ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1640, 9 January 1883, Page 2

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Between* the Christmas and New Year holidays we had a small, but very welcome, rainfall, which did a great deal of good. If we had had more rain we would have been better pleased, but;, fortunately or unfortunately, we have, not the power to decide when rain shall fall, and when it shall cease. I have, no doubt that it is a good thing that we cannot decide this question ourselves, but that the decision is in the hands of the Giver of all good, though sometimes we feel disposed to think, even if wo do not say, that we could manage better ourselves. When the farmer sees, his crops parched for want of vain, and his cattle getting wretchedly thin, and even dying for want of feed, he feels disposed to " kick against the pricks." In this highly favored land of ours we do not understand the full meaning 6f the terrible word "drought." That is reserved tor other places, including some parts of Australia. Many of the dwellers in that island continent still remember with ( horror i\\e terrible V black Thursday," when the heat was so'great that people's feet were scorched through their boots. The houses seemed to afford' no} shelter from the terrible heat, and to, bring matters to a olimax the vast prairies caught fire, and not only vast t herds of cattle, but many human beings also lost their lives 'in the gigantic conflagration. We may thank a merciful Providence that we in New Zealand have never had such a terrible experience, and we ought most fervently to pray that we never may endure such. * * ! * ■ *' > ' X The slight rainfall had ceased' before the close of the old year, and the first sun-of, I§B3 rose in. a ojear, almost cloudless sky. 'Qn both the New Year holidays fche weather ' was splendid— fine, olear, and. hat,' but wittf the 1 "heat somewhat tempered' by a gentle sea breeze. The people of Auckland, and "the hundreds of country 'visitors wentf forth to enjoy the holidays. As on Boxing Day the racecourse was the centre of attraction, and those who went thither had' two days very good sport. t Of course, it &O& Of P. friiKo.u,t{ saying} tn^lthfeCHilwam people made a wretched bungle of what/ they wore pl6asadfolcall/th'e'ii»/. w arVaage.mento.," They ippk, neopje, out to the 'racecourse, Bui; th^ir' 'attempt to bring , tl)e|n hackj again waa^a <wrejjqh,e/l; Jtanco. A 4am older than X usocl to be, and with " age has oome a certain modicum of wis'dßm.i Mi maybe' 'only a 1 very^m&f quantity, .but.the^esultiof it isjtfiat, though I may go to % rapes by train, I. do not allow Her- Majesty's .' dtfverninent to bring me back to town. I find that 1 consult mjri comfort, x 'sq say n6ilßn£ about mf dignity; by walking UidmePßy the time the* last, race is over f the heat^of the day is passed, and'iqtliet strolji through Remuera and the domin is good for both ihony atig mindj-^ •** l *u ' \J% J

about what was doncktHere, so I must " hark back." The racing was, on the whole, very good, though the .Southern horses had matters too much their own way to suit iny't*ste.-' :Mr.Pilbrowy the owner of Welcome Jack, who was not at all welcome to the local owners of racehorses, aiM the owners of Cahard 'and Clarence, had not much difficulty in taking the lion's share of our Auckland money. On the whole, his success was very, popular with the public, as Welcome Jack, in every race for which he started, and Canard in the Steeplechase, were hot favourites. The latter race very nearly resulted in a " boil-over," as New Year was coining in an easy winner, when his jockey rode on the wrong side of the Jtenultimate (please accept my apology or using a long word, but I must do it occasionally to remind you that I have received a good education) hurdle, and, in attempting to remedy his mistake, struck the hurdle and broke <Jiis leg. From what I can hear, the bookmakers must have been pretty hard hit, as, in almost every race the favorite won, and a great many had backed Welcome Jack for the Cup and Canard for the Steeplechase, as a double. However, Ido not think many people are sorry tor the "books,"' as they generally get the better of the public. The jockey who broke his leg received a very substantial solace for his misfortune, in the stiape of one hundred sovereigns subscribed for him on the course, so his accident will not prove so disastrous an affair for him as it might have been. * * The cricket match between the Hon. Ivo Bligh's English team and the Combined Australian Eleven resulted in a rather hollow defeat for the visitors. I was not at all surprised at tins, as I felt sure that, barring accidents which may occur to the very best ciicketers, the Australians who had been so very successful in England, were not likely to be defeated by a team inferior to many over which they were victorious at Home. Of course, the Englishmen will strive to turn the tables when the return match takes place, but I think that, though they will make a plucky fight of it (as Englishmen always do) they will be unable to regain their lost laurels. Should a combined New Zealand team, comprising the best eleven that can be got together in this colony, 'meet Ivo Bligh's team, I fully believe that the visitors will come oft second best. It seems a very decided refutation of the odium that has been cast on .Robinson for the way in which lie acted as captain of our team which went South, that the Southern cricketers express the opinion that he is the best man to be captain of the combined New Zealand eleven, if one can be got together.

I wonder why .Sir Julius Vogel has given us the cold shoulder, and has not come to Auckland to enlighten us with, and with regard to, the electric; light. Does he think that we do not wish to be enlightened, or does he imagine that Sir George Grey's prophecy has been fulfilled, and that the grass is glowing in the streets of Auckland ? The grass has not had much chance of growing in our streets lately, for never have I seen such immense crowds in our thoioughfares as during the recent holidays, especially on the Saturday immediately preceding Christinas Day. Between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on that day it was almost impossible to walk along Queen-street. If the grass is not growing, the buildings are. In almost every part of the city and suburbs new buildings are being erected, and, as a natural consequence, the building ti tide is in a flourishing condition, and wages are high. Long may it continue so saith St. Munco.