THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11307, 28 December 1898, Page 3

THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

PUBLiaiNSTIiUTIONS,

•: .'". "Cforiatmas .Day ;at the .hospital was iriado as ■ lar as ;Po'ssiWa a day :ofj'enjpyinent;,.for i . the : "■■ pftiienti^-/: The? usualv.Christmas .diimea:...Tffaa; .. .'.. eeWed'in.the differentiwards.-a-n'd.'.afterwards. ' the "wile ":patienVs^,whoMndulged:''in. the Weed;. ..". •werb' allowed jthe'luxtiry^ of al' cigar."•'•'■ In the; ' children'B;,^ard there'.was''a .laige* Christmas' tree,' and.the ".children ', were^a!! rpresented'' jvith,; ':•'.. toys, therefrom; * Among.;thosei who partook:■ of • . 'dinner-;-'-at :,the^. i,-wcre,.Messrs P.. Miller, J.'. N. Brown, and J. Robin .(represent-, ,; ing .tho,Hospital,Trustees) asai)rS'Clbsß-iuid' M'^h'erson. (representing ith'e honorary medical •■" sta'fE). .': >' "Mr! J." A..: Tprrance, Drs ~liOgari;: and; - .Brown (house'surgeons), .and Mr gurus',(set-re--tary):;wa"v also present. .-.Between .2 and; 4 -.. ' o'clock:in,ihe At ternooriLthe waijds'werethrown , open"' {o'.thb"' geriir'al'. public','-arid''during the' whole" pf..that tiinethe institufaon-was'thronged .- '; with; visitors;. '■ ,f ."."-".1;.*- , :'■ '■'■[■['.' ' ""': '' '■■-";> ■ TheIcnildren at the'lndustrial. School1 were •;': provided witK-.ieal- Christmas .fare-on Christ-• ■■' .' rrias Day/ and it.:'is;needless'Ho"say; they, enjdyedv it'"thoroughly.I. ;:-As-i'Christmas Kfell'on' . . Sunday the?day^was spent-in' a quieter' manner; than'is usually':,th<et'-'case'iafter Ac.' Christmas. ■ dinner :-i'.''';-'.'""-,V."..v;i.':^. ,-:v",'; ■■ ~(„■,■' ■<.■.,■.,&'.', ;• Thecan-matesybfjfthelißqiievbleiit ilnstitution,.- ---' numbering about!lßQ.:males.?<andy>4oj,femalos,, '. . sat'down to a 1 sumptuous ■Christmas-dinner in .. ■.- the large .dining';ro6ms,. : which, i were jtastejully .. . decoratedjfpri.the' occasion; /.while those' in ;the .'. -hospital wards, were!wetl to.' Dbna- . ''tions wore received frbiri"Messrs"'Speight, Joel, -...- i and,M'(3avin of :a..barrel of'beer ■each,; and. from . ' the Brewery. JJnion-'a -case of , sauce. In the 1 '..': ■way-o£!readin'g!!n*&tter;;'tlie Oiago'-Dairy'l'imes . . sent'.;!^, copies bfvthe'Cji'nstinas numbe*. Mr •'•: •.. A. Solomon (chairman)-: intended to have_ been ; '. present 'at the'] dinner,; out .was.urifbrtuiiafely- : ''■, prevehted'''fcnrqugh;illriess7'jMr!R;:^Watson(tae. V ' trca'aurerj^attenaed'.iandiaddressed a-.few,kind- ...'.'■, wotds._to. tße"inmates. A :. jHe said ■ the: trustees, ■ -..'. :; tried .to, dq;'therr 'Jbest for th;e ;.ratdpayera;. and. ■;.-.., fo^the^'inatitiition—both^ inside; and'-bui,! —-ai-' •'*■'". . taougn"at times their.duti'es'-wereiiot-plea'Eaii-t. The' Chief-aim olth'einstitution" Was ;tbsjnooth tho-'wayfof'the pld^atid-siclc'and less 'fortunate.' - The,' trustees /Were :exceedingly' pleased: -with "Mr.' .: ;'.. and-Mis'MeeVj'and'ho.'paid a.high compliment- ,.. to ithem-'onI,their successful! management of the-iinatitution/-;'.There .were.church services -:» • held'mbrhing\and.Jeyening. ,The grounds, anil '-.' garden, which;are,always/rucelyikept, are look-- ."■: ' ingitlieirs.best-aibtmV.season;of the • year, and " Jires'ent: a-^neitfj^cheerful ~,appearance..!.:..-The"- --"; ; ' wards-ehaye been;-thoroughly .cleaned' and''reno-. .•■'-.'■.- vated/.and the : hospital b wards painted,.the work ■■.•■•" being/done by.the:inmates iiua very..creditable, ■■■'•:■ '.'riumcjv; ; The. xind; v dormitories; -.'.'■. throughout present a scrupulously clean! ap- '. ..pbarance.;-At, present., there jure- 287 .inmates. ..'. ' . injtiie\tiahti)\ioti\f*^: .1,. : 'v'.'-.^'W,'.".'",,' .';'.''. ''" ';!' '■'.: ;;.^l-iS'S^^HCH'SEOTiQ^'v4/";;'^'.' .;■ . ;: ■-;••,■*; &»;i^auVa'..Catheaxal.'was'.tastefully^.:but- not ..'; :piofusely. Ja6corated:!fbr^the'.C!hnstmas:ifestivali; . ' ■■' Tho .;?eai'ly>-celebrations' of;.holy, commuliibn.'i ' whicHicpminenced at 6Va.m.jiwereweJl attended,. , : ; 'and-jthcie^wag. a;iarge.congregation at-theimid-., '■.'.•'.^^day£seryioe"j>,.wheni.thi'. bishop 'preacfyedi .':' ■ ■muj^e l^hipnKwas\sricipallv^jaiier;B,' ;. yas. ,'.■'' carefully^andreverently. Bung, s and..the^." Ade'ste,, i V fideles'"' and-.-Mendflssohn'^^Hari, Ithie "lierajd' •- ;.> angels. sing.'''iiiWere'''T*qlqbmc4". asi.old'-friends." ":"• :] ■■ Th^Ca^h^ra^^a^: tKiongea;,.to^ihe; (itioi^-fii. ■:.. j■' ;". BVensbngJii"iriany:' being, unaTiie ;tp' ;finci; ;'seats.\ ;' ■ A.rchdeacoh^^^Rp'binsoht;g!rea:chedl.a''short:serm'on' ,'; ' '■■ ';,■' od\He §i'&i'taiii'6 f•Christmas as,expressed in the' :'-';'■: '■';.*<^-\i'vßimraHi]c^Vf;toter''''ereri'|jong'v'';'*s6v'e«il' :-'■■: .'•:'.'. ;■. carolsfwefe;s'uiig.'b^the 'chbir,tind-the congrel ':; ! gatipn^who ivere'supplied ivith'.the'words; were-; . .;■ ablejto*»ftillow?them intelligently, and to join in •"•"■;; :r. the,"Binging.i''i->The's6lbVyerse"s Were sung.-by.-Mr: ■ ■'■;: :Bran'son;S;;!Mr;,1': ■Watheni'i.iiMr.i'-'Knox,".; and ;." '-.'VMastef..Einest.iJeUlefoTd. . The carols,were ; pre-i '•;--■ ■; ce'dedii by« ■ Gbunpd! iiiiO, Divine > > Redeemer,'' . '~'.' f :sung by,Mrs'W; Manson with beautiful pathos. :; ' : :;"and';poweTj>AMT-^-KiTaylpr-sivpluntariesrih-- ; / ■■'■;; eluded^: the- Pastoral symphony -from! "V-The Mes : " i'■''.; ■; ; siah-,".'an'Vpffertoire',.oii:.jYfb Christmas ..themes'. .'. ■ :.:,': (Gailmarit^fand iitocata. in- &".(Dub'ois),;p"lay.ed. ~ ';^/ii>hislusjial,.mastoly:niahnfervijThe total num- ■" \ \ jber.'bf .cbminunaca9t|,'diiririg'*the day.'was'.2ll.'" ". ;,'.-V.T)ie,'^ishpp\annbtocea tat the' morning.service ■J ■::thaV I the;'d.pnatio'ns tbj^i.e'se'e'house" fund from: . '■■--' .the?Cathedralß.¥qrshipp'ers'. 'district fanibunted ■.',;" to';'is4l:.'He lalßb;:'f6r)nallT.;;.!torjsssed'-liiß''aci'' ':^'V'-;^cep''lTOCI'e*b'fi'a^iWaltari'gjyen'7by,'linembers:'d£:' '-" '■)■■ the'Cbmrrmmciiiits'' Guildjiand other;ofieririgs/ ; ;! ■.\-.-/.-\^-A# i AU-?Saffitsyctiiroifr''i:bn:.-.GhTistinas.'X)ay' >V.v \thefe;wefe»c*elebi.-atibns ofMherholy/comihußion . :'. ':'■' '/three'timesfduririgHhe'-rnorriing.^A-ii'.the;:-11- ---' I-1'- ,::''o'qlo'ckiFs'eryice'liymn* 61' was.l'sung''a3.a'.^roces- -.'' ■.^sibnal^n^mhi'iiidt;". liilthebeginning.was-.the... -h.'.:.; -.,'W'prd:".';(AIllen) v ;i?;&i.th«.;anthem, ;Mr,,Hopcraft, "'"''■■ .'":' taking V:the";.ten'oiI'ao!b.,'.'-In -the;, afternoon /the- : :>SeViSJ.'VA.rtM'NiPkle:,'-conducted > .a.- service, for. 1 ; -cliildrenVi'ln'thefevenin'g.'among.other, musical. '.:". .', - 'items;'.; thejfollowing- carols .-were. s.ung: 77", The -I ■-.' ' flpcksr,vfere,;.wrapti;;.'.:"" Glory.,: to .God.ihjth'e : ' ' Highest," ;■ Sing:yS!^^:-So"Ss'-9f praise,';,and. '"■■ •' .;;''.'SleeprHoiy.Babe'"^il)ea.n:.Fit'cliett.'preacßed. ■ "■■ ■'■:' ••'.both'.in<the morning', and 'evening,' arid the'les-! "•: i :■-'.'^^::BpasVwere':read.-byme";Rev;;j: ;AV'M'Kickle. 'r;' ■ jiThejdhurch'was.taifefully def'oratea.and special "<•'" '';v ■cvllecWonaVjrere'.'iaftn'up in'aid'o'f iHe funds 0/' ■ , :' the'pfiteßßv,'"MisV:TT«seder*pre'sided TSat' the'or-' ', ■ I--'- 'gan"during .the' day, 'an'cl flayed 'as' pffertbriums':;'7;;;v^'Nazareth,V.:^d':- : Th^haUeiuiah-:choi;us.^:;^" : I'-,'!;■■'■:..• The' Church hi "Sj. Matthew's was'.very;prettily- : ?:-'; aecofate^bylthß'f'estal'pecoratibn Society.; The; '■^-chie'f'service* H»ere(the:.c6lcbrationß.oiithe.-holy.: '-.■•..' 'i: CQBißiTrnibh1; iiltf:Bpit6-«f jth'e; fact ;thUt;'.sueh ■: ah' ; ■ ';V unusuftlly -'liirge^numb'efcsoj^the-"communicants ,:: /■.'■.'y>ff6i<m)iopt6y(ai'iVo .cbmrDMnicaied'at the,'four. •*■ •'. i'-'ceiebfa'tipnSjjrwhichi'nffereijtaKen alterhatety.Kby :»:\ :.th4;^ca'T/<Rey:;W:- Cfefion-Siggers;i:M.Avvand f- ; "J^tESiOiirWe^Km^ifi.^'eachy.i.^e-.'.Bp'eoiaUy; :'- ':":;,^cpngregatibnal'.Beryicei:,wa's.:thejcnorai cclebra- :^. .ltibhtpfihblytcomnjunibn.«at;ll, iwhich,,,w.aß.!AlerJ,' • VVJ largely fattehdedi':A; Bpebialr./caiol/s'e'rviqe and .\l\'v.overispng';was.held'at.i64o,:,whePrthe I ,chu^ .■-':,':niled:vSThe'-:services, were.veryihearty: i!':-The_, . . V.. -Vchbiri-under.'Mr;'Jjilly,;did in«t pari ; weil.jVMr ~. '■-■•v.-.j-'-'ia^,-:a'c<i'p^paiue^J^oj'sem^'''.'mj^i'excellen». ;V; - ;r.:eie^utioii;, pn.-ithe'^organ; v. Mr^lbDOtsbii's,; kind' '.?,-■ •:: ::hfelp'wasmuci.;a'pprec»tea;.The-'y;icar 'preached ". .-:v. at;.jHie^iffereiit^-serviee^^'At the.'.fe«talXcom-, :•:':■.,'mupion.service:a newfeiiiice yeil,;worked;.and! '■' JvV:r.time^£Th^,jVeil.a^ ;:V\ }":' :allihphea^bf JipintYlac^ iverked :bf : ~iiet."j Altp-; ;' ~'v1!-. 'geth'er;l.there ''is^aboutftJi iree ( ';yards"of !wide,,iace. x'£. ;i..The.tle'siKnis. hier;pvrn;:'aft'd.iß'yery.6haßte.;'!The'■v.;; : 'for'the curate fund X ■•.•' ■.■"',. ;'waSjt^kefiiyesterday, atid- JE73 9s;3diy<a"s";the-re-. :,,;'.~ r Bult.,;r The vicar . t has.. issued the "following note'-:V'.'.,'-,!tb'.the' rJarishtherebnV-V'-'Consideririg'thati'the -'. ' '■ ;V^;fiame.:'giyers':h'ave;:duriEg.'theipasv-three'weelts c:-',:' S glvei;som*"JE4pi.tbitKe.i'fioeftouse. fund,:and.'that- ■.;■■ '^.<^feey';i]are;:i'alßc\Vgr^Bgj-Ts^;;.Iliberally^'and-Vsy.BJ' "*->:-.'.;te.matically,.:<oi.the''debt''extinction'-'fund,'> and: : .:.V:::7.consld.ering'thSt;S6yflral;'Bb's'enteeß:h'ave-not:tliiß' j;^:.'.'.-seai.'.']Bei}t;;-their'^dffralig: : .': befpre:'::th'ey'-:left,-/the ,-:' ;:T«.V^ult}'aHailied;t'th'pugh'npti''meeting" the,,re-: -ft- .quiremetits,'is-.verygood.indeed."'i' ■-;•••■.■ '.-: r; •.':■■■ ;.: j: eP«ntincall'High-:Ma.s.Si'was .fcelebrated- at< St. ;-,': ; J.,.; Jbsoph's-CRthedrat 'oh-'. Christmas -Day. ' Bishop ■;'■'• X: ■■:■ yerdoh:■wais':o)a{fel)'rViiit,! the Rev. Father. Murphy, ':;v^ ; idaconV tth'e^y;;]Jlatiier!<E..p/'O'ponnell sub- -; .'.'■ j ■-■'deacdri,*.- an'd^the'; Rev."'' Father; Yiricent* master. ;■., ':■ • -of eerembnVe's?i'BeethbVen's "Mass in,C" was!----v - •: p'rpdiiced by, the chbiri,and an orchestra,. Tinder; '; ~.',■ theibatpn'ofiMr-'Alber'f.Valliß:' ..The-'solo' parts . .-_■■■■_-■?•,;.Were^taketiby ;Mißs:Blaney. (edpranoJiiMiss.-.-K:■ ; •;.: jßlaney.-i (alto),! ;Mrl Carolin-':(t.enor)/'and :Mi:'J.V. '.;.: *~V7pod,s. (bass), v;Mr.;Oi-iNaumann--«ras 'leaaeri'of' ;...:.::;.'■ :th'o|brcheßtta;:and Jtr'F. Stolces!presided'at the ,■:■".'•'.., organ:. ;The Bishop>.delivered an;..interesting - >;i;djscourse.oh-:tHeSativity'1 of .the'.Lord'A'.JS-f!... • ■■■ ■-'■': J Solemn. High J-Mas's "was celebrated by the) •'.■y..;\ Rev(J:Father,i'Ccffey i'ut :Sfc .Patrick'3-Bassilica, y'■':■'';'■ South Duhedin, oniChrißtmas Day.^Bordese'si ';."' :<:'■■ Mass,was'eurig; tt>fipairts being"'taken by.MrjG. .<■ .'., .: : I^eiliarid3Mr.E...i ißagar.;- Mr. J.'"JW/.;Jagb.sang/ ji / in'p'ffertbry; piece^.while'-Mr Eagar sang a', solo ".';:.' :■ -in'; the ; evening; ;;'Mrs>NeilO -presided . at..the.. .-, ;■'.., ■■^orgai;;!>;3i'f'!'/?/.;S;''':.'j:'''i.'".'.T.:'; h t;,'.■'.,-,■ ;:..,;-'.■■ ; .' ./ ,V\' -Vj'-VThe Salvation;. Army held, special services on. '":■'' ■Christmai'tDay.-toiwelcome Colonel and Mrs ."..;•... V Estill,i'of ,-Newr Souths'TCales.-.'^Colohel' "Estill.is : -■• " ■'. ; I.taking, charge ottthe.Armyi.wdrk'in-,the colony■• ; . I'v.wiHthe:.place;of i ?-Colonel. : Hoskin,.:who, goes-to :'[ -4 ■Australia.-; ■; Colonel 'Estill arrived in; New Zoa-!- ---■ : : :i-■■:' land>oine weeks ago.:! Yesterday jn'orriing he ;'-. :' .left: f.orvlnvercaTgUhi ; j,L:'j:/■■>.'{!-'.■. :■."■.: ■•',■ -•■ '•■"•' ': , ■, VvThe Chnstmas servicesat.St.- ;Peter\s Church,; '.'"•. ).'■• Corgill road, were very well; attended,; and the .-;...: :. decorations:-were--'ehast'e: and,--harmonious-, in ■:■;:■'.: tone, as'white vflowera only were. used. ~The. 8, ".:■ '.■'■: -aim:'celebrati6n):of-holy communion' was taken . . ■:,.-, by'.tlie.yieat; assisted',by-,the.-.Rev..fE. G. Ed-, .;; "wards;'.'at: which-service-'the. nuinberi of com- ; : -inuhictats'^greatly^exceeded anyprevious year.. ;, .-',.--'. At -'the: ll":&';m..rcpmiritimonjtne celebrant: was .:: ■ th'e'Rov.v:E.!G;. Edwards, assisted byitbe,yicar. .' ;. ■'-. -..Insrnediatfely';afterj:evensorigicarols' werer sung ..■; -'■■ : by; thefchdir, an'd-yitylhe- Cathedral/, by,Mr r.F. - ■.-.-■■'■'. '.Q.'VBr.b'ad,i..the' rwhble..congregation-'.-'remaining-: ,;. . -~iin,til.'.the-end-oiUhe';Carol'3,.-which;were excep- : ' tionaUy',well reiidered^aiid reflected great ; credit :; ..'•■ -•-■ /upphSthe"chdiirniister.;(Mrs'W^GAßridgcT).;/: A. -'-'. ■'•• A.pair.rbf-'handspmely-monnted .cut-glass:cruets■ : .w^e"jir.esSntecl;j;o the,'clipir;by.ilrtßridger, and :' .-. 'aJseV'btgiasaVringfl'fop^'the-Dnlpitiicandles.-by.----■-VJlias'A; Siins'6Siinday-Sohool,class,oi The aer-. ',' , :. I TaVus' ( -'were''preachIcd 'by-'the: vicar,; who :an--l '•.-.-.' riouricod -that all seiits 'an the chutch will befree. ' . pri'and.after .New':Yetii'fl';X)By, 1899.T- '■ ■" ;.: '■•■■' ''; -- ' ;-Hb)y. Trrinty,.oAiiglicu:h; Church :at .Port Chal- ■:; .lii^rs was most;tastefully:decorated for Chnst- .;.;- " m'as-'i'A.'.carol'.'serVidejwasiheldi on :;-.': Eye," ■t.W'-officiating'clergynian •beiiigithe'.Rev.. ',■". Mr(Kewlej'^"M;A?.' :•'•■• e'essipnai •' " When shepherds ''watched/','; and: ambrigst other,\'carols:rendered:.byit-he:.choir^as- .'' : . : Bistetl: by/a detachment ,oi,the ? l>prt. ; Clialmera. . Band, •wcre{.:":O;!-Bethlchem, fair/ ;V It .came, ■ : - upon the -midnight, clear,". Harp awake;" ,",0.. ',- Clirißtmas!;- bells,", "The "first...Npwel,",-: and :'':Hark',';th,e lierald,flnge)s.',', Mrs Kennedy was, lieard..tp ■ advantage;in 'the solo'; V.Come unto . :me,'.'i_and Bandmaster■ H'.Connell. played a cor.vet. solo', ," Oral .pro nobis,";, very 'acceptably,' '. while! .the ofJertoritim was given by Miss ;lieea,"! • '.■'■,the'organist'.';.Oii Chrintmas'Day there was'an ; ear'y ; 'celebratibn,bf holy communion at 8 'a.nii The matins'sei;vlct commenced at 11 a.m., and .';■ wia _choraK':ond after midday celebration .the ■ ; : ajith'em.".Peace,oil earth""-was sung. J: At.even-' ' • " . song -the' a-htHem " Let us" now go; even unto* ■:; Bethlehem" -was'sung. 'The. whole-of the ser-' vices ' were cbudiinted by:;the:ReV. Mr-Kewley; arijldhe'chott was largeiyauginented,-^:;.: ■:■ i, ■'. - "''-SEAMEN'S .CHKTSTM^S'GATHERiNG. .; "iTho'twenity;fi(t,h annual gathering, of seamen. -.:.-' ". »a's,held r on.Monday in .the Choral' Hall.1 The , building.Syas ,:fillcd,.'witli"seain'cn- arid fri9nds,; ', . The."-''.'lady*:,wprkVrß; inVcpniieption/'with the'; •■-.'• Sailors', Rest aiid'. a i^iimbei■ bf. t seamen were' liusy'.;all; day, lbngr'iri.decorating tlie haU'willi'." ,; -.. flags,i.flowers,-.and'oyergrfens,' making, it-look '.; brig.ht-.an4 attralctive:'i:A.£ter'tea''MrrA. GVPnI-" cpner.'(Seamen's.Missibnnry) presided, aqfltt.y ,: ".-. follbwnij;',*;arQbnest. otHers,'' 'took part" ni "ilie . • niter '.iniplljig '•"^Bcvs.'iHoyidson; -Pauiirij.-Tddd,■' ■■■ FraseTV:Ready/-SHlteri'M6slsrV'.lrif;si-M'lienneri;- --. 'an.J;.Hc.'rclm"an."-:-Sister RutWdf the; Central' ' . Mission; gave, an~int6restiif'g' vaddre'is.Kach : ; seaman:;.wns:'prpsehtecl;.with aJ sailor's bag-ebn- ■ -'■•; ; taining bibles/hymn" book," and 'many useful

articles. ■•The following ladiesipresided at the teaHables':-—Meßaames,Thpma3',>Diok;"K!rkland,< ■•Blabk, "Maltby,. Cbpk',: Jas.'/Dibk/t Bob);, and Neville, Misses Hall, Roy, Jtrarießon, : Hare, Kckaon, Torrance,! Finlay, Hero'us,' r 6-JUies, and Burns. ..Miss Boot' presided "at :the piano. ".'' y' THEHOLIpAy ELSEWHERE; '; ' .V ■-■■:■;. iiWELLIN(JTGIf;jDecembef,,2G;,,. '•,-. To-day!s,holiday' ,was" completely spoiled,';by. heavy,, rain j,. which"'"set' in!', about'-'lO-.^'m., and , continued I without'- a -bta'ak --.until;;.S'rq'clock,1' ;wheh it ■cleared: off.; To 'makeimakers worse,a strong ::northerly>.kwin^./pfeyaile'ciyan!.day. The vmornin'g ! brokeVifin^/^and, -"bright, so that ..'.■thousand's,: of';"..excursionists "ahd !.p_ic- . nickers', who. -had > gone >J>yi the 'early -trains', ' and- steamera, .'would . have .anything^. but' a cheerful time."', The !Kptbmahana ran a marine excursion , to.Picton !. Sounds,., taking- several hundred passengers. *A large .riumberVbf people went, by the'early: traips'to'Feathefston'-. and'-Palmerston'races;. The. only-fixture inthe city was the HaWke's- Bay-TVellingtbnfinterpro-■yincial !cricket' matchV but this; had-to be postponed. The' match- 'will/be gbne.; on'with to.'mbrrow,' will'have to be confined to ;jthe one :day, and -the: wicket .is' sure ,tp'vbej^aoft'' arid treacherous."'At 7 b'clocktb-night the.gale'was still blowing,l and more::rain threatening. ■'■■•' ..■?■ , CHRISTCHU.RCH,:.December 26. ; ~ The weather was 'in '-every,- way .splendid-; for; .the holiday to-day, ;the..heat pfj.the sun -being itemperedtbya fresh .breeze.:..yTherchief "attfac--.tiqns were the .regaftta! at'Jjiltle,:Riveri(whither, li^OO, persojjsiwent. : by tram),.,the Pioneer;. Bicycle! Cliib's,.races .at'LancasteiVPark/p.ndihe. 'Caiitery bui^,.Trotting,, Club's' Summer, meeting at "Ad-, diiigton. j AVaripjis., tram ; and,, iraiif",. 'excursions', were,also run.'.:.,;,'"!...-,;:.--,.'Ci'^f.; !;.;*.;■.(■"..•';.: ~-:.; /■.