A WET HOLIDAY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19140, 25 October 1927, Page 10

A WET HOLIDAY.

POSTPONEMENT OF SPORTS RAIN, SNOW, AND A BITING SOUTHERLY. •Labour Day has built up an evil reputation for dismal weather, which was far from redeemed yesterday by tho frigid conditions which, following upon the nor'-wester of Saturday, outlived Sunday to spoil the holiday. A biting wind from the sou'• west brought up showers of rain and hail, varied by an occasional accompaniment of sleet and snow. Nothing worse was experienced in the winter, and tho temperaturo was typical not of October, but of July. The barometer stood at about 40 degrees, and was down to 36 at times. Most pejople were loth to desert the fireside, and hurried moetings of executives decided on a wholesale postponement of outdoor functions. Trams and trains were poorly patronised. Accommodation had been reserved on trains for numerous picnic parties, but practically all were abandoned. These included parties going to Prebbleton, Little River, Stewart's Gully, and Kaiapoi. The excursion trips of tho John Anderson to Diamond Harbour, and tho Orewa \o Port Levy, and tho special train arrangements between Christejiurch and Lyttelton were cancelled, as were the Southbridge sports. T"his year the Trades and Labour Council's annual picnic was to have been held at the Addington trotting grounds. This function has suffered, a great deal from the weather in tho past years, but was attended by a record crowd last year when tho weather was fine. Its postponement yesterday meant a heavy loss of revenue jto the tramways. The orphans' outing, arranged for the Show Grounds was abandoned, and no bowling or tennis eventuated. Among the functions which will be held at a later date are the South Brighton gala, and School sports. About 150 people patronised,the train to Ashburton, where ithe gala took place with a curtailed programme. By the special train for Rangiora in connexion with the Taces and the special trip there of the electric battery ear, there were 400 passengers. The Department cancelled one of its special trains ito Rangiora. Only about 90 travelled to Oainaru by the special train for the trotting meeting. Advice from the West Coast was to the effect ;that the weather was fair and the traffic moderate. Box office receipts at the various theatres were swollen by the curtailment of other attractions, and all of them were crowded out.

Cathedral Service. Holy Communion was celebrated in the Cathedral at 7.45 yesterday morn, ing by the Canterbury branch of the Church of England Men's Society, Bishop West-Watson and the Rev. F. E. Bawle being the celebrants. • Alter- the service a fellowship breakfast was held in St. John's schoolroom. The Bishop congratulated the branch on its increased membership and activity during the year. He expressed the hope' that branches .which had died out might be resuscitated. His Lordship expressed appreciation of the organising work of Messrs I>. Oppenheim and E./ A. Bradbury. '_ Archdeacon F. N. Taylor, and Messrs E. Hitchcock and A. J. McEldowney were amqng the other speakers, the latter voicing a fhope that the ,cor4ial re-, lations existing between'the C.E.M.S.; and Y.M.C.A. would bo strengthened.

ORPHANS' PICNIC. The orphans' picnic, organised by tho Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association, which was to have been held on the Show Grounds, was abandoned. ' The pri?es and provisions, which had alroady ibeen got.together for the day's outing, were distributed among the various orphanages in the City. It is the intention of tlje Association to hold the picnic at some convenient date after the show. Thei executive wish to thank Mr 6. Q. Denniston, Mr Wall, Mr L. G. Burke,, and other helpers for their valuable assistance. SNOW IN DUNEDIN* [THE PRJMW BpeelAl gerrie*.] DUNEDIN, October 24. Labour Day as a holiday was completely spoiled for Duned in "'by a return to the coldest of wintry weather, and the special trains and other transport facilities arranged for to-day received , scant patronage. The Labour Day picnic had to be.postponed, as Evansdale, / one of Dunedin's most popular picnic resorts, was under snow in places, and the- hills around tho city bear a mantle of snow which makes its presence felt in the biting atmosphere. * •■,•••>■ AT WHANGAREI. YACHTSMEN'S ADVENTURES. (PBES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WHANGAREI, October 24. . The crew of the 14-footcr All Black had an unenviable experience during the week-end. The yacht, with Messrs It. Wilkinson (tho owner), b. and O. Tucker, and a lad named Osborne, as crew went down the harbour on Sunday evening, and about midnight, when between Manganese Point and Reotahi, a sudden squall struck her, and her'light was smashed. The little vessel was driven out of the channel, and she struck a rock, which knocked a hole in her bottom. '. She filled up rapidly, but did not sink, and the crew swata nearly half a mile in rough water, finally landing on a beach qujte exhausted. They were given shelter, food, and clothing by a resident, and. to-day, by dint of careful patching, they were able to get their boat sufficiently repaired to be towed home in the evening. '*-. . Despite the heavy rain overnight, and the intermittent rainstorms that caused the- abandonment of all other sports fixtures, many Labour Day trippers voyaged down the harbour for the opening of the cruising season. During the first event for 14-footers a sudden squall came up, and before the boats could get their anchors down tho Bea Urchin turned turtle, and the Sunbeam broke Iter mast and boom. The races were then postponed. On the way back from Manganese Point, with a full passenger load, this evening the launch Hakanui towed home a launch, a 22-footer, and four 14-footers.