COMMENTS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12055, 27 December 1906, Page 3

COMMENTS.

The course was surveyed by Messrs Din and Merchant, licensed suveyors, and wasi exactly three miles in length — that is, taking the middle of the river. Of course, by cutting off the corners as the scullers did they rowed probably a chain or two under the three miles, but, on the other hand, Webb would have put up considerably faster time had he been pushed over the last 500 yards or so. A fact worthy of note is that Webb rowed with one scull three-quarters of an inch longer than the other. This was noi j discovered until just before the start, and there was no time to remedy the matter. This must have meant a considerable loss of pace> to the winner. PAYING OVER THE STAKES. Opportunity was taken during an interval in the concert given by, the GarrttfSfirt Band at the* Opera House last evening to ' pay over the stake money to the scullers. Amongst those on the stage were his TSforiship the Mayor (Mr C. E. Mackay), the chairman of the Carnival committee (Mr A. G. Bignell), other members of the Carnival committee, and Messrs Webb antf Barnett, Stanbury and Floyd. The ecullera were each given quite an ovation as they appeared on the stage. 1 The MAYOR, said that on behalf of Ml« citizens of Wanganui he had to offer Mf Webb heartiest congratulations on the brilliant victory of that day. Webb's victory had covered him with glory and added fresh lustre to the town that is proud of owning him as a citizen. He hoped his victory was a mere prelude to more brilliant ones in tho future. In regard to Mr" Stanbury he had adso, he said on behalf of the citizens of Wanganui, to bid him farewell. Mr Stanbury's action in coming over to Wanganui to row Webb was- one for which we should be grateful, for i* had given our man a chance of showing" what was in him, and it had done a great deal to develop rowing in Wanganui. Mr Stanbury was not fortunate enough to win that day, but he (Mr Mackay) hoped that Mr Webb, when ho relinquished rowing, would bo able to look back upon a career as brilliant as Mr Stanbury's" has been. Mr BIGNELL said he had much pleasure in handing to Mr Webb his cheque for the stake money, and alsb to Mr Stanbury the amount arranged in, the eveilt of his being beaten. v Mr Bignell apologised to those people who had purchased tickets for passages on the river steamers, but had been denied transport. He explained that one of the steamers had not come back to town as arranged. The committee had decided to hand back the money to the disappointed ones. After referring to Mr. Stanbury's fine career as an oarsman, Mr Bignell wished Webb a long and prosperous career as a sculler. With such a magnificent river as ours, there was no reason why a sculling event should not be held every year. By giving decent stakes it might be possible to get the best oarsmen in the English-speaking world to row here, and Mr Bignell saw no reason why in the future the championship of the world should not be brought here. The committee intended- to do its best to bring this about. He then handed Mr Webb his cheque for .£2OO. Mr WEBB was received with deafening applause as he stepped' forward to thank the Mayor and Mr Bignell for their kind remarks and the audience for the flattering reception they, had accorded him. He drew attention to the fact that Stanbury had been under certain disadvantages in coming over to Wanganui to row and having to train withtyufc aiw scullers to keep him company a,na take Him alonoT as he also the fact that the climate may have militated jkgainst him sdmewhat. However, he was proud to have beaten Stanbury, who had rowed a great race for over three quarters of the journey. In conclusion, he wished Stanbury, his wife, and little ones a long and prosperous future, was used to in Sydney. Then there was Mr BIGNELL then handed Stanbury his cheque for i>so for expenses, as agreed upon in the event of Webb winning. Mr STANBURY spoke in a manly manner which won for him the golden opinions of many of those present. He said he had no excuses to make. He had been defeated by a younger and better man. He had been, he pointed out, 22 years at the srame, and now he had to bow to youth. He though that when Webb was another 10 1 or 12 years older he would also be glad to give it up. "I am all right," said Jim, ''for a little bit of a splash, but as I get down the course it gets harder. The climate may have been against me, but I won't make that an excuse. The other man was too good." Stanbury was heartily cheered for his remarks. This concluded the function.