THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

Southland Times, Issue 1681, 27 December 1872, Page 2

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

••• — ■ •. • • . ' ; Wednesday being Christmas Day, and Boxing Day "following it, the town during the two days — excepting in the morning and evening of each day — has been almost empty. As there were no excursion trains running on. Christmas Day, plea-aure-eeekeM were confined to' such other means of locomotion by horse and vehicle as were available, and the weather being maguificently fine, a large number of the citizens availed themselves of it, and wended their several ways to rural spots, shady knolla, or sandy beach, as convenience or inclination prompted. Yesterday was a repetition of Christmas Day on a larger scale. Abundance of attractions were provided, there being first the early train to the Bluff, the excursion being nominally a gathering of " Oddfellows" on pleasure bent, or to rub off the rust, or to shake themselves free of the din and turmoil of city life ; but if all the assemblage at the Railway Station who sought the means of transit Bluffwards were either Oddfellows or in sympathy therewith, then it follows that of the associations which, have banded tfiatrpr OJuTellowaliip has — so far as Invercargill yields* its testimony — been in the highest degree successful. Every available carriage and truck was placed in requisition, and there could not have been many (if any) less than ,800 passengers when the train started for the Bluff. A train laid on for the Winton races took away about 100, and the afternoon train to the Bluff, took its contribution to the throng, and by midday the town itself wore a deserted aspect. Early in the day, the scholars of the "Wesley an School in Laet street assembled on the ground to be stowei away in carts drawn by substantial dray-horses, and other vehicles, which, if more aristocratic, possessed no higher attraction to the hundreds of youngsters who were bound on a pieuic to the neighborhood of the New River. Campbell, with a four-horse coach, conveyed a full complement to Kiverton, and it appeared certain that there could not be much of a crowd to witness the ten-mile race by Austin. THE SPOUTS AT THE SHOW GROUND. On the Show Ground, at the appointed hour, there were but few visitors, and the advertised sports appeared long in coming forward. Gradually the crowd began to thicken, until between 400 and 500 persons, were on the- ground, rand the program me wsscoirimenced. " There was nothing in the running in either_of the introductory ev«nts — calling for -speelar'notice. The first, wag a .100 yards' race, for which there were four entries, and which was won by Hodgson, with Kelly second. Jn the Hurdle Race there were but three starters; — Hodgson, Kelly, and Price— the latter having 20 yards' start, and in this event Hodgson was also the winner. In the 1-mile race, with the same starters, Kelly and Price succumbed, and the distance was gone over by Hodgsoo. Extemporised races followed, and during their progress, a man named Charles Peters, a painter of Invercargill, fell, and as was supposed, broke hiei thigh. He was removed to the Hospital, where he now lies. . At nearly five o'clock, the great race came off, for which Austin showed remarkably well, and Messrs Dalgliesb, Kingsland, and Wade having measured the distance, he settled to his work. The heat at the time was excessive, rendering what . he accomplished a ?feat. >IBis running was remarkably, easy, and although five miles only was run, it was plain by the spurt he showed at the finish that he was not distressed. The opinion of the visitors, expressed by their cheering on Austin's retiring from the ground, was that of acquiescence in the shortening of the distance. It was generally admitted that with the extreme heat and peculiar close ness of the atmosphere, more than was accomplished could not reasonably have been expected. The distance of 5 miles was performed under the half hour by a few seconds.

TSE EXCURSION TO THE BLUFF. The excursionists to tb© Bluff having wrived there, had a decided advantage ever the ottterclaßsea of hpHday-seekera, being cooleiptoy the refreshing breeze .from the;«asforhich prevailed all day, and :nade but-door amusements ■■; all that be wished. Thet:oddfißUows and Volunteer band left ' the train at the (a narrow strip of land dividing Foveax Straits from the Harbor, and about a mile and a half from the Bluff.) Here Mr Mayo bad erected a large re« . fresbment tent, but the general huTior appeared to be in favor of small parties, picnicing here, there, and everywhere, making most of the occasion, according' to their individual or social fancies; The proximity of the band w\s regulated to the precise degree at which its volume is most in harmony with the ideas of such as intend to revel in the calm and , quiet, and after a time it proceeded to j the Bluff, whither those whose tastes I most affected shipping were congregated. WlNTbir BACES. y T I "Within a few bnioutes'of the" appointed hour the train started witK the ■remaining excursionists and spbrtirig' men for Wintoia, where, after a rattling spin of some 50 minutes, all were safely landed. No conveyances being obtainable, those bent upon seeing the races had to"pad\ the hoof" the intervening mile and a half, a scorching hot sun and a dusty road in no way intimidating those, who, judgingfrom the advertised^'programme, anticipated a good day's sport, expectations,! however, which were not to be realised, 1 the Maiden Plate, although only a match' between two horses, being apparently the* only bona fide race of the; day. Mem-; bers of the Winton Jockey Club, if they; wish to continue their yearly meetings, will do well to take. a lesson from the great dissatisfaction which was evinced, not only by the owners of certain horses, but by most of the com-, pany present, at the one-sided appearance] their programmes possess, and also were they to, condense the events into one day's racing, both" the Club and the sporting public •" would be benefited thereby. The notice which, appeared upon the booth, relating to the District Handicap, was altogether detrop, and not "according to Cocker," it not being within the province of Billets Dancer's owner to make any such declaration. Mr H. Mayo, the spirited public caterer, was as usual to the fore. A splendid spread, to whinh was done ample justice, coupled with his wellminaged bar, where the inward man had constantly to be refreshed, mast have proved deservedly a good " spec," the excessive heat of "the weather no doubt causing the extra a uount of imbibition. The racing, if it will beir the appellation, came off as follows : — Maiden Plats of ,10 soya— Open to all horse* that have never won an advertised r*C3 exceeding £5. Distance,: U miles. Weight for age. Entrance, £1 Is. Mr T. Lamport 1 * c m L»dy Ellen, 5 rears, 9st9lb (C- Whit) 1 Mr A. Hawkshaw'a brg Young Leamington, 6 yeara, 9at 9lb ... (W. O'Brien) 2 The only two horses entered for this event came to the post, loung Learaingtaii- beia^a-atrong: favorite^ B to 3 bein^j offered upon him. After a good start, the chestnut lei by about a length until passing the stand the' first time, when Leamington then put on a spurt auci passed the mare, which position he maintained uutil the first mile had been accomplished, when the game little chestnut challenged aad passed him, increasing the distance between them at every stride, and coining in au easy winner by several lengths. DiSTuicr Handicap of 20 says— For District horses only. Distance, 1J miles. Entrinc?, £2 2a, with a sweepstake of £2 2* each a Ided. Mr T. White* br in Ballet Djnear, S yea*s 7at. ... ... ... (Birohall) 1 Mr T. Lampert's N3 br ra Widovr Vtacliree, aiied, Bst 121b5... (F. Whfce) 2 Mr D. Brenehley's b m Prairie Fl>wjr, aged, 9it 10lb (scratchaJ) This proved a most hollow affair, Prairie Flower bains; scratched, her owner complaining, not without reason, of the heavy weight imposed. Billet Dancer led off from the junp at_ a rattling pace, young Birchall not being able to keep her back, and soon ran away from the Widow, until the stand was passed the first time, when the Ballet Dancer swerved off the course at tbe bend, giving the Widow a chance of which her jock took advantage for a time, but was soon collared by the little one, who had it all her own way, and could, had ahe been allowed, have won by any amount-of— lengths;; . ._ .. . FAbmebs* Racb of 5 «>vs — Distance, H miles. No weight under 10 atone. Entrance, 10s 6d, with a sweepstake of 10s 61 each added. Mr Blanchford's bg. Little Dick (O'-Brien) I Mr M'Leod's b m Broom ... (owner) 2 Mr D. Brenchley'i : br m Mosquito, 6 yean, (Bunting) ' 3 Mr R, Solo's b g Swindle ... (Pat) 4 The Stewards resolved upon making this a post entry event, owing to there not being a sufficient number entered at the proper time ; after some delay, the above four were brought to the scratch, Mosquito being the favorite at odds against the field. The latter started off with a slight lead, Little Dick, Swindle, and Broom, being wellup. Unfortunately, Mosquito swerved off the course near the stand, Little Dick thereby, getting a good lead, which he held throughout, not however without a considerable application of the whalebone, M'Lepd's mare coming in with a rush at the finish, being only half a length in the rear, Mosquito out of the race, and Swindle verifying his appellation by proving a take-iu. Hack Racb. The train being about to start for town prevents the return of the above event. THE TRIP TO BtTAPUKB. About 120 of the excursionists committed themselves to the Storm Bird, for a trip to Buapuke, and left the wharf at noon, with : the wind in th© vessel's teeth, which might occasion matter of discomposure, if not of complaint, to the delicate and .sensitive. The slight rolling swell appeared conspicuously unpleasant to some, but "all's well that

end's well," and the Storm Bird's passengers in search of health need not be too fastidious as to the process by which it is arrived at. The return excursion train waited long past the appointed hour for the return of the Storm Bird, but no -- steamer arriving, the holiday band started on its way homeward, leaving the Bluff to its ordinary quiet, until wakened up by tbe return of another special day. The Storm Bird returned to the Bluff about 8 o'clock, and her passengers reached town at 10 p.m., all seemingly vrell pleased with the trip, the excursionists having been conveyed to and from tbe island in the boats of the Maoris.