THE HOLIDAYS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 13948, 3 January 1906, Page 7

THE HOLIDAYS.

To-day commences the serious business of the new year in grim earnest. Y esterday many shops and offices were shut, but this morning, with very few exceptions, they will be open, and the hives of industry will resume their wonted humming. A handful of privileged persons will be able to postpone their dip into the cold bath of routine duty, but the mighty army of workers will be engaged in the battle of bread-winning to-day. Yesterday morning the sky was flecked with lazy summer clouds, and there was just enough sunshine to make life out of doors very agreeable. Consequently, the persons with leisure time turned their faces to the sea and the hills, and the trams had a busy morning in taking picnickers to Sumner, New Brighton and Cashmere. Plumpton Park, with trotting as an attraction, was also a rallying ground for a good number of people. Just when, the. holi-day-makers had removed themselves far from home, the weather had a spasm of viciousness, and had varying kinds of relapses before night closed in. LYTTELTON. Lyttelton observed a partial holiday yesterday. Some offices and shops were closed all day and others during the afternoon. The proprietors of the various “side shows” erected for the amusement of the New Year’s Day holiday-makers -were engaged in folding up their tents, and the street-cleaners had some work to do in removing orange peel and paper bags from the principal thoroughfares. New Year’s Day was observed as a close holiday at Kaiapoi. Impromptu sports were held on the beach, the events being well contested. Tho programme included a baby show*. [Per Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, January 2. The weather could not have been woi®o for holiday-making than it was to-day. From daybreak a strong, bitterly cold wind blew-, with fierce squalls of rain and hail. -Most of the Bluff regatta events were abandoned, and many of these who went down by train retained their seats and returned.