NEW-YEAR'S DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4409, 31 December 1875, Page 2

NEW-YEAR'S DAY.

The first day's racing of the Auckland Summer meeting will take place at Ellerslie racecourse to-morrow (New-year's Day), the first race being started at one o'clock. Trains will run to Ellerslie station every half-hour from 11.30 a.m. Some good sport is expected, providing tbe weather is favourable. In addition to the races, a cricket-match between the Auckland Cricket Club and the Ponsonby Club will take place in the oval opposite the grand stand. This -will prove a source of amusement during the intervals between the races. The Caledonian sports and games, arranged to have been held on Boxing Day, but postponed on Account of the weather, -will also take place to-morrow in the Ellerslie Gardens, the same programme b«ing adhered to. The trains will stop at the Ellerslie station in addition to race-course. The annual festival of the children of the Auckland Sunday-Bchool Union will be held on New Year's Day. As usual, they will spend the day in the Domain, where refreshments and amusements will be provided for them. There will be the customary procession, which, this year, will be headed by St. James's Presbyterian School. The children will assemble at their respective schoolrooms in the morning, and then march to a rendezvous, to be fixed upon, and there form the procession. Oue of the most attractive sights in Auckland is the procession of Sunday-school children to their annual festival in the Domain, and should the weather be favourable on New Year's Day there will no doubt be a large attendance of scholars from each of the nine schools of the Auckland £ranch of the Sunday-school Union. _ On New Year's Day Captain Logan will give his annual treat to the children of the charitable institutions of Auckland, by conveying them in the favourite steamship Hero to Motutapu to spend the day. This trip is looked forward to by all with delight. A band of music will be in attendance, and the public of Auckland are invited xo participate in the enjoyment by accompanying the excursionists. The spacious deck and saloon of the Hero will afford room for aIL A small charge will be made to the public, the proceeds being handed over to the local charities. The p.s. Manaia will also make an excursion to-morrow to the Hot Springs, leaving the wharf at 10 o'clock in the morning, and returning from the Springs at 5 p.m. The steamer is likely to be largely patronised providing the weather i» favourable, the Springs offering great inducements both to pleasurft-seekers and others requiring benefit from the medicinal properties of the Waiwera waters.