LAND AND WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 64

LAND AND WATER.

BURGESS CHALLENGED BY WOLFFEu LONDON, October 17. Ja.be?: Wolffo has challenged Burgess for the professional swimming championship of England over any distance in open water or in an open-air bath. BILLIARDS. LONDON, October 21. Newman has scored 18,726 and Roberta 17,999. The match will be continued 1 tonight for exhibition purposes.

THE YACHTING SEASON.

AN AUSPICIOUS OPENING. The Ota«o Yacht and Motor Boat Club was favoured with absolutely ideal weather conditions for the opening of the season on Saturday. The earlier pars of tho afternoon was mild and bright, with the air almost a calm, but just before the procession a light north-oast breeze came down acroa-i the harbour to set all the flags fluttering and send the dainty craft scudding across tho water. Shortly after half-past 2 tho Mocrangi, crowded to her utroopt capacity with tho pruosts of tho club, loft the Jetty street Boat for the club grounds at Bolichet Bay.

The Reffimwital Band in full force, under Li an tenant George, discoursed music from tho boat, which circled round before mooring ai the je*iy by the- club's pavilion. Hearty chcen* were gir«n for Commodore Han-on ;ie ho passed by in the Inishfrto, followed by 16 motor boats in procession. After the oomunodoVo had anchored,' tho full proccscion ot ths» yacht* followed by the launches came up Iho harbour and ck-ci-jj. round the Inishfroe, dipping their lings as they passed. Tho eight was a very pretty and animated or:e. The harbour was bright with sunshine and gay with gliding white sails and many-coloured ilu-gs. Vieeoommodora Molier, of Ra ven*bourne, led tho yachts in the lemay, and was followed by ,thc Janet, Tiielrna, Adelaide, Carina-, Revenge, Ripple, Ruru. Redwing, Iris, Ventura, Kia Ora, Irex, Wiliiamina, May, Mona, and Viking. The launches were led by Rear-commodore C. Smith, in the Waitai, after which came as nearly as could be ascertained the Eesequibo, Valmai, Meteor, Mataura, Marewa, Tui, Query, Marguerite, Matai, Kelvin, Muritai, Ariadne, ' Hermione. Doreen, Imp, Ethel, Groyling, Ripple, Kaituna, Huana, Waterwitch, Loridano, Vida, Intruder, Arawa, Jean, "Varera, Isabel, Vanguard, Nora Mahara, Ronini, Ruby, Kismet, and Iris.

The procession was" watched by some four or five hundred people gathered in the club's enclosure, amongst the visitors being his Worship the Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, Mr F. W. Platts, Mayor of Port Chalmers and member of the Harbour Board, Mr J. Loudon, of the Harbour Board, and Cr Douglas The Ravensbourne Yachting Club was represented by the Commodore (Mr H. E. Moller), who is also vice-commodore of the Otago Club, and several Ravensbourne boats, and there were also several boats present from the Port Chalmers Club. All the visitors were generously entertained with afternoon tea, and the band played a number of selections.

Commodore Hanloii, in declaring tjie season open, referred to a number of apologies and messages of goodwill he had. received, one being from Mr J. F. Arnold, M.P. He made fitting reference to the recent death of Mr W. J. Waters, to whom the club owed a great deal. Cheers having been given for the yachting season 1911-12, brief addresses were given by the Mayor (Mr W. Burnett), Messrs Loudon, and J. F. Woodhouse. On the call of the commodore three cheers were given for " Admiral Lord Nelson, England's greatest sailor," and the band struck up " Rule Britannia." Cheers were also given for the commodore and for the speakers. During the afternoon many of the friends of club members were taken for short cruises on the harbour. The smoothness and success of the whole function and the completeness of all arrangements were largely due to the work of the flag officers, Messrs A. C. Hanlon, H. E. Moller, and C. Smith, who were loyally and ably supported by other officials of the club.