THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9735, 25 May 1897, Page 5

THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY.

Beautifully fine weather ushered ia the Queen's Birthday holiday yesterday, and all the events commemorative of the day were largely attended. The "Volunteers were early astir, and having repulsed the enemy who dared to attack the fair city of Christchurch with apparently great loss on the red Sold of battle at Chaney's corner, returned triumphantly to town. The votaries !"of trotting mustered in great force at the Show Grounds, where a very pleasant and enjoyable meeting of the Canterbury i Trotting Clnb vras held. The attendance was large, the racing good, and what constitutes pretty nearly a record as regards trotting, there were no protests, J At Lancaster Park the Sports Committee of the Hawke'a Say Relief Fund had a large gathering of visitors. The various events on the programme were gone through in good time and to the satisfaction of the onlookers. The trim >to New Brighton and to Sumnec wara .crowded all day, the pleasant sunshiny, weather making a stroll by the seaside most inviting. All the tram 3 were loaded with pleaaure-soekers. The other outdoor trips, such as picnics, cycling excursions, &c, we're largely patronised, and the day passed off exceedingly well, the pleasure of the holiday, however, being somewhat marred by a serious accideut occurring at Taylors Mistake. It is satiafaotory to be able to record as a mark of the care and vigilance exercised by the guards on the tramways that, though a very large number of persons were carried over all the J lines, not the slightest accident or mishap occurred. In the evening the Lyceum Comedy Company commenced their season at the i Theatre Royal, and had a boliday house. The Opera House looked very gay indeed on the occasion of the social under the auspices of the Knterfcainuient Committee of the Hawke's Bay Relief Fond. There-was a. very large attendance, both of spectators and dances. The eoncerfc programme was gone through very successfully. J?he floor for the dancing was in excellent order, Mr Broekett's band played well, and Mr L. J. j Smith catered successfully. The officers of the Norfch Canterbury Volunteers loyally celebrated the Queen's Birthday by a mess dinner at Warner's Hotel, Those hard-worked and insufficiently I appreciated public servants, the Postal and I Telegraph officers, had a well-deserved holiday, and a pleasant social at St. John's Schoolroom, which passed off excellently. AT LYTTELTON. The exceptionally fine weather yesterday induced a great many persona •to visit Lyttelton, while on the other hand numbers of Port residents went up to Christohurch. Corsair Bay and the other spots of interest around the harbour were crowded with picnicera. The launches Canterbury and Waiwera took numbers of people to Governor's Bay, and the steamer John Anderson ran excursion trips to Diamond Harbour. An excursion trip to Pigeon Bay was well patronised. Most of the vessels in porfe made a good display of bunting. AT kUIAPOI. At Kaiapoi yesterday morning, which was keenly cold, with ice on the water butts, there was an early bub poor muster of the volunteers, a score of whom turned out to assist thirty-three from Raneiora to take part in the sham battle of Irishman's Flat. The'mimic engagement was soon over, and at 1 p.m. the volunteers returned. In the meanwhile the Kaiapoi Rifles, it was understood, had evaded the Christchuroh defence force and were gaily marching on to Belfast when the bugle went for the armistice. There was .quite a number of bicyclist visitors during the . day, as well as several laden vehicles with visitors to the sea beach. In the evening a dance was held in honour of the Queen by the members of the Brass Band, and there, was a large gathering , in the drill hall, which was very nicely, arranged as a ball room. . . AT RANGIORA. The Queen's Birthday was observed in Rangiora by all the places of business being closed, but there,,weif9 faw publio sports> a football match on the Recreation Ground and a tennis match on the Rangiora Club's courts being the only ones. ASHBURTON. The Queen's Birthday at Aehburton yesterday was observed as a close holiday, and the lovely weather which prevailed was taken full advantage of by large numbers of pleasure seekers. Some took advantage of the excursion to Timaru, many attended-the Tinwald sports, while others went to witness the tennis match between Ashburton and Christchuroh, and also the football match, between Ashburton and a Christchurch team. TIMARU. There was beautiful weather for the holiday, which passed off very quietly, no amusements being provided. The Volunteers paraded as usual for the Royal salute, and the C Battery afterwards had shot and shell practice. At the annual sports at Winchester, J. Hall won the one mile and the three miles bicycle races, and Graham the two miles. The prizes for the other events were well distributed. The sports wound up with a football match, in which Waihi scored 13 arid Colonials 4. (PBBSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) AUCKLAND, May 24, There was Queen's weather for her Majesty's birthday!: The Volunteers fired a fexi de joie in the Domain. H.M.S. Pylades and ..Goldfinch were dressed with bunting, and the former fired a salute of twenty-one guns. ■ • . *'■..■'■■■- .;'-■,■■• '■■ WELLINGTON, May 24. The weather was fine but it was wet under foot. The Acting-Gopernor held a levee and, after the Volunteers had spent the morning in a sham fight at Karori, reviewed them'on the reclamation. Nearly 300 men turned out and several thousand people witnessed the review. DUNEDIN, May 24. Splendid weather was experienced for the holiday, the day being bright and warm. The B Battery fired a salute in the morning, and afterwards the Volunteer corps of the city paraded and'held a ceremonial parade, during which a feu de jaie was fired. \ There were no special attractions beyond the races and football.