THE HOLIDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 305, 26 December 1930, Page 3

THE HOLIDAY.

WEALTH OF ATTRACTION.

BEACHES, MOTORING AND SPORT.

GLORIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS,

Auckland was favoured with glorious weather for its Boxing Day holiday. In striking contrast to the drab, grey outlook of Christmas Day, the morning broke fine and warm, and the various sporting attractions "were held under a cloudless sky and in dazzling sunshine.

Hoiiday-makers were early astir, and there was a rush for the beaihcs and other open spaces by thousands of trippers. There was heavy traffic to the North Shore, whera family picnic parties spreai*. themselves over the iuaches, giving tie children th° most beneficial of all outings—a day at the seadicli. Ferry s.'earners moved smartly across the glaisy surface of the Waitemata to disembark complement upon complement of picnickers, laden with provisions sufficient to feed a regiment for a week, and with enough buckets and spades to stock a store. Before noon the warm sands of Takapuna, Devonport, Milford and Cheltenham were alive with scampering youngsters, and the warm water a mass of swimmers' bodies, while mothers and fathers, when not in the water themselves, dug sand castles for the tiny tots, or lazily viewed the abandon of their charges from the leisured contentment of the beach rug. The call of the city and suburban parks and reserves was answered by the more elderly, who in the winter of their lives had learned to find companionship in trees and flowers. Ideal for motoring, the day found carowners making an early bid for the open road, and traffic was heavy on the concreted outlets, hundreds of families deciding to place a substantial mileage of country road between them and home before 10 a.m.

On the harbour the yachts, with white wings gracefully outspread, dominated the°scene, while, ever on the move, the ferry steamers brought city into contact with bay. Motor launches chug-chugged their way, here, there, and everywhere. An occasional speed boat, destination undetermined, made a din with its open exhaust, but serenity soon returned. The sporting fraternity were offered a host of attractions. The principal event was the summer meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, at Ellerslie. There was a good attendance, and some excellent racing wa s witnessed. Bowlers were catered for at the Auckland Centre's Christmas tournament on suburban "•reens, cricket enthusiasts attended the Junior representative fixure, Auckland v. Wellington, at Eden Park, and the Auckland Tennis Association's handicap tournament opened at Stanley Street courts. This evening there will be broadsiding contests at the Western Springe Stadium. To-morrow the summer meeting of trie Auckland Trotting Club will take place at Alexandra Park, and the bowling, cricket and tennis tournaments will be resumed. The Ellerslie races will be continued on Monday, as will be the bowlinn, and tennis tourneys, and in addition the Wellington and the Auckland City and Suburban junior cricket representatives will meet on the Domain.