THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1880. WAIKATO TURF CLUB RACES.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1175, 8 January 1880, Page 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1880. WAIKATO TURF CLUB RACES.

The weather is threatening, but should it prove fair there will be one of the best race meetings at Ohaupo ever held in Waikato. A very large number of visitors have arrived from Auckland, and every house in Hamilton is full. Beds, indeed, were not procurable at an early ; hour last night, and any sort of a shake-down was thankfully accepted. The following horses arrived yesterday :— Libeller, Loch Lomond, Grey Momus, Barney, Billingsgate, Balmoral, Malvern, and Piscatorius. The following are the handicaps for the Novel Handicap Race to be run on Friday. The acceptances must be sent in before 8 p.m. to-day. Golden Crown, Bst. 121b5.; Old Times, Bst. Blba.; Barney, Bst. ; Gladstone, 7st. 121b5. ; Tui, 7b t. 71bs. Every arrangement has been made for ttie conveyance of visitors from Hamilton to the racecourse. Coaches and 'busses will ply throughout the day, and the steamer Delta has been advertised by the Waikato Steam Navigation Company to leave Ngaruawahia at 6.30 a.m., and Hamilton at 9.30 a.m. for Steel's landing. It will be seen from our advertising columns that the Hamilton, Band vili aoc .mpany the Delta each day to Steel's landing. As the landing is close to the course and the fare cheap, no doubt many will avail themselves of this mode of transit.

Masonic B^.-Thoro wa» a large and brilliant assemblage last night at the ball ffot up by the Freemasons at Pearce s Gommeroial Hotel, but there was a very large proportion of ladies. The supper was laid off in host Pearce's good style. The musio was all that could be desired, and dancing was kept up with great spirit till late into the morning. It is reported, says yesterday's Herald, that Sir Hercules Robinson has offered 500 guineas for Mr Walters' s colt Libeller? It is believed that Mr Walters will not sell him, as the colt is in veiy "light" for the Dunedin and Wellington Cups. Colonel W. C. Lyon has been gazetted to the rank of First Class Suprintendant in the New Zealand Ar^ed Constabulary Force, and has recieved an addition of £100 per annum to his pay. Thk picnic at Kihikihi on New Yoar'y Day (says our correspondent writing 1 on the oth inst.) was largely attended, and -will long be pleasantly remembered by the «-ay assemblage of settlers, their families and friends, who met on that glorious momiug in those "sweet fields arrayed in Hying green." There, all the village train from labor free led up the sports beneath the spreading tree ; there kept hio-h holiday, and exchanged mutual greetings of good will and happiness. The committee left nothing undone that | could in any way contribute to the success of the day. Beneath the spreading folds of a large awning an abundance of choice and rare edibles, fruits and charmin<* viands were laid out with exquisite .taste by the young ladies who presided. The Te Awamutu Band, who were present, furnished the music and contributed much to the amusement by its lively and stirring airs. Games, racing, and dancingwere indulged in by old and young until the shades of evening set in, when all separated for their homes well pleased and gratified at the amusement provided for them.

Hamilton Promenade Concert.— As an extra attraction to the promenade concert, to be held in Mr G-wynne's gardens to-morrow evening-, the members of the Fun and Frolic Company will appear during the evening, and give exhibitions on the horizontal bar and other gymnastics. As they give th^ir services free it is to be hoped that they will get bumper houses themselves during their short etay here.

Db Hector has formed an original and somewhat curious theory of the reason for the exceptionally wet season we are experiencing. He thinks that the Gulf Stream or Warm ocean current which passes from the equatoral regions to the south of the Auckland Islands, has changed its course, and passing through Cook's Straits, has enveloped the colony. As it it flows to the eastward, it carries with it a great quantity of moisture, which, meeting the prevailing easterly winds, is condensed, and decends on the land in the form of rain. As confirmatory of this theory, it is mentioned that some fishermen outside Wellington Heads cought some strange fisq, which they took to town, when the fish were recognised as belonging to the equatorial seas. Some few days ago, sholes of fish declared to be entirely strange to this coast, were cought in the Napier harbour, and it is suggested that they were of the same family. Thibteen men of the A.C. Force inarched from here this morning to Cambridge. Ten more yet remain to garrison this post — they are employed on road works in this township. Mb F. R. Foster met with a serious loss on New Year's morning. His stack of hay, which had been saved with much difficulty, heating, and being entirely consumed by fire, anew and valuable tarpauline went with it. Rewi has returned from Te Kuiti and is now at Kopua, where for the present he will reside, but shortly return to Puniu. The usual annual collections in aid of the Melaneaian Mission -will be made (as recommended by the Synod), on Sunday next at St. Andrew's Church, Cambridge. Mb S. Bright will sell by auction on Saturday, at noon, in front of the Town Hall, the rights and privileges of the Cambridge racecourse on the 15th inst. Acceptance monies for the Cambridge races are payable to the secretary, Cambridge, aud Mr W. Percival, Auckland, on Saturday, 10th inst.

The Weather. — The following telegram from Commander Edwin, at Wellington, dated 5 p.m. yesterday, was received by the Postmaster in Hamilton : — " Watch barometer. Bad weather approaching any direction between S.E. and east and north. Glass fallen, but iB rising again. Within 24 hours expect a good deal of rain."