Rain Mars Holiday

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 546, 26 December 1928, Page 1

Rain Mars Holiday

MANY FIXTURES POSTPONED .. Theatres Reap a Harvest HEAVY breakers on the usually calm shores of the Gulf and a strong wind from the north at high tide yesterday evening foretold wet weather for Boxing Day. It was unfortunate that the forecast was correct.'A drizzly nor easter made its appearance to-day and provided an effectual damper for many outdoor fixtures.

In addition to the opening of the summer racing season at Eller slie, two big tournaments,- the Dominion tennis champiofishlps' and the Auckland Bowling Centre’s, tournament, were to have commenced. Although the weather was not sufficiently severe .to prevent the holding of the-races, it-proved very inconvenient for the other pastimes, for which dry lawns ate an indispensable factor. It was only t.o be expected that the rain would. affect, the attendance at Ellerslie to some extent, but the average racing enthusiast is a hardy soul to whom- wet feet and damp clothing is no great- deterrent, -and despite the weather conditions there was quite a satisfactory attendance when the first race was' fru'ii. The bowling tournament was to have commenced at nine o’clock, but at that hour it was. decided. to postpone it until noon. . .Another. meeting of the executive was. .then held and it was evident that there was no alternative but to defer the opening until to-mor-row. At one o’clock conditions were also unsuitable for the commencement of the tennis championships and they also were postponed. The same arrangements as set down for to-day will b© carried out to-morrow providing weather conditions are suitable. PICNICKERS DISAPPOINTED Crowds of picnickers who had looked forward with keeri anticipation to a day at the s.easide w.ere greatly disappointed. at. the .qhapge in the weather. Several large, fixtures were postponed and numerous would.-.be excursionists, cheerful optimists clad in white and brightly eoloured holiday attire underneath their overcoats, had no option but to abandon their programme for the day. In the city, picture houses and theatres reaped a good harvest during the afternoon,, when special matinee programmes were put on. These served a useful purpose in helping to fill what otherwise would have proved a very dull day. For the yacht and launch parties the break ih the weather was particularly unfortunate. Most of the yachts and launches have put out for the Christmas season, making their headquarters at the seaside resorts up the Gulf. When dawn broke to-day with a grey mist on the sea’s face it was indeed disappointing, but the holiday spirit will out, and wherever suitable accommodation was available impromptu dances helped to pass away the day. COURTS TOO WET CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS DISAPPOINTMENT Following a morning of continuous rain, the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Championships, which were to have been commenced at 9 a.m. to-day at Stanley Street, were postponed till tomorrow. The courts were in splendid order, and greener than they have been at Christmas for many years. THE DRAW If the weather permits play will commence at 9 a.m. to-morrow, the draw being as follows: Men’s Singles.—9 a.m.: J. L. Gregory v. C. H. Strombom, L. T. Pickmere v. R. V. Bundle, W. Blakey v. W. J. Melody, R. McL. Ferkins v. W. H. Entwistle, M. L. Lampe v. A. M. Nicholson, C. F. Atmore v. R. E. Taylor, T. Rhodes-Wil-liams v. H. O. Thomson, M. M. Morrison v. R. P. Adams, J. N. Lowry v. F. R. Chisholm. 10 a.m.: J. T. Laurenson v. A. K. North, A. K. Turner v. A. W. Smithson, C. E. Malfroy v. J. D. Jones, J. C. Charters v. E. W. Griffiths, N. G.

Sturt V. G. J. Grant, D. F. Gianvilie v. S J. Robinson, 10.30 a.m.: E. 1.. Ba rt~ leet v. W. G. Robertson, C. Angas v. W. G Watkins, A. C. Stedman v. A. S. Gray, 11 a.m:: S. C. Thorne v. C. C. Chalmers, K. Hayr v. G. L. Brown, A. L. France v. Women's Singles.—ll a.m.: Miss Gibson v. Miss P. Miller, Mrs. Scott-Watson v. Miss Nicholls, Miss D. Miller v. Mrs. Robson. 11.30 a.m.: Mrs. Adams v. Miss Whitelaw, Miss Taylor v. Mrs. Jones, Miss Marion* Macfarlane v. Miss Myers, Miss Andrew v. Miss Newton, Miss Tracey V. Miss Ramsay. 12.30 p.m.: Miss Eliot v. Miss Rukutai, Mrs. Napier v. Miss Wake, Miss Speirs v. Miss Potter, Mrs. Shroff v. Mrs. Arneil. 1.30 p.m.—Men's doubles. 3.30 p.m.—Women's doubles. 4.30 p.m.—Combined doubles. NO HAWKE CUP CRICKET § Press Association PALMERSTON N., To-day. Owing to rain no play was possible in the Hawke Cup match this morning, but it is hoped to commence this afternoon.