Yacht Races Brilliant

Success for Suva

SUVA, June 15.

THE international eighteen-footer yacht championships at Suva (five yachts from New Zealand, three from Australia, and four representing Fiji) will go down in history as one of Suva’s biggest successes, despite initial headaches [or the organisers.

The spectacular and perfectly organised occasion ended when the Acting Governor (Mr. A. F. R.

Stoddart, CMG) presented the J. J.

Siltinan Trophy to Mr. Peter Mander and the crew of the oeautifully-equipped yacht Intrigue, vhich had come from Chirstchurch, STZ, to represent Canterbury Pro vince.

The 62 overseas yachtsmen have jone home after firmly declaring hat the 1952 series at Suva had been ;he best contested, best organised ind most enjoyable event in the listory of the contest.

They were camped in tents ilongside the new Yacht Club boat ihed and Suva’s hospitality to them vas overwhelming.

Some Australian sailing clubs iaw no point in holding the Cham pionships in Suva, but it is hoped hat some of the returning visitors vill now convince them otherwise.

To date, the championships have peen sailed in either Australia or view Zealand. Suva hopes that its •ecent effort will entitle it to the ■ole of host again in another few rears.

The three races —two on Suva larbour and one at Laucala Bay— vere full of interest and excite nent, even for non-yachtsmen, and is a result have spread interest in yachting among a large section of Suva’s mixed population. The :rowning achievement (for locals) vas the winning of the third heat >y Fiji’s Talei (designed by New Zealander J. Logan, who was him ;elf skipper of Auckland s Tarua n the contest). Talei might have von the trophy if her shackle had lot carried* away and caused a jroken mast when she was leading he field in the first lap.

Top marks for the complete uccess of the occasion go to the loyal Suva Yacht Club and its lard-working committee of women upporters. The prestige of the lub has soared, and Fiji has now aken its place in international ■achting as well as in Rugby foot >all, cricket and athletics.

The Auckland boats Taru and Vaimarie were sold at conclusion )f the event, Tarua being pur hased by Messrs. P. J. Underhill ind F. J. Gardener, members of he Suva Yacht Club committee, ,nd Waimarie was bought by the nub.

Sir Henry Milne Scott, KC, re urned to Fiji early in July after short visit to Sydney.

Mr. H. E. Snell, managing-direc tor of Morris Hedstrom Ltd., left Fiji for the United Kingdom via Canada in June, He expects to re turn to the Colony in September.

Qantas passengers for Honiara on June 9 included Mr. V. J. Shearwin (Acting Accountant-General) and Mrs. Shearwin, and Mr. D. A.

Donald (Senior Agricultural Officer)

returning from leave; Mr. G.

Skipper, a senior Administrative Officer arriving to take up his appointment, with Mrs. Skipper and children; Dr. R. F. Payne, the newly appointed Government Medical Officer, with Mrs. Payne and child; Mr. K. H. D. Hay and Mr. O. G.

Chapman, newly appointed Com missioner of Works in the Protec torate Government.