Sporting & Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, December 22, 1898 THE HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 439, 22 December 1898, Page 10

Sporting & Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, December 22, 1898 THE HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES.

Probably never before has so extensive a sporting programme been provided for the holidays in Auckland as at the present time. On Saturday, the 24th, there will be a trotting meeting at Potter’s Paddock, and the programme promised is the greatest ever presented at an Auckland trotting meeting, including the Exhibition Cup of 200 sovs. On Monday, 26th (Boxing Day), the Auckland Racing Club will commence its Summer Meeting. Also, on Monday and Tuesday, there will be races at the Thames and another day of trotting at Potter’s Paddock in Auckland. Thursday will be the second day of the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting, and on Saturday, the Ist, the wellknown Motu-Korea Stud, of the Messrs Alison Brothers, will be sold in the morning, while the Sylvia Park, yearling sales will take place on the afternoon of Friday, December 30th. On Saturday there will be more trotting, and on Monday and Tuesday, January 2nd and 3rd, the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting will be continued. In addition to these fixtures there will be Cycling Sports at the. Exhibition Grounds, as well as the North Shore Maori Regatta during the Christmas week. Under these circumstances and in view of the fact that there will be a great many people in town, not only from the country districts, but from the South and other parts of the colony to visit the Exhibition, Auckland should present a gala appearance during the holidays. We hear a great deal about the hard times prevailing in Auckland at present, but matters certainly cannot be as bad as some of our chronic grumblers represent them to be in view of such gigantic preparations for our amusement - loving public. During the earlier part of the year we certainly did suffer from a con- - siderable business depression, but 1898 is closing with better prospects ahead for all classes of people, and it is with a confidence in .the general prosperity of the coming year that we wish the readers of the Review a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. -