THE HOLIDAYS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1939, 23 December 1913, Page 8

THE HOLIDAYS.

» WHERE TO GO & WHAT TO DO; LIST OF ATTRACTIONS. THE AMERICAN ATHLETES HERE. Whilst a great many people have almost overlooked tho fact that Christinas is here, owing to such disconcerting diversions as the strike and the weather, tho calendar has waited for no one. Holiday time iias burst upon tho busier scction of the community like a rocket, and at much shorter notice than usual people have to mako their plaus as to where to go and what to do. One" of the strongest, magnets this year-end is suro to be Auckland, where the big Exhibition is in full swing, and Wonderland Park is amusing thousands of gay folk daily. In addition to tho Exhibition there is tho Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting at Ellerslie. For tlioso who can spare a week, a trip to Nelson, or tho cool, picturesquo Marlborough Sounds ofl : ers ; charms. Tlioso looking for a holiday with "burn" in it .will probably make for Napier— the town on which the sun never goes back. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's meeting is also fixed for January 1 and o_ Christinas Racing. One glanco at the calendar discloses what a popukr holiday diversion racing is considered in New Zealand. Ono would hardly suppose that there was enough stock in the country to provide entries for all the programmes offering at Christmas and New Year. Tho list of meetings is as follows: — December '26, 29. and January 1, 2— 1 Auckland Rasing Club. December 26, 27 —Thames Jockey Club. December 26, 27, 29 —Manawatu Racing Club. December 26—Waipapakauri Racing Club. December 26—Alexandra Racing Club. December 26, 27— -Taranaki Jockey Club. December 26, 27 —Dunedin Jockey Club. December 26 —Taratalii-Carterton Racing Club. December 31, January I—Greymouthl—Greymouth Jockey Club. December 27, 30, 31—Auckland Trotting Club. Januarv 1, 2—Hawko's Bay Jockey Club. January, 1, 2—Stratford Racing Club. January 1, 2 —Marton Jockey Club. January 1, 2—Wairarapa Racing Club. January I—Houhora Racing Club. January I—Tirau Racing Ciub. January I—Paengaroal—Paengaroa Hack Racing Club. January I—Kihikihi Hack Racing Club. January I—'Whataw'hata Racing Club. January I—Waikanao1 —Waikanao Hack Racing . Club's Meeting. January 2, 3—Southland Racing Club. January 3, 'I—Westland Racing Club. For Non-Racegoers, But to retain to those who can sparo a week or ten days: Thcro is Rotorua and the Waitomo Caves to bo lemembered, and, if that is too much, a very pleasant trip which can be leisurely covered in tne period mentioned is up tho Main Trunk lino as far as tiki, where ono branches off to visit tlio Caves, and then back to Taumarunui and down the Wanganui River to tho picturesque river town, where thero is a big combined carnival and cyclo sports meeting on January 1 and ii. Wanganui and Wellington are about tho only two cities where the clang of tho totalisator bell will not. be hear'd during tho holidays. Wellington, how'fiv'eiy • will iliavc its compensation in the big athletic meeting on Athletic Park on Boxing Day and tho day after (Friday and Saturday). Hero tho famous fout American athletes aro to compote for the first time in Wellington. As they will havo against them Dormer, the crack New Zealand middle-dintauco runner, and Koddell, tho olectric hurdler, there should bo some thvills for thoso who lovo athletic prowess. • Riflemen will bo interested in _ tho local association's meeting, which is to bo held at Trentham on Boxing Day, and December 27. On Boxing Day ticro will also be a picnic and sports at, Lower Hutt, a summer fete on Trentham racecourse, picnic and sports at Muritai, and a steamer excursion to Picton. Tliero will also be railway excursions at reduced fares to all parts of the country, daily harbour' excursions, and surf bathing at Lyall Bay, Island Bay, and Seatoun . On January 1, 2, aud 3, the Wellington Bowling Centre is to hold its annual "tournament 011 all tlio local and suburban greens.