NEW YEAR’S DAY IN TIMARU.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVII, Issue 6507, 4 January 1882, Page 5

NEW YEAR’S DAY IN TIMARU.

The advent of another year was celebrated in Timaru in a manner that may be said to have become customary. Most of the celebration ceremonies are pleasing enough, but others—one or two—were the very reverse. On Saturday evening, New Tear’s Eve, the streets presented an animated appearance, the shops being lit up till a late hour, and crowds of people thronging the footways, drawn out by the “ sights” to be seen and the music of the Timaru Artillery Volunteer Band and of several pipers. Vigil services were held in several of the churches. As the town clock struck the hour that separated 1881 from 1882, a pyrotechnic display burst forth at the lighthouse, with discharges of the signal gun, accompanied by the shrill whistle and bass bellowing of steam engines in the station yard. From dusk till far into the small hours the boys kept up an irregular but incessant fire of crackers all over the town, and the greatest trouble appeared to be rewarded, and burnt fingers fully atoned for, if an unwary passer by could be made to start. Some mischievous persons, with a very idea of* fun, amused themselves by unhinging and carrying off gates, and otherwise destroying their neighbours’ landmarks. At a very early hour in the evening one of the lampposts in Church street was adorned with a couple of white gates hung on the ladder arms. A great number of gates were removed by their owners to places of safety, a precaution which shows how great a nuisance this gate-lifting is. There are a few complaints also of more malicious damage to gardens, flower-beds, &c. On the whole, however, the New Tear was ushered in very quietly. THE CALEDONIAN SDOBTS. The most important incident in connection with the advent of the New Tear, from a public point of view, was undoubtedly the holding of the New Tear games of the South Canterbury Caledonian Society, which took place on Monday. This gathering has for many years been most successful in attracting public patronage, and this year nearly all the holiday makers within a radius of ten miles seemed to have attended the meeting, while many came from greater distances. The morning trains brought in a large number of passengers, and along the main roads leading into town, vehicles by dozens and horsemen by scores wended their way Timaru-wards. So few indeed were those who journeyed in an opposite direction, that those they met glanced at them with pity or suspicion, as if they thought something was wrong either in the circumstances, the heads, or the intentions of the travellers. One might well wonder were all the traps and horses would be bestowed for the day. As may be imagined, the streets, after the arrival of the trains, and a proportion of the visitors by road, presented a most lively appearance, and the beautiful weather was in itself a temptation to turn out, as it assured the enjoyment of the holiday-makere. About half-past ten, the members of the Caledonian Society were marshalled into procession at the Grosvenor Hotel, and headed by the T.A.V. band and three pipers, with the Scottish standard flying, marched through the streets to the trysting place, the band and the pipers alternately supplying the marching music. Arrived on the ground, the arrangements were seen to be of a very satisfactory character. A large oval was roped off on the south side of the ground on the margin of which the running course was staked off, and in the interior a stand was placed for the dancing competitions, seats for the band, and poles for tho jumping and _ vaulting contests. On the north side of tho oval was a covered s*and capable of seating about 300 people, for which an extra charge was made, and this was crowded at times. Other seats were distributed round the ring for the use of the ladies. The ring was religiously kept clear of the public, so that there was no crowding upon the competitors, and every one, as a rule, had a good view of tho games. Subsidiary amusements were also to be had, and among these a merry-go-round did an enormous business. There were two licensed and two unlicensed booths on the ground, and all four did a good trade. It is estimated that in the afternoon, when the crowd of spectators was at its greatest, there wore nearly 5000 people on the ground, and tho scene was a very animated one indeed. The weather was at times very hot, now and then oppressively so, but fortunately the sun was veiled most of the day by light clouds. The greatest source of discomfort was the hot dust raised in Elizabeth street and Sendio Town road, which was carried over the grounds by every breath of air. The sports themselves wore scarcely so good as those of previous years. Tho races were in most oases indiiferently contested, tho winners having, as the events showed, been too leniently dealt with by the handicappers. In the wrestling (Cumberland style) H, Slade, who won easily last year, again disposed of his opponents. In tho collar and elbow contest was a good number of competitors, and tho contest was a very protracted one, owing chiefly to tho want of skill in most of tho contestants. Tho winner of tho first prize, however, is no novice at the game. Fagan, the pedestrian, entered for this event, and made a tough fight of it till he had to retire hurt. Tho prizes for bagpipe rnusio did not attract many competitors, but tho playing of all was admittedly good, Tho only danoo which attracted a large number of votaries was tho Irish Jig, for which there were nine entries. One of the most interesting events of the day was a race of 200 yards tor boys, in which, on first running, three breasted the taps together. Tho deciding heat was a capital one, and tho eagerness of the boys to lose no' possible advantage at starting was most amusing.