NEWS OF THE DAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2980, 2 January 1901, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

We yesterday received the following kindly greeting : —Pretoria, 20-11-1900. To wish you a happy Christmas and a bright New Year. G. Crawshaw, Capt. Commdg. 2nd N.Z.M. Rifles.

The annual New Year dance held in the Assembly Rooms last evening was very largely attended. Luckily the weather at night was cool, and all were able to thoroughly enjoy themselves. In conse quence of the great success of the dance, it was decided to hold another to-night, when the best of music and an efficient M.C. will again be provided. The Christchurch “Press” says:—Mr J. C. Martin, who is filling a seat on the Supreme Court Bench during the absence of Mr Justice Denniston in Europe, has been appointed a permanent Judge of the Supreme Court. The appointment is to date from Mr Justice Denniston’s return to the colony. The half-witted man who some time ago was wandering about in the back country, says the “Ashburton Guardian,”’ has been seen during the last few days in the vicinity of Barford in a half nude condition. The police have been searching for him, but have nob yet managed to find him. He is supposed to be harmless, but it would be only right to have him arrested and sent, to some institution where unfortunates of his class are attended to.

An exceptionally large amount of matter passed through the Dunedin Post Office faring the few days preceding Christmas, ‘the work being much heavier than for the corresponding period last year. During the fourtvorking days preceding Christmas in 1899 the number of letters posted amounted to 63,000, while for the same period this year the postings were:—Letters 131,022, books and Christmas cards 101,471, newspapers 39,735. Altogether there was an increase of about 30,000 over last yw.

Mr and Mrs John Bentley, of Timaru, celebrated their golden wedding a week ago, the occasion bringing together a party of about 60 relatives and friends, who offered very hearty congratulations to the happy couple, and enjoyed themselves most thoroughly. A very tasteful supper was laid in a marquee, all were made welcome, and a short appropriate toast list was gone through. Singing and dancing also helped to make the time pass merrily. A large number of presents was received, including tasteful, ornamental, and useful articles. Altogether the reunion was most enjoyable. Most of the anglers returned from the Opihi on Monday. Mr P. Foster’s basket was on veiw at Mr D. J. Caldwell’s shop, and attracted a lot of interest. He got five

splendid fish on the minnow, running from 71b to 131 bin weight. Mr P. Tasker got 19 fish on the fly, heaviest 41b, and two o.n the minnow, and Mr P. Palliser got a 41b, 10£lb and 12-jib fish, all on the fly) and J2 smaller ones. Mr J. Palliser had a basket of 15 fish, heaviest 21b; ; Mr F. Allen 16 fish, heaviest IJjrlb ; and Mr George Triggs 14 fish, heaviest Several other anglers were out, including a large party from Temuka, bv.t they had no luck. A wedding took place at St. Stephen’s Church, Fairlie, on the last clay of the year. The bride was Miss Mand Bowchcr, daughter of Mr C. B. .Bowcher, of Fairlie, and the bridegroom Mr H. W. Lovegrove, of Gapes Valley. In si>ite of the threatening weather a large number of friends gathered at the church. The service was choral, Mrs Smale presiding at the organ. The Rev. Stanley Hinson, vicar of the parish, officiated. After the ceremony the wedding party left the church to the strains of Mendelsohn’s Wedding March, and drove to the residence of the bride’s father for the wedding breakfast. The happy couple left by the afternoon train for tho north, amidst the good wishes of friends assembled to see them off. On Saturday our worthy Mayor and his spouse, Mr and Mrs John Hole, celebrated their silver wedding, at their residence, Gleniti. Owing to the interference of the holidays the celebration was quieter than it would otherwise have been, but a considerable number of friends ’ called on Mr and Mrs Hole, and they were the recipients of a large number of valuable and nice presents, and of congratulatory telegrams, and also some letters of the same tenour from the Old Country. Many took the opportunity afforded by the presence of our respected Mayor and Mrs Hole at the sports yesterday, to add their congratulations, and express the wish (in which ail who know them will most cordially join) that both might live in good health to enjoy another like celebration a quarter of a century hence. The following is the contest judges’ criticism on our local band :—The S.C. Battalion Band opened well. The andante was taken with success, but scarcely brightly enough, and the lead was somewhat defi- ' cient in giving the cadenza, but the waltz i movement was taken well. The euphonium . solo was hardly given with sufficient effect. . The fortissimo movement following was taken well by the band. The trombone ' solo was not good in tone, and the tenors and baritones took the andante fairly well, i but the rallentandos preceding it were not L brought out clearly. The andante cantabile was taken fairly well, and the piu vivo went capitally, and with spirit. The > band, as a whole, deserve, credit for the • manner in which the piece was played.