NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Kumara Times, Issue 705, 2 January 1879, Page 2

NEW YEAR'S DAY.

With a view to chronicle the events that generally occur on this particular day of the year we proceeded to take up our position in expectation thereof in the principal street about one hour before the old year departed for ever. As the hour of midnight approached the ciowd* became largely augmented, and those who had previously l.een spending a quiet evening at some friend's now appeared on the soeu>\ Punctually at midnight the first stroke of the firebell gave notice that the old year had ceased to exist and that its successor had comDieuced his Simultaneously with the tirst note the staging and bellfry were brilliantly illuminated, as also the Empire Hotel by coloured fires, His Worship the Mayor acting as chief stoker and lire king. In the meantime the rocket brigade at Gilbert Stewart's Hotel had fired their first rocket wh ch •was of enurmoussize ami as it broke in the sky after its ascent, excited general admiration. The ball being now open a pryotechnic.il display of a most assorted nature followed rackets," crackers, Roman candles, and every imaginable description of fireworks were brought into requisition, and amidst the martial sttaius of the Dillmau's Town Band and the unearthly noise occasioned by an opposition one composed cf twenty kerosene tin performers, the New Year was ushered in. The scenes of the next few hours we shall not attempt to record as betwixt bagpipes aud hogmanay the tuoiuiug broke apace. Taking the various events in the respective order a handicap lifle match at the butts commenced the morning, but as seveial of the intending competitors were not forthcoming at the hour named for the eontest the match was fired, seven shots at each range, by those present with the following results : 200 .400 500 Tl. 'Munyard,' scratch... 23' 23 24 Matcfyett, 20 points 16 10 19 Sampson, 12' points 18 17 16 Marshall, scratch..; 19 18 21 Harvey, 2 points ... 19 18 19-58 Lieut Alnnyard taking tirst prize and Vol. Matchitt secoud. In the meantime the children of the vai i •u> sciiools had lieeu mustering at the Slate School and as the ground at the paddock was to-wet to allow of the children dining there wiih safety to their health, the Committee very wisely decided to distribute all the meals at

the State School-. -I!This v4s successfully accomplished, thanks *to the very able assistance rendered by a committee of ladies who undertook this very " provident measure." When -all "the .good cheer had been disposed r of by the juveniles present' in a banner that c'early indicated their appreciation of the delicacies provided, ,«, inoyo was made for M«myj Keecli and Moltoy'a paddock, where every possible amusement was obtainable. " ; At about 3 o'clock in the afternoon there were no less than 1500 people on. the ground, and the audit, as witnessed from the hill overlooking the paddock was one to be long remembered'. The various coloraof the children's sashes interspered with the different hues of the dresses of the la.lies, as contrasted with the green sward formed a picture not often seen in Kum.ira. Maidens and-youths whose school days were o'er soon found enjoyment near the Dill.nan's Town Band, to whose strains dancing was. endulged in ad libitum while " kiss iu the I'ing, and some other extiaordinary game consisting of a " three'* a»«out," of a species of forming groups in military tactic*, afforded amusement "to % considerable numlx-r of the fatt- ttr* and their attendant cavalier^

The children enjoyed them-elves with swinging, cricket, foot races, and we may say, in fact, every conceivable gnine that the c<>'.•;nit.tee .thought' would t«id to their amusement. Mr R. J. Seduou, who, with Mr Pollack, appeared to be in a manner specially adapted for tmperinteuding the racing evenls, worked most energetically; andthe first-named gentleman, on racing around the pad-lock with two lins o£ lollies "a la Gilpin," gave the inost immeasurable delight to the youngster* in their effuits to capture and dispossess! him of hirf encumbrances. Mr and M-ra Phillips, on whom the most arduous duties of the day necessarily fell must have been thoroughly compensated for their exertions by the evident enjoyment depicted on the countenances of the children. Tiie Rev Memr* Soott and Buttle and Messrs Dungan, Caird, Bane, D ,1-, Duggan, Gd land, Gordon and several other members of tho Committee by their assistant throughout' tiie whole day contributed in makiii" the picnic what it most ptisittvely was. a grand success ; a few warning drops of rain made a retreat to the Stale School again necessary where tea had lieen vided and after which the children spent ihe remainder of the evening in various amusements returning to their homes sliortly after only grieving that New Year'a Day came but once a }ear.