OUR BIG HOLIDAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 566, 16 December 1881, Page 2

OUR BIG HOLIDAY.

To-day is Akaroa's red letter day, and if the weather is propitious should be even more successful than its predecessors. The Regatta is of course the great feature, and promise to be excellent, as entries have come forward in capital style from Wellington, Christchurch and Lyttelton, and our local men have bestirred themselves ,vith right good will, to meet their visitors iti friendly combat. Old anlts nre in great request just now, and h shipping agent couid_ place a few skilled navigators to assist in the working of the yachts and boats, to immense advantage. hikl many an unmitigated landsman puts on his straw hnt all aside, abjures braces, hitches up bis unrnentionablex. and walks down the beach '• with a roll iv his g»it like an old sea dog " as was remarked in Provincial Council days, of our respected member. As each yncht arrived nautical arguments increased ; a healthy spirit of rivalry giving promise of a glorious morrow. Inexorable custom forces us to give the tips for the principal events. Four go for the Yacht race, and if there's a decent breeze I place the DOVE first, and Xnrifa second. I fancy the Double Sculls will be a close thing, but I will go for Ollivier and back the KEA with L.R.C. close up if the water's a bit rough. The Open Boat Sailing Race, is a difficult one to talk about as I do not know what other boats the Penguin may bring, but I believe our gallant Commodore will turn up irumps in tho DREAM with the Avalanche nearly overwhelming him. If the water is very smooth, however, and fit for children, I shall back their accessary, the Pinafore. The Canoe race should be a gift to the Veteran Jones, who I see still keeps to his own KATHLEEN. For the Dingy race I tip WAINUI, and I fancy in the Pair Oared, Lyttelton will be in it with the NO NAME. The pubs are a sight, and give promise that if the day is fine and our friends turn up, there will be no lack of creature comforts at their disposal. The Rev H. Stocker and Mr S. Watkins were busy all day yesterday in receiving and classifying exhibits for the Industrial portion of the show. In fact •' busy "is hardly the word. Having no assistance, they had as much as they could manage to keep pace with the stream of anxious competitors who continued to arrive, laden with the fruits of their patient toil, probably of the leisure winter hours. At times there might be seen a group bearing each some specimen of art or industry, waiting till there turn came to be attended to. Of course I am not going to anticipate the duty which will fall upon your reporter to-day of giving anything like a criticism or description of the exhibits, but may be permitted to say that the show or! pictures promises to be exceptional'} , good. The outlying schools on the Peninsula appear to be fairly represented, and eoveral contributions have reached the committee from Cbristx'huroh schools. The Hoiml exhibits are not to be sent in till this morning, so that no opinion of their quality or quantity can he formed, but our florists are lamenting the effects of the nor-wester upon their treasures, and it is anticipated that this c.'iiise and the absence of tho noted " Teddy," who on former occasions used to have a cartload to put in, will result in a considerable falling off in the number of these exhibits, but not in the quality. Ho waver, there is no doubt that whether to the lovt?r of art or nature, combined exhibition to be held to-dny will be well worth a visit.

SILAS WEGG,