THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLI, Issue 1, 2 January 1906, Page 2

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

NEW YEAR'S- EVE' AND PAY

Tho o!d year— l9os— was, ushared out of oxibtence, and 190p vas welcoiiutd with tile usual »la.tchnight services, festivities, 'visiting', anJ faimily gatherings ; Out Rowingto tho last day -ot Dc-coinher ifailing on Sunday, Saturday evening was in rtialitjl treated as Ntwjj^ear's JEve. Thi strests of the city were crowded till a late hour, aria tha shops appuaiwl to ;lo uV.mg a good (business— thei hotels esDeraally <*riving a roaring trade. Early, -in the evenilag', in .thecrowded streets, th« ujmost good' humour anii order prevailed on Saturday, But towards mjMiAtjht saaxo rojjvjdiiisss was axhibited, aid the senseless pnanks oi removing ya/tegj , e * c -> were playeti(, l -in various localities. Some drunken hjoolijgians broke a. windoTW "of the '■''Mail" o-flicb, pro-baJa-jry with a walking stick,) and other dlanwtge is reported. Jjt w o uld te well for the police to Jupie an example of some of these? offending .gentry. The wea&er on Saturdayrovening waa unplda^aintly close indoors ; but am und-Sly prolonged soutih-westerly (blow \ nkudo outdoor exercise cool, i' dusty. Tho indications to ts£ observant were that a change :-jyp rain was not i)ar off, and these" pations wiero realised last -.Bight |.wnd this morning, But $ho «leinents were accomnipda'tinij enough to vouchsafe a fine; even if warm and windy, day kf° r the New Year holiday. The jmly fixture was the sports meeting at Richmond, which attracted* a largo crowd ; but innumerable picnics at iiariou9 resorts were largely attended, and altogether the day was enjoyed by one and all. Towards evening heavy clouds canne up, and a change of wind portetnried rain, which began to fall?' about midmright.