Auckland Gossip.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1171, 30 December 1879, Page 2

Auckland Gossip.

(SrEciAiiLY coarra/ED for the ' ' Waikato TaiES.") Atjoklaxd, Monday evening'. THE HOLIDAYS. ' Since ray last letter, the Christmas -week has passed, and' we are now looking forward to the New Year. The weather, which has been very bad for the last fortnight gave considerable promise of improvement during the earlier part of the week, but Christmas Day was heralded by a heavy downpour of rain,' which continued almost without the slightest intermission or abatement till the afternoon. The weather again broke,- and. a change in the wind gave some prospect to anxious citizens and intending pleasure seekers of fine weather on Boxing Day. But, alas ! -jJus was not to be. A succession, of northerly raiu squalls passed over the city on Thursday night, and on Friday rnorning the appearance of the sky wasveiy gloomy indeed, and the prospect of good weather that day exceedingly slight. But at noon #ie downpour of rain ceased, and although the heavy masses of leaden clouds in the sky during the afternoon threatened more rain, large numbers of people availed themselves of the many opportunities of passing the remainder of tlic day pleasantly. A g-eneral exodus to the North Shore, Wooclsidc, Domain and Ellerslie took place, and very shortly the streets, which had been literally crowded with people, were almost' entirely deserted, targe numbers of settlers, bushmen, and others had come in to town to spend the holidays and to see the races, and the anticipated pleasure of these was considerably marred b,y the unreasonable weather. The old saying regarding the iliwind was again strikingly verified, the local bonif aces being- the lucky individuals ill the case. All the hotels did a' ' roaring" trade both days. The proprietors of the various j>laces of amusement also reaped a large shsire of the harvest — the Oriental Exhibition, Zulu "War, and Theatre Royal being especially well patronised* Indeed, the latter "building was crowded to suoli an extent that admission was refused to a number of 'applicants for tickets. The attraction was "Pinafore," by the Lingardsy and it is drawing splendidly. THE RACES. Some doiibt was felt as. to whether or not the opening day of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer meeting would be postponed in consequence of the. inclement weather. All anxiety on this score, however, was set at rest by the cessation of the downpour of rain at noon on Thursday. The interest evinced in the meeting was evidenced by the fact tbJat there were, it is estimated, more than three thousand people on the course. The fair sex was very slightly represented, but the clerk of the weather is responsible for this. Since the last race meeting very considerable alterations and improvements! have been made in the grand stand and stabling paddock, aud the latter is now greatly increased in size, while stalls for the horses have been added. As a natural consequence of the heavy nt.iiiH, the course was oxoeodingiy heavy, and thtsrofora thp time was not fast in any of the races. No small amount of surprise Avas felt at the result of the Cup, which was, in sporting parlance,, a complete "boil over," and> rather unfortunate for the bookmakers, i who wero heavily implicated. The i favourites . were disappointing to their admirers and backers, their nonsuccess being attributed to the heaviness of the ground. Ariel, the winner, was not by any means well backed, but those' Avho did stake on her appeared to be confident of her ability to Avin. The Hurdle Race Avas another boil over, but it was a' splensid contest. Libeller, as Avas expected,. proA r ed successful in the Maiden Plate, AA T hile Billingsgate had a A r eiy easy thing in the RaiAvay Plate. The totalisator Avas introduced on the course for the first time here, and so far the police have not taken any action in. regard to it. The tAvo remaining days of the meeting — January Ist and' 2nd — are uoav being looked f orAvard to with considerahle interest, ancl should the weather continue fine, and judging from present appearances there is evevy prospect of it doing so, some expedient sport may be anticipated. As I previously stated, His Excellency the GoA r emor and Lady Robinson intend to be present on both days. ■ PASTOR CHINiaUY. During the last few weeks, preparations ' have beeu proceeding for the opening of Pastor Chiniquy's mission here. The rev. gentlomam is expected from Sydney by the Hero on Monday next, and he Avill bo received and Avelcomed by the various Protestant Clergymen on arrival. Arrangements has been made for a series of services in the Choral Hall, and, after j these, Mr Chiniquy, proceeds through I those of the country districts and toAvriships from which applications for his services haA r e been secured The lectures discorsed are all opposed to the doctrines of the Roman Cotholic Church, and on ' this account Ins meetings in Australia caused no small amount of bad feeling, ! and frequent collisions between the tAvo | parties. In Auckland, avo have almost acquired a reputation for religious tolerance, and therefore no fear of anytrouble between the Catholics and Protestants Avas anticipated.