Christmastide.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 24 December 1907, Page 3

Christmastide.

With relentless swing the pendulum _of Time goes on and once again Christmas is with us. Surely it cannot be that twelve long months have drifted by since last the joy bells rang out for Yuletide, yet the calendar tells it is so, while the general air of festivity worn by all the shops confirms the story. To most people Christmas means a time for holiday making and general rejoicing, and for the meeting of old friends. If with some the unbidden sigh arises at the thought of some dear one gone during the past year to the Great Beyond, such regrets are shared by all, for it is but the lot of humanity. Christmas and the New Year serve but to mark the miles gone by on the road of life. To those well on the journey there is sadness as well as gladness in the thought. “ Now through the twilight of the near old age' “An after-glow will shed its rosy beams, “They’ll see old friends once more and toast their health “ And live old happy days again—in dreams.” But to the young, Christmas is peculiarly a season of mirth and jollity. For all will be bent on having a good time. And assuredly of all places Auckland is one of the very best to spend it enjoyably. Unlike the Old Country, when the roaring yule log plays an important role, here we one and all turn out of doors to find oui’ pleasure. Some are off to a race meeting, others betake themselves to the country. Games of cricket, tennis, bowling, and the like pass the time pleasantly for many; but perhaps the most favoured relaxation for the majority of Aucklanders is a picnic, and the number who will avail themselves of this method of spending a holiday among the beautiful bays of the Hauraki will be legion. To the racing man there is only one method of enjoying a holiday, and that is to assist at a race meeting. To cater for such the Auckland Racing Club and the Auckland Trotting Club step into the breach with their big summer carnivals. To attend these reunions many Southern visitors will be with us, while not a few horses have also made the journey North. It is possible the vexatious absurdities of the new Gaming Act will, to a certain extent, mar the thorough enjoyment of all, but, despite this effort to put sportsmen into swaddling clothes, there should be plenty of fun left at the big fixture. The Northern S.S. Company, the Settlers’ S.S. Company, and the Ferry Company will run innumerable excursions, and should the weather but hold fine the human freights are certain to be very heavy. Yachtsmen will, of course, go afloat, and all the popular bays are sure to be crowded. The bookings at such places at Waiwera, Kawau, Orewa, Arkle’s Bay, Brown’ Bay, Cowes Bay, have been unusually large. The Railway Department. ilntend running extra trains to Rotorua, the Thames and elsewhere, so that but for the great influx of country visitors the city would be well nigh deserted. Cricketers will have a good match to see in the Domain, and no doubt the cool shade of the oaks will be largely availed of. The several tennis clubs have their greens in splendid order, and games innumerable will take place. Bowlers will be in hard practice for the great N.B.A. Tournament, which commences here just after the New Year. In fact, the out-of-door loving community will not lack for the means to enjoy itself, and with some co-operation on the part of Old Sol, may be certain to do so. To one and all we wish the happiest possible Christmastide and best of good luck for the coming year. May te turfite pick winners freely and may emancipation come quickly to him from the deservedly abused Gaming Act; may the cricketer score centuries. galore; may the bowler kiss “kitty” as often as he does his best girl; may the tennis player go from “love all” to love one; and may the yachtsman have a fair wind and smooth sea for his summer cruise. To all readers we reiterate the wish A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.