THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6590, 1 January 1883, Page 5

THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.

THE A.R.C. SUMMER MEETING. The second day's races of the A.R.C. Summer Meeting, which takes place to-day, is likely to be fully as interesting and successsful as that of Boxing Day, and, indeed, should be even more so, for the merits of the horses are better understood now, and the rain which fell last week has greatly improved the racecourse. The improvements effected in the course and its surroundings were fully appreciated on Boxing Day, except the new grand stand, the price of admission to which was considered by the general public to be prohibitory ; but the club has very wisely met the public requirements by reducing the charge for admission to the very moderate rate of 2s Gd. The large dining - room underneath this stand i 3 in Mr. T. McEwen's hands, and the satisfactory manner in which he catered on the first day of tho races is a guarantee that those who patronise him will be provided with an excellent lunch. As to the facilities for reaching the course and returning from it, the trains will run at intervals of twenty minutes. On Boxing Day the arrangements were very much better than on previous occasions, and although soivio unavoidable delays occurred and the crowding was inconvenient, people generally were willing to give the management credit for doing all that was possible to meet the requirements of the public under exceptionally difficult circumstances. No doubt there will be a very large number of private carriages aud public vehicles running to the course as well, and as the prospects of a line day and excellent raciug are mj.nifestly good, we have no doubt the crowd on the course will be quite as great, if not greater, than on Tuesday last.

The day's racing commences with the | Derby Stakes, lOOsovs, 1J miles; followed by the Publicans' Purse, lOOsovs, 1 mile; tiie Racing Club Handicap, 300sovs, 1 : \ miles ; the Selling Race, lOOsovs, 1 mile and a distance; the Midsummer Stakes, of 200sovs, G furlongs ; and the Grand Staud Handicap, of lOOsovs, miles. This is a splendid programme. The acceptances for the principal events are exceptionally good, and everything gives promise of well-con-tested races and splendid sport. We refer our readers for details of the races to our sporting contributor's notes published elsewhere. EXCURSIONS. The following water excursions are announced for to-day and to-morrow. In connection with tjhis matter we are glad to notice that the various steamship owners have taken a little better precaution in tho matterof having their boats in a fit condition to carry their passengers to and from the shore. Attention such as these add much to the attractiveness of tiie water excursions, for there is no doubt large numbers would patronise the steamers were it not for their past experience ot the usually unfit state of the small boats belonging to steamers to do the work required of them upon such occasions. For such occasions we think a little extra expense in providing an extra boat or two for the day would be more than recouped in the greater popularity of these water excursions. However, we are glad to be able to give a meed of praise to the otherwise excellent excellent arrangements for the safe carrying of the public upon such occasions ; and, should to-day and to-morrow be fine, a more enjoyable outing could not be found than a trip 011 the waters of our harbour. TO-DAY AND TOMORROW. TV Hot Springs.—S.s. Wellington, leaving at !0 a.m.; s.s. Rose Casey (Monday only), at 9.30 a.m. Manukah Heads.—S.s. Macgregor, from Oii"hunga wharf, 011 arrival of ( J a.m. train. KvvvaiJ.—Gleneig, s.s., and lona, s.s., both at 10 a.m. St. Hm.ikk's Bay.—To-day, p.s. Tongamo, at 11.30 a.m. MoTUTAPu. — P.s. Victoria, to-morrow, at !) a.m. The Northcote steamer is announced to leave Auckland every hour, and the North Shore ferry steamers will run to and iru as quici'.ly as possible. .SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. In accordance with tiie usual custom, a number of Sunday-school picnics will take pb.ee to-day in the Domain, and other places selected for tiie occasion. We understand iiio children attending the Pitt-street Wcs!eya:i Sunday-school will proceed to the Tnrcc Kings in vans, and thus enjoy a pleasant drive 111 addition to their picnic,