REGATTA DAY AT THE BLUFF.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 40, 8 January 1898, Page 7

REGATTA DAY AT THE BLUFF.

President : Hon J. G. Ward, M.H.R. VicePresident : Mr G. W. Niebol. Judges: Captains .Bates, Macdonald, Lovett, Raymond, Duncan, and Cotton. Umpire : Mr J. T. Martin. Timekeeper : Mr A. Ferguson. Starter : Mr J. Roberts. Secretary and Treasurer : Mr Thos. S. Mullay. Committee : Messrs S. Nichol (chairman), J. K. Fox, P. Georgeson, T. Gilroy, J. M. Kennedy, J. Metzger, W. Parlane, J. Roberts, T. Urwin, G. R. Waddel, A. Walker, G. A. Wbealler, T. J Warren, Captains Macdonald and Lovett, and the Rev Mr Maclaren. Somebody said the other day that Invercargill ought to have been at the Bluff- -He was speaking from a commercial and geographical point of view. On Monday last most of the people of Invercargill, with a good many country visitors thrown in, went down to the port to witness the annual regatta. But that is not the sole attraction. Even when the weather has been too bad for a regatta they have gone to the Bluff in thousands. It is a way they have got into. To not a few of the older ones the Bluff has a sentimental interest. It was their first landing place in the Colony—their introduction to the unknown. Since then fortune may have dealt kindly or unkindly with them, but all the same they like to see the port at least once a year and exchange memories of auld lang syne with the shipmates who survive and acquaintances of later date. For the younger contingent the sea possesses a perennial charm. Both old ans young mustered in force —it is estimated that the excursionists numbered nearly ten thousand. They experienced only one disappointment during the day—the warship Mildura had been compelled to leave for the southern islands

lon New Year’s Day. But for all that the port was well equipped with shipping—the barquentine Frank Guy, with jatrah piles and beams for bridge building, from the Clarence river; the barque Alexa, filling with timber for Lyttelton ; the Zealandia, loading wool foi Horae ; the big Shire liner, the Banffshire ; and lastly, one l of the latest additions to the enterprising Union Company’s fine fleet, the steamer the flagship of the occasion. Although she had only arrived late the night before, her genial commander, Captain Anderson, started to discharge cargo about 2.30 a.m. on Monday, and had his inward loadinsr completed by 8.30 a.m. and everything in readiness tor visitors. All the vessels in port were dressed in bunting, and with the Bluff Naval Band on the Waikare, and the Caledonian Pipe Band on the Banffshire, good weather, with the excitement of sailing and rowing races, and other diversions, small wonder that the throngs crowding the shipping, wharves, streets, and hillsides, enjoyed themselves right well. Towards evening rain set in, but not even this and the having to ride in open trucks, robbed the outing of its pleasure. As one veteran passenger said it reminded him of his first ride on a railwav at the opening of a line in Scotland 50 years ago. He was attired in alightcoloured suit on that memorable occasion, and the ‘ blacks ’ from the engine speedily converted it into another colour than white. Yet another traveller, from Wairnea Plains way, told how he had risen at four o’clock that morning and driven into Gore, and he reckoned to complete his day’s pleasure early on Tuesday. The weather favoured the regatta, and the committee worked hard to get everything off in good time. The wind blew from the north in the morning and then accommodatingly shifted to the west, giving comparatively smooth water for the rowing events inside the wharf, and a good breeze for the sailing races. The cutters’ dingy race was*— won by S. Smith, with Hanning second, and Dixon third. In the inrigged dingy race R. Dixon was an easy winner against W. Boniface, jun., who had beaten him at the Riverton regatta. H. Boniface did not finish. The Invercargill Rowing Club annexed the maiden four-oared outrigged gig race, the Railway R.C. being second, and the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club third. That enthusiastic yachtsman, Mr G. Clare, gained pride of place with theMinniehaha in the race for boats not engaged in the fishing trade, Parsons' Unknown and Craig’s Rambler coming in second and third respectively. In the cutters and fishing vessels’ race, Johnston’s Mystery and Hansen’s Kingfisher, tied for first place, Gilroy’s Heather Bell being third. Junior four-oared outrigger race — Port Chalmers R C., 1; Awarua 8.0., 2; Invercargill R.C., 3. Fishing vessels’ race Roberts’ Meteor, 1 ; Goomes Bros.’ Planet, 2 ; Scollay’s Twilight, 3. Sailing race —Boys, 1 ; Craig, 2 ; Pox, 3. Senior four-oared outrigged race —Railway R.C., 1; Port Chalmers R.C., 2 ; Awarua 8.C., 3. Ships’ four-oared gig race—-S,S. Waikare, 1; Banffshire, 2 and 3. Maiden pair-oared outrigged gig race —T. McDonald (stroke), McLean, King, and McGrath.