THE BOXING DAY HOLIDAY.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 588, 29 December 1897, Page 2

THE BOXING DAY HOLIDAY.

The Amalgamated Sports Postponed.

Boxing Bay broke threateningly, but everybody was hopeful. The splendid weather of Christmas day and the Friday previous could not be forgotten, and the holiday makers could not believe that fate would treat them _so badly as to provide wet weather for a holiday. Yet as the day advanced threatening clouds developed into a regular water supply by the time the first race was run, and everybody was miserable. The sports committee are to be sympathised with, for they had laid the train for a record day. Indeed the acceptances were so large that the committee were warranted in anticipating a record day. Keen as the disappointment was to the committee and the public generally, the bad weather was the most annoying to the large number of visiting competitors who at the sacrilice of time and money had travelled (many a long distance) to compete. Nor was the rain the only drawback. A cold snap blew up, and instead of being like mid-summer, the wind was bleak enough for mid-winter. After the Maiden race had been run (in wind and rain) the committee met and discussed the advisablcness of a postponement. After due consideration it was decided to postpone the sports until Saturday, the 22nd January (Anniversary Day). When the decision was made known loud complaints were made by visitors, but even these, after quiet reflection, were forced to admit that the decision of the committee was a wise one. Mr Benzie, the caterer, was the man who had the most came to grumble, but with the calmness of a stoic Charles brought practical commonsense to bear on the matter, and to the strains of “ I’m off to Philadelphia ” (whistled by himselfi he retired to the Trocadero to supply | the biggest crowd of visitors yet provided for there in any given day. The band turned out to a man | spick and span, and got wet for | their pains. After dinner, as if in celebration of the postponement, tiie | sun shone out in dazzling splendour, \ and the air was keen and bracing. I Given fine weather the gathering on the 22ud inst. will be as enjoyable j as Monday would have been bad the weather not been so unfavorable. All the competitors signified their i intention to be present. The cycling | events, owing to the unusually large j number of entries, are causing a lot !of exciting anticipation. Many of the isiting competitors are riders of the lirst rank. All those who paid for admission to the ground on Monday received passes which will admit them again on the 22m1.