CHRISTMAS DAY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 2011, 26 December 1863, Page 3

CHRISTMAS DAY.

If there was not plenty of merry-making yesterday, it was not from w ant of fine weather. A bright sunny day with one or two harmless showers, just enough to remind one of what Auckland weather might be, gladdened the hearts of excurtionists and put a joyous face upon everything. The waters of our fine harbour were, as if in honour of the occasion, lulled into repose, hardly a ripple disturbing their glassy surface, save now and again when a gentle wind passed over it. The ships in harbour were gaily dressed with evergreens and bunting of all colours ; and there was such a profusion of the former on the favourite trader, the ' Kate,' that she looked as if she were just off the stocks, and in birthday attire. Wo need hardly say that with such favourable opportunities for water excursions as our harbour presents, a large number of pleasure seekers availed themselves of this kind of amusement. That pleasant retreat over tho water, the North Shore, served to attract many who either picniced on the beach or wended their way to the romantic borders of the Lake. Sailing boats mored sluggishly along the TVaitemata, carrying snug little parties ; and now and again as the breeze freshened up, they skudded along with their sails brightening in the sunlight, and giving the harbour an exceedingly pretty appearance. The Electric Eel, that phenomenon amongst steam-vessels peculiar to our port did good service in plying between the wharf and the North Shore ; and those who desired a more extensive cruise went in cargo boats large and small, some of which did not return until day had departed. A sail on the water by moonlight on a fine summer's ni^ht is to some a treat that cannot in their estimation be surpassed ; and there appeared to be a few who were determined to enjoy that luxury, for they did not steer their barques for home until late in the day. Those who desired to enjoy themselves en masse, took tickets for an excursion trip in the favourite A.I. clipper brigantine, whose name is celebrated in song— the 'Mary Ann/— and succeeded apparently in spending a pleasant day. In the cool of evening, numbers of persons pronSfnaded tho Queen-street wharf, who weflf enabled thereby to get a good view of the fireworks which wero let off from the 'Helvellyn' and the ' Ida Zeigler.' But while there were so many who diverted themselves on * tho water, there were »ot a few who preferred the qnieter attractions of home, and talked and laughed over their Christmas dinner j and won*

dcved if every ono eke was as happy and comforfcablo as they were. A walk after dinner was of corn-so the order of the day, and the Domain, that lvtble paradise in the greenw ood, with its shady winding walks, attracted numbers of visitors/ There were plenty of pic-nics, too, to various rural spots about Auckland; and indeed all seemed to heartily enjoy themsolves, and to forgot for the time that there was such a thing as a Maori rebellion in the land. As this day will also, we bolieve, be generally observed as a holiday, we may expect, if tho weather continues fine, to see a large portion of the citizens on the move, either to the North Shore or to some other of those places which excursionists ai"e so skilful in finding out.