A FEW STRAY NOTES FROM WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 6430, 30 December 1899, Page 2

A FEW STRAY NOTES FROM WELLINGTON.

(By Our Loiter Valley Correspondent), '[ , Thursday. The Saturday night before Christmai (in one sense of the word, Christmas Eve) in Wellington was very lively. Crowds filled the streets and one war bumped from pillar to post. Tlie shops were gaily decorated for. the occ|»ion. Down at tho Cuba-street corner the Balyation Army might bay© been seen holding an open-air. meeting.' In another part of the town the German band waa playing, while.tlie town itself was all life and bustle, There were children with drums, trumpets, etc., making as'much noise as possible; the happ; fattier with his wife 1 and children; the young man out with his best girl; and the aged couple walking along arm-in-arm, thinking, no doubt, of the Christmases long gone by, ,when they were young. All aeemeibent on enjoying themselves.. The Samtion Army had dispersed; the crowd that had been listening to them gradually left, but sitting on a window-sill opposite to where the. Army had been,-with bis head buried' in-his hands might tLseen an old man very raggedly drapd and beside him a bundle with - a few clothes tied together. Wh'aiwasChristmasEve to him P Who could tell.wbat this poor man's thoughts were. Perhaps years ago, lie was comfortably olf, and on Christmas Eye joined injjjie general rejoicings. But to-night here he • was down in tho world "with hardly a cent to his name, and without a friend; his head in his hands, and ;in all probability thinking bis past; life over. He would not see many more Christmas seasons, as old Father Tine was surely weaving bis web tighter round him. The crowds gradually dispersed, time went ' on and the old man picked aphis bundle and wont his way. 'Such is life! Even in the midst of gaiety one 1 can find sadness. i. Last Monday I went to the Basiu'&e- • servo to see the WJellington'and Canterbury reps. play. Standing not far from mo was a man .and with him a young womau. The young man; was explaining the game to his fair, companion. Presently somebody said "oyer," and she inquired what an over was. Ho replied, " You see they bowl down ten balls from' each end, then |Uo Held changes about." j Shortly afterwards CoboofT drove a ball to the boundary for four, of course, Coberoft and his fellow-batsnian did sot run. Asked the cricketing authority's fair companion, " Why don't they rus)" Ho replied;" Oh, I suppose they live hit the ball too far, fiud so don't score anything." . How would this fellow do for an umpire P. I On Boxing Day crowds went to Day'i Bay, Pliinmorton, and also t<f Picton. Complaints are being made by people ae' to the crowding and crushing on jteamers going l and / coming : from Day's Bay. Surely those running the steabers to Day's Bay could remedy jhis. | The' Steole-Payn'ei Family gave, a Sacred Concert in the ErcliacgeHaljf on Christmas might. ■ The building was 'crowded, and'the different item* an Me programme were got off successfully. . The selections '.oii the btjlls bvMc company, Mr Williams'singin'gjpl Misg V L'. Payne's" violia 'playing appreciated.' V r ''j. : " I . .' - .. I ■■/'.■.■■A