CHRISTMAS CHEER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4294, 24 December 1874, Page 2

CHRISTMAS CHEER.

The customary display of “ Christmas cheer” by the tradesmen of the city was more than usually attractive yesterday; the butchers, who usually take the lead in these matters, making a display which has not been equalled heretofore. Mr. Gear and the Messrs. Barber were of course the chief exhibitors, and of the two Mr. Gear carried away the palm by general accord. Crowds of perspns thronged the beach during the evening for the purpose of making comparisons; and as a matter of course Mr. Gear’s fine display did not fail to excite a great amount of admiration. He had been fortunate enough to secure nearly all the fat cattle and sheep which took prizes at the Wairarapa Show, amongst them being a gigantic bullock bred by Messrs. Beetham, which weighed 15001bs, There were also two other, fat bullocks, bred by the Messrs. Beetham, and weighing 14001bs. each, which helped to make the display the finest that has ever been seen in the city. There were also two heifers from Mr. Bowes’ station, Te Ore Ore, which took the second prize at the Wairarapa Show, and a fat bullock from Mr. McMaster’s station. These were cut up into sides, and quarters, but even these did not make the show complete, for in addition there were six bullocks from Mr. Bid well’s station and four more from Mr. Riddiford’s, four other fine beasts making up the finest exhibition of meat ever seen in the city. Two well-bred calves from Mr. Grace, Wainuiomata, two from Mr. Kelly, Ohariu, and two more from Mr. Gillet, completed the array in this department. Then came 25 Romney Marsh lambs, from Mr. Whitehouse, of Porirua, a really splendid lot, one sheep—lßo lbs. weight—being specially fine. There were also 30 Merino lambs, from Mr. James Knight, of the Hutt, and 12 Romney Marsh lambs, from Mr.' Bxiick, of the Hutt. The next interesting objects were the 20 fat sheep, bred by Mr. McMaster, which took the first prize for fat sheep at the Wairarapa Show, and little inferior to these were 20 others from the station of Messrs. Beetham. The general effect created by this display was very fine, and it was well finished by a lot of poultry and suckers got up in all the artistry of the small-goodsman. Messrs. Barber were little behind them formidable rival in the butchery line. Their shop in Willis-street contained another of those ponderous masses of beef, in the production of which the Wairarapa is celebrated, the animal in this instance being from the station of Mr. J. P. Russell, of the Lower Valley, which weighed 14001bs. There was also on show a fine heifer, weighing lOOOlbs., and four very fine bullocks from Mr. Bidwell’s station. Ranged round these monsters were a large number of lambs, from Mr. James Knight, of the Hutt, and Messrs. Yule and Donald, of the Wairarapa, all of which were rolling in fat. The calves were from Mr. Walls, of Porirua, and Mr. McLeary, of Makara ; and though the display was less remarkable than that of Mr. Gear’s establishment, it was not less tastily arranged, or less creditable as a whole. Messrs. Pollock and Young were, of course, behind the older butchers, having just started in business, but Mr. Pollock’s handiwork was nevertheless observable in the tasteful manner in which the firm’s very creditable display of meat of all kinds was shown. Messrs. Sweeney and Richardson, of Ade-laide-road and Tory-street, though somewhat out of the way, made a very fine display. They exhibited twenty lambs bred by Mr. D. Riddiford, which were very fine. The sheep, also, were very fine. Among them were twenty from the station of the late Mr. Jas. McManaman. Live fine carcases of beef were exhibited, the animals have been bred on the station of Messrs. Riddiford and Son, Terawiti. Ten fine Berkshire pigs were displayed —all fit for Sinithfield. Pour fine calves, really beautiful carcases, fat, and first-class, from the Upper Hutt, were shown. Of poultry there was a large variety; and the display altogether was one of which Te Aro might be proud. Mr. Barlow and Mr. Bell, greengrocers and fruiterex’S, vied ■with each other for supremacy in their respective branches of business, a profusions of evergreens and flowers assisting to complete the attractions of their respective establishments. In Thordon and Te Aro the season was everywhere proclaimed by the display of the tradespeople in each locality, the mottoes “Welcome,” and “A Merry Christmas,” meeting the eye in every direction. The crowds of people perambulated the town till a very late hour, the butchers’ shops remaining open all night, as the Knights of the Cleaver expressed it, “ to xnake an early start in the morning."