THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2200, 30 April 1896, Page 36

THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACS.

Despatches from Putney, England, dated 28th March, cay :— The Oxford crew to tho surprise of almost everybody won the fifty-third boat race between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge by about one-third of a length, after a ■tost exciting finish. Thua Oxford has woo 30 raoes of the seriss to 22 won by Cambridge, the dead 'heat ib 1877 making up the total number. This is the seventh year ia succession that Oxford has defeated Cambridge. The ; time was 20min lstc. The course was the ' usual one from Putney bridge to Mortlake, a distance of about four and a-quarter miles, j In the early hours a heavy downpour ef rain drenched the gathering of sight-seers, and caused thousands to remain at homo. As a result, the crowds along the banks of the Thames wers ranch thinner than usual. Cambridge was a hot favour ita at 6to 4-, with few takers. Cambridge embarked first, won the toss, and chose the Surrey side of the river. This was a decided advantage, as a heavy gale was blowing from tha shore about south-west, raiting lumpy water everywhere, and quite a little sea at bad places. The crows embarked at 12 50 p.m. At the pfetol shot,' at 1.2 o'cl ck, both boats got away sharply, Cambridge pulling a pretty 36 stroke' to Oxford's slightly more powerful sweep of 34. There was little to choope between them until Clamper's house was reached,, approaching the first halfmile, when Cambridge showed slightly in front. The two crews were pulling with great determination, splashing somewhat on account of the rough water. At the half-mile Oxford drew up and showed ahead at Wai den's. At this there was j^real cheering, for it was apparent a splendid ding-dong race was to be rowed. Gold, the Oxford stroke, evidently had his men well ia hand and ready for something is spurting work without any danger of distress signals being displayed. Fertile, the Cambridge) stroke, quickly called his crew together, and pulling a long, powarful stroke with high feather, characteristic of fckis year's Cambridge crew (just the Btroite for such weather and water), regained the lead at the Crabtree wharf, neariog the one and a-half mile post. Geld, meanwhile, was sticking to his work moat greedily, and calling upon the Dark Blues to hit her up again, the Oxford boat crept up and passed the Cambridge craft at the soap works amid terrific chef-ring from both sh«res. After paesing the soap works Oxford kept; up the pace and led by nearly a length at one fcimo. Forme called upon the Light Blues for a spurt, and they responded with such vim that the Cambridge boat shet under H&mmenmtth bridge a short length afcead ef Oxford, and, according te tradition, should have won the race. Gaid, h«wev«r, was as fit as a fiddle, and game to the baekbono. At the load mills ob tbe upper side of Hammersaaith bridge the orwws were rowing a powerfal 32, and the propk«t* who had declared Oxford would go to pieces after tbe first tw* mile* looked glum and uaosfßfortabla, for there were no signs of collapse arasogflfc Gold's sturdy youngsters. The ; Cambridge crew were equal to the cmcrgcaoy, aod, responding with a beau^fnlly-suttained i effort, drew away again. Cambridge at Theinycroft's had a lead of about three-quarters of a ! length, and both oraws were bending down to the work in tbe grandest ma&Bor poiwible. From < tkere to the t&xec-tnile poat, about h»lf-way ' between Ohiswiek Onrch and Barnes's bridge, the race was a most punishing one, both from the pace set and t>ha Jumpy w<vfc«r. Cambridge succeeded " in holding a Blight lead, and shot under the bridge ahead of Oxford. " Cambridge { wins 1 " rang from Barnes's to Putney, bat this was without reckoning upon the reserve foroe of ! Gold's gallant men. Their slender racing boat fairly tore through the water, and there was a mighty shoot of admiration when it was seen that tbe increased power put into Oxford's stroke was steadily taking the Dark Blues up to their rivals. Fenae replied with another supreme effort, and the plucky Light Blues backed him up to the utmost. They oould not threw off their rivals, who began to overhaul them steadily. Frantic excitement reigned on both btmks of the river, and the shouting was almost deafening. For a time, off Mcraake GJauroh, Cambridge seemed likely Ito be able, to hold its lead to the flni&h, bat this I was not to be. "As the ohurch was passed there was a spurt by the Dark Blues which will be rooorded in the history of rowing. It was simply magnificent. The men pulled as if they had bat just started in the race. The Dork Bluss overtook the end of the Cantabo' boat. For a moment it was nose and nose, with the winning post in sight.. Then, patting still more steam into their stroke, the Dark Bluos passed the Cambridge boat, and finished winners by a short third of a length in 20n»in lseo— splendid time when the weather and rough water are taken into consideration. The time hea only beeu beaten over this course upon three previous ooo«Bloni — Cambridge in 1873 did it in lQmln 35seo, Oxford in 1892 in 19min 21eeo, and Oxford in 1803 in lamin 47eeo. Last year Oxford won in 2O.r>m 50aoo. Kangaroos are dying in large numbers in the central weitern difttriot of Queensland from the effects of some peculiar disease. Nearly 200 members attended the annual meeting of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Saturday. The flnanoes are in a flourishing toQelition, the membership numbering about 400. Mr Firani, M.H.&., w*s elected president liter a. ctOMttnttlAi