It is not necessary to say more to show the contrast bebween the action of our Yacht Club and the treatment of the Mari tana people at Wellington. But I. must mention another libble episode in the same connection to show that a more liberal Bpirit is necessary with at least one of our other bodies. Some Wellington yachtsmen battened to Auckland after their regatta to witness ours, and mindful of the kindness Bhown to him,Mr Bindon urged our Regatta Committee, or one or two of its officers, to issue complimentary tickets to them as visitors, to whom such an honour might fairly be shown. The request was refused, and peremptorily too, and failing to move the people to whom he had appealed, Mr Bindon paid a subscription to the Regatta funds in order to get three tickets ■which he could present 44 m the name of the Committee." He did not say much, but he thought a great deal. Facts like these are useful in throwing some light upon causes which tend towards the de cadence of our great national festival, and they are deserving of very careful con sideration. We want a better feeling

amongst our yachting men, there is no doubt, and we cannot afford to lose our reputation for hospitality to strangers for the sake of a couple of paltry Regatta tickets, and especially when the " dead head " business is carried to such an extent as was recently the case on the flagship.
