BOXING DAY.

West Coast Times, Issue 1330, 28 December 1869, Page 2

BOXING DAY.

Yesterday being Boxing Day according to custom the usual sports took place at the various parts of the town as undermentioned. The day was beautifully fine, and the town looked unusually lively with the crowds of well dressed miners who perambulated the streets. There was not the slightest evidence of that rowdyism, which was formerly such an imposing feature at this season of the year, indeed everyone seemed to enjoy themselves rationally and to their satisfaction.

THE REGATTA.

The fifth Christmas regatta was commenced yesterday under mos>t favorable auspices. The weather, which on the previor.s day had been very iainy, was yesterday beautifully fine, a fresh sea breeze moderating what would have been excessive heat, for " Old Sol " was out in his holiday <>flib, and but for tbe breeze the clay would have been very hot indeed, far too hot for great exertion, such as rowing. However, all things coniilered, the clay was thc'nnest we have had for the purpose of holding the annual r< gatta. The convincing ground in the forenoon was not everything that could be wished, there being considerable fresh coming down, the effect of the previous clays' rain. Under these circumstances, tbe committee wisely determined to postpone the iaccs until the tide had made sufficiently to counteract tbe fresh. Thus it was that the 'first race did not come ofF until half-past two o'clock. Meanwhile the offici rs appointed to conduct the races were indefatigable in their endeavors to j:et everything in order so that no hitch might occur when the start came to be made. We may as well mention here that Captain Thompson was stnrter, J llorton, Esq., judge, and Mr Gallop, the secretar)', assi-ted these gentlemen in getting thiiv.s in order. The n;ime or title of the first event bad to be altered owing to the watermen having refu ed to enter their boats in consequence of some dispute between them and tbe com 'littee about the qualifications of some of the boats. At last the time drew near when tbe first event was to come oft' and tbe judge and starter took their place • t the md of tbe lower wing-dam, which place had been selected as the starting and finishing point. The first event was tbe r -onrcd open race; Distance cne and li.ut" miles, in heats. First prize, £7 10s ; second prize, £2 10s.

There were only two boats entered, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Lady of the Lake. The coxswain of the lattel 1 was J. Ogilvie, and J.Fitzsimmons, handled the yoke- lines gin the Duke. A pretty fair start was made, the Lady of the Lake getting away nearly half a boat's length ahead. The Duke, which had won tbe toss for in&ide place, struggled hard to bring the Lady into her back water, but she did not succeed, and when about half the distance from the starting flag to the upper buoy boat, the Lady gradually forged ahead, and took the inside place, rounding the upper buoy fully three lengths ahead.' The Duke, however, lessened the distance coming down stream, and the lower buoy was passed with both boats close together. The Lady then forged ahead, and won the first beat by about four lengths. Thesecond heat was equally well contested, the Lady taking the lead, and keeping it about three lengths, until the lower buoy was passed the last time. The Duke then put on a spurt, alnd the buoy was cleverly rounded by both boats 4 , almost neck-and-neck. The Lady, however, on clearing the buoy boat, showed her nose first in the straight. An exciting race now commenced, both crews pulling their utmost, but the lesult fell to the Lady, which came up to the flag-'aff nearly two boatV length ahead, and the starter having fired his pistol, she was declased the winner.

After the race, a protest was entered on two grounds — Ist. That on rounding tinupper buoj r on the second heat, the l)uke was fouled by the Lady. 2nd. That the starter had fired his pistol before the first boat had reached the goal, thus depriving the Duke of any circumstances oraccl'ent which might have fallen to his favor. The second event was the Amatluks' Sculling Matcit.. Three boats to enter or no race. Distance, two miles. Prize, Silver Cup. Post Boy, Chamberlain, Flag — Red, White, and Blue. Eclipse, Grey, Flag — Red and White. Angelina, Verd >n, Flag — Daik Blue. In the toss up, Post Boy took the inside place, Angelina being in the outside, and Eclipse in the centre. The Eclipse gradually forged ahead, and when about three hundred yards off, took Pos>t Boy's water, which she never afu-r regained. Meanwhile, Angelina was nowheu 1 , and^ave up the race before rounding the upper flag boat

first time. The race was determinedly contested between Chamberlain and Grey, both parties pulling in first-rate style, until, in the last run up the str light to the flag boat, Chamberlain, in the Post Boy, fouled on a large root, and before he could extricate himself from his difficulties, the race belonged to the Eclipse, Grey making the rest of the distance a walk over.

The third event was the ' Foub-oared Skiff Eace. Open to all comers. Distance, thrte miles. " First prize, £10 ; second prize, £2 10s. Emily, Lennie, Flag— White. Emma Dean, J Robinson, Flag— Eed, White, and Blue.

Groper, B. Boddy, Flag — Blue. At the toss up, the Emma Dean took inside place, the Emily being in the centre, and the Groper taking outside place. At the start, tbe boats got well away, the Groper's crew puttisg on a sjiurt, which carded the boat ahead of the other two. The Emma Dean's crew hugged the shore clo-ety, the Emily being well in her quarter. This posit on was kept for some time, when the Emily gradually fell astern, the ■ Groper closing on her and taking up a second place. In this order the upper flag boat was rounded tbe first time, the boats being more c!o*ely groupeel together in. rounding the flag boat. On the straight run down, the !• mily showed signs of distress, and wh< n abreasf of the Transit Shed it was observed sbe only pulled three oars, and shortly afterwards she gave up the struggle and retired. In rounding the lower flag boat, the Groper crow pulled manfully for first round, but were not successful. On the up stream pull, the Groper's crew pulled well for first place, but this thu coxswain of the Emma Dean would not permit. The remainder of'the race was pulled with varyingsuccess,the Groper's | crew pulling well for fir^t place, but the coxs'vain of tbe Emma Dean was too wary to allow his water to be taken from him. At the last time round tbe lower flag boat, the Groper was only half a length astern wf the Emma Dean, and had there been more straight running, she would have stood a good show, but at the turn the coxswain of the Emma again did his crew gqpd service, aud by his skilful tooling,, she shot round a good length ahead, a position she held to the finish. There were two protests, entered— fhst, by the Emily, which protested against the Groper for having fouled her at the upper flag boat the first time round, and carried away her thole pins, thus rendering one oar useless ; the second was by the Groper, which protested against the Emma De;m having any share in the race, owi g to the coxswain of the latter repeatedly crossing the former's bows ; and also that the coxswain, two or three time, when the boats were close together in rounding the flag boats, had pushed the Groper back.

STAFFOKD-STREET SPORTS.

These sports were under the management of Mr. Thomas Gibson. At eleven o" clock the sports commenced with tilting in the ring; iirst prize, £7 10s; second prize, £2 10s ; entrance, ss. The sport was excellent, and some very good points were Eventually the numbers stood as follows :—: — Donald Cameron 16 points J. Miller 14 „ A. Heady 14 „ There being a tie between the two latter, they agreed to play off, tach having three xuns round. The result was — A. Heady, 5 points ; J. Miller, 2 points. The bicycle race was the next on the programme, 'i he prize was £5 ; entrance fee, ss. The race was handicapped, and the various competitors started as follows :—: — Ale«.rs Smith and Grey, at scratch ; Mr Williams. 100 yards start ; Mr Curran, 100 yards start ; Mr Langley, 75 yards start ; Air Jones, 160 yards start. The race, which was a (good one, lay between Grey and Curran, the latter coming in winner by 12 )ards. The next sport was TossiisG the Caber. Prize, £2. Entrance, 2s. 6d. There was some good play shown by one or two of the athletes, but a man named M'Minigbau evidently was a better profi-. cient ;il the exercise th;.n the other competitors, and carried off the prize, not, however without a hard struggle.

KANI.LAGH GARDENS.

Notwithstanding tbe strong cotmterattractiou, the sports at the Eanelagh Gardens were extensively patronised. From an early hour in tbe morning, a stream of pleasure-seekers set in to that deligiitful retreat, and by two o'clock the grounds were thronged, and all sorts of field sports, congenial to young minds, mre indulged iv. The members of the ilokitika lJrass Band, in gorgeous array, were on tbe spot, and at intervals throughout the d;iy, discoursed some excellent music. A commodious platform has been erected on the ground, designed for the devotees of Terpsichore, which was extensively used, dancing being a leading feature. The published programme was gone thiougb, the various events being well contested, a large number of competitors coining to tlie scratch for each event. Kefrebhment booths were erected on the ground, and were well patronised. The arrangements were admirably carried out by Mr Gfeorge Eeaver. The j-ports will be resumed ibis morning.