198 ON AND OFF THE TDEF. 



rivers I ever was on for a 'sculling race. At Ryde 

 and Gladesville, where tlie headquarters of the 

 scullers are, I have spent pleasant days, and watched 

 Hanlan dash along in his customary brilliant style, 

 and seen Beach and the other good scullers pull on 

 this fine stretch of water. 



Over one match there is a tale related about 

 certain newspaper men told off to do the account 

 of the race. Great rivalry existed between the two 

 evening papers, each of which had made every 

 arrangement possible to get the result out before 

 the other. The newly- started paper must have 

 risked it, as tlie winner^s name was shouted a minute 

 or so after the race. Luckily it turned out to be 

 correct. The managing director of the opposition 

 paper was so wroth at being second in the field 

 that he stood at the top of the stairs leading to 

 the reporters^ room and " sacked '^ each unfortunate 

 man told off to assist in recording the race, as he 

 came up the oflBce stairs. 



The Nepean river is not so good as the Parra- 

 matta, but some great races have been rowed there. 

 A considerable amount of interest is taken every 

 year in the international rowing contests. In Sydney 

 there are numerous rowing and sailing clubs, and the 

 harbour is alive with yachts every Saturday afternoon 

 and all Sunday. The sight from the Botanical Gardens 

 on a fine summer^s day is charming. 



