THE BIG REGATTA

Waikato Independent, Volume XXX, Issue 2312, 18 March 1930, Page 8

THE BIG REGATTA

ANNUAL GATHERING AT NGARUAWAHIA. A GREAT EVENT. The annual regatta at Ngaruawahia has come to be looked upon as one of the events of the year, and always attracts a great crowd. On Saturday last the regatta was favoured with perfect weather conditions and there was an exceedingly large attendance, estimated at about 16,000. Among the visitors were residents of all paits of the island, the Cambridge district being well represented. The programme was a particularly fine one, including rowing, piping and dancing, and speed-boat laces. All were well contested, and some fine rowing was seen. The Maori events, as usual, attracted special attention, the canoe races, hurdle events, mounted swimming race, and other novel events being most spcctaculai’. The Maori poi dances, hakas, etc., w r ere also a featui’e of the day’s gathering’, and were exceedingly interesting and picturesque. The side-shows made a show in themselves, there being a particularly representative gathering of all sorts of amusements and means for extracting the nimble sixpence from the holidaymakers.

Altogether the regatta was a great success, and the outing was much enjoyed by the thousands of visitors.