JUBILEE OF THE COLONY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 410, 30 January 1890, Page 2

JUBILEE OF THE COLONY.

AUCKLAND’S FESTIVITIES. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, last night. Auckland visitors continue pouring into the town. A good many natives are among them. On Monday about 25 Ngapuhi ana 200 Waikatos arrived. The latter included among them the great chief Rewi Maniapoto, Major Te Wheoro, Te Wharepou and Patara te Tuhi. They brought ten war canoes with them. The Waikatos paraded tbe city, headed by a band, and attracted an immense crowd. Among the events at the athletic sports on Saturday will be a race for Chinamen, for which thirty Celestials have promised to start. Tho first of the festivities took place on Monday evening, when a grand concert with tableau was given in St. James’ Hall. By special permission a number of non commiakioned officers aud men from H.M.S. Orlando took p>rt In the tableau, which represented the planting of the British flag on the shores of New Zealand on January 29,1840. Lords Onslow and Carrington arrived at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The town was gaily decorated with flags, and a large concourse of people assembled at tho railway station. On stepping out of th* carriages their Excellencies were received with cheers. The celebrated chief Rewi Maniecpoto, who wm accommodated with a chair as he is very frail, was introduced to Lord Onslow by the Mayor. A most impressing sosne then took place, their Excellencies being highly de. lighted to meet the old chieftain, aud he reciprocating in a most loyal strain. Nafixb, last night. To-day is observed as a close holiday, but no public amusements have been provided. The steamers Ahurirl and Wairoa ran trips with excursionists to inspect ths Bimutaka lying in the bay, and numerous pinnies were organised. The weather was beautiful, far though hat, there was a pleasant sea breaae blowing.

HOW THE DAY WAS KEPT IN GISBORNE.

There was quite a complication over the holiday in Gisborne. Notwithstanding the holiday notified by Government, the Borough Council bad declared a half holiday on account of the English Church garden fete, set down for the afternoon. But owing to the sad accident which occurred to the Rev. J, McAra on Thursday, and his subsequent death on Saturday evening, and burial on Monday, it was considered hy some that it would bs welt to postpone the holiday for a week, put ot respect to the memory of the deceased gentle, man. The Mayor accordingly issued a proclamation to that effect, but there were some who did not see the force ot the reasoning in favor of a postponement, and others considered that it was not the Council's place to interfere, in any case. On the other band a number of business people agreed to tho proposal to hold a half-holiday next week instead of yesterday, and there were many who considered that too many holidays were being indulged in. AU tho Government offices and the Banka ware of course closed, but no holiday was permitted in the town schools. The town had an extremely dull appearance, business seeming to be almost suspended. HACK RACES. Some enterprising young men knowing the unspeakable admiration Gisborne people have for racing, seized upon the occasion of the Jubilee to hold a hack race meeting on the beacb. Only short notice had been given, but early in the afternoon a large crowd of gay end festive youths bad assembled to witness the various events. As there woe no charge for admission, the whole bank could be used for a ” grandstand,” and the sportive individuals could inhale the health giving ozone, and admire the racing at the same time, aud a complete absence of spielers gave the mooting an air of innocent sportiveness which certainly does not belong to those more fleshly conducted affairs which are infested with the blackguardly countenanoM of the spieler element. Whatever may ba thought of the generality of racing it car. tainly cannot be said otherwise than that yesterday’s meeting was the pun, unalloyed game. The beach waa in good order, the tide being out. The horsoe were all in fairly good fettle, end though come were a bit puffed and had other complaints peculiar to the equine species, the loving affection which each owner had for his steed was something wonderful, being a specially pleasant sight to one who io fond of dumb animals. The fact that a horse wee beaten did not decrease it in the owner's estimation —there was always some undeniable reason to account for a defect, and if anyone were to tell the owners that their animals would not be fit for a Maaeppa that person would bs in danger of being demoliehoa. Ons race—-ths big event ot the day, valued at ths msgnifloent sum of two pounds sterling—wm named in honor ot the Mayor, though out reporter is inclined to believe that that gentleman was not oonoulted nor his consent obtained. The fun was inoreased by a prolific supply of protests and other little pleasantries. An impromptu totallsator wee suppressed before it bad seen the light ot day. From the large number of entries received it is safe to assert that the meeting was a substantial financial success. The following are some ot the results•

Flying Handicap, of£l: A. Lewis'Escort 1 ; 0. Bewley's Rosebud, 2. Pony Race, of £1: Lawrence's Dolphin, 1; F. Burns’ Madam Zulu, 2. Handicap Hurdle Race, of £1 . R. Hepburn’s Carpenter, 1 ; J. Reed's Struck Oil, 2, Mayor’s Handicap, of £2 : Kupenga'e Oamaru, 1; A. Lewis’ Escort, 2, Consolation Race : Folakiser’s Charley, 1. FIRE BRIGADE PROCESSION. The Gisborne Volunteer Fire Brigade, at short notice, arranged a very creditable torchlight procession last night, in con), memoration of tho Jubilee. Tho manual engine and hose reel had been nicely decorated for the ocomlou with evergreene illuminated by Chinese lanterns and torchlights. Advantage was taken, too, to utilise the occasion as an opportunity for a good advertisement, for while ou the one side ot the engine there wm the conspicuous lettering, ' N. Z. Jubilee t Advance Gisborne, 1 on tho other side there WM algo the announcement, “Hie Excellency— February 20.” Thia being intorpretodlaright indicates that on the date mentioned the piece named will be performed In aid of sending the team to the competition in Wellington, The procession was headed by the Garrison Band which enlivened the proceedings with selections of music, and a halt wm made on the Turanganui bridge, where a display of fireworks took place, Mr J. W, Smith superintending the operations. A bad site wee chosen for the display, bat bn the whole things passed off most satisfactorily". There was gn enormous crowd of spectators, and all seemed highly pleased at the display, which was certainly good, when the expedition in tbe arrangements are considered. The members of tho Brigade wore “buttonholes" of Oscar glide'll favorite flower, but M Mio man wom eo modest, and kept so much In thi, dark) U»»r light) were hidden behind 1 bushoi,