FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18644, 22 December 1928, Page 2

FROM THE “STAR” SIXTY YEARS AGO.

ADVERTISEMENTS AND NEWS OF DEC. 23, 1868. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS EXCURSION TRIP TO AKAROA. TIMARU AND DUNEDIN. Return Tickets at Single Fares. Bv the Steamship COMERANG. To Sail on Tuesdav. 29th, at 2 p.m. E. S. DALGETY AND CO., Lyttelton and Christchurch. K K X Spreydon Cattle Fair. —The inaugural fair at Spreydon was held \ r esterday, and the business transacted was considered satisfactory by its promoters. The fat cattle was eagerly taken up by dealers, some, in fact, having scarcely been y'arded before they* changed hands, others being disposed of whilst on their way to the fair. The rates obtained averaged from £lO to £l2 10s. The sheep were not above the ordinary qualit3 r , and a large proportion remained unsold. Four-oared Boat Race.—The second race in Watermen’s boats between the Railwa3 r Rowing Club, Ly'ttelton, and the crew of the barque John Knox took place in the harbour on Monday' night. The course was from the barque John Knox, round the ship Glenmark and to a buoy' off the screw pile jetty. The crews this time changed boats, the club rowing in Walsh’s Bluejacket and the crew in Messiter’s Grace Dating; the club also had the inner plat) . A capital start was effected, the crews rowing a neck and neck race to the Glenmark, on rounding which the club, from its position, was able to draw ahead and led the way home, winning a capital race by about two lengths. S 3 3 W Christchurch City Council.—The ordinary weekly' meeting was held last night. Present—His Worship the May r or and Councillors Ruddenklau, Calvert, Sheppard, Angus, Tombs, Jameson, Sawtell and Duncan. The May'or intimated that on Saturday evening he had presided at a meeting of gentlemen called for the purpose of arranging rural sports for New Year’s Day. And he had been requested to inquire whether the council would devote a small portion of their funds towards meeting the necessary expenses. He did not wish to bias members, but he might point out in 1864 a sum of £ls had been similarly appropriated from the council’s funds, and he thought the matter was certainly worthy of their consideration. Councillor Jameson moved that a sum of £lO should be voted towards those intended for New Year's Day. Councillor Ruddenklau endorsed the observations, remarking that holiday's in Christchurch were more like days of mourning than anything else, and it w T as really incumbent upon them to do something towards providing amusement of some kind on such occasions. All the outly'ing districts had their regular days for recreation, and yet Christchurch, the centre and most populated part of the province, was without. The Mayor and Councillor Jameson having made some further remarks in support of the motion, it was put and agreed to. K Leithfield Races.-—Those who yesterday betook themselves to the Mount Grey Downs in the hope of seeing a good day’s sport combined with the enjo.vment of a pleasant ride, were not disappointed in either respect. The attendance was decidedly' good, the spec tators arriving in vehicles of various descriptions, on horseback or on foot. The orthodox grandstand was, in this instance, dispensed with, visitors being content with drays, traps, etc., from any of which, or from the ground, a full view could be obtained, owing to the levelness of the course. On the ground were two publicans’ booths, presided over respectively' b\' Mr C. E. Paget, of Leithfield, and C. Turner, of Saltwater Creek. Mr Mason, of Leithfield, appeared to be doing equally well with his confectionery booth. The course was the same as on previous occasions, situated on the Railway Reserve, on an unoccupied section fronting Mr Fendall’s farm on the banks of the North Kowai, and about three miles from Leithfield. The course, rather more than a mile in length, was very hard in consequence of the dry weather. The winner of the Kowai Cup, of 30 sovs, two miles, was Mr J. \Y. Mallcck’s Backbiter, with Mr G. Osborne’s Beeswing second.