QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 22, 3 June 1893, Page 522

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS.

The Queen’s Birthday was not favoured with Queen’s weather in Christchurch, for out door amusements were completely spoiled, rain setting in heavily about 11 a.m. for several hours. The volunteers turned out in great force for parade in Hagley Park and to fire the salute. The excursion train from Timaru brought a number of visitors almost all on Gaiety bent, fully four hundred seats being booked for the matinee in the Tuam-street Hall, when ‘ Miss Esmeralda ’ was staged. A picnic organised by the athletic section of the Women’s Institute took place at Sumner. The members of the Atalanta Club and of the Kingsley Club were invited, and several membersot both were present. Most of the party journeyed down by train, but some rode their bicycles, the lady members appearing in reformed dress, one wearing a short skirt and blouse, and several others knickerbockers and tunics. The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson was present as a member of the Kingsley Club. The Pioneer Bicycle Club had its closing run of the season leaving Cathedral Square at 10 o’clock, proceeding over the hills to Governor’s Bay, where they dined, thence round the road to Lyttelton, and after a shert spell over the hill to Sumner, back to town, the rain having made the roads very soft and slippery, and considerably marring the pleasures of the trip.

The Queen’s Birthday opened well in Auckland, and numerous excursions were planned and carried out, racing, of course being a feature of the day. About four o’clock, however, heavy rain fell and somewhat marred the day’s pleasuring. A very jolly little dance was held on the Queen’s Birthday in the Heretaunga (Napier)Schoolroom, which had been kindly lent for the occasion by Messrs J. A. Fraser and Robinson. The dance was really given by the bachelors and was a tremendous success, everything going with great eclat. The schoolroom was a perfect bower of beauty, and the supper was truly delicious. Newbould, from Napier, supplied the music. Some pretty gowns were worn, Mesdames J. N. Williams, Loughnan, Vickerman, and the Misses Williams, Miller, Russell, St. Hill, and Logan are spoken of as having looked exceedingly well. Some of those who were there were Mesdames Russell, Nelson, Braithwaite, Fitzroy, Gal we y, Kettle (Napier), and the Misses Nelson, Russell, St. Hill, Cotterill (Napier), Baker (Napier), Beamish, Gleeson, Lascelles (Clive), etc., etc. The bachelors are to be congratulated upon the great success of the dance. The committee, which consisted of Messrs F. Nelson, Fenwicke. j. A. Fraser, Robinson, H. B. Williams, Cooper, and H. Warren, worked like Trojans, and must have felt gratified at the pleasing results of their labours.