ANNIVERSARY DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19549, 31 January 1927, Page 12

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

EN FETE. HOST ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY. HUGE CROWDS ABROAD, CALL' OF THE: OIJT-OF -DOORS! a, variety of ways Aucki-; Jen- • brated on Saturday the 87ih anni/ersary of the city's foundation. The day could not be called brilliantly fine, but the light clouds saved many from the graver degrees of sunburn and thus possibly added to th» day's enjoyment. A few light showers fell in the afternoon and evening. in years gone by, when scores of cutters, brigs and schooners traded on the coast, the annual regatta took an easy Et'st place on Anniversary Day. Now that easier travel takes thousands far afield, its character has changed and some of its former glory has departed. For all that, the yachtsmen's gala is still a matter for pride and helps to show that Auckland oi*Qpie belong to a sea-loving race. On Saturday there was no large flagship to serve as a grandstand for invited guests, but givat numbers saw the racing from wharves, anchored vessels and pleasuYe-boats which were not competing. Hundreds of small craft dotted the Waitemata, and ships in port were gay with many flags. Speedboat racing, which increases in importance and interest year by y?ar, provided some new thrills. TSn Tahpuna Jockey Club's races 'drew. very, large crowds indeed, and there was the familiar sight of .ferry boats loaded to capacity making their passages among £he yachts on their way to Devonport. Racecourse buses gave' the North Shore roads a busy air. As usual, vast numbers preferred picnicking, to any other diversion. Motor-cars, laden with families and baskets of food, thronged all the main roads leading out of town from a very early hour. They were bound for hundreds of chosen spots by the sea or upon tha hills. Ferry boats, excursion , steamors, buses, trams and trains took away thousands more. Lower Queen Street, as the universal rendezvous, was a very busy place for two or three hours after breakfast and. again in the late afternoon and evening when the people returned. All the nearer pleasure resorts were crowded with family parties, and great . numbers of bathers wore to be seen on all the beaches. The ' Manukau Harbour shores were much frequented by motorists and people in launches. A race from Onehunga to Blockhouse Bay was held by the Manukau Cruising Club. All-day cricket matches were .played at Eden, Park and North Shore. Followers of Bowls and tennis took full adantage of the holiday, but for the most- part. only "friendly" matches were played. The-New South Wales and Auckland tennil representatives did no't.roeeUs had been expected, the tournament having postponed until to-day. In the evening the greatest attraction was the military pageant in the Domain, the final performance of which drew ;m enormous crowd of between 20,000 and 30,000. Evidently the very large attendances on the four preceding nights had l?ft-many people who still \vished to see this remarkable spectacle, or even to see it a second time.