OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XV, 11 April 1896, Page 410

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

ON THE RIVER AVON, CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, the Cathedral City of New Zealand, has, like the other principal towns of the colony, its own distinct characteristics. Its river and beautiful gardens form the two chief features of the city. The picturesque little River Avon winds its way through the gardens and the heart of the city, being crossed and recrossed by numbers of bridges till it reaches New Brighton, where it enters the sea. For miles on either side are weeping willows, whose branches droop over till they touch the surface of the water, affording welcome shelter on a hot day. Very few private boats are kept, owing perhaps to the cheapness for which they may be hired from the numerous sheds along the river bank. During the summer season, both during the day and evening, the river swarms with boats of all descriptions, from the rob-roy canoe to the 8-oared gig. Bordering on the road which runs parallel to the river for miles on either side are many beautiful residences with their well-kept gardens and neatly trimmed evergreen hedges, reminding one of the homes in our mother country. During the dry season of the year the water of the Avon is very shallow, rendering boating somewhat difficult in places. The river is well stocked with trout, and the black swan sport proudly about in great numbers. The Canterbury boatshed, as shown in picture one, at a bend in the river, is a prominent structure. It is an elaborately-constructed building, the property of the Canterbury Boating Club, and is complete with every convenience, besides being well stocked with many fine boats of various classes. THOROUGHBRED RACING MARE LEDA. The reproduction is a capital likeness of the handsome little Castor-Welcome Katie mare, Leda, bred by Mr W. I’ercival, of Auckland, and originally sold as a yearling by him to Mr G. G. Stead, of Christchurch. She has already more than fulfilled the expectations of her present owner, who resides in Wellington. Leda has since the month of October last won no less than four races, run-

ning once second and once third. She won her maiden bracket at Wellington in November ; a week later she annexed the Feilding Jockey Club Handicap of zoosovs.; on the following day the Manchester Handicap of loosovs., beating Lorelei, Brooklet and Co., and at the last Wellington meeting defeated The Shrew, Spendthrift, and Lady Zetland in the January Handicap in the phenomenal time for I mile and 1 furlong of itnin. 56 Ji sec. thus establishing a record for New Zealand for the distance. Leda is a very handsome mare, and as sound as a bell, and with reasonable handicapping should score a big success for her owner. The photograph is by the well-known sporting photographer, Mr R. J. Hardie Shaw, of Wellington. The jockey in the saddle is Matthews, and Leda’s trainer is Mr W. Davis.

THE POLO TOURNAMENT. Some very interesting play was witnessed at the late Polo Tournament in Palmerston North. The event of the first day was the defeat of Auckland by the Raugitikei Club. Auckland made a brilliant stand at the outset, winning the first goal in fine style with O’Rorke much in evidence. But Rangitikei speedily turned the tables, and before Auckland got another chance had scored five goals. The Northern players at last succeeded in making two, but their opponents replied with a similar number, and play ended with the defeat of Auckland. Later on in the day Oroua beat Warringate by 8 goals to 4. On the second day Christchurch met and defeated Hawke’s Bay by 15 to 3, and Manawatu scored a victory over Rangitikei 11. by 7 to 5. There was a fair attendance on the third day, and two matches were played. The first between Wellington and Wanganui was not very interesting, Wellington having the best of the match all through, the game ending Wellington 7, Wanganui 5. The second match between Wharerangi and Warringate was very exciting, the former winning by 4 to 2. The attendance on the following day was large, the ground being in splendid condition after the night’s rain. There were two most exciting matches played— Rangitikei and Oroua, and Christchurch and Manawatu, Oroua and Manawatu being the successful teams. Great excitement prevailed when the home team won, as Christchurch played a splendid game, but their ponies, although looking much better than the Manawatu ones, did not seem to be under such good control. There was not so large an attendance on the 23rd, doubtless owing to the fact of it being only junior teams competing. In the final matches for the Senior and Junior Championships, played on the 24th, Manawatu beat Oroua by 8 to 2 amidst great excitement, and immediately after the match Mr A. E. G. Rhodes addressed the winning team, and on behalf the New Zealand Polo Association thanked the members of the Polo Club and the inhabitants of Palmerston North for the very hospitable manner in which they had entertained them. Mrs R. S. Abraham (the President’s wife) then presented the Saville Cup to Mr Southey Baker, the captain of the winning team, amidst loud cheering. The Junior Championship was won by Feilding after a very exciting and closely-contested game, the game ended Feilding 7, Wharerangi 6. JOHANNESBURG. Our scenes represent two streets in the golden city of Johannesburg. It is difficult standing in the midst of these spacious streets lined with magnificent buildings to realise that less than ten years ago this splendid stonebuilt city with its 120,000 inhabitants, was a rough mining camp, and a few years previous to that was open veldt.