GENERAL NEWS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1946, 1 June 1874, Page 3

GENERAL NEWS.

The Suez Mail Route. {From the Some News, April 7.) The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, supported in their object by a large number of influential merchints and bankers in London, have been for some time past endeavouring to procure fche consent of Her Majesty's Postmaster-General to their steamers carrying fcho mails through the Suez Canal, instead of, as hitherto, transhipping by sending fchem over the railway, to Suez, to be carried thence lo their destinations in India, China, or Australia, as fche caso may be. The mercantile world in general support the proposal, as ifc involves, according to the promises of the company, a two days' earlier delivery of the mails in Australia, and ono day earlier in Bombay, Calcutta, and China, and a corresponding earlier deliveries on the homeward route. A deputation of a certain section of steamship owners, however, headed by Mr Holt, recently in an interview with the lato Postmaster-General, strongly opposed tho granting of tho concession, alleging that ifc would confer unfair advantages oh an already subsidised company, and that the latter could, even if they obtained their object, give the public no assuranco thafc fcho mails would nofc frequently bo detained by the vessels grounding in the canal. The company meet the latter objection by saying that they would undertake, under penalties, to make up by extra speed at sea for any detention which, on particular occasions, might occur in tho canal ; and as to tho former objection, that is of no force in tho face of the interest the public have in getting their letters delivered in the shortest possible time. The lato Government wenfc oufc of office very shortly after fcho above-mentioned deputation waited on Dr Lyon Playfair, and the matter could of course get no attention during tho ministerial crisis and the general election which followed. Mr Michio, however, the agent-general of Victoria, recently revived the subject in an interview with Lord Carnarvon, and' by arrangement with his lordship, addressed to him a memorandum for the Government, setting forth the merits of the company's proposition. Mr Francis Dufcfcon, fche agent general for South Australia, who aho supports the proposition, expressed his approval of the torms of Mr Michie's memorandum before ifc was transmitted to the Secretary of State ; and sanguine hopes aro now entertained that tho movement will speedily be crowned with success, as Mr Disraeli and his fellows aro showing every disposition to respect the old adago which assigns speoial virtues to new brooms. Should tho concession bo obtained, the next consideration will be a revision of tho present time-table, as opinion here is much divided on fchafc point, some being as much in favour of tho mails being delivered on Saturdays, as othors aro opposed to deliveries on that day. This, however, is merely a matter of detail, which can easily bo settled hereafter. The University Boat Race. {From the Times.) Saturday morning broke fine and summerlike after fche squalls and rain of tlie preceding evening, bufc as' the sun 'rose, fcho wind, which had'goho down during fche night, increased in force, and as tho Press boat left the Templo Pier afc 9 a.m., a strong wind from the south and west was blowing down tho river, and raised a Buocession of mimic waves between the bridges as tho tide flowed. Long before this hour hundreds of row-boats had commenced their journey towards the arena of the contest, and in passing up river, paddle steamers, screw yachts, steam launches, panting tugs, and even cumbersome barges, Ipropelled by oars, wero overtaken, all bound for tho scene of action, and for tho most part heavily freighted with peoplo, among the fairer portion of whom garments and ribbons of light and dark as well as mazarine blue appeared to be indispensable. Tho same may also bo said of the spectators ashore on either side of the course. Afc a few minutes before 11 o'clock tho Oxford crow embarked at fcho London Rowing Club yard, paddled slowly down to' the starting place, and swinging their boat in raid-river, proceeded to take up their position at tho outer mark-vessel, both tho starting boats, bo it remembered, being moored on the Middlesex sido of mid-stream. They wore loudly cheered by the occupants of the Oxford ! steamer made fast to fcho' Aqueduct astern of them. Fivo minutes later the Cambridge crew also put off from Leander Club Boathouse, and steadily paddling towards tho starting place, took up their position afc fcho inner station on tho Fulham Bido of thoir opponents. The latter is usually considorad the the better station ; but as tho wind was blowing directly ucro'-s tho river from the Putney shore, and the tide had fallen off considerably in strength, tho outer or windward position was for the moment tho better berth of tho two, although it was compensated for in tho upper part of tho river by the long bend to tho right from Chiswick Meadows to tho winning post, so thafc on Saturday the stations wero perhaps equalised. The old bridge was crowded with spectators, knots of men were visible on tho steeples of Putney and' Fulham churches, and even on tho summit of the Aqueduct itself, as, everything being in readiness, tlie two crews lay at the post in readiness for tho start, manned as follows : — CA.MUBIDGE. St. lb. 1 P. J. Hibbert, St. Johns U I*,--2. G. F. Army tago, Jesus „', ... 11 8 3. Jumos B. "Close; First Trinity ... 11 0£ 4. A. S. Estcourt, Trinity Hall ... 11 lOi 5. W. Lccky-Browne, Jesus ... 12 5 6. J. A. Aylmer, First Trinity ... 12 11 7. 0. S. Read, Firsfc Trinity ... 12 11 J H. E. Rhodes, Jesus (stroke) ... 11 7 C. H. Candy, Caius (cox) ... 7 5 Oxfoiid. 1. H. W. Benson, Brasenoso ... 11 0 2. J. S. Sinclair, Oriel il o'j 3. W. E. Shovwood; Christ Church il 8 4. A, R.Harding, Merton il lj 5. J. Williams, Linpfiln 13 0"? 6. A. W. Nicholson, Magdalen ... ii lo" 7. H. J. Staynor, Sfc John's ... 11 10} J. P. Way, Byasenoso (stroke) ... 10 9 W. Lambert, Wadham (cos.) ... 7 2 At 11 a.m. the signal was given by Mr Edward Searle, the starter, from a waterman's skiff astern of tho two crows, and the race commenced. Cambridge wore the firat to

catch hold of the water, succeeded immediately by their opponents. The former got way on their boat quickest, the start of the Oxford crew being anything bufc a good one, and led by a quarter of a length off the Duke's Head, rowing 37 strokes a minute to 35 on the part of Oxford. So fast did the Cambridge crew send their boat through tho water tliat opposito the flagstaff of the London Boal'houso they led by a good half length apparently dropping their opponents rapidly. Off tho Bishop's Creek, where Oxford \yere rowing 36 strokes per minute, the side wind fell upon the boats with full force, and driving their sterns to leeward brought their bows up windward, so that both boats were pointed towards the Surrey shore, and were going in a line diagonal to their proper course. Tho Cambridge coxswain was the firsfc to straighten his boat by tho application of his right or lee line, by which means, as the - crew passed the site of the old half mile post between the Bishop's Creek and Craven Cottoge, the lead of Cambridge was increased to two-thirds of a length. The latter in rounding, on tho inner hand, the bend afc Craven Cottage, gained still more, so thafc off fcho Grass Wharf, about 200 yards abovo the Cottage grounds, they wero as nearly as possible clear of Oxford. In crossing the water in Crab Tree Reach, however, Oxford gained fast, reducing tho lead of the Cambridge crew, as they passed Rosebank Villa, to half a length. Off the Crab Tree, the latter in their turn once more gained, and were leading off Dorset Villa by two-thirds of a length, which advantage wa3 increased to fully three-quarters of a length afc tho Soap Works wharf. Approaching Hammersmith Bridge fche Cambridge coxswain fetched his boat oufc unnecessarily wide, pointing her abruptly towards the Middlesex shore, but ifc is jusfc possible this was done from overcaution and anxiety to givo room for tho other eight to pass clear of the steamboat pier. By this means tho Oxford crew made up a good deal of their lost ground, and reduced their opponents' lead to half a length, tho noso of tho Oiford boat being lovel with tho feet of No. 4 in tho Cambridge crew as fcho suspension bridge was passed in Bmin. 26sec. Now camo fche turn of fche Oxford crow to hold tho better position round the bend of -the river abovo Hammersmith, but apart from this they were seen fco bo rapidly overtaking tho leaders off tho Doves. Opposite the Old Mills afc the corner before openCorney Reach, tho Cambridge crew on tho outside were the first to catch the wind, as a very strong breeze was blowing down the Reach and raising a heavy swell in midstream ; their progress consequently was much retarded, and in a hundred and fifty yards moro tho Oxford crew drew level for the first time since leaving the post. Tho rough water in Corney Reach — the hope of Oxford—militated seriously against fche Cambridge crow for fcheir boat, whioh was tho moro submerged of the two, seemed unable to make headway against fche wind and waves like fche Clasper boat of the Oxford, with its greater freeboard, notwithstanding the Cambridge men wero rowing by far the quijker stroke of the two. Ifc happened then, thafc the Oxford slowly drew away, and as the Cambridge crow for a moment fell fco pieces in fche midafc of two or three larger waves than usual, led by threequarters of a length at the foofc, or lower ond, of Chiswick Eyot ; and for fche moment ifc looked as if the advocates of Clasper's and tho opponents of White's boat were right in their prognostications. Two miles and a quarter wero by this time rowed. The force of tho foul wiud and swell had now full play upon, both boats, so that their progress was comparatively Blow, Oxford rowing 34 strokes and Cambridge 36, to tho minute. Having oteadied themselves tho latter began to hold their own, and presently to regain somo of their loßfc ground, bo thafc off tho middle of tho Eyofc, Oxford only led by half a length, both crows ploughing away fco the best of their ability in fche rough water rolling between the island and towpath shore. It had by this timo become apparent to the occupants of the steamers immediately astern of the crews fchafc fche turning point of fche race had arrived. Although abreast of the Church —reached in 15 mm. 55 sees.-^Oxford still led by nearlybnlf alength, their opponents wero holding their own well, and as smoother water was visible ahead — owing to the bend in the river to the left, by which the wind came off tho Chiswick shore— it needed no second sight to discover that tho Cambridge crew would derive considerable advantage from their position under tho Middlesex bank, and wifch tho inside of the long horseshoe bend from tho Bathingplace to Mortlake in their favour— a set-off to the long bend in favour of Oxford from tho Soap Works to tho Bathing-place, which was now drawing to an end. Afc tho White Cottage, then, the lead of Oxford was reduced to a few feet only, and for an anxious moment the competing orews oonverged towards tho centre of fcho river, which as has boen previously mentioned, had been unduly narrowed by tho successive lines of craft of all sorts undor tho Chiswick Meadows. Tho bo w side oars of Oxford and tho stroke side oars of Cauibridgo threatened to como into contact, but happily all furthor danger was averted by both coxswains — the Cambridge steersman particularly— giving way and keeping clear of ono another. Off the Bathing Creek, which was by this time reached, Cambridge began to come up to tho leaders, and quickly catching them, drew level about 200 yards above tho Creek — rather moro than three miles having been , compassed — and in their turn led by a quarter of a length, where tho towing-puth joins the road, BQmo two furlongs below the "full's Head afcßarnes. From thjs moment the race was virtually over, for, pulling beautifully together, the Cambridge crew rapidly left their opponents astern, clearing their boat in the next 300 yards, and rowing right away from them. Off fche Bull's Head they wero about, a length and a qnarter ahead, and they pao.sed through the centre arch of Isavnea Bridgo in 18 mm 33 bee, with a load of fully two lengths — that is to say, with a gap of one length and a foot or two moro between the stern of one boat and the noso of the other. At tho Limes, situated just above tho White Hart, Cambridge led by two lengths and a half, or perhaps more, and by three lengths opposite Morfclake Brewery. Notwithstanding a courageous effort on tho part of Oxford, who rowed 36 strokes up tho last reach, the Ship was passed by Oambridgo with a Ip'ad of three lengths, which they maintained tp the flagboat, by which distance fcho raco was won, a gap of two lengths intervening between the boats. Tho time of tho race, taken by a ohronograph by Dent, of Oockspur street, was 22 mm" 35 4-10 sec, and by Benson 22 mm 35 sec. It was not fast, but the difference between tho 19 mm 35 sec of last year is fully accounted for by the variations of wind and water. On the present occasion tho race was rowed on a slack forenoon tide, with a strong and foul wind from the southwest, whereas in 1873 ib waa rowed on a very

full and fast running afternoon flood, with a fair easterly breeze on its back over the upper and longer part of the course. The losers rowea in a new boat by Clasper, of Oxford, and fche winners, who had discarded their new eight by the same builder, in a boat built last year by Waites, of Cambridge, formerly head man to Messrs Searle and Sons. The betting on the race was quoted at 3 lo 1 on Cambridge, but there was comparatively little speculation. With respect to the merits of the crews, tho result of the contest speaks for itself, and never were tho advantages of a steady and thorough preparation more apparent than on Saturday. The Cambridge crew were welltrained, well coached, and fchey all did their work together, while their opponents, despite their quick " timings," had not been ground down into the same uniformity, and exhibited occasional and marked symptoms of irregularity and want of cohesion when called upon for special energy. They rowed steadily and well for a long distance, and especially in the rough water in Corney Reach, but they broke up after going three miles, and from that moment tho issue was never uncertain. They had a magnificent boat, and it carried them bravely through the swell. Tho Cambridge crew, on the contrary, wero sadly "undorboated." Of this there can be no doubt ; and without going so far as to say that the disaster of 1859, when the Canbridgo boat sank, was in danger of being repeated, there can be no question that thoy were grievously beset off Chiswick.and their chance of success was seriously prejudiced. On tho point whether thoy were right in discarding Clasper's boat, they must themselves bojthe best judges ; but what they lost in speed and seaworthiness they gained in comfort by fche change. Whether, had fchey been as fortunate with their boat as their opponents, tho features of tho race would havo been altered in any material degree can only, after all, bo a matter of opinion.