THE PRINCE OF WALES BIRTHDAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8334, 5 June 1905, Page 3

THE PRINCE OF WALES BIRTHDAY.

THE HOLIDAY,

Though the sun has been shining brightly from a clear sky to-day, the conditions underfoot have been the reverse of pleasant, the snow' left by yesterday's storm making the streets slushy and sodden. Still the town has been well filled with people, whose chief interest is centred on the inauguration of the electric tram service. The postponement of the PLiiinpton trotting races was a disappointment to many, and numbers went to the railway station before discovering that they would have no day's sport. Most of them returned and joihed the crowd which was preparing to welcome the new tramway service. Flags are flying oh many buildings, and the shops are generally shut, but the banks and^Government offices, which honoured the Pyince of Wales on Satrrrd^y, have their doors open, and are waiting for business, which seems to come but slowly.

The steam trams, on the occasion of their sacrifice to the progress of electricity, seemed to have dropped their usual air of proprietorship of the road, and glided on the frozen rails with a gentle motion, almost as noiselessly as tlieir successors in the sheds awaiting the application of the electrio 'fluid to send them forth the cynosure of many eyes on such a gloriously fresh ingBusiness offices and a number of shops were shut in Lyttelton to-day, some of the shops only during the afternoon, on account of the birthday of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. The schools also had a holiday. \ i

[Pee Press Association,]

NAPIER" Jiine 5. The weather was particularly wintry yesterday, and light snow fell in ' the evening. To-day the weather iB beautiful, and a general holiday is being observed. FEILDING, June 5. The Prince of Wales' s birthday is being observed to-day by the shops and schools only. WELLINGTON, June 5. To-day is being observed by some of tho shopkeepers as a holiday, instead of Saturday. v DUNEDIN, June 5. Mr Seddon has received from the Prince of Wales a cable message, thanking the colony for its birthday congratulations. A close holiday is being observed by the retail«rsN