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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 75, 4 December 1862, Page 3

Piiestox Guild.— The ancient festivities of Preston Guild have been celebrated this year with even more than the ordinary splendor. This great ceremonial, consisting of many forms and much bauquetting and holiday making began on the Ist September, and was brought to a close on the Gth, lasting without interruption for six days. On the first day the Guild Court was opened in grand state, and there was a gorgeous civic procession, and a review in the afternoon ; the the next day laying of the fauudation stone of a new town-hall; the third day professions, a meeting of the Koyal North Lancashire Agricultural Society, followed by a dinner, the whole winding up with a Masonic hall; the fourth day the oratorio of Elijah, a procession of the Guilds and another grand miscellaneous concert; the fifth day another oratorio. The Messiah, a vast gathering of schools, and a masked, or costume ball; and the sixth day a show of fancy dogs, a balloon ascent, a floral exhibition, and the perilous exploits of Blondiu. Throughout the whole of the week the streets were litcriaily hung with flowers and evergreens, and triumphal arches. —Home News.