GALA WEATHER

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 152, 26 December 1923, Page 8

GALA WEATHER

EASTBOURNE'S GOOD FORTUNE

ATTRACTIONS ACROSS THE

HARBOUR.

Eastbourne's luck is certainly "in" today, but it is not alone Eastbourne's, good fortune, for the ferry boats, running to a considerably speeded timetable, have carried many hundred Wellington people to enjoy the gala on the recreation ground round from Rona Bay. The weather is Wellington's best and brightest, and when the sun shines at its best in the city— at any rate, so the Eastbourne ' people say—it shines much more brighter and much more pleasantly across the harbour. Moreover, Wellington people who have made the'trip today agree with that assertion, not alone to please the gala people, but because they are thoroughly • enjoying themselves. ! . '■ ' ■

At 11 o'clock the sports programme for children under 17 years ol age commenced, and at the time of going to press is still running strongly, the plans laid by the committee, making for smoothworking and quite bright entertainment. The new tennis courts are fully engaged by players in the East Harbour tournament, and hooks are in great demand in the bathing shelters.

The smaller youngsters are amusing themselves and at the same time amusing others on the beach, where races for boys and girls '.'nder 10 years of age were run this morning, and where sand displays, in each of which the words "Eastbourne for a Holiday" figure prominently, are consuming a vast amount of energy and time. The "Duchess" sand modelling competition has brought forward some remarkable impressions of the boat as ] she is and) as she might be, and some youngsters, not to be bound by rules and regulations, model to please themselves and. all who care to gather round:. '. -„.'...;.

The gala will be continued to-morrow, Friday, and Saturday, the chief items for to-morrow being the Highland sports on the Recreation Ground, swimming sports under the auspices of the Wellington Centre, N.Z.A.S.A., a life-sav-ing display, and more attractions for' children, and therefore for adults, on the beach.

On Friday, commencing at 11 a.m., there will be a basket-ball tournament, a physical drill display, including club swinging, jumping events, and football competitions. ■.

Saturday's programme will commence at half-past two, when a grand athletic meeting will be held under N.Z.A.A.A.' rules, the programme of which should provide a very full afternoon for spectators and a particularly busy afternoon for/the officials.

The Eastbourne Gala tennis tournament will continue; over the full four days, and each evening there will be open-air dancing, on a specially-laid floor, plenty of music from two bands, with a real understanding of what real jazz is, con.certs and side-shows, novelties, and, in short, music, \sorig,.and seasonable frivolity. /