BOXING DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4847, 27 December 1902, Page 5

BOXING DAY.

YESTERDAY’S HOLIDAY IN WELLINGTON. Tho public generally had ono desire yesterday—to get away from town. Consequently tho transport from the city to every favcfirito resort was taxed to tho utmost. As for getting away from the madding crowd, that was quite out of the question, for the crowd was striving all day to got away from itself.. Every artery of traffic became congested, and it only remained for those who sought peace and quiet to descend to tho transport methods of Adam and find their own individual Eden, according to taste. The weather threatened in the morning, and a heavy shower clinched tho wavering doubts of many pleasuro-soekers, and decided them to remain at homo. As a result, tho traffic on the railways and boats was not so heavy as it would otherwise have been. The postponement of tho Catholic picnic at the Hutt was a direct result of tho early rain, and this alone reduced the booking nj at least two thousand fares. As it was, the To Aro and Wellington stations issued over 3000 tickets, so it is safe to assume that with, good weather 6000 people would havo taken train. On tho Manawatn lino the booking, principally for Porirua (whore sports wore bold) and the seaside resorts of PUmraerton and Paikaloiriki, was equally heavy. A number of people also journeyed to tho races at Palmerston, and others went over the Rimntaka to Martinborough.

Tho transport by water was as brisk as usual, every trip to tho seaside resorts of Day’s Bay, Scatoun, Karaka Bay and Miramar being taken by hundreds of excursionists. The weather at these spots was particularly pleasant, and an enjoyable day was passed at each. Tho Rotomahana and the Zealandia ran the usual excursion to Picton, and each took several hundreds of city people to enjoy tho beauty of Charlotte Sound and its surroundings. The attendance at tho Nolson-Wel-lington cricket match suffered somewhat from the general desire to got away from the city. THE HOLIDAY ELSEWHERE. PRESS ASSOCIATION. (Received December 26, 9.22 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 26. Tho weather was fine in all the States to-day. NAPIER, December 26. Tho holidays passed off very quietly.. The weather to-day was fine, and numbers of people went on short excursions into the country. Tho city hand’s sports at Famdon Park attracted a large attendance. Tho principal event, the City Handicap, was won by A. Walker, a local runner. NELSON, December 26. There was a heavy shower at 7 a.m., but the day turned ont beautifully fine. Athletic sports at Wakefield and a regatta at tho port attracted many holiday makers. . There was a larger number of visitors in town than usual. OAHARU, December 26. The cycling and amateur spyrts here had to he postponed on account of heavy rain. The meeting is now fixed for Good Friday. DUNEDIN, December 26. The weather was very boisterous this morning, "with a heavy downpour of rain, but it cleared up beautifully in the afternoon. Tho rain, however, had seriously, interfered with- tho holiday arrangements. and various fixtures were not so well patronised as anticipated. An interprovincial cricket match at Oarishroek,' a military tournament (at which volunteers from Wellington and southwards competed) at tho Caledonian grounds, races at Wingatui, a regatta at Port Chalmers, and sports in many country districts gave a wide choice to holidaymakers. INVERCARGILL, December 26. The weather has been superb. Sports gatherings to-day were well attended, and pleasure resorts eagerly sought