TO-DAY'S HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4026, 7 October 1874, Page 3

TO-DAY'S HOLIDAY.

.< IX consequence of to-morrow being the anniversary of Captain Cooks landin.' iu New Zealand," to-day will be observed ■° a general public holiday, the Government offices and the majority of the busines premises in this town being closed The rinciP"! sources of amusement, should the weather continue line, will be the races at Elh-r«lie and railway travelling. There are, { conrS c, the Other sources of amusement °-hich will 1-e patronised, such as the North ewe Oaehunga, Domain, &e., but we should imagine Ellerslie will be the ohict

centre of attraction. The excursion trains to Drury and <U.iiiuhu will doubtless attract a goouly number, I, ' the rate of fares fixed is so very high, 1 tile hours so ill arranged, that families fr'- avties from town will scarcely care to 1 t,'-idvai'taire of the opportunity. For 111- " - unless those desirous of taking a run f'Tlrurv rare to " rise with the lark." in tl -. .r to meet the train at Penrose, they "o until 12.1."'. ami must return at o'j'T so that they would have about an hour ;X',ain ill I hairy. Again, the return fare f-iid at lis from Penrose junction ; the •nfvivltce is that, as Messrs. Brogden run the Prurv line, the Government will still demand tii'-'ir lis to Penrose station, their advertisement stating that " return tickets from nil stations, including admission to the course. is for lirst-class, oS ; second-class, 2s.' If both fares are to be enforced, a first-class ticket to Drury. with the option of "doing" ail hour there." would cost 9s, a sum which would run into money for a family. The advertisement. not being clear upon this point, uianv will be iletenvd from making arrangements for an excursion into the country. THE AUCKLAND RACING CLUB'S STEEPLE CHASE MEET. The first race will start at 12.30 sharp. On the business- of the day to be transacted on the course we cannot do better than here publish •' Sauuterer's," our sporting correspondent's remarks. " •• 1 have watched and thought, I have enquired and cogitated, and 1 see 110 reason to depart fro in niy original enunciations with retrard to to -morrow's events. On second thoughts. 1 think it may be a close shave between s];mder and Bedouin m the flat race, but 1 shall still stand by the bay marc, believing her to be the better horse. In the Hurdle "Pace. I expect the only dangerous opponent to Middy Ashore will be Islemau. The bettin" is even with regard to these two horses. I'hope to see all the world and his wife at the races to-morrow, and tlicy nia\ rest assured that I will give a hearty welcome ii 1 tumble across them. 1 he\ will not regret their -lay s outing. I understand that an excellent baud, eousistirg of eighteen |>crformers, have been engaged, and their performance will tend to enliven the proceedings. The lirst rase will commence at half-an-hour after noon, and punctuality \\~ill be the order of the day. The indefatigable secretarv will be on the ground at 11 o clock, prepared and willing to shew all persons interested in the events over tho steeplechase countrv." The' following is the programme of the day's racing : — TITE HANPICAi" SWF.EFSTAKES. Of 5 sovs. each, with 50 sovs. added : second horse to receive 15 sovs. from the stakes. Distance. 1-; miles. St. lb. Mr. W slander, nir-'fl .. '•> i> Mr. o. V<r m Ore-pin*: .lenuy, acred * r » Sir! J. kirk.v.H .r* I>l - snlt-iu, aged •• slt Mr. E. Ferkins* be c Lcriouiii. 4 years • . S 0 " THE HUNT CI.IT. ASK. A. hanclioap jjw'ct'iitalics of »> cacli, with «"0 .-'IVn ;uUr-<l. Socoihl liorso to receive ].") from tlie stakes. Distance ibout 3 mile*. St. 11). Mr. E. Perkins 1. - Rustic, azv>\ . • ..11-1 Mr. KO. 'iorius'* eh i: Rustic, agci .. 'J Mr. >*. • r Ih-rlitlycr, agod .. 0 . THE f.'APTAIN ( (".'K HI*HI'I.E HAi'l". A handicap of •> fcovs. t-acn, with 50 siiv?. addid. Seooii'l liur»c to receive 1") .-••vs. tho stakes. I.)ist;uioe 2 miles, over s iUiihis oi luirdK'.s. lb. Mr. F. «*i. < ;'")r: , '•» Y.MtU* A>Vicro, need 10 7 *Mr. 1-:. ivrk:n<* ch aged ~ . V) Mr. .T. Kir:cv.-..MV-' Mir Sultan, turcl .. 10 2 Mr W. .1 Marx- >!.: W ;-.rw.rU. :i?red -s 31 r. K. IX u. fiauieboy, arc-d.. The following curries have been made for the sri.LIX'J sTEEPLE-riIASK. .Mr. Hrilcto 1. m r c(l. i:-i j Mr. E. Perkins'b « !i. tl iO. Mr. J. Kirkwo'"V- blk c Mr. T. A Pr«.\vn*« ch P.lazu, ug.-d Captain I'Joriuj s '•' Middy A=horo. THE TiIAIXS. The time-table for trains leaving Auckland for Elk-rslie and < inehunga, and those leavin« Penrose jun- tion foHltahuhu and l)rury, will V.-e found in our front page. THE EVKXIXG'S AMUSEMKXT. At the Prince \\ ales I heatre tlie .Stoneham Family and Company appear in the Fair Prctuiider." to conclude with the ourk-sque of '• Faust.'' A double jockey "hornpipe is to be dauccil in the winnimr colours of the Hunt Club Steeplechase, while a handsome riding whip will be presented to the winning jockey, and another to the jockey of the Captain Cook Hurdle Race. Our old friends the " Niggers," or California Ministrels, will open the City Hall with a new programme of songs, dances, and farces, and a new list of jokes, etc., and arc sure to draw a crowded audience. On tile Market Reserve, As.ton's revolving circus v.'ili rotate for the benefit of the rising generation, at -M a "go."