THE HOLIDAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 879, 4 January 1889, Page 24

THE HOLIDAY.

Favoured with weather as near perfect as could be desired, our citizens had a grand opportunity on Tuesday of enjoying themselves to their heart’s content. From an early hour streams of pleasure-seekers Hined the roads leading out of the city to the rural retreats usually patronised at this season of the year. The early trains on both lines were well patronised, while coaches and other conveyances took out large numbers of excursionists to various places. The Hibernian. Society had a delightful day at Somes Island, the Salvationists enjoyed themselves at Crofton, the \Vesleyans mado life pleasant in some convenient paddocks near Pitone, and the Orangemen had a convivial time at the Hubt. The principal attraction in town was the Caledonian gathering at the Basin Reserve, which drew a large attendance. Island Bay was well patronised, wagonettes and cars taking out agoodly number. Kilbirnie and the shores of Evans Bay were lined with happy picnickers in all directions. Newtown Park and the Botanical Gardens were the resort of large numbers who preferred a quiet resting place to the more excited bustle of the ordinary holiday -makers. The town during the day was deserted and almost a silent city. In the evening the Opera House and Theatre were well patronised, and fche streets were crowded with returning pleasure-takers. It is to the credit of Wellington to state that, notwithstanding the festive season of the advent of a new year, when most men’s minds are of a liberal nature, and the incidental thirst created by a subtropical day, our police cells were empty, and not a solitary drunk had made himself obnoxious in the public streets. The Fire Brigade’s annual ball in the Drillshed was a great attraction, and in the early hours of this morning the merry trip of the dancers’ feet to the dulcet tones of a favourite waltz or gallop made music in fche stillness of the early summer morn.