AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 757, 8 September 1904, Page 15

AQUATICS.

(By

“ The Reefer.”)

Mr Horton lias decided to call the new yacht, which Logan Bros, have just ■built for him, the Amuri. The word means in Maori “ the hereafter, and has a somewhat ominous signification for a yacht although it is a very smooth sounding word.

The annual general meeting of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will take place next Tuesday, September 15. Mr Chas. Murdoch is the sole nomination for Commodore and Mi' John Alexander for Vice-Commodore, therefore these gentlemen will be returned unopposed, and it must be confessed that it would be difficult indeed to find better men for the positions. The post of Rear-Commodore is vacant. Mr P. H. Cole continues his secretarial duties which he has filled so ably during the past year, but Mr Alexander retires from the position of assistant hon. secretary. Messrs I'. Alexander and S. Kissling have, I understand, been nominated for the committee so that there should be a close vote for this as both nominees are good men. 1 trust there will be a large gathering of members at next week’s meeting.

It is announced that M. Henri de la Vauix, the marine aeronaut, is now completing his preparations for a third Mediterranean cruise in a specially-constructed balloon. On this occasion he will employ a 20-h.p. petrol engine attached to the car, which will work ■ an aluminium screw 23 feet in diameter. M. de la 1 Vauix having alreadv proved by two ascents of. 41 and 35 hours respectively that the apparatus designed by his partner, M. Herve, enabled a balloon to pass with safety over the sea, now wishes to show that the same kind of balloon is to a certain extent capable of resisting the elements, and is not quite at the mercy of the wind. He does not pretend that the new balloon can actually be steered, but only that it marks a stage in that direction.

The Auckland-built Southerly Buster, Mr Foy’s boat, has about reached England, but the (owner finds he cannot go away this season, so the boat will not race until about this time of next year. It is not unlikely that the crack Sydney timoneer, George Ellis, will go to Eng-

land to steer the 22-footcr. I am afraid i hat Mr Foy has hardly given Logan Bros, a fair chance with the boat, for she will be two years old before she is raced. Even now I would like to wager that the firm could turn out a boat to beat her.

The seventy-fourth race for the AVinglield Sculls, representing the Amateur Sculling Championship of Great Britain, over the championship course, Putney to Mortlake, about four miles and a-quar-ter, and resulted in a win for St. George Ashe, of the Thames R.C. It may be mentioned that originally the Wingfields, were rowed from AVestminster to Putney, and since its inception —as far back as 1830- —it has given rise to the liveliest interest amongst scullers, amateur and professional. The first winner was J. H. Bayford, and following him premier honours fell to Lewis, Julius, and Jenkins, while some years later such splendid oarsmen as J. I. Playford, A. A. Cassamajor, AV. B. Woodgate, and F. Brickwood. In recent years the amateur championship fell to J. Lowndes. F. I. Pitman, the brothers Niekalls (Guy and Vivian), C. E. B. Kennedy. Hon. Rupert Guinness. B. Hunting Howell, C. V. Fox, Harry T. BlacLstaffe, A. H. Cloutte, and the Sydney man F. S. Kelly (admittedly the finest sculler of the lot —at all events, to the minds of those who remember the majority of those mentioned). In the latest race for the famous trophy Ashe was opposed by A. H. Cloutte, of the London R.C., but he could not get nearer to the winner at the finish than six lengths, the time taken being 23min 25sec. * * * *

George Towns is laid up with influenza. James St anbury is endeavouring to arrange a match with him for the world's championship.

rhe Mount Albert Bowling Club has elected the following- officers for the coming season season : —President, Mr M. McLean ; vice-presidents, Messrs G. Fowlds and J. Bollard, M.’s.H.R., and Messrs Ashton, Knight, Caughey, and J. AV. •lames; committee, Messrs Ashton, Coyle, Mansell, and Garlick ; green superintendent, Mr C. H. AVilson ; sole selector, Mr M. J. Coyle ; treasurer, Mr J. H. Priestley ; secretary, Mr R. J. Parry ; delegates to the Auckland Bowling Association, Messrs M. McLean and R. J. Parry.