AROUND DUNEDIN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4915, 2 January 1895, Page 2

AROUND DUNEDIN.

[Uy Scotch Mist.J Christmas-tide aud the year 1894 will be a thing of the past ere this letter : reaches you. May the New i'car bring brightness into Hie commercial world and prosperity to the people of our little Colony. _ I think a great number of people re-' joiccd when 'Xmas day was over, as ! many chairs were empty that were once j died at the festive board, and many oved ones' absence was niourned.cuused by the wreck of the " Wairarapa," so that Xmas was a trying time to many 111 our fair city. Wo had two Christmas Eves, all the large establishments keeping open till a late hour both on Saturday and Monday night. The show of toys at the D.I.C was like lairyhtml to the juveniles. An enormous case, zinc lined, was filled with water, and steamboats, drcdgcs,and boats sailing up and down. In the centre ol the pond was an island on which swans, life size, weiv moving their heads from side to side. The perfection lo which mechanical toys have been brought is amazing. The slreels were thronged with sightseers who apparently' carried very limited purses, as the general opinion of shopkeepers here is that not so much money was spent this year as last. The theaires and entertainments, however, have had larger audiences than they have had room for. The Royal Comic Opera (Williamson and Musgrove) numbering (II) performers opened on BoxingiVightwith "Ma Mia Roscite." Hundreds are being turned away nightly. An old English Fair is being held on tho Caledonian Grounds every night. They have the switchback, Punch and Judy shows, greasy pole, catching the greasy pig, fireworks, etc., etc., and the grounds are illuminated by electricity. About, 1,5(X) nightly visit the Fair.

The weather lias been perfect; too much so in fact, as the people living on the hills have no water and are buying it, and the town clerk has a notice to the public begging of them to use the water supplied by the city carefully, in the event of ihedrmight being prolonged for any length of time. Mr Ernest Packer. Dimedin's sweetest tenor songster, passed away quietly at his residence, Forth-strcct. He caught a cold while playing in' Fabian' a few weeks ago, assisting our Amateur Operatic Company, and died of inllam. matiou of the lungs, leaving a bride o only three weeks to the loneliness o widowhood. Mr T. Faulkncr.our well known blind organist, of St. Paul's, is leaving us lor Chrislehuivh, where he has accepted another engagement. A presentation of a purse of sovereigns was made to him at Watson's Hotel, Mr Marl; Cohen making the presentation. A good many changes are lakiug place amongst the railway officials. Mr Grant is leaving us to lake charge of Auckland, and there is some talk of Mr Crombic (Oamarii station master) coming here to lake his place. A great number of people arc out of town for (he holidays, and numbers are in from the country. A gentleman called Mr Mitchell caphired a beautiful trout in the Waitaki. It weighed 17lbs, and in shape and colouring could scarcely he beaten. It is to be Irozenand sent Home as a sainplo of New Zealand brook trout.