AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 330, 19 November 1896, Page 3

AQUATICS

[By

Muritai.]

The final heat in conection with the President’s Fours of the Auckland Rowing Club was held on Thursday evening last. The contestants, stroked by Hardie and Facre, were in good fettle, and an exciting race ensued, resulting in a win for Hardie, whose crew was received with loud cheering from the onlookers. The club now proposes holding races for stump scullers and pair oar boats at an early date.

Thus the Melbourne Leader-.— When it was believed that Stan bury had met his death in England by drowning, there was talk of cabling instructions to London to put wreaths on his coffin—on the coffin of the champion of the world, mark you. But after Father Thames cast him up, Jake Gaudaur took him down, so down he must remain until he can again present himself to his supporters (!) and friends (!) as a winner. At present it’s “ Good day, Stanbury,” and a curt nod; then it will be, “Bravo, Jim, old chap” —and a big bottle. The majority of the yachts were late in getting away on Saturday, owing to their attendance at the West End Rowing Club carnival, and they only got as far as Drunken Bay. They had a good slog up on Sunday, many of them being reefed. Mahaki was carrying whole sail —or, rather, was trying to carry it. The crew of this little flyer seems to show a want of judgment in handling her. There is nothing in trying to carry whole sail in a reefed breeze ; it is only straining the boat and gear, besides running the risk of taking out her stick. Messrs. Logan Bros, have completed the yacht for Mercury Island, and are putting the finishing touches to Mr Windsor’s 2f-rater. They are both built in this firm’s well-known style. The opening.of the West End Rowing Club’s new boathouse was held on Saturday, when about a thousand people were present. Some good racing was witnessed, the final being particularly exciting, all the boats over-lapping. The winners were : W. Sands (stroke), F. Hales, T. Bach, E. S. Matthews, and D. Hanna (cox). A promenade concert was held, which admirably filled the intervals between the races. Afternoon tea and cake was dispensed by the ladies, and altogether an enjoyable afternoon was spent. The new house is a two-storey building, 40ft by 47ft. The members of St. George’s Rowing Club entertained their friends on Saturday afternoon, about 300 being present. Four heats of the trials were rowed, and the racing, which was good, resulted as follows : — Whitley’s crew beat Busby’s, Buchanan’s beat Jervis’. Winks’ beat McHardy’s, and in the next round Whitley’s beat Buchanan’s, leaving Q hitley’s and Winks’ to row off. Arrangements are being pushed ahead for the Ponsonby Regatta, to be held on December 19, and everything points to a successful issue. A programme of 23 events has been drawn up. At the annual meeting of the N.Z. Amateur Rowing Association, held on Friday night, Mr Seymour Thorne George, Auckland, was elected a vicepresident, and Mr E. W. Burgess was appointed the Association’s representative in Auckland. It was decided on the voices that this season’s championship regatta be held at Picton on a date to be fixed later on. Poor Auckland ! The New South Wales Rowing Association has informed the secretary of the New Zealand Association that, owing to the trouble in Victoria in connection with the amateur definition, it is hopeless at present to attempt to arrive at a solution of a definition for inter-colonial contests.