CHRISTMAS ON THE NEVIS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 165, 7 January 1873, Page 6

CHRISTMAS ON THE NEVIS.

(From a Correspondent,) December 31, 1872. It is a poor heart that never rejoices, aayeth tho old saw ; ami indeed that must be a very abject heart that does not open itself when jolly old Christmas comes once again among us. He must bo the veriest misanthrope, who, amidst the universal hum of joy, can refuse to admit a ray of human feeling and sympathy into his soul on this the most auspicious day the world has over soon, the day on which Love came upon the earth, and cheering Hope was given to all mankind. To some minds it would be a pleasant and profitable occupation to contemplate the thousand-and-one ways by which the exuberant joy of this day finds moans to evince itself; but as this is neither the time nor place to moralise, I will only say, that on the Nevis, among other ways, it found vent in horse-racing. Christmas morning came in gloriously ; if anything, promising to be too warm ; but as the day advanced a light breeze sprang up, which, with an occasional cloud 'on the sun's disc, made the weather really enjoyable, and the very thing for the purposes of sport. Towards noon, the scene in the township was quite animated. Troops of stalwart horsemen came pouring in from mountain and glen, and great was the demand for fluids of all sorts, from vapid "flare-up" to "brandy straight"; but amidst all the drinking and jollification, the anxious faces ox jockeys might be seen, busily engaged in arranging their weights, and certainly the quantity of shot, tacks, and iron required to effect this was astonishing. After the exchange of salutations and greetings, and the imbibitions consequent, had been performed, a start was made for the course, at which, after much good-natured chaff exchanged on the road, Ave presently arrived. The scene which met the eye there was one to gladden the heart of a recruiting-sergeant or to cheer the soul of a spinster, for a better-looking lot of fellows never gathered together for sport or any other purpose. The most notable want was the all but entire absence of the fair sex, as only one lady graced the scene, and she, to be sure, was the cynosure of all eyes. This great want (I mean the want of ladies) is naturally suggestive of the thought of what a fine opening there is here for the operations of a Mrs Chisholm or a Miss Eye. After a few preliminaries, necessary to the proper conduct of the business on hand, had been gone through, eight gallant steeds were drawn out to contest for the first prize, which the condition of the nags, all that need be said on that score is, they appeared to have "Was a handsome ten-guinea saddle. As to had as much preparation as the circumstances warranted. The races were run in the following order : Handicap Race for a Riding Saddle. Distrance, one mile. Entrance, £l. Mr Harrison's Maori Chief 1 Mr Newt. >n's Silvertail 2 Six others ran. A. good start was effected, and the lot kept pretty well together until about three parts of the distance was run, when Maori Chief, who was ridden by Mr | Harrison with patience and judgment, went | to the front and kept the pride of place all! the way home, in spite of the efforts of Mr j Newton, who lanced bis courser (Siivertail's) ! sides enough to win a Derby. Silvertail was ! a good second. Private Match for £lO a side, between Mr ! Gilbert Staite's Bismarck, and Mr J. Monroe's Drammond Lass. Bismarck 1 l)ru m mond Lass 2 This race was won easily by Bismarck, who j is a powerful horse ; while the Lass, however ! good she maybe, is very small, and van Tinder I the disadvantage of carrying as much dead i weight on her withers, in the shape of nails I and tacks, ;>s would make quite a respectable stock-in-trade for an ironmonger in a fair way of business. Hospital Race. The winner of the race to ' receive a handsome silver-mounted ridhi" i whip, the gift of Mr Joss, Dunstan. Maori Chief ] Silvertail \\\"\\ o Six entered for this race, and the Chief' wasagaiu victorious. The amount collected j on the course in aid of the funds of the Dun- ! stan Hospital was £(5 I.Bs. The smallness of] the sum may be attributed to the tact that! subscription lists bad been sent round a day or two previous to the meeting, and the calls were well responded to. So far as racing was concerned, this event ; closed the meeting, and after some fun and! frolic it broke up, some taking the road to ' Cromwell to see the raws there, and others j wen-ling their way home, all highly pleased ■ with the sport they had witnessed, and wish- I iiig that, in the language of John Gilpin, Tim no\t tim- thai, they ■_.,, (, (J .■;.;,.