THE CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 150, 27 December 1866, Page 2

THE CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENTS.

If the weather -hail been specially supplied to order it could not possibly have been finer or more delightful than that Svhich has so far prevailed during the Christmas Holidays. A bright sun in a cloudless sky, and a 1 gentle refreshing breeze made it a positive treat to be out, and those avlio could "leave' 'their dwellings and shops took advantage of the lovely weather to enjoy themselves. On Christmas day Mr Kelson's Garden at Coal Creek attracted a large number of visitors, and Aye are sure that all who went must haA'e been pleased. Mr Nelson has made very good- use of the natural beauties of the bush, and has laid out some, very pretty walks and avenues, in which seats and 'tables are placed at convenient intervals. . In course of time Coal Creek Gardens Avill be 'a chief source of recreation, being so Avell situated and -so capable of adaptation as public gardens. As yet of course much remains to be done, but i stilt the gardens are sufficiently advanced in cultivation and in their general arrangement as to constitute a very agreeable promenade. I Of course during tbe evening the concerts I and dancing rooms Avere not open, and a general quietness prevailed 'throughout the town. Indeed it has been a marked feature of this Christmas that comparatively few country visitors have comedown as custcmary to spend the holidays in toAvn. Last year the streets of ('{rcymouth were crowded Avith diggers from the country, and a roaring trade Avas done by the hotels and stores. j But. owing to A-arions causes the inhabitants of Greymouth have had almost the exclusive i enjoyment of the Sports. The Fox's and Pakihi Rushes have drawn away a large i number of the mining population, and the business people of Brighton and Charleston have been cute enough to provide sufficient .attraction to retain tho pleasure seekers amongst themselves. Atthe Ahaura.too the residents have established sports of their own, so that it is nnt to be wondered at that Grey mouth should have been singularly quiet if I not dull for the season. Perhaps to-day may ! see an accession to tho lmmhnr of visitors, and I thus restore the spirits of those avlio calcu- | lated on "doing a stroke" during the. Christ, J mas week. The Sports commenced yesterday with the Regatta, and the conditions of the river and : weather were all that could be desired. It | was intended to Ikia'o started the first race at I half-past 10, but owins to the state of the j tide it was deferred until about 12 o?cloek. : The schooner Florence had been kindly placed at the disposal of the Committee by Captain Warren, and was moored in the i channel abreast of the wharf. There Avas a j "ood number of ladies and gentlemen on board, anil an excellent band played at intervals. V- , The first race was " Watermen's Licensed Skiffs. For all Watermen iv licensed boats, pulling a pair of sculls. Qualification, one month's license. .Entrance, 10s wh. First prize, LS : second prize, L 2. There were four entries viz.: — Cuter Foster "Royal Mail," Henry Bowi.: " Pride of C^Efes" Ralph "Albion," Antoine Salincr llfTl! Nations." An excellent start was made, tl c lend being almost at once taken by Ral)l , | whose "long pull, strong pull, and pnl! j altogether," innvkcd him as a likely winner. [ P.owie. in the '• Pride of the Grey" waited in j oasy distance 1 elrnd, the others also being prolty cose up until about half way to t lie beacon, when they dropped behind, and the .j race resolved itself virtually into one between 'the "Pride of the Grey" and "Albion." Ralph, however, kept the lead round the beacon, and maintained it to the end, although .Bowie was almost neck ami neck with him for the entire length bark. It wns as liiiu a bit of pulling as we have witnessed for sonic time, and Avas the subject of general admiration. When coming in there was a bare chance that Bowie would get ahead, but ' i Ralph put a little extra steam on, and won I easily. The second race was "Watermen's Licensed Skin's. For bona fnle. Amateur's, in Watermen's Skiffs, oars. Two rowers and a coxswain. Kntranco, 10b'. First prize, LS ; second prize, L 2. Boats to be over 17 feet on thc:kccl # There Avere seven entries, as follows : — Fordyce ami Taj lor* " Conn.-uight Manger," 1). Cohen and Ihmdry ." Pride of Grey," Wright and F.Cohen "All Nations," Fellows and Sykos "Victoria," A. A .irons and J. Roberts " Kiss Me Quick," Mackay and Roberts "Albion," Wilkie and i George "Pride of Grey." Mr. Kissing, after having got the boats well placed, a tolerably good start was effected, i the van being taken by. Messrs Cohen and Wright, I). Cohen and Gumlry, in the "Pride of Grey," following slightly b.hind. All the boats kept at an average distance I until Hearing the beacon^. wnen the "All j Nations" shot ahead, and' would have been I more in advance had shebeen better steered. Round the beacon the boats came in the folloAving order: — "All Nations" first, " Pride of Grey"- second, " Red Flag" third, : and "Green Flag" last. Green dropped | behind still more on the return race, and the [ race became a duel between the two which i had kept ahead, but it was evident that the " All Nations" had the best of it, and she reached homo several lengths ahead. A" s niggle for second place was between the^ ! " Pride of Grey" and the "Albion," and | 9ome fouling occurred at the upper beacon,' i-Avhioh led to a. protest by the " Pride of Grey," whicli came in third. The pulling of Messrs Cohon and Wright was A-ery good, and in fact the amateurs generally handled their oars creditably. ■V ■ ' - ''•..-.:' The " Sculling Match" for ships boats came next, in Avhieh the boats of the Spray, Wild Wave and Florence were the competitors. It was Avon by the Wild Wave's boat. ''.The next i ace that came off was the ' ' Prahm Race, " for four oars and a steersman. Same conditions and course as No. 4 race. Entrance, 20s each. First prize, Llo}, second prize, L 2. There were three entries, viz :-Bob Alice "Mary," Williams "White. Rose," Harisen "Rose of Denmark," which took the lead and kept it up throughout the race. This jnatch was well pulled, and the

position of the boats Avas little aM»« lO A 'i. the time they started. ,Tlie "M.'«Lq\ *«^| in second.- Ijk % 'k^B Next came the race for the ■" WataL'E Skiffs," for all comers in licensed hoats|!|l\% "}•■ ing a pair of oars and having a coXs^iA ' 1 Entrance 20s each. First prize, L 8 ; sccfiiul prize, L 2. There Avere three entriea af fol'B ■low:8:-Kalpli and Bowie. 'SPride of --Gtey, I * Wilson- and Abnar "All Nations," Wilki<»a and "Albion." ''From'tLS first ill was evident that the .".Priile.of.G«»j! l ..wbidß| for its rowers had Ralph aiid. Bowie IImW crack men of the d iiy was sure to win; 441 l heavy odds were fairly offered in their faA^^a They took the lead andk pt it uj t ■' tho eniSl winning easily by two boat** lengths .: WM For the " Cargo Boat Race." there Avci-eKI five entries, viz, " Let Me Alone" lln.m'A] " Wild Irish Girl » Mahoney ; "BkelMi Swan," Duncan ; " Peg^y," Martin ; '• Whito « Rose, " Hiinsen. This was a well contested £J race, and Avas won,By Rugg's boat, Mahoney'sdH crew coming in-seeoiiil. The " Champj/11 Race" caused some spc- IB dilation, asßoth Bowie snd Ralph were 9 entered. Ralph however did not start, beiixr IflE umrell. The competitors were— "Pride of JbP the Grey. " Bowie ; " All .Nations,' J> stt ,. 0B .fflp and the winner was Bowie. mßa? The " Duck Hunt" was supplied by tljflHl crew of the Wild Wave, the Duck U-iJwP' caught by the ships' gig. ffIKP A little more enthusiasm prevailed toward Jut the conclusion of the Rogatta, and the nuiiJw her of spectators had materially iiuwsisi.d.«Bf We must not forget to state that Mr Kissling^K performed the duties of starter to the entire »| satisfaction of everybody. |^- Pablo FaiKjue, at Kilgour's, and the Dra- 1| matic Company at Sweeney's, drew good % houses, but we have not space to notice the \ performances. We will do them justice in . ■ our next.