BOXING DAY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18266, 27 December 1924, Page 10

BOXING DAY.

miserable weather.

ALL OUTDOOR FIXTURES POSTPONED. Twenty-two public or setni-publn-functions -were billed for Boxing Day. but the elements were in contrary mood, and where man proposed, the weather disposed. The heavy rain which fell overnight continued yesterday morning, and for the 24 hours ended 9.30 a.m. yesterday over a quarter of an inch had fallen. The downpour continued for the remainder of the day practically without cessation and as the morning wore on hope of any clearance faded. Both public and private picnics had to be abandoned, as was the case with most of the sports gatherings, cricket matches, etc., scheduled to be held right throughout North Canterbury, for the bad weather was general over that area. In the afternoon and earlier part of the evening there was a fair number of people in the streets, and the various places of amusement were crowded during the afternoon and evening sessions. The Canterbury v. Auckland Pltmket Shield match was postponed until today, and similar delays in play were found necessary in the case of the Christmas tournament of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association and the Championship Croquet Tournament. The Annual Kcgatta, under the auspices of the Lyttelton Sports Club, also had to be postponed and the fixture will be held to-day. Sports meetings at Amberley, Darfickl, Halswell and Oxford were postponed, and it was also decided that the gala at Waikuku beach should be put off until New Tear's Day, while the Nortli Beach gala will now take place to-day. A large number of intending racegoers had assembled at tho station in the morning to catch tho Ashburton train, but word was received before the train's doparturo that the races there had been postponed on account of the wet weather. Some of the passengers received refunds on their tickets. Special excursion trains for Darficld and Amberley were cut out on account of tho sports gatherings at those places having been postponed. Two excursion trains wero scheduled to leave Christehurch for Otira, but owing to the inclement weather conditions only one train made tho trip. The train was a very big one, comprising 15 cars and two engines. The weather was responsible for a heavy loss on the tramways and very few passengers made use of the special cars which were running to enable passengers to reach the station in time to catch the excursion trains. BRIGHT DAY AFTER RAIN. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAH.) WELLINGTON. December 26. Splendid weather was experienced for tho holiday, and a largo number of people left for tho Manowatu Races. The principal local attractions wore carnivals at Potone' JLyall and Eastbourne, the Caledonian Gathering on tho Basin Reserve, and tennis contests at Day's Bay. A large number of people visited the beaches and seaside resorts. Owing to heavy rain early in the morning, the bowling tournament was postponed till to-morrow. RAIN AT ROTORUA. (PUSS ASSOCIATION TSLIOIAIT.) ROTOEUA, December 26. Heavy rain and wind stopped all holi-day-making and tennis and bowla were suspendod. The town is crowded. The year's rainfall to date is 74 inches. It is still raining. DUNEDIN FORTUNATE. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TEIiEOBAM.) DUNEDIN, December 26. The weather was fine but dull for tho holiday until tho evening, when a cold rain fell for abont an hour and a half. The principal attractions were the Dunediu Jockey Club's races, the Macandrcw Bay regatta, and the Dunedin Centre's bowling tournament. In the regatta, lona won the 14-footer race comfortably. IN SOUTHLAND. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TEI^£*AM.) INVtERCARGILL, December 26. Tho holidays are being observed in magnificent weather throughout Southland. There has been a record exodus to the scenic resorts at Stewart Island, Fiordland and the Lakes, while several private excursion parties have gono to the "West Coast Sounds. All the local attractions are being extensively patronised.