NEW YEAR'S DAY AT RICCARTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 645, 12 January 1859, Page 5

NEW YEAR'S DAY AT RICCARTON.

The first day of the New Year was celebrated at Riccarton in a manner which deserves to be recorded, as it was one of the few attempts made in this settlement to revive those scenes of youthful festivity and social'meeting of all classes, so common in the country of our .birth, and generally productive of good feeling in a community. On New Year's day, which is also the feast of the Circumcision, the children attending the Riccarton Sunday and day schools assembled in the church for diviuo service at 2 o'clock, p.m., when prayers were read by the Eev. C. Bowen, the incumbent, and the Christmas Hymn and a part of tlie 119 th Psalm were sung by the children. The church had been prettily decorated for Christmas with evergreens and flowers, which still retained a frosh and graceful appearance. After service the children were drawn up outside the church two and two in file, the boys in front, the girls following; in which order they marched down the road and in at the gate leading to Ham, where, by the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Russell, a feast of good things had been prepared for them. The procession was gay with flags bearing different devices, among them the cross and stars of New Zealand, which were waved to and fro by the boys in an enthusiastic manner. Besides these, a large Union-Jack had been hoisted at Ilam on the scene of action, and, the ensign of England floated supreme from the top of the little church steeple. On arriving at the house, the boys gave three cheers for their entertainers and one more for the new year, after which tho whole

• party proceeded to tho : smooth > grass field cmtstd<? the shrubbery, whore thoy amused themselves for sometime with foot races, and a variety of other games, the ladies and gentlemen present joining in tho sport, and seeming to enjoy it qUito-; ;'aa; mitcli as the littlo ones. At s'o'clock the band of youngor onos woro summoned to tea, and arranged in rows on tho lawn before the house, where, after grace had boon'said,, thoy wore regaled with a plentiful supply of tea and buns, cake, Ac. When all had been satisfied, thoy adjourned "onco■ more to tlie _fiold outside, whore the sporti* woro reaurned with Increased vigour. Jumping in sacks, - wheelbarrow rnces,,'Frericn and English and other games created groat fun among the boya, anil-numerous suitable sports were no less popular among tho girls. Sixty-two children were present on .the occasion, including some who came from the school; on .the Lincoln Road in- the Mjoining parish, which is at present joined with Riccarton under the superinteridance of one clergyman. Several other .parties and friends of the children wore also present, and seemed greatly pleased- with the gaiety, and animation of the scene. The party broke up about 7-o'clock,,and tho children-returned to their homes, after a day of perfect good order, and apparently of hearty enjoyment-r-all the more hearty probably because it was new / >; ■ •