NEW YEAR'S FESTIVITIES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 906, 4 January 1868, Page 2

NEW YEAR'S FESTIVITIES.

The new year was opened in Napier by tkat time-konored institution — THE WAITS. Collins brass band went round tke town during the night, and discoursed sweet and appropriate music in front of most of the houses. Tkis was a pleasing novelty, wkick we tkink was generally appreciated by tke public. THE CLEOPATRA, • As on Boxing day, made an excursion trip on tke Bay. The number of passengers was not so many as on the former occasion ; in fact, but for a return freight of 14 bales wool which opportunely offered, tke trip would have been a losing aflair for tke owners. However the day waa fine, a

landing waa e&ected without difficulty at Arapawanuwiand the trip was thoroughly enjoyed by all on board. Tke steamer returned/bout 7 p.m. / THE MEANEE RACES. /Tkese attracted a very large assemblage /—over 150 horsemen (at Is a head admission) having passed the gate at a comparatively early hour of tke day. The racing was nothing particular, but the stewards attended well to their duty. The heat was extreme and the demand for " drinks" was suck as to keep some 7 or 8 men fully employed in serving ; so that Host Maney must kave done a fair stroke of business (and we know of no man better deserving a wind fall of luck.) Tke first race was tke hurdle race. For this four horses entered — Hague's Oheoke, Chapman's Pacha, M'Dougall's Major, and Hamlin's Brusher. Brusher and Pacha did nothing. Major, with kis rider, came to grief at tke first kurdie ; and Hague kad it all his own way — the little Maori horse he rode jumping very well. The second heat was simply a canter over. For tke Meanee Stakes, tkreekorses came to the post— PowdrelPs Black Boy, Hague's Governor Bob, and Baldwin's Fenian. Black Boy won, beating the Governor by 5 or 6 lengths—the Fenian baying pulled up. For the Scurry Stakes, heats, three horses ran — Heslop'sZoe, Brett's Governor, jand_CJbajmian^^c^--2b^nfe^den by Davis, took bofhheats with ease. A Hack race followed — seven entries. This was the best running of the day. Joe (ridden by Munn) took first honours, but hard pushed by Smith's Meg and a horse of Powdrell's, steered by young Pompey. For the Consolations there was no great demand. However, three horses came to the scratck — Packa, Brusker, and Governor Bob. The last, ridden by young Davis, came in in a canter. A match between Hamlin's Paddy and Parker's Jamie was then run — resulting in the Irishman cantering home. A foot match succeeded, won by Cooper, a fine runner ; also, a pig race, which ended, after an exciting case, in Jack Hammond shouldering tke grunter. THE SAILING BOAT BACK. This race should have come off at tke old pah, Meanee Spit, at noon, but the boats were not finally started till balf-past. Unfortunately, througk tke pilot boat kaving sustained some kind of injury in her steering arrangements, only two boats started — Morecroft's Fairie Queen and Ginger's Medium. The course was round a flag moored off Poraite, thence round to the Watchman, from which home. Fairie Queen, by some mischance, started the step of her mast, and Smith, wko was in charge of Medium, landed ker an easy winner. We turn now from horse and boat racing to a subject of more interest to one class of the community (ourselves, we confess, included) — one connected with tke welfare of the rising generation of Napier. We refer to tke ANNUAL TBBAT Given to tke ckildren attending St. Paul's and tke Port Church Sabbath Schools. At 1 p.m. tke ckildren, to tke number of over 100, and a number of parents and otkers interested, assembled at Marybank. Tke early part of tke clay, was, devoted to amusements. Tea was tken provided on the lawn ; after which, and the singing of a hymn, the Bishop of Waiapu appropriately addressed the ckildren. A short address having also been given by the Rev. G. Morice, tke ckildren again retired to tke paddock adjoining, wkere they amused tkemselves in various ways while friends and visitors partook of.refreskments kindly provided by Mr. and Mrs. Stables. On again assembling, anotker hymn was sung; after wkick tke missionary boxes were opened and tke contents oounted — skewing 14s. to kave been contributed by the Port school (for 2 months) and 70s. by St. Paul's (for 12 months). It was unanimously agreed that tke total amount should be equally divided between the New Hebrides mission and Churck Extension in New Zealand. Tke distribution of prizes, consisting of books and pictures, ended tke proceedings at a somewhat adjourned kour. Few who were there (old or young) could fail to be reminded, in some way or other, of the kindly faces of those wko were wont, in days gone by, to take so warm an interest in those little reunions. THE CHILDREN'S TREAT AT THE CATHOLIC MISSION. This treat — which has been an annual affair so long as we remember, came off, not on New Year's day, but on Thursday, the 2nd of January. Unfortunately, early in tke day the gale, elsewhere alluded to, sprang up, and the dust which filled the air was a caution to travellers. It did not, kowever, keep many back ; and its baneful influence, whatever it might be on tke road, extended but slightly to the grassy paddock, surrounded by a fine black thorn hedge, which was the scene of the day's festivity. A large number of school children, and probably an equal number of adults, were present; and Collins brass band lent gaiety to the scene. Visitors and the children having partaken of tke good things provided by tke well known hospitality of Fatker Reignier, games and play became the order of the day — tke more sedate amusements being varied by foot races, scrambling for nuts &c. Tea all round ended at an eai'ly kour tbe proceedings of a very pleasant day.