THE HOLIDAYS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4295, 25 December 1874, Page 2

THE HOLIDAYS.

There will bo no lack of amusement during the holidays, which will be kept up till Monday next by several of the public bodies of the city. As usual there are marine excursions, athletic sports, cricket matches, picnics, bazaars, balls, soirees, and theatrical entertainments provided, so that the public will have no cause to complain of the dearth of amusement. The Foresters’ Sports will no doubt attract the greater number of the holiday makers to the Basin Reserve. This meeting of athletic celebrities is becoming year by year a more formidable rival to the Caledonian Gathering. The Foresters, in fact, deserve a great deal of credit for their efforts to improve the running standard, and to induce athletes of promise to come forward. Indeed, from the progress made by the committee of the Order, in improving the character of these meetings, there seems little doubt that in a few years the Boxing Day Fete will lead the Caledonian Gathering, simply from the reason that the Foresters go about their business in the proper manner to encourage running men to contend. It is true the prizes are still very small, but the committee will no doubt see that it will be to their interest to increase the amounts for next year. As it is, the prizes offered have produced very good fields, and some close contests are looked forward to. The Veteran Band has been engaged, and a grand procession of Foresters, headed by the Veteran Band, will leave the District Chambers, Miller’s Commercial Hotel, at 10 a.m. to-morrow. The sports will commence at eleven sharp. The Odd Fellows also give their annual excursion to-morrow, this time to Somes Island. The s.s. Stormbird and Napier will run during the day, leaving the Queen’s Wharf at 9 a.m. 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Fares to the island and back will be 35., children being taken at half-price. Mr. P. Donecker will provide refreshments at moderate prices, and an efficient band will accompany each steamer. By the kind permission of Captain Pearce, the Artillery Band will play dance music during the day on the island ; and a very pleasant day’s enjoyment is sure to be had should the weather not upset the welllaid schemes of the managing committee. The Star Cricket Club and the Pauhautanui Club play a match at Pahautauui to-morrow, the town forces consisting of the following players : —Howard, Bishop, Inman, Edmunds, Webb, Mace, Mason, Turner, Russell, Salmon, and Lockett ; emergency, Macdonald ; umpire, Mr. Gouge ; scorer, Mr. Corliss. A bus will leave the Royal Hotel in the morning at six o’clock sharp. The AVesleyans at the Lower Hutt hold a bazaar on Boxing-day, at which a Christmas-tree exhibition will take place ; and at the Upper Hutt the Catholics hold a bazaar and picnic, at which there will be sports and liberal prizes. Visitors from AVellington and the Hutt will be conveyed from Father McCaughey’s house at a moderate charge. On Monday, the N. Z. S. S. Company provide an excursion trip to Queen Charlotte Sound at the unusually low figure of five shillings each. The steamers will leave the Queen’s wharf at nine o’clock sharp, and the Artillery Band has been engaged. The tedium of the run across (if such a thing be possible amongst a lot of excursionists) will be relieved by the cheerful strains of the musicians, who are, of course, never seasick. In accordance with a suggestion, the company have arranged that the steamers shall call at Picton, and remain there for a few hours, during theexcursiouto Queen Charlotte Sound. The members of the Central A'oluuteer Fire Brigade have arranged a grand pic-nic, to be held at the Hutt on Monday, so that the wives and children of members may share the enjoyments of the usual annual celebration, which ordinarily takes the form of a dinner. The arrangement is creditable to the forethought of the committee. These are all the amusements catalogued, but there of course, be many other pio-uics and outings improvised for a day which is pretty sure to be regarded as a general holiday. The managing committee of the Odd Fellows’ Hail have arranged a public soiree for Monday evening. The success of these reunions in former-years is sure to result in a large attendance at the soiree of Monday evening. The management of the Theatre Royal have prepared special bills for Boxing-night and Monday night also. These likewise are sure to be liberally patronised.