THE BALMAIN REGATTA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3869, 29 July 1873, Page 3

THE BALMAIN REGATTA.

In reply to a communication from Wellington, the following letter, which explains itself, has been received : — Sydney Rowing Club, Sydney, 14th July, 1873. Dear Sir, — In the absence of our secretary, Mr P. J. Clark, who is at present on a visit to Melbourne and Ballarat in the interest of aquatics, I have the pleasure to acknowledge receipt of your letter to that gentleman, and in reply beg to say that last week the Belmain Regatta Committee published their programme of races for the regatta to be held on the 9th November next, and I beg to send enclosed a copy of it. From it, you will notice that the gig race, with prizes amounting to £150, if the conditions are complied with, ia for all bona fide amateurs — that is, those special amateurs who do not gain their living by manual labor— pulling four oars in the string test boats, not exceeding forty-two feet over all ; and that there is another race in gigs for all amateurs without any restriction about manual labor — prize, £25. The reason given for not having the race in outrigger fours is, that being almost obliged to have the race ©n the fixed day, and knowing that if the weather was bad, the outriggers would be almost sure to be swamped, they have decided upon having the string test gigs to suit the water in case it should be rough. I need hardly say with what pleasure a crew from Wellington would be welcomed, and I feel sure that the rowing community of Sydney would try to make their visit as enjoyable as it is possible. Mr Clark has been , deputed by the Balmain Regatta^Jotnraittee to call meetings of rowing men in Melbourne and Ballarat, to learn at once if it is their intention to compete, and should any alteration be made in any of the conditions of thewraces, I will not failfto let you know at the earliest moment. Trusting that a crew may visit Sydney to compete 1 at Balmain, and hereby tendering them, should they decide upon doing so, any and all the conveniences of our club. I remain, yours truly, P. Deloixte, Captain Sydney Rowing Club. Robt. Kent, Esq., Hon. Sec. Wellington Rowing Club. It is only the first two events in the programme which possess any interest for Wellington men, and we print them in their entirety : — "Intercolonial Champion Gig Race. — For all bona-fide amateurs— that is, those who do not gain their living by manual , labour— pulling four oars in string-test gigs, not exceeding 42 feet overall, with coxswains. Prizes are offered on the following conditions : — N.S.W. alone represented, £50 ; N.S.W. and another colony, £100; N.S.W. and two or more colonies, £125 for the first prize, and a second prize of £25 ; entrance, £5 ss. "Gig Race. — For all amateurs pulling four oars, in string-test gigs, not exceeding 42 feet overall, with coxswains. First prize, £20 ; second prize, £5. It will be seen from the conditions of these two events that the inducements held out are not auch as axe likely to tempt the boating men of Wellington to interest themselves in organising a competitive crew, and procure a class of boat of which a fair average representative does not exist here.