NEW YEAR’S EVE IN PORT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6505, 2 January 1882, Page 5

NEW YEAR’S EVE IN PORT.

New Year’s Eve was celebrated in Port in much the same manner as in former years, though on a much smaller and quieter scale. This was no doubt attributable to two causes —the abienoo of the fire brigade demonstration, and the fact that New Year’s morning was Sunday morning. The torchlight procession of the Fire Brigade in Lyttelton haa for the last year or so been much looked forward to, as well as the display of fireworks by the Brigade previous to the display from the shipping, but the Brigade last year found that the support received from the townspeople was so meagre that they were actually at a loss, and this year did not feel inclined to expend their funds for the benefit of those who reaped the greatest advantage from the demonstration. ■ They were sorry to disap* Joint the general public in not making toe isplay, but were compelled to do 10 from a financial point of view. The visitors to the Port were not by any means so numerous as on previous years; as may be judged from the fact that the last train went through with but IS carriages, and these only partially filled, instead of the long trains of previous yean. During the evening the Lyttelton Band played in London street, whiob was pretty well thronged, and added greatly to the enjoyment of those who were out. Business in the' various shops and hotels' was very brisk, and the bazaar of the Presbyterian Church, held in one of the railway sheds, was well patronised. Shortly after 11 the first of the fireworks was discharged, and in various parts of the town the display was kept up until after midnight. The harbour was somewhat bare of shipping in sontrast to former years, and the display, therefore, was consequently not so good as previously. The Waimate, ho wevor,made a capital exhibition, an excellent variety of fireworks being, discharged from her. Several floating lights were burning on the water, and the effect was very good. As. the town clock struck the hour of midnight the year of 1882 was ushered in with the customary salute of guns, bells, and rockets, while the Lyttelton Band could bo distinctly heard playing “ Auld Lang Syne in capital style. Good wishes for the New Year were interchanged on all sides, and in a very short time those who were oat began to find their way home. A few rockets, <&(?., might bo seen at intervals, from various points, up to about 1 o’clock.