ST. ANDREW'S DAY AT THE THAMES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4766, 3 December 1872, Page 3

ST. ANDREW'S DAY AT THE THAMES.

As I intimated to you on Saturday, close holiday-keeping was the orderof the day here : very few shops of any kind were opened, ■whilst the Banks and chief places of business looked as if they were hermetically sealed. Even the sharebrokers — who never seem tired of work — succumbed to the influence of the day, and, after a few futile attempts to do a litcle business, closed their offices at noon, and retired in disgust. The early part of the day was, however, anything but in favour of holiday-keeping, for at about 8 o'clock a fresh westerly breeze set in, with drizzling rain, and between that time and 10 o'clock some smart showers fell. These seemed to exhaust Jupiter Pluvius's available stock of water, for, after a short struggle, the sun dispersed the heavy clouds which draped him, and then shone forth with a splendour that gave sure promise of a fine day. This auspicious change was soon attended by cheerful effects. Groups of pleasure-seekers, with faces turned Tararuwards, made their appearance, together with the Volunteer Band, which had been engaged by the Sir Walter Scott Masonic Lodge to play at the pic-nic which was to be aeld by it and as many other Masons as chose to attend at the Elysium Gardens. Special provision for the conveyance of the excursionists was made by the Grahamstown and Tararu Railway Company, and at about halfpast eleven the final train, loaded with passengers and the band, started. The 'buses were also well patronised — indeed both 'buses and railway did a thriving business all day. There was a very numerous assemblage in the gardens, which, after the growing weather that has prevailed of late, looked charming. — [Correspondent.]