Sporting and Bramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers' Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard Thursday, December 21, 1905. THE CHRISTMAS WEEK.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 824, 21 December 1905, Page 6

Sporting and Bramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers' Gazette. With which is incorporated the Weekly Standard Thursday, December 21, 1905. THE CHRISTMAS WEEK.

Anyone accustomed to Auckland and its somewhat quiet and easy-going everyday existence would not find it difficult to realise that the Christmas week is upon us. All the shops have been putting on holiday attire as it were, and our country friends have for some days past been flocking into town in ever-increasing numbers. The inevitable result of this is that the traffic in the main streets has become more and more congested, while the footpaths are for the nonce virtually given un to a happy multitude of pleasure seekers and bargain hunters. The Christmas week is Auckland’s happiest time, when everything looks at its brightest and best, and when any amount of fun is provided for all. A leading position must be

given to the great Summer Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club. Here there is every prospect of some fine sport being witnessed, for all the Auckland cracks will be in commission to oppose the strong contingent of horses from the South. Extensive improvements have been made to the running tracks and to the enclosures, and Ellerslie should be at its very best for the big racing carnival. Then there will be the three days’ gathering of the Auckland Trotting Club, the premier event of its kind in the North Island and one greatly looked forward to by reinsmen and lovers of the trotter. The gaps in the sequence of events will be filled by the annual bloodstock sales at Cambria, Glenora, and Wellington Park, when some exceptionally fine yearlings will be offered. Unfortunately, the sale at the latter Park will be the last of a long series, for the famous stud is to be broken up. famous stud is to be broken up. With the large number of sportsmen in town there should be some spirited bidding at the sales, and for one or two of the colts it is not improbable that some exceptionally high prices will be realised. For racing men who cannot be at headquarters more sport has been provided. The Thames Jockey Club will hold a two days’ fixture on Tuesday and Wednesday, and this is always an enjoyable fixture. From this it will be seen that lovers of the thoroughbred will have plenty to occupy their minds during the Christmas week. There are many, however, for whom racing has no attraction, but all these will find plenty to interest them. The Northern S.S. Companv, the Devonport Ferry Company, the "Settlers’ Company. and Messrs Bradney and Binns’ steamers have one and all a long list of excursions. There are few more pleasant ways of spending a summer holiday than this, for Auckland is singularly fortunate in possessing so many ideal spots for picnics. ‘ i Y J Cht J n f W i U ’ of , course - claim hundreds of devotees while cricket, bowling tennis, and kindred pastimes will have innumerable followers. The weather this summer has been far more f avourable than was the case last year, and therefore there appears to be an excellent Prospect of having unclouded skies for the holidays. If this but prove to be the case then nothing more will be wanted for Aucklanders and their friends to h 7 an x time. We wish our readers A Merry Christmas and the bit of good luck for the coming vear