate money and £SO expenses to the latter, hut Hearn not being a man of means, a meeting has been called to consider how to raise the necessary funds. Mr Batkin pointed out that this was a very important matter, as it was not a semi-private match,like that with White, hut a match tor the championship of the world, and he believed that the Wellington public would rise to the occasion. As a next step he proposed that a match be made between Hanlan and Hearn, provided pulficient funds for Hearns stake money and expenses be raised. Mr .T. E. Hayes thought there would he little difficulty in that if a committee were formed to canvas the town. He proposed that a subscription list be opened at once, and the meeting adjourneduntil next Saturday, Mr Batkin further proposed that a committee of five, viz., Messrs .1. 11, Hayes, Saunders, Cornish, C. Hiil, and K. C. Batkin, he formed for the purpose of raising the funds. Mr -Batkin stated that £260 would be all that was required, and said that he had been promised assistance from all directions ; the affair only required starting. Both resolutions being agreed to, the enbscnption list was immediately circulated among \ those present, and. in a few minutes the hand- . some sum of £56 11s was subscribed. The meeting then adjourned until the next Saturday or an earlier dace, fur the purpose of receiving the report of the committee. The date of the match was not fettled, but was left to the discretion of the committee. It is wry probable that handicap races will be arranged for, to come off the same day as the sculling in itch.