First Day, Friday, 28rd October, 1874, A cloudy morning happily gave place to an afternoon sunny and calm, if a trifle warm, and the first day of the Regatta went off with all the success which the most ardent lovers of the sport could desire. Half-holiday seemed to have been proclaimed in town, and the road to the creek was crowded in good time with a motley throng of pedestrians and a still more curious mixture of vehicles, from wheelbarrows to broughams, and. from rickshaws to hangomettes, The Chinese appeared to take more than usual interest in the "sampan pidgin," and they liberally dotted both banks, and crowded the neighbourhood of the "Mound" and Boat-house. Hereabouts also were congregated most of the oarsmen of the Settlement, with many of their friends,—quite a bachelor's party, for not a Indy was to be seen,—they were assembled in brilliant throng at the Bungalow, which had, with the customary courtesy of Mr, Batt on these occasions, been placed ut their disposal to view the races from. It la somewhat to be regretted, how-coign of vantage" for the is not erected somewhat nearer the winning fage. We are sure they would little closer admixture with gallant champions of the oar, and these in turn, would, beyond all doubt, be glad to welcome their fair friends on sich pleasant oconsions.
But to the races, From the return given below, it will be seen that the sport was exceptionally good, clearly indicating that training had not been neglected, m fact that speaks well for the pluck of those who do their utmost to keep up the love of athletic in the East. It was felt to be rather disappointing that no Engl war's gig went in for that ra especially as so many of the Old Country's cruisers are in the Whangpoo, but por-haps this will be remedied to-day. The Challenge Eight Oar was a fine race, but the English crow had either trained too fine, or, speaking generally, their stamina was not so good as their opponents', At starting, they looked a likely crew, and sat their boat well. But to pull-up the length and a half said to be lost by a boat taking the outer course, certainly requires a lot of work, particularly against a crew like that the Scotch pitted against thei OF these, too much cannot be said, both as to their condition and style of rowing,—the latter is hardly to be wondered at, when it is remembered how often several of them have pulled together; five of to-day's oarsmen and the coxswain formed part of the crew which rowed in 1871. 'The Scullers' aces present little opportunity for comment. Mr. Richards, although but a young oarsman, was thonwht likely to be the winner of the Ladies' Purse, and would no doubt have given Mr. Wyatt and Mr. Bradley more than they had to do, but for the interference of two or three steam-Inunches, which keeping in front of the boats for some distance, raised such a swell as nearly to swamp them. It is to be hoped these useful, but on such occasions, troublesome disturbers will keep clear of the races in futare, and that if they want to shift their positions, they will do so either in the intervals of after the boats have passed them. For the final heat of the Double Sculls, a
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.