Entertainments, Treats, &c.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5553, 26 February 1886, Page 3

Entertainments, Treats, &c.

♦ Bradbury's popular cantata, " Esther, the Beautiful Queen," was performed by the Kaiapoi Choral and Orchestral Union at the Rangiora Literary Institute Hall, on Wednesday evening last. The entertainment was in aid or the Wesleyan Church funds, but the audience, in point of numbers, was not by any means commensurate with the quality of the programme. Mr E. Blakely acted as conductor, Mr J. Heap aa leader, Mr H. Blakely as organist, and the principals were Miss Blakely, Mesdauies Robins and Miller; Messrs Hilsoni, Budd, Burrows and G. E. Llannering. The performance went with smoothness throughout, the solos and choruses being all rendered in a manner creditable alike to the performers and conductor. The orchestra I also acquitted themselves very well, and ! contributed in no small measure to the • success of the entertainment. The cantata I not being of suffiwent length to make up a ! programme, additional solos were given by I Mrs Robins and MiEs Rowse, and an anthem j by the Company. The entertainment ' closed with the National Anthem and doxology. An agreeable social gathering took place on Thursday evening last at the Springfield hotel. Guard Bowyer, who has, for the last 12 months, been in charge on the Springfield branch, has been transferred to j Waikari, and his friends invited him to j meet them to give them the opportunity of drinking his health and wishing him success, which was done with a very great deal of cordiality. Guard Bowyer has gained many friends during his residence here, and he is also a universal favourite with the travelling public. Guard Dunn, from the Southbridge branch, is his successor. The members of the recently-disbanded Ashburton Fire Brigade marked their dissolution by a banquet, at the Commercial Hotel, on Wednesday evening. There was a good muster of firemen, and amongst the invited guests were the Mayor (Mr R. Friedlander), Mr W. J. Steward, M.H.R., and Captain Scott and Lieutenant Ray of the new Brigade. Mr Whittle, the new proprietor of the Commercial, provided a substantial and tastefully-arranged repast, to which due attention was given. After the usual loyal toasts had been *' .. '$ of, those of local interest - „ • - IB P OS ™ Some excellent p- . •■"> P^Ppaed. response, tr-' , -.fssehefl Were 12° «5 1H r°- • r. v M ayor, in the course of his --marks, alluding to the necessity of a high-pressure water-supply, wSlci howS Y9r /,Jg ?*% » f raid the finances of the ' BoroSgil wofiid not allow of being carried | out for some time. Some capifcd songs ' were given during the evening, which was 1 most enjoyable throughout. ' _ The saddlers, harness and collar makers'/ in connection with Messrs Mason, Struthers and Co.'s establishment, held a picnic yesterday at Sumner. The party, numbering about 50, and comprising the employees and their friends, left town about 9.30 yesterday morning in two of Messrs Hay ward's drags. After a glorious outing, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed, the holidaymakers returned to town, which was reached about 6.30 in the evening. The Lyttelton annual picnic took place yesterday, in that favourite locality for picnickers, Rhodes' Bay, and for the purpose a better one could hardly be found. The_ day itself was glorious, the sun shining down in all its summer strength, tempered by a good easterly breeze, making such a day as is seen in but few other lands but New Zealand. The subscribers to the picnic and their friends and families, in all numbering about 300, left Lyttelton in the launches Waiwera and Jane, the transports employed by the Committee to take the large number of pleasure-seekers over to the bay, and bo well did they fulfil their mission that at 11 a.m. the streets of Lyttelton were all but deserted, all the principal shopkeepers having closed their places of bu3ine?s. There was no organised catering by the Committee, each family or little party providing their own refreshments, this being found to answer better than relying on a public caterer. There was, however, a confectioner's booth, under the management of Mr H. Woodham, that drove a prosperous trade during the day. For the amusement of the young people, the Juvenile Oddfellows' Band, which, by the way, has greatly improved in its _ playing of late, played dance 1 music with hardly a break during the ' day, and certainly earned their day's hire. There was a cricket team organised, and the worshippers of the willow had a good day's sport. The picnic, we nearly omitted to ' mention, was held, by the kind permission ' of the proprietor, in the paddock of Mr H. D. Gardiner; this paddock, from the picturesque situation and excellent Bhade and shelter, being capitally Buited for the purpose. For the athletically-inclined there were races, and the prizes were keenly contested for by youug and old. So passed i o&e of the most pleasant picnics ever , originated in Lyttelton. The launches re- , turned home about 8 o'clock, one and all being well satisfied with the efforts of the Committee.