DUNEDIN NOTES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 164, 31 December 1872, Page 6

DUNEDIN NOTES.

By 0. P. Q. For the past few days the inhabitants of Dunedin seem to have fairly abandoned themselves to pleasure, and a complete cessation of business has taken place in favour of this our annual Saturnalia—for the Christmas and New Year's festivities may be looked upon as such. To inaugurate the rejoicing of this always gay season, we had on the Saturday preceding Christmas Day the demonstration in honour of the arrival of His Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen, who came right up to Dunedin in the Government j stsamer Luna, and landed on Rattray-street jetty in the presence of an immense crowd of citizens and visitors from the country, amidst the most lively expressions of welcome. The city was gay with flags, evergreens, and mottoes, and the streets along which the procession wended its way to Fein Hill were thronged with a dense crowd of spectators. On Christmas Day the business places in the | city were all closed, and picnic parties and steamboat excursions were the order of the day. The high wind and Minding clouds of dust which swept along the streets and country roads considerably marred, the day's enjoyment. However, betaking themselves by conveyances of all descriptions to the shady nooks, fern-clad slopes, and wooded dells, in the environs of the city and surburban districts, picnic parties soon settled themselves down to the enjoyment which is always derivable from the gathering together of a few friends, whose aim is to make each other happy, and cement the bond of good-will already existing toward each other. And the many happy reunions which took place in Dunedin homes on Wednesday night, after the return from the day's pleasures, were proof of the good-will and cordiality with which our colonists regard each other in this the land of their adoption, and that to whatever extent the all-engrossing art of moneygetting may have laid hold of their minds in this money-grubbing age, they can, when j good-fellowship requires it of them, throw j aside their everyday cares and aspirations, I and allow the better attributes of their nature to shine forth in all their genial homeliness. Among the acts of Christmas charity which are worthy of notice, none should give the journalist greater pleasure in the recognition than those of Mr W. Hoskins, and of a lady—Mrs R. M'Leod—the former of whom sent a large number of fat geese and fowls, and the latter a large number of periodicals, for the use of the patients in the Hospital. The Hospital patients no doubt I enjoyed their sumptuous Christmas dinner all the more for knowing that their sufferings were not altogether unthought of by their! more fortunate fellow-creatures, and when i reading the literary contributions which they from time to time receive they are doubtless! not unmindful of the kindly feelings which ! prompt the donors when sending the gifts. I hope that the like will be repeated in your j own and other country districts. But to return to my record of holiday proceedings.; Christmas Day over, ample amusements were provided for Thursday, foremost in point of attraction of course being the grand fete of; the Friendly Societies, with the all-attract- j ing novelty of conveyance to and fro by rail! Night and day the contractors had been push- j ing on the work necessary to be done in thoroughly finishing the line, and Boxing Day was ushered in with all the glorious splendour of a bright Summer morning, and saw everything in readiness for the trips of i the engines with their long trains of carriages. By the time the first train was ready to start, | a large crowd of excursionists were at the I station, and His Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen contributed additional interest to the trip by their presence. The trip to the spot selected for the fete was speedily i accomplished, and throughout the day nu-1 merous trains followed, until there were i probably about 3000 people on the ground. After a pleasant afternoon had been spent, j the holiday-seekers were all safely conveyed to town again without accident. The Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Show at the j Forbury also commanded a large number of visitors, and many of the animals exhibited were really splendid specimens of their respective species, while the implements and other exhibits were also Well worthy of inspection. In the evening the Christmas pantomime at the Princess Theatre, and the daring performances of the Loyals, assisted by dramatic representations, at the Masonic Hall, attracted the usual good-humoured Christmas audiences. The remains of the Rev. Mr Williams were interred in the North Dunedin Cemetery on Tuesday last, in the presence of a large number of the deceased gentleman's friends and members of his congregation. His loss will be severely felt, for he was acknowledged to be a man of sterling worth, and of more than ordinary ability, and beloved by all who enjoyed his friendship and society, The Rev. Mr Isitt preached in Mr Williams's vacant pulpit on the morning following his death, and the sorrow of the congregation (many of whom had not heard of the fatal termination to the accident) on hearing of the death of their beloved pastor and friend, was irrepressible. The service was a most affecting one. The enquiry into the cause of the coach accident which resulted in Mr Williams's death is to be resumed before the Coroner to-morrow (Friday), when further evidence will be taken. Mr Vogel, and his private secretary, Mr Fox, have paid Dunedin a short visit on their way to Melbourne. It was anticipated that Mr Vogel would not come up from the Port, owing to the fact that he was suffering from his old enemy the gout, but the hon. gentleman managed the short trip, and paid us the visit.