refreshments. It was a breach of the rules, which the patriotic duties of the Volunteers might have excused, but when the intruders from among the Volunteers were forthwith hooted out of the Club, there ensued an extraordinary amount of animosities which for a long time after this incident lacerated social life within and without the Club.
Sports flourished during this period. The Victoria Regatta Club, which had been virtually extinct, was revived (June 28, 1860), under the leadership of Mr. T. G. Linstead. The Racing Club was also re-animated by the interest that Sir H. Robinson took in the annual races which, in February 1861, closed with a Government House Ball in addition to the usual subscription Ball. In January, 1862, racing men were much stirred up by the question of excluding from the annual races all professional riders or jockeys. Renewed excitement was called forth, in October, 1864, by a request which Sir H. Robinson addressed to the Racing Club Committee, to rail off a box in the Grand Stand for his own use at the next meeting. After much discussion, this request was refused by the Committee as unusual and out of keeping with the democratic spirit and purpose underlying the national institution of horse racing. Athletic sports for sailors and soldiers were first held on a large scale on the race course on 16th March, 1860, and by the encouragement which Lady Robinson gave to this movement it became, like the Garrison Sports, a popular annual festival. At the instance of some members of the German Club, which, under the directorship of Mr. W. Nissen became a popular factor of social life, an international Gymnasium Committee was formed (November 24, 1862) and a matshed gymnasium was erected near the. racket court on military ground. A novel and most singular sport was occasioned (February 1860) by the appearance in the harbour of a stray whale which was forthwith chased with improvised harpoons and pursued far out to sea by crowds of amateur whalers.
Dramatic and musical pursuits were not neglected. The Garrison Theatre was, as during the preceding period, frequently
