A strong breeze from the North-East and a moderately over-clouded sky promised a ing-day on Saturd four yachts hoisted their fight n not being ready, the Ariadne ha "been put on the mud' to be cleaned, and not ind the Wild Dush not having her new mast and sails ready for the race. The course made i spectacle for people i being at the usual river toa stakeboat moored off Battery Creek, up to a stakeboat moored off the Public Garden, down to Battery Creek again, and up to the starting line, a distance of about twenty-five miles." It was running strong ebb at 3 p.m., the hour fixed fur the start.
In the upper reach the full force of the wind was not felt, and the strong breeze lag was not hoisted, so that the Thistle was only allowed fourteen minutes by the other three yachts.
The official times of crossing the line were as under:
Undine, Thistle Cluthe 00: 3h.
The Uniline, steered for this occasion by the veteran Captain Boomqui, was under whole sail, which was all she could carry the Romolo carried her jib, foresail and mainsail; the Thistle had one reef in her her topmast housed, and all lower sail set. Tt was 0 good day to test the Undine's new mast, and it stood the test well. It was a dead beat down the lower read ith " heavy sca at the lower end of the barbe om the start the Uri the omola, whi her sheet too flat aft, and no The Clutha had passed the Thist overhauling the Romolo when, between the Camp and the Tannery, her mast broke off short at the deck. As it went over the side it was checked by the weather rigging, and brei the whole gain in the centr eat, mast, rigging and so yg overboard, and finishing her cruise for the day. Fortunately nobody was hurt, not x rope-yarn was lust, and the © wage done to the hull was the carrying of a small portion of the rail where the mast went over the side, Just before this the steam-Taunch Note, with a crowd of spectators board, came full speed past the Undine, a nasty addition to the heavy sea that was running, and eliciting anything 310,010 but compliment at from the foreign, jerew of the yacht. The was too far off to render any assistance to the Clutha, and, indeed, the accident was not seen from' her at the time, but the Htomola put back, and then, finch her assistance was not needed, continued the race, having taken in her foresail, while the Thistle came up in the wind, and took in a second reef.
The stake-boat off Battery Creek was in only six feet of water instead of being in the channel, and it was ticklish work rounding it, which was done at the following times Undine..
4h. 2m. 0s.
Romolo... 4h. 10m. 30s.
Thistle: not timed.
It was a clear run up before the wind, the Udine setting her small jib as a spinnaker. Soon after rounding, the Komolu tried her jib-topsail, but' soon took it in again. On the way up the yachts had to jibe sail twice, and this was very handsomely done on the Romolo, the Undine, with an excess of precaution, going about both For the beat down again the Undine took ina reef, and sailed very much more comfortably-and quite as fast as before, avoid ing the constant luffing-up and loss of way which her whole sail had necessitated the first time. The Romolo set her foresail again, but off the Tannery her jib sheet carried away, and she gave up the race and squared away for home. The Thistle shook out her reefs. The flood was beginning tu make as the Uiuline came down the second time, and the water on the bank where the stakeboat was moved had risen to nine feet, the Uwline rounding it at dh. 59m, 0s. "The Thistle gave up before reaching the stakeboat, leaving the Uiudine alone in the race. She shook out her reefs, set her big jibes a spinnaker, and came along gaily over the flood, though the wind was falling, ing the winning line at Gh. 43m. 3s., wgthe cup. The Fairy Challenge Cup is to be sailed for next Saturday, and it is hoped that the Clitha will have her new mast in in time for that important event.
SG, SUAM-FIGHT, Taesilay evening was hardly what could be called x favourable one for the Volunteers, as the clear atmosphere, cloudless sky and full moon revealed their manceuvres far too distinctly; and their white uniforms were therefore some disadvantage to the men, Punctually at 9 pan, the defending force mustered outside the Horse Bazar The corps was divided into two detach:
ents; raged on cither side of the road. The artillery, consisting of three gw was drawn "up in advance of the body, and a rear guard of light horse was stationed on the flank of the-lines that faced each other, On the Settlement side, Major Morrison here addressed the oticers, non-commissioned officers and men the force, giving instructions as to. the regulations to be observed. Then about 40 rounds of mmnunition were served out to each Hough commanded the atta party, with Captain Dallas as umpire; while Captain Lanning led the opposing side, with Major Morrison as umpire. At 9.30 p.m. the three guns were sent forward with an advance guard und Captains Bright and Dudgeon; and shortly afterwards the right and left wings faced forward and marched in skirmishing order for action, On arriving at Sinza road the enemy's outposts we ensconced a little further up, on each of the road, with some light horse in the rear. Lanning immediately halted his men and prepared to receive cavalry, at the same time opening out a steady' fire and Jdoing good service with the field pieces, "However, this was promptly returned by the enemy who kept up a smart fire. But finally, amidst the din and under cover of the' dense volumes of smoke, that the wind drove in their faces, the attacking party fell hack upon the main, body at Oliver's Bungalow, where they were sheltered by one yun, and Captain Hough ably covered the retreat by immediately stationing a detachment in the Sicawei road, so a8 to open fire from two points, which eventually proved successful. Mean: while Captain Lanning despatched a small detachment of infantry, under Sergeant Wingrove, to guard against entry into the Settlement by the Carter road, while he thundered on at a double' after the enemy, who were then in full retreat, Wingrove pushed his men forward in single file towards the Cross roads, making good use of the friendly shelter' that the avenue of trees afforded. Upon arriving at a point near the Chinese burial ground he thought it advisable to entrench his men, in
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.