Local News NELSON REGATTA. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18.

Colonist, Issue 43, 19 March 1858, Page 2

Local News NELSON REGATTA. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18.

The signal gun now Vends the air!/. Each vessel, darts away, . r And leaves a foaming, hissing tracks ■■■■. Across the heaving bay;. " < The lusty boatmen ply their oars, ... Unfearing wind or sea, ■ Until at length the conq'rofs cheered, With shouts of victory ! / Pic-nics and Regattas are not likely to be affected by any Divorce. Bill, for they;are "meant each other's aid, like man and wife," arid on such a fine sunny day as yesterday, nothing better could be devised for a day's pleasure, and very glad we were to see the two so well-united. The numbers that flocked together on the hill-tops and sides, were very considerable, the daring colonial youth remarkably' prominent, perched composedly on the most inaccessible declivities, or anon, scampering along the beach, "like mad," to meet the winners

Altogether, the scene was most animating. On the waters were to be seen all kinds 'of craft, from the light dingy, the ponderous barge, the rakish yacht, the handy brig and schooner, to the stately barque. Every available spar was decorated vvith flags of all descriptions, which added-to'.'the gaiety of the scene. . : . ..

As.many of bur readers are not aware of a change in tlie programme, of lrat year* we.must remind them,' that the centre of attraction is now close to the old Government' Stores, " where men most do congegate,": where refreshments are provided, and where the Hanoverian Band performs. The four prizes which have arrived, are handsome cups, London-made, and costly, and are furnished by a Sydney house. The Yacht Club Cup is an unique, and elegantly chased silver vase, silver gilt inside, surmounted by a sailor resting against an anchor, with cable -attached, which forms a handle to the- lid, and is at once useful and ornamental. A space is left for a shield on which the fortunate owner may engrave the nature of his prize. ...... :. ' The Lighterman's and Waterman's-Cups, and the cup for open boats under canvass, though less pretentious, are in good taste, and very creditable to the efforts of our young Nelson Yacht Club, to provide adequate reward to the competitors. The Nelson Challenge Cup has not yet arrived, so that the most derisive cannot twit tlieni with having a " cup too much," since it; is .far otherwise. • .; The absence of the steamer .at the eleventh hour, threw an extra amount of labour onjhe Sailing Committee, 'as she vvns employed by them to lay down the boats outside for the yachtsto found, to moor the Kate Kearney to tlie entrance 6i< the harbour to act as flag-ship, &c, &c. We also regret her absence, as she would have been an interesting moving feature in the day's amusement...., ......

We now notice the marches seriatim, regretting that the inexorable publishing day, Friday, will not permit us to close the account of the Nelson Regatta of 1858, without recurring 'to.it again in our next issue. - .:

FIRST RACE. A Match between GaRGO BOATS for the LIGHTERMAN'S CUi*, value £10 10s. Second boat: —cash £&. No time for tonnage in this race. En-^ trance Fee £1. ' • -• ■• • • Entered.—Odd Fellow, Ann, Sarah, Three Brothers, Kate, Governor Gray. : Odd Fellow 1 Governor Grey 2 Three Brothers 3 • Kate at the very outset earned away her mast.; Ann Was found to require more ballast. Sarah] did not start; '. ■ ' SECOND RACK. . A Match betweeii vessels of 50 tons and under forthe NELSON-CHALLENGE CUP of 1858, value 50 guineas, to be sailed for in Blind Baj% at the NELSON ANNUAL KEG ATT A, by Boats, not: exceeding 50 • tons belonging to any of the New Zealand Provinces., The Cup to be awarded to the owner of tne Boat that shall be declared the winner of the match for two consecutive years.' • - •'• ■■' '■ -- STARTED.T^-Auckland, 12; Flying Pish, 6;. Kate Kearney,.3 ; Sprite, .5. ~,■; . Auckland 1-. ... Kate Kearney 2 5prite.......;....^;. ...:';'..;;... 3: : .- Flying Fish .......;............. 4; ; The Auckland took the race in splendid style, followed by the Kate Kearney, apparently a" very fast though small boat. She came in a good second, beating .the,, Sprite, from which much was expected as she seemed to run, well at the'start ing. The flying Fisli from having started with storm sails was not where she would have been had she had her fine weather sails on hoard. We cannot, however, help saying that she is an.extraordinary weatherly boat. ; This race was run in 1 hour 32 minutes—distance 14 miles.: v \ '■•'■■ /-,;.,.. " . ■"•; ' •■■■. THinii raor.. ',' A Match between all 4-OARED BOATS. First boat., £9. Second ditto, £8. Entrance' Fee, Ml. ■■ The 4-oared boat match was taken by the Ariel, hut disputed however by the crew of the Old Tommy; and on reference to .the Sailing Committee it was decided that the race should be run over again this day (Friday.)' , FOURTH RACK. . A Match between alt 20AREDIJOATS not exceeding 20 feet keel for the WaTERMAN'S CUP, value £ J1015.*. Second boat, >/£5.; Third;.ditto, £L. Entrance Fee,, £1. .. r ' ' ;" , The Waterman's Crip was easily taken by the Spirited builder, of the Garry Owen, followed closely by Burnett, in the Rose. The Caxton, by the same builder as the Garry Owen, was not to be seen. It is generally believed that the crew were seen North-f-Eastin-the vicinity of-the Commercial Hotel, ■and'are consequently safe. '