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Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3553, 28 December 1881, Page 3

lhe Christmas decorations on Saturday evening were neither so numerous nor so showy as that of previous years. Messrs Garlick and Cranwell's establishment waß (especially noticeable for the taste and skill displayed in its ornamentation and a crowd of admiring spectators surrounded it throughout the evening. Mr Goodson's nnd Mr Montague's shops wore also very attractive in appearance, besides bejng lihronged with customers.

No particulars respecting the Mercury Bay Regatta, which was to have taken place yesterday, had reached town up to a late hour this afternoon. The principal event was the sculling match between Floyd and Carter, of Sydney, and Albert White, of Mercury Bay, in which it was generally expected that Carter would come through victorious. The prevalent rainy weather and terrible state ot tho roads between Mercury Bay and Coromandel has probably prevented communication, and we aro thereby unable to publish the result. The half-yearly meeting of the Auckland Fire Brigade Quoit Club was held on Monday, the 19th inst. The balance-sheet showed a credit-balance to the Club. The following officers were elected for the ensuing six months : — Superintendent J. Hughes, president (re-elected); Foreman J, Earley, vice-president; Branchman F. Finlay, captain, was re-elected; James Slianley, secretary (re-elected); John Ward, treasurer; Foreman John (Clarke, Fireman Heap?, and Mr William Field, trustees. The Working Committee consista : Branchman S. Fulljames, Firemen G. Finlay, C. Smith. T. Solomon, and G. Moore, all reelected. Firemen G. Lee and T. Blake, auditors. A vote of thanks was also given to the proprietor of the Evkning STAR for his kindness in publishing locals on behalt of the Club.

The conundrum on the Auckland Fire Brigade to which the prize was awarded in the Choral Hall on Monday night is as follows • _ » Why are the members of the Auckland Fire Brigade like persons strongly opposed to temperance? —Because they often get well ' soaked,' always tnra out with a ' reel,' and go to 'blazes as fast as possible." Mr Brame, in reading the above, apologised for its roughness ; but many people will be of the opinion that tho truthful and pointed nature of the answor atones for its cohrse vein. The audionco at any rate, enjoyed it immensely. The following conundrum wa.3 second in point of merit, and was "highly commended":—"Why is the present superintendent of the Fisg Brigade indispenbible to its efficiency 1 — Becauie it would be Hughes-less (useless) without him.'•