YESTERDAY.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1871, 2 January 1875, Page 2

YESTERDAY.

Was kept as a generr! holiday. A -holiday jn one sense of the word only,,for though there was an ontiro cessation |r«m labor and business, the sfato of; tho weather quite prevented anytlrng m the form of festivity; and therefore the preparations made by the Foresters, Good Templars and others were useless, so far W concerned New'" Year's Day.- On I-Thursday the sky showed symptoms of 1 very bad weather, but it was hoped that r thc..rain md impending gale /vrould keep ofTfor a day or-two; This tope proved to be .vain. Yesterday mo^og broke hazy and tfitlioiit appearance of, the sun. Sleet-followed and ihen% rain; the wind rising gradually during the night tiH it reached a protty strong galo. Under these circumstances trips to cither Tararu or the, Parawai Gardens were not to bo thought of; and most persons devoted the day to indoors rest, and in many cases, it may be imagined, ■to abuse of "the weather. The Foresters,'however* seemed determined to caivy out-a portion of the pro:--gramme which had been drawn up. In tho evering they assembled at the Academy of Music,,, for the purpose of, holding . i A "Soiree and Dance. , >

] It was well attended by Foresters and ' theiv friends, and, despite the inclement nature of the weather, a large number of ladies-.were present. The spread was provided by Mr. Curtis, ?nd ,jWas attacked with spirit. When once inside the wcR-Jit md cheerfal htfl, the sound of the angry elements-without only served to make those present feel more snug. Tea being disposed of the tables were cleared, and the second part of the programme was commenced. Mr Wm. Howe occur pied the chair, and made a few remarks on opehmg the proceedings. A. number, of gentlemen, - representing the various orders of Friendly Societies on the Thames, addressed the meeting. A rnong thenr rwere Mr T. L. Murray, Cfr'ef Banger of the Foresters; Mr Bagna I', P.G.M. of the. Loyal Wrkato Lodge of Odd bellows; Mr Wooderson, and Mr Bull. The . speeches were agreeably interspersed with songs by some of our -talented amateur*, wfeich were received with great->appiaase. Subsequently the . Hall was cleared for .the dance, to take part W which a largo number of, those Present remained. A veiy enjoyable toight was liasscd^and dancing was kept up with great spirit imtil two o'clock th'S mprringi . '•. ; ■ "*: * -. ]■- - ; '.