NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 277, 31 December 1909, Page 6

NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

At time of writing the weather appears unsettled and none too promising for the New Year holidays. He is a clever man, however, who can correctly diagnose the symptoms of Taranaki weather two" days ahead, and there is no reason yet to despair of fine weather. The list" of holiday attractions fixed for New Year's Day is a fairly long one, and there is a variety from which each should be able to select something to his or her liking. At homo here the great attraction is

THE SEASIDE PICNIC. a This beach carnival was originally designed for the purpose of entertaining the large numbers of visitors from dif- '' ferent parts of Taranaki who make this their holiday centre at New Year's i time. It succeeded beyond all expectations, and had the effect also of inducing hundreds, even thousands, more ( to spend New \ ear's Day on the beach. Both townspeople and country people are preparing this year for the big, ( happy day on the beach, and the sight shouid be a pretty one. The Seaside Improvement Committee provides hot water, tea, s'ugar, and milk free of charge. The amusements will include I bathing and wading; swimming sports, for which there are big entries; children's races on the sands, boating cx-

cursions, fishing, and steamer trips. The Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Kotuku (1000.tons) will be specially dressed with awnings, and so on, for" these excursions, and the Taranaki Garrison Band will be on board. The trips will cost sixpence a time for children and a shilling for adults. Special train services to New Plymouth, ami between the town station and Moturoa, have been arranged. The Seaside Committee have arranged with Mr. Morris, of the baths, to have a supply of towels and ladies' and gentlemen' 9 bathing-dresses for hire at a small fee on the beach. A dressing-tent will also be erected for the convenience of ladies. I

TENNIS TOURNAMENT. Tennis enthusiasts' will find a day's good sport on the Vivian-street courts, where the Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association's championship and handicap tournament will be in progress. Entries are large, and players of colonial repute will be engaged. The tournament will extend over three days. CRICKET. On the Recreation Sports Ground the Wanganui and North Taranaki representative cricket match will be played. Wanganui has a strong team, and North Taranaki's' eleven -will be an improvement upon that which rived Manawatu. From the rciiuLauou of some of the visitors it is i;i.;te apparent that we are to be given a fine exhibition of both batting and bowling. The match is to be continued on Monday. WAITARA REGATTA. The Taranaki annual regatta at Waitara, always a popular fixture, is bound to be well patronised, affording as it does Taranaki people's only opportunity of witnessing rowing races. The programme includes whaleboat and outrigger events, swimming and tab races, greasy boom, and water tournaments. The competing crews' have been in hard training for months, and some good racing should be witnessed.

STRATFORD RACES. Followers of "the sport of kings" are catered for by the Stratford Racing Club's annual 'meeting. The club has greatly improved its course and the appointments generally since last year's meeting, and deserves well of the sporting public. The acceptances are very good, and the racing promis'es to prove interesting. 'Hie Stratford Municipal Brass Band has been engaged, and the entering arrangements are in first-class hands. Everything points to a most successful meeting. The second day's racing will be held on Monday. HAWERA SPORTS. The Caledonian Society's sports at Hawera arc the principal attraction in South Taranaki, and from the numerous entries) it looks as though the society is in for another good meeting. RAHOTU SPORT'S. The Raliotu Athletic Club holds its annual meeting at Rahotu on Saturday. Competitors include many of the leading athletes, and as the coast folk are always loyal to the local sports, the club should have a successful day. EVEXIXG ENTERTAINMENTS. Hewitt's Pictures will be shown in the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening. Visitors to New Plymouth from other centres declare that the subjects' submitted, and the excellence and steadiness of the .illumination, have never been surpassed in the Dominion. Pollard's Merry Midget Company has the Theatre Royal for Monday and Tuesday evening, and from the Press notices wc anticipate that the New Plymouth playgoers are going to have a brilliant spectacular and musical treat.