A LONG WAIT

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11738, 28 January 1924, Page 11

A LONG WAIT

COMMITTEE IN CONSULTATION NO SECOND RACE ON SATURDAY. Owing to the fact, that the judging were considering the protests of the June and, Linnet regarding the result of the morning rrace, it was not possible to get the beats away in the afternoon. The time fixed by the council at its meeting earlier in the week was 3 p.m., but it was two hours after this before .the decision was made known. Naturally, it was looked foiivard to with keen interest. By this time the various points of vantage along the shore were crowded with spectators. Tho bright, warm sunshine had attracted people from all parts of the city and suburbs to the waterfront. THE WIND ,CHANGED. By 8 p.m. the wind had. changed somewhat, and was coming from the northeast. Conditions generally were favourable for the contest. The harbour presented a very different appearance to tho day of the first trial. The prOsenre of other craft on the water added to the attractiveness of the scene. Port Nicholson was indeed in a. genial and kindly mood, having donned her brightest and most colourful raiment in honour of the visitors. No decision had been arrived at a nhour later, and a portion of the

crowd dwindled away, apparently convinced. that no race would take place. A good deal of criticisna was levelled at the officials for taking such a time to arrive at a result regarding the protests, and murmurs of disapproval were heard on all sides. The public, as a matter of fact, right throughout the trials, received little in the way of undue consideration from the management, and there was not a little justification for their attitude. It was not until 5 o'clock that anything was seen of tho sailing committee, who had been deliberating inside the boathouse since shortly after 2 o'clock. PROTEST UPHELD. It wa9 then announced that the protest had been upheld, and that the race had ibeen awarded to the Linnet (Canterbury). The next race was fixed for to-day at 10.30 a.m. The result of the committee’s finding was generally well received, although, of course, quite nar tu rally, it was not altogether relished by the supporters of the Auckland boat. It was due more to the time taken by the committee to arrive at their decision that offence was ■given to ,a large section of the public. They were so long in appearing that a facetious bystander hauled down the flags over the> building, and placed them at half-mast. Another Suggested that Mr Massey, who had just arrived in the city on nis return from the Old Country, should be called in to adjudicate. What appeared to take the time was hearing a considerable number of witnesses of the morning’s incident. It certainly gave rise to the question as to why the judges, who had also witnessed this, could not have arrived at a conclusion much sooner. Undoubtedly the wasted afternoon was annoying to the visiting yachtsmen as well as to the public generally.