EASTER HOLIDAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19916, 9 April 1928, Page 10

EASTER HOLIDAYS.

ATTRACTIONS FOR TO-DAY. RAGING AND OTHER EVENTS. VARIETY OF FIXTURES. The Easter vacation will be brought to a close for most people to-day and for the final holiday a varied programme of outdoor attractions has been arranged. The Auckland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting will be concluded at the Ellerslie racecourse. Large numbers of people attended on the first day on Saturday and Ellerslie will again be the principal attraction for the sporting public to-day. Devotees of athletic pastimes have been well catered for; The Easter handicap tennis tournament, under the auspices of the Birkenhead and Northcoto Tennis Club, will be continued. Bowlers in the Auckland Centre's Easter tournament will again be occupied and matches will be played on seven greens in the city and suburbs. The opening rounds of the Auckland provincial golf tournament will be played on tho Auckland Golf Club's course at Middlemore and other club courses will aiso bo centres of activity for golfers. There should be numerous motor-cars on tho road to-day, while many of Auckland's pleasure craft will be out on the harbour. Several excursions havo been arranged to seaside resorts, while outboard motor racing will be held at Buckland's Beach. Tho Railway' Department's excursion programme should be of interest to many people contemplating one-day trips to places of interest. SERVICES IN CHURCHES. large congregations. Special Easter services were held in Auckland churches yesterday. There were exceptionally largo congregations, confirming the opinion hold by clergy that people feel the urge to go to church more strongly at Easter .than at other times. It is considered that people generally realise tho sacred nature of the occasion, and endeavour to be present at services. Archbishop Averill said yesterday he understood the services in Anglican churches had been well attended. "We are going forward, not backward,!' ho added. Perhaps the most outstanding of the Anglican services ycsteiday was that at St. Matthew's Church in the morning, when Holy Communion was celebrated. The congregation, which included members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, was one of the largest that has been seen in the church. The ai-chbishop acted as celebrant, and also delivered an appropriate sermon. In the evening Canon C. 11. Grant Cowen conducted the service. At St. Mary's Cathedral, Holy Communion was celebrated in the morning. Canon H. K. Archdall, headmaster of King's College, and Archbishop Averill wero the preachers at the morning and evening services respectively. Mass was celebrated at St. Patrick's Roman Catholic' Cathedral at several periods in the morning, very largo numbers attending. At High Mass, at 11 o'clock, Bishop Lißton officiated, Father McKeefry being deacon and Father Browne sub-deacon. In the evening solemn vespers was followed by a sermon on the Roman Catholic Church, delivered by Father Eccleton, of Tuakau. The music for the various services was excellently rendered by tho cathedral choir. ' •" * r Reports from Presbyterian churches indicate large attendances. The Rev. J. Lamb Harvey conducted the services at St., Andrew's Church, his subject in the evening being "The Easter Gospel." At St. David's Church the Rev. Ivo E. Bertram spoke on "The Message of Easter Morning," and.in the evening ho dealt with "The Resurrection and its Guidance for the Future.*' The Rev. L. B. Dalby was the preacher at Pitt Street Methodist Church, the evening service being preceded by community singing. At the Baptist and Congregational. Churches respectively the Revs. J. W. Kemp and L. B. Fletcher delivered Easter addresses before large congregations. The evening servico conducted by Mr. Fletcher was broadcast by station 1Y A.