THE MELBOURNE CUP DAY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 180, 17 November 1876, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE CUP DAY.

[From the Age.]

The Cup Day of 1876 will be remembered as one of the most successful held under the auspices of the V.R.C. The attendance was unprecedentedly nuroe. rous—by many it was estimated at something approximating to 100,000 persons. The prize was spiritedly contested, and the weather, though at times "tolerable and not to be endured," enabled the fashionable world to appear with a pomp and circumstance perhaps never before witnessed on the lawn. As usual, the result was a surprise. Not the most knowing could have predicted a double triumph to Briseis, though it seemed pretty certain that Mr. Wilson's stable was to produce the victor. Briseis, notwithstanding her magnificent performance in winning the Derby, was not regarded as at all a likely candidate for the Cup. The favorite was Feu d'Artifice, and there were many who obtained almost equal odds. Spark, of which so much was expected, was nowhere ; Sultan was scarcely noticed in the ruck; Aldinga-jnas in splendid condition, and headway at the start, but fell off lamentably at the close ; Irish stew showed up well for a time, but was soon left behind; Impudence snowed up only for a short time, while Newminster and "Valentia were withdrawn. Never were public expectations more grievously disappointed, and many must have left the course wiser though sadder men. Indeed, outside the "ring," the majority of the faces encountered after the great event wore an elongated and somewhat subdued expression. Still, the race was one of the most exciting that could be witnessed, while there was an utter absence of mala fides on the part of the various riders. The road was unusually well patronised, and the more pretentious of the turn-outs were equipped in a manner that would have done credit to the road to Epsom or to Ascot. His Excellency drove down in a handsome chariot drawn by four fine bays with postillions, and was followad by Sir Hercules Robinson in another carriage. Sir Anthony Musgrave, the Governor of South Australia, was also one of the guests of his Excellency. The vice-regal party were attended by an escort of police and light cavalry. The other more noticeable equipages were those of Mr. Beaney, Mr. Wagner, and Mr. Wilson, of Wilson's Hippodrome. The former gentleman came out with ateam of four greys, with postillions, in blue jackets with silver buttons. All, however, had to give the palm to Mr. Wagner, who appeared with a handsome drag of the real old English fashion, drawn by four splendidlooking high-bred bay horses. The team was tooled by Mr. Wagner himself, and was decidedly the feature of the road. Mr. Wilson drove a mixed team of dark greys and bays, and there were also several other four-in-hands out, of more or less excellence. The number of private carriages drawn by pairs was probably greater than on any other occasion, and as for cabs, waggonettes, spring carts, gigs, and other nondescript vehicles, their name was simply legion. One party of youths created great amusement by appearing with a tandem team, the leader being mounted by an amateur postilion, dressed in racing colors of a most brilliant hue, and nearly every lorry owned in and about Melbourne was out with a full cargo of pleasure-seekers. The attendance at the course by the time the first race was run was very large, and as the afternoon ad- . vanced the crowds gradually increased before the Cup was run off; and when apparently nearly all the surplus population of the town had collected on the course, the concourse presented an aspeot of which any Victorian might be proud. South of the line, no spectacle to compare . with it has ever been witnessed. The hill presented the appearance of an enormous . ant-hill. The grand stand and lawn were crowded to inconvenience with ladies and gentlemen, the former attired in elegant toilettes, the gay colors of which gave brightness and animation to th« scene. The weather was at times disagreeable, and clouds of dust did havoc j. with the lighter costumes. Shortly the Cup was run, however, the shone out brilliantly, and a light refreshing breeze sprang up from the south,

Jlaay of the toilettes were extremely rechardUr not » few having been expressly imported front the establishment of the celebrated Worth. One was stated to have cost 600 guineas; there m>re several valued at 2f>o guineas,, ana wf-hers niore «-r less expensive. All, however, wure hj» exmusite taste. Silk was ther prevailing material, and for the greater part the dresses were a combination of colors, blu:;, pink, ami mauve predpiuinating. One toilette attracted considerable notice. It #as composed of the richest ivory satin, with full train, trimmed with ostrich f ß »thecs, with ptumea at intervals """- rounded by a deep peart fringe, »rth bonnet and parasol ««■ «**<*. A rich blue silk dress with no other trimming than a deep fringe, with hat and ostrich feather plume to match, was greatly admired. A very elective toilette consisted of a mauve potf-grained silk, with bands of violet velvet and deep Honiton lace. Amongst the combination dresses one of the most striking was composed of an underskirt of rusis-colored faille, with four flounces, an tf verskirt of pale lavender grwa-gram, kh wluiume, trimmed with scarves of rose i valuta. Also two dresses of cream «/«*- „mwsc, having deep-folded taMiers, the J underskirt being trimmed with brown sdk. Mention might be made of many others, including one of crimson silk, havtng a tablier of Chantitly lace and black velvet limtice. Several were startling, particularly a blue and canary silk, trimmed with » profusion of kiltings in both colors ; _il a black silk, ornamented with broad n,llow bands. Upon no previous occasion iiil the tawn present so crowded an apwuranciv and the toilettes generally for Unesft and variety has; never been extolled. ________________