EASTER HOLIDAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21764, 2 April 1934, Page 10

EASTER HOLIDAYS

MAGNIFICENT WEATHER OUT-OF-DOORS ATTRACTIONS large crowd at races MOTORING AND YACHTING \Vlmlevor disappointments there may have been throughout the summer over week-end weather, holiday-makers in Auckland will remember for a long time the glorious sun and blue skies of the past few days. With c\crv prospect of these pleasant conditions continuing today, the Easter of 1934 will stand out as'one of the finest for a number of years. Right through the holiday there have been fleecy clouds and ligbt breezes to temper the heat of the sun, and these, added to the first faint touch of autumn in the air, created holiday conditions that were ideal for e\er\ type of activity. For the Aucklanders who had remained in town, the visitors who filled the hotels and boarding houses, and those who poured into Auckland by train and bus and car, there was a wealth of entertainment from which to choose. Over 15,000 attended the first day of the Auckland Racing Club's carnival at Ellerslie on Saturday, and were rewarded with summer ' weather and good racing, although several small fields made for lower totalisator returns. Another large crowd flocked to Bland ford Park to enjoy the first Rugby football of the season in the Marist Brothers' tournament. The presence of the Australian Kivk Windcyer golf team and the aspirants for positions in the New Zealand side, as well as the cream of local golfers, made the Auckland provincial tournament on the Titirangi course one of the most important fixtures of the week-end. In spite of the many other attractions, a fair number of. non-com-peting golfers was present on Saturday to follow the play and to learn some of the finer points of the game. Here again conditions were ideal for golf, with a breeze that varied from time to time and called for judgment and knowledge of shots. At the Windmill Road tennis courts the Auckland hard-court championships proved an attraction to tennis enthusiasts. The Easter tournament of the Auckland Bowling Centre kept all the rinks fully occupied on Saturday, and, with the greens in perfect condition and the true summer weather, the game w r as at its best. The four clear days of holiday promised a splendid opportunity for excursions far afield. Fishermen were early away on Thursday afternoon to the rivers and lakes of the Rotorua and Taupo district. The Easter cruise that yachtsmen regard as the last long trip of the summer caused an almost complete exodus of the pleasure craft of the harbour. The light breeze made for slow sailing, but it was perfect launching weather, and a number of boats set off on Thursday for a round cruise to the Great Barrier and the Coromandel coast.

His Majesty's Theatre and the many picture houses in the city were filled to capacity on Saturday night and hundreds were turned away, to join the crowds, apparently from the country, who seemed to get plenty of enjoyment from looking in shop windows. The road traffic from Auckland was reported to be exceptionally heavy and motor campers hurried off to the North Auckland beaches, the Coromandel coast and the Bay of Plenty. In addition, a large number of people from Auckland motored to Rotorua to fill the hotels there for the holidays and enjoy a change of air and altitude. PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY RACES AND SPORTS FIXTURES The many forms of entertainment offered for to-day, should be fuLv patronised. For the races at the second day of the Auckland Racing Club's meeting at Ellerslie there are good acceptances and a day of excellent sport should be enjoyed. At the Auckland provincial golf championships at Titirangi, match play for the 16 players who qualified on Saturday will be commenced. The Auckland hard-court tennis championships will be continued at the Windmill Road and at the Easter tournament of the Auckland Bowling Centre general section play will be concluded. The finals of the Marist Brothers' Rugby tournament at Blandford Park should prove attractive to the followers of the winter game. A picnic and sports meeting will be held at Pukekohe in aid of the Marist Brothers' School fund. Holiday-makers will take one of the last opportunities for a day on the beaches, while there is still a pleasant heat in the sun and the sea is still warm enough for the full enjoyment of bathing. In the evening there w:'. be a performance of "The Country Girl" at His Majesty's Theatre and special Easter programmes at the various cinemas. SUNDAY IN THE CHURCHES THE RESURRECTION HOPE The Easter message in one or other of its forms was the central theme at all churches yesterday. The note of hope and rejoicing was the dominant one as the story of the Resurrection and its meaning for life to-day was told again and recalled also by Easter music and hymns. * Although large numbers of people have been attracted out of town for the holidays the attendances in niany instances were large, and there was a widespread desire to observe the true religious spirit of Easter Sunday. Many churches were appropriately decorated with flowers and greenery. Conventions for the deepening of spiritual life were continued at Scots Hall and at Ngaruawahia. and the Presbyterian and Methodist Bible class camps at Mairangi Bay, Hiraua, Paerata and Pine Island carried on their programmes of studies and addresses. HOLIDAYS AT ROTORUA BEAUTIFUL WEATHER ENJOYED [by telegraph—own correspondent] ROTORUA, Sunday Beautiful summer weather has prevailed over the holidays at Rotorua. where there has been a large influx of visitors. There have been outdoor pastimes and picnics at various favourite beautv spots. The South Auckland brass bands' contest has attracted a large crowd and the new Blue Baths and other baths in the Government Grounds have been well patronised. The motor camps have also proved very popular. The holidays have been free from accident, the only ono reported being a collision between a nmtor cyclist and a car, but no one was injured and only minor damage was done.