ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 268, 20 March 1873, Page 5

ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

The lively strains of "St. Patrick's Day in tha Moxning," struck up by the Provincial Brass Band a few seconds after reiiaole clocks had announced that Old Time had passed the barrier dividing the 16ih from the 17th March, conveyed to the good folks of Lawrence intimation that they had entered upon the first of the twenty-four hours dedicated to the patron saint of the Green Isle. A considerable number of people assembled in t-h« streets to listen to the. band, which i gierambular-ad the town playing appropri- \ ■aie selections. n The weather, which had been uncertain during the previous two -days, had then a threatening aspect. Rain fell in unpleasantly copious showers, •and dampness and chilliness pervaded •everything and everybody. People retired to rest with gloomy forebodings for jibe-result oi.the day's proceedings, which weTa.ivwey^rj not destined to be realised. 'Soon after the sun rose .the weather brightened, but afterwards became damp and chilly again. Occasional showers fell, making the weather still more disagreeable. There can be no doubt that had the weather been anything like favorable, a much larger assemblage would -^»,ye fathered on> JjawrenCe race-

course. Deßpite chilliness, dampness, and all other disagreeables induced by and incidental thereto, by about mid-day there had assembled a concourse numbering from 700 to 800. The programme of the day^s amusement comprised horse racing, athletic sports, fancy fair, auction bazaar, &o. The fanoy fair was under the charge of Mesdames Clark, Ilalley, Buck, and Mooney, of Lawrence / and Mrs. Scanlon and Misses Murphy and M'Kay of Dunedin. The wares offered for sale comprised an infinite variety of all kinds of articles — ranging from fearful and wonderful outbreaks of feminine genius in Berlin wooK and crotchet, down to humble articles of use. Flying detachments of ladies roamed about the ground, energetically seeking lambs of the sterner sex. for the laudable purpose of fleecing them — by bringing into play the natural magic of soft pleading and bright glances, succeeding admirably. The fair pirates accumulated in their purses the coins of their victims, mercilessly enjoying the fun. Raffles for dolls, raffles for workboxes, raffles for smoking caps, raffles for baskets, raffles for pipes, raffle 3 for everything conceivable, and a good deal- of things inconceivable followed each other in rapid succession, and were got up simultaneously — in fact, the air was surcharged- ! with raffles, and those present yielding to the blandishment of the fair rafQe brigado considered they were heaviiy charged too. At the end of the booths was a tent wherein fortunes were told, after the manner in j vogue at the time the pyramids wereia course of erection. Many ventured within its mysterious precincts, and had their future revealed with unerring accuracy by Mrs. De Baizin, who made a very fascinating prophetess. Mr. Matthew Hay, as auctioneer, was in his "native element," and he succeeded in disposing of a number of articles at handsome prices. The hor3e races were capitally contested, and the various athletic sports also attracted a number of competitors. The two former were won by Fairy Queen and Sultana respectively. The refreshment booth under the management of Messrs Ford and Cleay, did a lively business. In the evening there was a grand banquet in the schoolroom, Colonsay-street. The splendid hall had been fitted up and decorated handsomely for this purpose. Festoons of evergreens gracefully depended between the pillars, and on the walls were other tasteful arboreal ornamentations. Flags of all nations were hung round about the building, prominent among them being the national flag of Ireland. Over the entrance was the inscription in beautiful green and gold letters, " Cea4 Mille Failthe " and we must say that if the number of welcomes therein expressed, ha*l been multiplied by milliards, it could not have been m,ore hearty. The tables were ranged round the sides of the building, in the centre, and at the ends. A capital effect was produced by placing the side tables so that the pi! fats supporting the roof appeared to spring from them. The4e pillars were decked gaily out in evergreens and flowers. The tables were also artistically bedocked with flowers, ami di=.pl.«yed a feast tit for the gOO"S. We cannojj venture to enter upon a de3oription of the various edibles provided, and the only idea of the quantities we can give is that the supply was even more liberal than thf lavish profusion for which the old Irish aristocracy were famed. Accommodation was provided for 350, but it proved quite inadequate to meet the demand. Twice the tables were crowded, and even then all had not banqueted. The arrange ments, however, were so perfect that everyone wa3 provided for satisfactorily. Between 700 and 800 were present. We almost omitted to state that the yard had been covered in for a cloak-room for theladies, which arrangement elicited expressions of satisfaction from the fair ones present. All thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the banquet, and at the festivities which supervened upon it. A prominent featnre of the day's proceedings was the music discoursed by the Provincial Brass Band, under the leadership of Mr. Lind, which numbered 22 performers, and which performed in an admirable manner many beautiful selections, during the day on the racecourse, and at night in the schoolroom. We hope that the citizens will often have the pleasure of hearing the same band pei"forming in Lawrence. Amongst those who attended the sports and the banquet were many visitors from various parts of the province. The cosmopolitan, spirit of colonists, especially those residing in a gold-producing region has often been commented upon, and on St. Patrick's Day it received a very forcible illustration. Ladies and gentlemen of all denominations assisted their Roman Catholic fellow-colonists in s their work, and took a deep interest in" all the proceed inors." It is to be hoped " that this spirit of toleration and unity will long prevail in our midst, as it will not only promote social enjoyment, but • tend much, to forward material progress. To the committee, which was composed of Messrs. Buck, Bowes, Wlielan, Nash VV. Spencer, T. Spencer, J. Harris, Hart, and Mooney, must be ascribed great credit for the able manner in which they organised and carried successfully into operation the various parts of the days programme. The Ladies Committee viz., Mesdames Clark, H-alley, Buck, Conway, Mooney, and Harris, are also entitled to praise f.or their active exertions. Father Larkin, it is needless for 113 to say, was the moving spirit in the whole of the celebration, and its -success will be to him sufficient recompense for the arduous and long continued labors he undertook to accomplish that happy consummation. The proceeds of the fancy fair, banquet, &c, are to be devoted to the liquidation of the debt upon the school.