THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 153, 27 December 1898, Page 5

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

The weather in Wellington during the holidays was far from, pleasant. On Christmas Day half a, gdle of wind from the north-west was blowing, and as the watering-carts were not about, the streets on and in the vicinity of the reclaimed land were,, continually swept by duststorms. About 9 o'clock yesterday morning rain began to fall, and there were frequent showers until late in the afternoon. This change in the weather prevented thousands of people from spending the day in tbe open-air. Those who did venture out of doors found things decidedly unpleasant, and the majority were glad to j return to their homes. The weather last night was^fine- overhead, bufc the wind still j blew as strongly as ever, a circumstance, however, which did not deter people from promenading the streets and crowding the theatres. Despite the state of the weather, there was a large gathering at the Catholic i icnic, held at the Rev. Father Lane's grounds, Lower Hutt, yesterday. Ahout 9 o'clock it was thought a pleasant day's outing was possible, but shortly afterwards came a steady downpour, bringing ruin to many summery costumes and depression to many joyous spirits. An excellent pjogramme had been prepared for the o< casion, but as the rain, when it once started, showed no signs of ceasing the picnic i^as abandoned. Some recompense, bow3cjr, was provided, the Oddfellows' Hall l-p;rg secured by the promoters of the ou~ ; ng, and here songs, recitations, etc., wer<given, and dancing was indulged in, and generally a very pleasant time was c^nt. Jupp's Band greatly enlivened the proceedings.