AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9395, 17 June 1889, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

——— ■<£> — — TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB'S WINTER MEETING. The Winter Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club was held on Queen's Birthday. The weather was all that could be desired, and there were fully 250') persons on the course during the day. The following are the results of the races :— Compolsokv Stakes of 50sovs. For two-year-olds. Colts, Bst 101b; fillies, Sst 81b. Five furlongs. Mr. B. Thompson's br c Warrior, by IngomarFanny Fisher, Sst 101b 1 Selling Steeplechase of 4030vs ; second horse to receive Ssovs out of the stakes. Twice round the Steeplechase course. Mr. J. Mcllugh's blk g Messenger, 9st and 21b over (C. Tutt) 1 Mr. J. Kean's b g Huntsman, 9s (Collins) 2 Mr. R. Phillips' br g Whalebone, 9st (G. Laing) 3 Selling Back, of SOsovs. Three-year-olds to carry 9st 71b; four-year-olds, lOst slb ; five,'six, and aged, lOst I lib. Winner to be sold immediately after the race for Jsovs. If entered to be sold for SOsovs, allowed 71b; if for 20sovs, 14lb; if for lOsovs, 211b; if for nil, to carry 6st 71b. One mile. Mr. B. Thompson's b m Capella (by Capapie —Xantippe), 6st 71b driest) ... 1 Mr. T. rage's ch m Lioness. Gst 71b (Reed) 2 Mr. R. Mack ay's br g Octopus, Gst 71b (McKenzie)... 3 Handicap Hurdles of 50sovs. Second horse to receive Ssovs out of the stakes. Over six flights of hurdles. One mile and threequarters. Mr. IN. Dickey's cli g Recruit, lOst 41b (Pearson) ... 1 Mr. J. J. Logan's b g Landseer, 9st 41b (Morrigan) - Mr. J. Kean's b g The Don, 9st 71b (Collins) ... 3 Bihthday Handicap of SO sovs. Second horse to rcceive 10 sovs out of the stakes. One mile and a-quarter. Mi-. W. Robertson's ch m Leorina, by Leolinus—Yatterina, Sst 121b (lladiield) ... 1 Mr. J. Kean's bin Fusee, 7st ]21b (Wright) '2 Mr. M. R. Halcrow's b g Signess, 7st 31b (Gallagher) 3 Novel Race of SOsovs; winner to be sold immediately after the race, and the whole of the proceeds to go to the Club. Lowest weight, Sst 71b. Six furlongs. Mr. R. Burke's ch g Sirloin, by Anteros (Wright) ... _ 1 Mr. R. Williams' ch m Dollar (Lindsay)... 2 Mr. N. Dickey's blk g Try Fluke (Morrigan) 3 Handicap Steeplechase of lOOsovs, second horse to receive lOsovs out of stakes. About three miles. Mr. W. Hadfield's b g Artist, by the Painter, lOst 121b (Owner) 1 Mr. J. Mcllugh's blk g Messenger, 9st-lib (Tutt) _ 2 Mr. J . Kean's b g Don, lOst (Collins) ... 3 Victoria Handicap of oOsovs. Second horse to receive osovs out of the stakes. Five and a-half furlongs. Mr. J. Kean's b m usee, by Musket— Titania, Sst 81b (Wright) ... ... ... 1 Mr. W. Robertson's ch m Leorina, Sst (Noilly) 2 Mr. B. Thompson's br in Capella, Ost 121b t Priest) 3

The Auckland Coursing Club, as newly-con-stituted, opened their first meeting at Plumpton Park, Papatoetoc, on May 24. About 500 people were present. The races held on May 24 by the St. George's Rowing Club attracted a considerable number of spectators to Judge's Bay, and provided a very pleasant day's sport, the weather and water being all that could be desired. The various crews were pretty evenly matched, and good contests took place in all the events. The first of the Ponsonby "At Homes" for the season took place on May 24 in the Ponsonby Hall. The hall was tastefully decoratcd with flags, evergreens, and flowers. There were 25 couples present. Auams' string band supplied the dance music. Messrs. 1). F. Evans and T. T. Masefield officiated as M.C. 's. This very pleasant reunion broke up about midnight. The committee were Messrs. Devore, Evans, Macindoe, Masefield, Buchanan, and Mesdames Devore, Evans, Maeindoe, Masefield, and Buchanan. An entertainment in aid of the Ponsonby Baptist Sunday-school funds was held on the 28th May at the Ponsonby Hall, the pastor, the Rev. J. 1). Gilniore, presiding. Thero was a large attendance. The programme consisted entirely of selections of Irish music and elocutionary pieces, and these were of uniform excellence.

The annual festival of the Auckland Working Men's Friendly Aid Society was held on May 2.'-» in the Parnell Hall. There was a good attendance of members and friends. After tea at 0.30, which was bountifully provided, Mr. F. J. Moss, M.H.R., took the chair. Mr. Emery, president of the Society, made his official report, in which he stated the progress made by the society. A very pleasant evening was spent. A very successful concert was given on the 22nd May, in the Devon port Hall, in aid of the funds of Holy Trinity Church. There was a full house and a capital programme. Mr. Alf. Bartley acted as accompanist in his usual efficient, manner. Mrs. Geddis, Mr. Jackson, and Mr. Charter were the most successful of the soloists in the serious line ; while Lieutenant Somerville, as usual, produced quite a furore with his comic selections.

A concert in aid of the choir funds of the Church of St. John the Baptist, Parnell, was held at Abbott's Opera House on the 22nd of May, when a crowded audience assembled to listen to an admirably-chosen programme. A recital of pianoforte music and concert w;u> given on the 31st May by Mr. J. C. Sutherland in St. Matthew's Schoolroom. l A varied and well arranged programme was successfully gone through. The accompaniments were played sympathetically by Miss Reeve, Miss Hayle, Mrs. Carson, and Mr. Tallis Trimnell.

At the Catholic Institute 011 Friday evening, May 31, a complimentary benefit was given to Miss Swan, in recognition of the generous ancl ready assistance which that lady has ever rendered in movements promoted for charitable purposes. The haj.l was crowded. Avery good programme w&s performed, concluding with the comedy of " The Limerick Boy." The West End Rowing Club held their annual ball on May 31 in the Oddfellows' Hall, Ponsonby. Despite the stormy weather over thirty couples were present, and a very pleasant evening was spent. The members of the Holy Irinity Church Working Guild, Otahuhu, of which Mrs. Fail-burn is president, provided an excellent entertainment in the Otahuhu Public Hall on May '2-1, in aid of the parsonage fund. The programme was attractive and varied, and there was a good attendance. A varied and very interesting concert took place in St. Patrick's Hall, Pamnure, on the Queen's Birthday, Monsignor McDonald presiding. The hall looked bright and cheerful, and the audience, one of the largest that has assembled there for some time past, were both amused and delighted with the proceedings. A concert and social in aid of the Hamilton Hospital, held in the Huntly Hall, was well patronised. Mr. Ord, mine manager, was the principal promoter, and deserves much credit for the success or the entertainment. Mr. A. Johnstone ably presided at the piano during the evening. The Pakuranga Cricket Club celebrated the finish of the season by a soiree, concert, and dance? and which was held in Mr. Gilmour's hall, Howick, 011 the 29th of May. The hall was almost crammed. The tables were very prettily laid out with flowers by the members of the Ladies' Cricket Club. The following ladies presided at the tea tables: — The Misses J. M. Roberts, G. Roberts, J. Hattaway, L. Hattaway, Emma Hattaway, H. White, M. White, E. White, and A. Trust, all of whom looked quite enchanting in their servants' caps and dresses. i

The promoters of the , entertainment which was held in the Parnell Hall on May .11 in aid of the funds for improving the interior of St. Andrews' Church, were mo 3 agreeably surprised to find that, despite , heavy downpour of rain and a very dark night, the hall was fairly well filled It was nicely decorated, and the entertainmerit tself was a very meritorious one. A concert in aid of the choir funds of thn Devon port, esieyan Church was held a" the Devonport Ball on the sth of Ji lnc u under the direction of Professor Sr-hrnitf' and was very successful. There was a crowded audience. The accompanists were Miss Reeve, Miss Hayles, and Mr. Bartlcv A concert was c'iven on June 13, at the Burns' Club, by St. Andrew's choir and other friends, under the conductorshin r,f Mr. Culpan. Mr. A. Bell presided. A i oof i programme was successfully performed The pianoforte accompaniments were played by Misses Lankham, 'fait, George, and Mr Culpan. There was a very crowded audience at the Choral Hall on the Kith June, when a concert was given by Mr. Martin Swallow who was assisted by a number of his pupils' The programme was an excellent one, and gave every satisfaction. ' On Friday, the 7th June, a very successful entertainment was given by the member of St. John's Band of Hope, at the Tabernacle schoolroom. There was a lame audi ence, who thoroughly appreciated the vari" ous items, several of them being encored' but owing to the extreme length of the programme, only one was responded to. ' A very successful and enjoyable concert was given in Sc. Thomas' Church school room on the 11th of June, in aid of the church funds. The room was crowded, and the whole affair was a pronounced succe* financially and otherwise. From the man" ner in which the orchestra did their part it' was evident that they must have practiced carefully, the decision with which thev played being noticeable. The first meeting of the session for mq of the Auckland Institute was held on Mon day, June 10, at the Museum Building Princes-street. It took the form ot°a conversazione, which was purely confined to the exhibition of microscopes and microscopic objects. There were between 40 and 50 microscopes on the various table* the majority of them being very fine' and some really magnificent instruments.' A vast variety of objects were shown under all kinds of illuminations, ineluding the gorgeous hues of the polariscope. One of the exhibits that attracted most attention was under the charge of Mr. Bartley. He showed the circulation of blood in a frog's foot, and also the circulation of sap in a blade of grass. In the course of the evening Eady's band, under the leadership of Mr. Hemus, plaved a number of musical selections.

The Sb. George's Rowing Club's annual concert was held on the 7th June in the Paell Hall, and although the weather was not so favourable as could be wished there was a full house to enjoy the really excellent programme provided for their amusement. During an interval the prizes won at Judge'« Bay Regatta, and the medals won at the club races, were presented bv Mr. F. J. Moss, M.H.R., who made a few appropriate remarks. The comedy, " Written in Sand," was the after piece', the characters being sustained by the members of the Auckland Dramatic Society. The second of the Ponsonby At Homes " of the season took place on June 14, at the Ponsonby Hall. The hall was tastefully decorated. There were about forty couples present. Adams' String Band supplied the dance music, and Messrs. D. F. Evans and T. T. Masefield officiated as M.C.'g. The refreshment department was effectively supervised by the Ladies' Committee. A very pleasant reunion was the result, and the party broke up at seasonable hour.