ROXBURGH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 716, 7 January 1876, Page 3

ROXBURGH.

■—o— January .4, 1876. Our Christmas holidays have passed off very quietly indeed, and pic-nics have been the chief attraction—the one held at Coal Creek Flat on New Year's Day in connection with the Rand of Hope was exceeding ly well attended, and all, both young and old, enjoyed themselves thoroughly among other good things there was plenty of Kissing in the Ring, and Strawberries and Cream. The Bazaar and Art Union in aid of the Church of Eng'and Parsonage were hold at the Commercial Assembly Room on Monday and Tuesday following Christmas Day, and were very well patronized. The ladies who had charge of the Stalls being very successful in disposing of their wares to the best advantage, and there will be something like ninety or a hundred pounds to be placed to the credit of the Parsonage Building Fund. The Amateur Dramatic Club gave a performance on the night of Thursday the 30th ultimo in aid of the Tuapeka Hospital, but the attendance was not so large as might have been expected The acting of Mr D. Cormack, and the Misses Rees and M‘Dowall in the “ Absent Man ” was excellent, and our old favorites Messrs J. J. Smith aud A. Buchan were very happy in their selections of Comic Songs, and kept the audience in roars of laughter. Dancing commenced about 11 o’clock, and was kept up with great spirit throughout the night. The election for the Waikaia district, which promised to bo a very tame affair, has some interest thrown into it by Mr G. Ireland announcing himself as a candidate at the last moment, being strongly urged to do so by a number of the electors. Ho is, at present, at Switzers, but will address the electors at Ettrick and Roxburgh, on Friday and Saturday next. Whatever Mr Ireland’s chances are of success at present they would have been far greater had ho come into the field a little sooner, for some who would have supported him, thinking that he was not coming forward have no doubt pledged themselves to Mr Bastings ; and should the latter gentleman be at the head of the poll, we believe Mr Ireland will be next on the list. Yet we may be deceived as to Mr Mervyn’s strength, aud he mayhave a larger number of supporters than we i magino ; yet his chance of success is not improved by Mr Ireland’s coming into the field, and perhaps it will he seen on the polling day that it would have been as well if Mr Mervyn bad resigned, as he promised to do if a local man was brought forward.