LYTTELTON REGATTA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3352, 6 January 1879, Page 3

LYTTELTON REGATTA.

Distribution of Prizes. The distribution of the prizes won at this regatta took place at the Mitre Hotel on Friday evening.' Mr H. Allwright, the Vice- Commodore, occupied the chair. I£e eaitl he was sorry that Mr Haider, the Commodore, was not present, but he was unable to be there as he had only just, returned from the South a few minutes before the meetiog. The regatta had been a must successful one, and had been the means of attracting a larger number of people this year than any previous one. The whole of the events had come off most successfully, and a, good day's racing had been the result of the Committee's exertions. lie would not detain them longer, but would proceed with the distribution oF the prizes. Tn handing the prize to Mr F. Graham, of the firm of Messrs Cuff and Graham, owners of the winning schooner Alert, the Chuirinan expressed the pleasure it gave him to present the prize. The .Alert had been entered in two regattas previously, aud her owners had at last reaped the reward of their spirited perseverance. In handing Mr Robinson the prize for the Champion Yacht Kace, the Chairman remarked that ho had no greater pleasure that evening in handing a prize lo anyone as he had in handing the cheque for £60 to Mr Robinson, who, it was well known, ha'i always taken such a great interest in yachting, and he hoped that his example would bo followed by many others, and that the yacht race would be better contested in future years. The Chairman also congratulated Mr Lunauze when handing him the prizes for tho J)utible Sculling Race and the Canoe Race. He remarked that Mi* LanauKe had tnken the t-ame prizes last year, and liaving known him for a loDg time—in fact, since he was. a very little little boy — it gave him additional p easure in greeting him as a highly successful competitor. . V '. ' . IT IT £■ ftir Bailey, the owner of the Tot, was loudly cheered upon receiving- tho. "prize for the Open Boat Sailing .Race. ; The Chairman him up.mhis success, and complimented him on having built so handsome and fast a craft us the Toy hiwf proved to be" He_ trusted that more of the Auckland builders would be repreaentecl at f ut ure regattas. The romainder of the prizes havirg been distributed, a supply of Eoederer vaß produced and a number of toasts drunk.

The Chairman proposed the health of the owners of the Alert. He called on all present to drink most heartily to the toast, for he was quite certain that the strangers present would respond to it most heartily, although the race had been taken by a locally owned vessel. (Cheers.) The toast having been duly honoured, Mr Graham responded, thanking the company for the manner in which the toast had been received by them. He regretted that his partner, Mr Cuff, was absent that evening. They had entered their vessel for the regatta without any idea of her winning the race, and were extremely proud of her success. (Hear, hear.) Mr Boddington next gave the toast " The Owners of the Dove." In doing so, the speaker remarked that nearly every one in the room recognised the interest taken in yachting matters for a long time past by Mr Robinson. He had, as was well-known, spent a large amount of time and money in procuring and fitting out the vessel which had won the race, and he hoped there would be in tuture times several that would follow Mr .Robinson's excellent example, and go in for yachting in a hearty manner. The Dove was going to "Wellington to compete in the regatta, and he ,most cordially wished her every success. The Dove had hardly had a fair trial on regatta day, as it had been found impossible to give her a trial trip until the evening previous to the regatta. He hoped that they would find her in right trim before they sailed in the Wellington regatta, and bliow the Wellingfconians that Canterbury could send up a vessel of which she liad every reason to be proud. The toast was drunk in a very enthusiastic manner. Mr Robinson, in responding, said he felt Very grateful for the kind expression of feeling towards him. He had taken a great interest in sailing for a number of years, and hoped to be able to do so for some time to come. The Dove had been got ready under great difficulties, but lie was \evy proud of her victory. . The next toast was that of Mr C. Bailey the owner and builder of the Toy. This was proposed by Mr H. R. Webb, who stated that the fact of an Auckland man winning the race, had been a source of great satisfaction to all. He was always extremely glad to see strangers take away the prizes, and was sure that they, the strangers, would agree with him that the Lyttcltonians were by no means a selfish class of people, and were averse to seeing the prizes taken by others than those either belonging to or sailing out of the port. Mr Webb referred to the great pleasure the Committee had, when the yacht race two years ago was taken by the Auckland yacht Secret, and spoke of the fine class of vessels generally built in Auckland, which he considered would reflect credit upon any of the shipbuilding yards in the Old Country. He mentioned that the Toy was to compete in the Wellington Regatta, and wished her success. The toast was duly honoured, and Mr Bailey acknowledged it, thanking the Company for the honour they had done him, and the people of Lyttelfcon for the extreme courkindness and courtesy shown him during his stay in port. Ho hoped to be able to be present at some of the future regattas. Mr Hawkins gave the toast of the "Successful Competitors," and regretted that there were not more from other ports among the number. The Committee went to a great deal of trouble and expense in endeavouring to make the Lyttelton Regatta a success, and he sincerely hoped that their efforts would be far more appreciated in coming years by more competition in the different events. \ Captaiu Hughes, of the Mary Ann Annispn, responded to the toast, and expressed a regret that there were so. few entries for the Ships' Boats Sailing Race considering the large number of vessels in the harbour. The toast of the '[ Unsuccessful Competitors " was entrusted to Captain Gibson, and the name of Mr C. A. Rich was coupled therewith. . Mr Rich, in replying, said he hoped that next year he would have the pleasiire of replying as a successful competitor, but one thing he was very proud of, and that was that all those who had been beaten showed that they knew how to take a licking like wan. (Hear, hear.) , Mr Jacobson next proposed the health of the visitors, and referred especially to the pleasure the Committee felt in securing Captain Grundy, of the Torea, present among them that night. All present knew of the true sports-man-like manner in which both he and his owner, Mr Mitchelson, had acted with regard to the last regatta, and only wished that all other owners would encourage regattas in the same noble spirit. Neither Captain Grundy nor Mr Mitchelson, as had been proved, went into the race for the mere sake of making money, but simply from a desire to encourage sailing competitions. If all others were actuated in a similar manner the regattas would be a far greater success. As a proof of the pluck of the owner of the Torea lie might state that a telegram had been received from him, running as follows : — "Consult Captain Grundy as to day, and challenge Alert for £100." (Cheers.) The challenge, lie understood, had not been taken up, but it showed the true sportsman-like spirit which Mr Mitchelson possessed. There were also many others round the table whom the Committee were very pleased to see, and all of whom they hoped to see as competitors on a future occasion. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm, and Captain Grundy, in response to loud calls, expressed his deep sense of gratitude for the kind and feeling manner in which he and his liis owner, Mr Mitchelson, had been spoken of. He had always experienced a great deal of kind treatment from the people of Lyttelton and Christchurch, and had done his best to win the race, but had not been successful this year. He intended, if possible, sailing his vessel in the forthcoming regatta at Auckland, when he hoped to be able to give a good account of himself. (Cheers.) The toast " The Commodore " was given by Mr Lance, who testified to the unvarying interest taken by Mr H. N. Nalder, the Commodore, in every regatta that had taken place. The speaker mentioned Mr Nalder'a unavoidable absence en Regatta Day, as he was delayed in coming from the soutli by the accident to the Rangitata bridge. Though absent on that day, he had worked most assiduously to make this year's Regatta, what it undoubtedly had been, a thorough success, and he was sure that all present would unite with him most heartily in drinking to the toast of the Commodore. Due honour having been done to this toast, that of the Vice-Commodore succeeded, proposed 03' Mr C. A. Rich, who remarked upon tlie great interest taken by Mr Allwright, the Vice-Commodore, in all the Regattas that had been held in the port, and the very able way in which he had carried out the duties entrusted to him in the absence of the Commodore at the late Regatta, and which tended to make the day Buch a perfect success as it had resulted. Mr Alhvright, in responding for the Commodore and himself, noticed that although there was a very long list of names on the Committee, yeb there wore but comparatively few who did any work or attended any of the meetings, and hoped that in the future this would be altered, and that a larger number would take a share in the work. Considering the value of the prizes offered he thought it very etrange that there should bo so few entries, as the prizes were second to none given in any regatta in the Australasian Colonies. The Lyttelton regatta had become to be looked upon as the hey-day of Canterbury, and with great interest by the other parts of the Colony, and he hoped that the regatta would he maintained year after year, and not allowed to fall through. He did not for a moment believe that it would, and that fresh persons would be found ready to come forward and take their share in the labour of organising and carrying out the regatta should it be found necessary to call on them. Iho toast, "The Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer of tho Regatta," was proposed by Mr D. Mills, and responded to by Messrs H. C. Jacobson and J. 0. Boddington. '„ Mr H. R. Webb proposed the health of " Captain Babot of the ship Hydaspes," referring to the kind manner in whicli Captain Babot had placed his ship at the disposal of th? Committee, and of the indefatigable manner in wuich he had exerted himself to make the large number of visitors on board thoroughly comfortable. On behalf of the Committee, he begged to thank Captain Babot for his extreme kindness in meeting the views | of the Committee in the* liberal spirit %(s> had, m i\ an£ for the /assistance -he had i-enderect.toij make the Regatta an eminently pleasant on& , With thiß toast was coupled the names of Messrs D. Milto and W. H. Eyes, the Com. mittee onboard the flagship on New Year's Day, Mr D. Milla acknowledged the toast.

Mr Kingsford proposed next " The iudf?es starters, and timekeepers." The toast was acknowledged by Captain Gibson, on behalf of himself and fellow officers. "The -Donors of Cups, the New Zealand Snipping Company and Messrs Shaw, Saville and Lo., was the next toast proposed by the Chairman, and duly honoured. Mr Jacobson remarked that there were no representatives of the companies mentioned, but that both had been most liberal in giving a cup every year, and that the Committee appreciated their liberality most thoroughly Those present would also bear in mind "that his Worship the Mayor had given handsome cups for the last two" years, and was quite sure that they would acknowledge the interest taken by him m the success of the regatta, and would ask them to drink tfie health of his Worship the Mayor in bumpers. The toast was drunk most heartily, and Mr Allwnght's name was coupled with it. Mr Allwright, in acknowledging the toast on behalf of himself and Mrs Allwright, said he considered that it was the duty of every Mayor to encourage the regatta by giving a cup as a prize, and were he again elected as Mayor he would certainly give another cup next year. c "The Press" was proposed by Mr H E Webb, who mentioned that Mr Jaeobson, of the Press newspaper, was about to leave ijyttelton, and commented upon the many services he had rendered while resident amongst them. The toast was responded to by Mr Lance, of the Lyitelton Times, Messrs Jacobson and •Leys, of the Press, and Mr Mow bray, of the Lif Helton Herald. Mr Boddington proposed " Absent Friends," mentioning especially the names of Messrs P. ™ n^ am ' Avho was unable to be present, Mr W. Packard, from whom a letter expressing regret at being unable to attend was read, Messrs C. H. Street, of Dunedin, and Xiecol and Hulme, of Auckland. The toast " The Chairman" was proposed by Mr D Authreau, and having received iustice, the meeting dispersed. The Chairman mentioned that the cups for the prizes liad not arrived yet, but that so soon as they did they would be handed to the winners.