TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3955, 22 January 1900, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

THE HOLIDAY. Amongst the attractive, methods cf spending to-day’s holiday may be mentioned the Wellington Racing Club's'Cup meeting, to bo held on the Hutt course, the first race parting at 12.40 p.m. The most complete arrangements 1 have been made to ensure the comfort and convenience of patrons, and recent improvements to the course will enable the racing to bo witnessed under more auspicious circumstances than heretofore. “Tasman’s” selections in connection with, the meeting will be found in another column. Amongst' desirable methods of spending a day on the water is that open to the patrons of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club, who have chartered the steamer Wainiii to make two trips in connection with their annual regatta. ' The races will startf-om end finish at the Queen’s wharf. The Wellington Amateur Swimming Club ■will also hold its sports at the Queen’s wharf, the events on the programme including the 100 yards provincial championship. ; The Mitch elltown Band will be in attendance. ' The Duchess, Duco and Himitangi will run excursions to Day’s Bay. In the “A Stranger in New York” will reappear at the Opera House. Fuller’s Waxworks and Vaudeville Company will exhibit at the Choral Hall, and a number of new pictures will be shown by the kinematograph at the Criterion Theatre. Young’s'pleasure gardens will, of course, be the favoured rendezvous of many people who love a day at Karori. The Yorkshire Society’s annual picnic is to be held at McNab’s Gardens, Lower Hutt, and every provision is being made for the entertainment of the society’s guests at that pleasant rendezvous. PATRIOTIC LITERATURE. The sending of military contingents from New Zealand to join the Imperial forces in South Africa has formed the occasion of a good many literary, musical and artistic efforts, and amid a shoal of shoddy sentiments and less than mediocre ability there arc to ho found several compositions and works that have genuine merit- and that faithfully reflect the Imperial patriotism of the moment. Quite the best, so far, of these is. the shilling brochure of literary and work just published in Wellington by Messrs McKee and Company. It is entitled, somewjiat.. clumsily, “A Souvenir of New Zealand’s Response- to the Empire’s Call,” and the. cover is printed in appropriate red, white and blue. ‘ The contents ■ include fifty-six separate illustrations, chiefly of the camp and contingent, which are reproduced by photogravure process, and are very successful as a whole. Among the more interesting full-page pictures may be mentioned one representing Maximgun drill, and another showing the crowd in camp >at ; the' church ■* parade

on Sunday, 14th January. 'J; h ® ary matter (like most ot the Ualeolra graphs) is provided by Mr Mil-. fU™ Ross, assisted by Mrs Loss ami ; - Macdonald Ross. A poem on- The LAX of Mother England, by Mir. tains such fine lines as the following: "Sure in our women lie? thp Sparlan still. For with wet eyes, yet hearts aflame witl Thermo A their men go forth to distant

To figbf'for honour, justice and the right

A concise and interesting prose narrative of the sending of the two contingents from New Zealand is niter woven among the illustrations, ■'> cthere is also a very meritorious sonnet on “The Boer.” Finally, on the back of the cover is a stirring poem by Air D M. Ross, entitled “holdiers or tin. Southern Cross.” The concluding.four lines will convey some idea of the meiit of this war-song, wince deserves -o be set to good music; •'Ton have shared our joys and sorrows, you have shared our lion an., board, •Our hands in fight and Xncndsuip jou Good-byef Good luck be with you, and the Through 0 the'ratte of the rifles on the veldt!”

This souvenir of a memorable time will be treasured by munj, '°} { * literary and artistic merit, apart Lorn the patriotic fervour that maxes specially acceptable for the momon -