NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume III, Issue 95, 27 December 1862, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND

CHRISTCHURCH. Christmas Fare.—The nights of the 23rd and 24th displayed a very pleasant sight in Christchurch. Several of tho principal stores were well illuminated, some "with variegated lamps, which awoke remembrances of Vauxhall and Cremorne. But the butchers' shops wore the sight, of the evening ; and indeed it is not saying too much to assert that tho show of beef, mutton, veal, and lamb woidd have been creditable in any grazing country. Messrs. Cokcr and Ell had the largest show, but to onr mind Messrs. Hart and Lodge achieved a more picturesque effect. .Esthetics apply even to decorating a butcher's shop on a Christmas Eve as well as to building a cathedral; and Messrs. Hart and Lodge went in for general effect, whilst the rival firm relied more upon inspection in detail. Mr. Cook suffered from having his abode at a windy corner, where his lights were blown out, but the " interior " was ns pleasant a piece of " still life" as a judge of meats would wish to see. Messrs. Hart and Lodge displayed some very prime beef, weighing about 8501b5., which had been fattened on native grasses on Mr. Creyke's run near the mouth of the Rakaia. His mutton was also excellent, consisting of some very fine Merino wethers, grazed by Mr. Marshall, overseer to Mr. Milne, of the Lower Lincoln Road, and attaining nn average of 801bs. They hnd been fattened on Ei*elish grasses. Messrs. Cokcr and Ell's meat had been fattened principally on the Riccarton paddocks. We observed one half-bred Southdown wether, two-toothed, weighing 901bs. Two half-bred Southdown lambs, aged four months, weighing 551bs. and 521bs. Two half-bred Cotswold lambs aged four months, weighing 551bs. each, and a merino wether four-tooth sheep weighing lOllbs. Amongst his beef was a maiden heifer from Mrs. Dean's, weighing 9751b5. Mr. Cook showed a magnificent carcass, Leicester, we believe, from the flock of A. R. Creyke, Esq., which weighed 130-bs., and some very fine lambs and excellent beef from the same farm. Cubist's College.—-Reginald Brpughton, Esq., M.A., of Baliiol College, Oxford, and at present Principal of Nelson College, has been elected Head Master of Christ's College Grammar School, the appointment to commence from the Ist o July next.