CALL OF THE OPEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1924, Page 8

CALL OF THE OPEN.

HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS. TARANAKI'S VARIED PROGRAMME. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. Taranaki's holiday menu this Christmas is a rich and varied one. Attractions innumerable have been arranged, and all tastes have been catered for. The chief sporting event is the Taranaki Jockey Club's Christmas meeting, which takes place at New Plymouth on Friday and Saturday (December 26 and 27). The committee has all arrangements completed, and the fields promise bright and interesting racing. Provision has been made by the Railway Department to run a special train from Hawera on both days, stops being made at Normanby. Eltham. Stratford, Midhirst, Tariki and Inglewood, the train arriving in New Plymouth at 10.40 a.m. A return train stopping at the same stations will leave New Plymouth at 5.40 p.m , arriving in Hawera at 7.48 p.m.

In fine weather, Taranaki, with its beautiful beaches and safe sen bathing and wealth of scenic attractions, is richly endowed, and in recent years many visitors from all parts of th*? Dominion have come here to spend the Christmas holidays. The seaside cottages were “booked” months ago, and their holiday tenants are now’ arriving in large numbers. Tents are also being pitched on the sandhills, and many young men xvill spend the holidays under- canvas by the sea.

Ngaere Gardens, always one of Taranaki's most popular holiday resorts, promises to be even more popular than ever. The gardens are now looking at ’ their best, and Messrs. Lester Bros, have arranged a most attractive programme for Boxing Day, when, in addition to the water chute, motor-boats and other adjuncts that so delight the children and make holiday-making easy for the adults, a band will -W in attendance. This year a very convenient railway time-table has been arranged, both from Hawera and Stratford. Picnickers from New Plymouth may travel to Stratford by the mail train, and proceed to Ngaere by the special train, spend a full day at the gardens, and return home by special to Stratford, connecting again with the mail train. There w’ill be no need to pack a hamper, the proprietor having made special catering arrangements.

To-morrow a cricket match will be played at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, when married and single players will try conclusions. Bowls and tennis will also claim the attention of enthusiasts whose sporting tendencies stray in those directions. To-morrow night a concert will be given in Pukekura Park, when a first-class programme will be presented. Private excursion parties, especially to the mountain and to Mokau, always feature largely in the Christmas holiday programme. Taranaki, with its many miles of tar-sealed roads, is to-day a motorists’ paradise, and the quiet appeal of a picnic in the bush or in one of the many beautiful parks of the province will sound a responsive note in the fancy of many holiday-makers. BLACK WEATHER OUTLOOK. LAST NIGHT’S FORECAST. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The following Government weather forecast was issued at 4 p.m. to-day: — "Present indications are for strong and squally south-westerly winds, veering to south-easterlies southward of New Plymouth and Castlepoint, and to northeasterlies shortly northwards. Cold, (changeable and showery weather may be [ expected generally, and heavy showers jin east coast districts. The barometer is 'rising in the south, -but will fall shortly , in the north.

“The present unsettled conditions are dut to a westerly depression, which has intensified considerably since passing eastward to the Chatham Islands. There is also evidence of the’ development of a disturbance to the north-west of New Zealand, which makes the future outlook unpromising.”