CREYMOUTH MOTES.

West Coast Times, Issue 13080, 6 January 1904, Page 4

CREYMOUTH MOTES.

(our own correspondent.) Jan 4.

I suppose I might say that the dava of I pleasaie .are over and the dayß of hard graft a^« before u». We have had our Saturcaliafla the old Pagans would call it and-wehave now to turn again to fight the battle of life. It was Bp'endid weatber and never was there a more successful holiday season. There was enjoyment for all. To those who believed in horse racing there were the flat racing and the trots, t* the lovers of acquatic sports there were the swimming matches and the regatta, the votaries of cricket were r otered . for in the various matches on Victoria Park, the ladies were resplendent on the grandstands and in the streets, hippodromic sports were provided by Uyland's Circus, Woods-WMiamson's Dramatic Company were in evidence at the Opera House, the lovera of refiubd music had their tastes gratiSed at the sacred concerts,, and the "wee kiddies" b*d their Sunday School picnics Even the sick and suffering had -the monotony of eadnesa broken by the Christmas dinner at fie hospital and the vißit of the carol f wgerts. Care for once seems to have bben thrown aside. Music in various forms paraded the street*, and money— the great god, the dispenser of good and the wielder of evil— was in evidence. Storekeeper?, hoielkeepers and those who j provide for the thousand and one wants i of (he public, seemed to be satisfied. The I. racing rtceipts as shown by tbe numbers pu sent and the amount passed through the totahsator were more than ever. It recorded an epoch, as the Premier would say, and it is questionable whether he whs not right when he said that there were too many holidays, that the love of sport was growing too much among the joung. But the time is paat for the present, why find fault with it ? No doubt a reaction will take place and tbe pleasant face of the trader will assume another aspect shoitly when dull days come, and wnen "dodfers' 1 will have no a ttiaition, nnd vrben the accounts will have to be squared. It is certain the Xmas holidays of 1903 will be something to talk about— the wealth of tports, the splendid weather and the abundance of money. I hope the like may continue. I will not trouble you with an account of the doings at tbe races as they have already been detailed at length. Briefly, the oid year died amidst the ringmg of belle, the firing of rockets and a procession of the Fire Brigade to bis Worship the Mayor's residence where they and the cit zens who accompanied them were enteit lined. I am happy to btate on the authority of the Mayor that not the least damage was duue to c ither his flower garden or tbe ornameutal shrubbery which speak* well for the orderly charac- ■ ter of the processioD. |

The opening of the Band Rotunda.— j The Baud Rotunda was opened on New Year's morcing by tie Rt. Hon. the Premier, who appeared to be in splendid health, uotwithstandiDg tbe fatigues and cares of the late heavy session. Somehow or other Premieisbip seems to agree with aome people, but I think our Premier with his 20e»toue weight has tbe record. The late Sir John O'Shanassy, Premier of "Victoria, with his 19 ttonel think comes next. Then the re was Sir George Verdon, Sir George Dibbs, Kingtton of South Australia and other were all big men. Tbe Band Rotunda notwithstanding alt that baa been said is a pretty building «nd reflects grt at credit on the architect, Mr Lord, but the aite is everything again™ it. It never will be a popular meeting plaie either for bandsmen or citixen*. It was designed as a memorial for a certain event, it was said at tbe opening. Perhaps *o, but it i» also a memoiial of folly in selecting such a site. There were betweeen 200 and 300 persons p^eseifc when the Premier and party arrived. In a few words the Mayor wel somed tbe Premier and stated the rotauda wps erected to commemorate the coronation of King Edward, the proclamation of peace, the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to tbe Colonies and the death of Trooper Martin. The Premier, who was received with hearty cheer?, expressed his willingness tj opeu tbe rotun- \ da, which was a credit to the town. He jthtn alluded to the progress the town had made and the evident prosperity it eDjoyed. He thought there were too » many holidays and too great a fondness for sport. In the early days athletic sports were predominant, cow it was raci g, Even if they bad hotter horses in the presenc day he thought they hid better races 'n the past when the best borse more often won. The Premier then alluded to the orenmttances wlich led to the erection of the rotunda and calUd for the band to play tbe National Aithero, but the bands (there were nro) had stolen away, therefore the Premier led off himeelf, the audience joining. Ch^eis were then given f i> r Mr and Mrs Seddou. The j Premier then resumed and proceeded to comment m the York ligh's. also to the ttblet erected to the memory of trooper Martin, and the pait tbe colonials played in tbe Ute Boer war. A'tT a most chardc'.enstic speech hd d< dared t'le R( t'inda open, amid scunding cheer*. Cr Petne moved a vote of thanks to the Premier for opening tbe Rotund?. Ihree cheers w re (hen given for the Premier, Mrs and Mi>» and the ceremony concluded.

It was » mater of suene comment fiat in our member, A. R Guinness, Esq, wis not. pres nt on the occasion, as he evidu.tly must have been aware of the pro-c-i line, p«-pecintly as it wad * matter i i wh eh his constituency wa» interested. P« hips it is mcons-'t n- with the d gni'y anJ high stacus of the Speaker to t ke pai: in such ct-remorK's: By tho way wh n is the pre^n'stio-j to take place, and who wi'l present it?

The Bfho.il picuio* in coonection with th* 1 Presb> fc^riui and Wt-sleyan Churches were celtbr t;d at toil Creek on New Year's D.y. I wonder wbeth r our City Fathers Will approach the Premier on the subjects

of the new Poat Office, and the E^ucition ! I BcarJ on matters relating to that body. The lie* N. S. Barnett has been appointed to the Curacy of Bjunneiton, vaciDt by tbe resignation of the Fey Mr Stace, who has been appointed to Havelock. A mysterious fire occurred at Taj Ic▼ille on New Year's monrn?, when a house occupied by Mr n . Wylde was* destroyed, Mr Wjlde and fanny being j away from home at the time. The loss is a serious one to Mr Wylde, as the house wa* not insured. "The best horse more of'entr won." said the Premier in h a speech at the opening of tLe Hand Rotunda, wh»n alluding to horse racing ii the past and pre ent. The best burse is ahir c c .lied Totalisator. It i% always safe to back him. He it a strong, sturdy, upstanding colt got by g inning oLt of Governmf nts privilege, and he always win. There is no risk in backing him, at d he oerer gcea out but t> win. Take for ids nee the hut Greymou h races. The amouut put through th? G J.C. machine w.is £14 752 10 per cent of which goes to the Club to encourage ''honest racing," or npoit. We know what the Premier thinks about it, and we know wbbt the public thihk about it. Tais 10 per cent amounts to. say, in rough nuijberp, £1400, but of this the Ciob pays £ per cent to i-J overnmt n% for charitable purposes £210, and to working the totalisicr £175, say a totnl of £336, thus tearing a total of over £1000, for the encouragement of what (?)— Read the Premier's remirks.