THE AUCKLAND ST. LEDGER, STAKES £150.

New Zealander, Volume XIII, Issue 1221, 30 December 1857, Page 3

THE AUCKLAND ST. LEDGER, STAKES £l5O.

The first Auckland St. Ledger for the above sum was run on Ellerslie Knee Course on Tuesday the 20th instant, by the following named horses,—one mile heats, — Mr. J. Williamson's bay rolf, '• Sir Hercules," .1 years. Mr. Thomas l J a'.on's black filly, " Blink Bonny," .'! years. Mr. J. S. Macfarlane's black filly, " Gazelle," 3 yeirs. Before starting there was not any decided favorite. Each horse had his admirers and backers; and tettinx was even on each. In the first heat a most admirable start was fected, and all three ran neck and neck for fouriifths of the course, when Gazelle gradually drew a head, and came in a winner by about two lengths; Sir Hercules, second ; and Blink Bonny, third. In the second heat, Sir Hercules sprang off with the lead, and at the stand was three lengths nhead of Blink Bonny, Gazelle behind about a dozen lengths. For the first half way round, Sir Hercules sceme I bent on winning, after which Gazelle began gradually to close upon Blink Bonny, passed her, and then collared Sir Hercules, and came in (as in the previous heat) a winner by a couple of lengths. The heats were well contested, and the race was a fine ona throughout. Gazelle, is a sister of Heather Ball, and Kauri Gum, both favorties for the ensuing races.

MAORI CHRISTMAS FEAST. |o>i Christmas-day the well known Chief Patuone gave his customary feast to his native friends, at his residence, Waiwharariki; North Shore. More 'than three hundred persons oftheNgatiinaniapoto, ftgatihinetu, Ngatiwhatua, Ngntipaoa, Ngatiwhakane, Tawera, and Ngapuhi, tribes were invited, knd arrived about ten o'clock ; when they received •i hearty welcome from the- old Chief and his friends, about two hundred in number. A large tent had been erected for the accommodation of the guests, 120 feet long, through tho entire length of .which rude tables and benches wore ranged ; the sides were tastefully decorated with Hags, J "ranches, and flowers of the scarlet JPofuUukaioa, jr " Christinas tree," and at each end was hoisted the Union Jack, as an acknowledgement of their being loyal subjects of Her Majesty. Divine Service havintr been petformed by Ileta, a native teacher, the food was brought in by ten •waiters, and placed on the tables, which groaned inder the weight of bread, biscuits, pies, pudlings, tarts, and other European refreshments. The tent was found to be too small for the number of visitors, by whom it was filled and refilled two or three times before ail had partaken. The lighter articles having heen consumed, the company ranged themselves on the grass, Maori fashion, ami demolished the piles of baked pork, •hied fish, hapuku, potatoes &c, which were placed before them, with evident gusto. About thirty Europeans were regaled by the old Chief with the choicest of his viands; one end of the tent had been rosjrved for them, and *ine and spirits specially provided for their use. This entertainment cost the Chief considerably than one hunched pounds. Nine large pigs w ere killed for the occasion, one of which weighed JUO pounds. Tho greatest hilarity and good Vnour prevailed ; every thing was conducted in "l Orderly and quiet manner, and not it ;s ' "1 excess occurred.

Aquatic Pic-Nic.—Monday, was a gala day with the martial section of Auckland yachtsmen, who mustered, strongly at the Wynyard Tier, in compliance with a summons from' Ensign Wynyard, of the 68th Regt. The day was one in every respect calculated foracquatic enjoyment, and therewas a largo concourse of ladies and gentlemen assembled to participate its pleasures. The following were at their moorings, from which they slipped in the following order, with a stiff breeze at N.: —Peri, Captain Bulkeley ; Sea Shell, Captain MacGregor; Rifleman, Lieut. Wynyard; Echo, Captain King ; Fanny, Ensign Wynyard ; , Capt Wynyard ; liory O'More, Captain Steward ; , Mr. Drummond Hay; accompanied, as guard boats, by the well known gig Ann, Colonel Russell ; and the favourite whale boat, Water Lily, Colonel Wynyard. It was an animated and a pretty sight to witness this moskito squadron working their way to the appointed rendezvous in tho neighbourhood of the Bastion. We are not aware of their order of arrival; we can, however, answer that they all exerted themselves to the utmost to the gratification of their fair freights, and to the credit of their host. A landing having been effected withoutany casualty, the assembly was largely augmented hy an equestrian party, who preferred the pleasures of the road to the delights of tho water. And now the serious work of the day commenced by a simultaneous and irresistible onslaught upon kits of comestibles and cases of imbibdblcs which had been provided with a liberality that showed how earnest was the desire of the entertainer to cater for the enjoyment of the entertained. The wind having veered during the day to north-easf, the return home promised a further opportunity for the display of skill and seamanship; hut after an hour's tacking, and when every expedient had heen, had recourse to to keep the lead, all hut a calm ensued, to the great disappointment of the yachtsmen, who regained their moorings shortly after sunset in the following order. Sea Shell, Peri, Rifleman, Echo, Fanny. After landing in their respective tenders, the party separated highly gratified with the pleasures of the day, as well as with the hospitality and attention of the gallant young host.— Communicated.

Thk Band of the 58th Regiment will, hy permission, perform on the lawn in front of the Government House, on Thursday next, between the hours of half-past 4 and half-past (i p.m. PROGRAMME. Overture, Op Linda diChamounix Donizetti Selection, Focko Lindpaiutcr Cavatina, Op Bianco Fernando Bellini Aria. Op Betly Donizetti Quadrille Morton (allien Polka L'Echodu Mont Blanc.. Jullicn Galop L'Ktoile du Nord D'Albcrt Polonaise Fcst Kuhuer £',

To the Editor of the New-Zealanoek. Sir,—As the compilers of the Southern Cross Almanac have either through ignorance or malice omitted to mention the Chief Cabinet Minister or Head of the Executive amongst the names of the Responsible Ministry, I hope the other Almanac will not be marked hy such a display of had taste. Yours truly, Ouiitv?