AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 724, 21 January 1904, Page 12

AQUATICS.

(By

“The Reefer.”)

Dr. Gore Gillon’s address last week on «* Life Saving ” was very interesting. The doctor, in the course of his remarks, ■aid that when one read that there were 125 persons drowned in New Zealand in 1903, he felt that it surely behoved the powers that be to do all they could to reduce that mortality. He did not say that the knowledge of rescue work would do awav with the mortality, but he did say that it would tend to reduce it very materially. Many a life was lost from want of knowledge of resuscitation, especially as regards the time when “ not to leave off.” It was a mistake to think that a man, before he was drowned, must rise three times, as that only depended on circumstances. The first rule in saving was to “ lose no time,” while the second was to “ divest oneself of as much heavy or surplus clothing as possible.” It had been that it was sheer madness to approach a drowning person who could not swim, from the front, but that was not always the case. A good swimmer would often approach from the front, grasp the person's arms above the elbows;, turn him on his back and rescue him.. The rescuer should always keep uppermost in the struggle

A well-built oil launch was put afloat by Charles Bailey, jun., on Thursday. It has just been built to the order of Mr G. Fenwick, of Napier. The launch, which is 35 feet long, has been very strongly constructed cn the diagonal principle, and is fitted with a 10 horse-power Union oil engine. She is to be engaged in tendering the large ocean-going steamers 1 which call off Napier.

It has been decided that the next tournament will take place next year at Wellington.

The committee of the Ponsonby Regatta Club have decided to resail the race for 22ft overall and under centreboard and tuck-stern boats next Saturday afternoon at half-past two o’clock. The committee have decided to allot all prizes) on the evening of the 25th inst., at eight o’closk, at the Ponsonby Club Hotel. There should be a good muster for this closing function.

Logan. Bros, shipped the little racer Southerly Buster across to Sydney on Monday. That Mr Mark Foy’s boat is exceptionally smart, she proved very conclusively in a test race on Friday, when the intercolonial champion Rairtbow, and ’ the new 25-footer Queenie, were pitted against her. Rainbow was sailed by Mr Jervis, and was all out to win. Going to winJdward in a very light breeze, Rainbow easily went to the front, her big topsail helping her a lot. Off the wind the Buster very soon outfooted Queenie, but only gathered in the 36-footer very slowly, and the latter, which was admirably handled, finished ahead. In a subsequent brush with the Rainibow in a freshening breeze, the Buster had the heels of her big rival. It seems evident that when Mr Foy’s boat gets her racihg suit on and has a smart crew accustomed to the live ballast type of craft, she will make things pretty sultiry for the best of the Sydney 22footers. Iler career will be watched with interest by Aucklanders. The hollow spars carried by the boat were a little too big for her. The American firm who made them rather over-estimated the power of the boat, but the spars are beautifully made. A very special word of praise is certainly due to Carter, of Sydney, for the excellent suit of sails carried by the Southerly Buster. To use a homely expression, these “fitted like a glove.’’ Altogether, the little vessel should prove a credit to all concerned.

The Homa Bay Sailing Club’s second •cries of races were got off last Saturday, ■nd proved most successful. In the Class I. handicap Fountain (Bmin) won on time from Bell Bird (6min), and Kiatere (smin). In the Class 11. race Countess 15min) saved her time from Eileen (7min) and Ruru Horo won the Class 111. race 3secs from Emerald. In the Class IV. handicap the places went to Alofa, Hinemoa, and Roso, while Euriti won the contest for the open sailing boats, with Norma second and Wairiki third. The ketch Wave was flagship, and Messrs Warren and Sloane acted as officers of the day.

Mr Peacock, patron of the West End Club, was presented with a handsome address on Saturday. The wording was as follows :—“On behalf of the members of the West End Rowing Club, we beg to tender yoy and Mrs Peacock congratulations on your safe return from a trip round the world. The members are deeply grateful for the many kindnesses shown by you to the club ever since its inception, and for the kind interest you have always taken in its welfare. They fake this opportunity of conveying to you their heartfelt thanks for the same, and trust that the good feeling existing may long continue. Wishing you, Mrs Peacock, and family many years of health and happiness.” Then followed the signatures of the officers. Full musical honours were given, Mr Peacock coming in for an ovation on rising to thank the donors.

The strong easterly breeze on Saturday quite spoilt the various rowing races which the clubs had arranged to hold. Both the West End and Auckland Clubs got off three heats, but the North Shore Shore Club had to postpone all the racesbut one.

Writing of the Inter-State Yacht Race between .New South Wales and Victoria “ Weathereye ” says : “ Some idea of the enthusiasm evinced may be gathered from the fact that something like one thousand spectators witnessed the first day’s race from the decks; of the steamship Newcastle.

The races were held on Saturday, the 9th inst., and on the following Monday and Tuesday, in splendid, in splendid weather. Saturday provided a race in a strong nor’-nor’-east wind, which exactly suited the requirements of the Victorian yacht, which sailed home a comfortable comfortable winner. On the next occasion, Monday, that the two rivals met, a moderately fresh north-east breeze, with a smooth sea, prevailed for the best portion of the afternoon, and the race resulted in an easy wind for Bona. Yesterday, when the third and final race was sailed, the weather conditions were similar to that of the previous day, only with the wind a trifle lighter from the same quarter. With the breeze bo much to her liking, the issue of the contest was thought to lie with Bona, especially after her fine racing display on the previous day ; but the judgment proved incorrect, as the Victorian again won comfortably. Sayonara, the property of Mr Alfred Gollin (late Commodore Royal Yacht Club of Victoria) is a Fife-designed boat. She was built by M'Farlane, of Adelaide, in 1897, her dimensions being 58ft length overall, 10ft Sin beam, 7ft draught. She carries 7-J tons of lead on the keel, having 3£ tons morq lead on the keel than Bona. The latter, which was designed and built by C. Bailey, jun., of Aucldand, in 1900, is 53ft length overall, 36.16 ft on the water line, and has a beam of 9ft 6in. Owing to the difference in their sizes, Sayonara had to allow Bona 2min 58sec over a twenty-mile course. The contest was sailed under Y.R.A. rules.

Billington, the crack English swimmer, may visit Australia, according to a statement in the London “ Sporting Life.”

Frank Gailey, ex-champion sprint swimmer of Queensland, passed through Auckland recently on the Ventura. He has purchased a share in a cattle ranch through having drawn third horse in one of Tattersail’s sweeps on the Caulfield Cup.

I hear that Dick Cavill, the Australian champion swimmer, and Alick Wickham', the South Sea Island torpedo, has been invited to attend the Championship Meeting, which the Northern A.S.C. intend holding on March 5. If this pair come over the Carnival would certainly prove a huge success, but somehow I doubt whether wo shall see them, for the Australasian Championships commence in Sydney on March 12.

The Royals will sail off an ocean handicap on Saturday. Entries close this afternoon at 2 p.m., when it is to he hoped that more names will be handed in to Mr Cole, the secretary, than was the case last time. The course will be decided upon on Saturday morning, hut if the north easterly weather Still keeps’ up, the destination will probably be some point inside of Waiheke.