AROUND DUNEDIN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5215, 28 December 1895, Page 2

AROUND DUNEDIN.

[by scotoh mist.] 1 May the joy of Chrißtmastide- 1 Strong to aid aad obeer, I Ever in your heart abide I Through the glad New Year. , Christmas Eve, Christmas has, indeed, commenced ' here. The shops are beautifully decorated, and as business is much . brisker, and money more plentiful than it has been for the last two seasous, everything points to a happier Xmas for all. The D.I.C. Las very special attractions for the youngsters, This afternoon (Tuesday) they advertised a special aftornoon for children, when all sorts of mechanical toys wore put in motion, A huge lake, with an island in the centre, in the show room, and on which somo twenty steamers were plying, was a great attraction to boys both big and small, and was fearfully crowded. The breaking-up of the Boys' and Girls' High Schools, took place Inst week, and both were important ceremonies, owing to both Head Masters' farewell to their pupils. The High School boys decorated their playground, erecting triumphal arches over tho gateways, and made Dr, Bolclier two handsome presentations, as he is leaving not only tho High School in which lie has taken such pride, but the Colony will no longer bo his home, much to tho regret of all Dunedinites. His magnificent library is being sold, together with his household furniture, Mr Wilson, M.A., who took farewoll of tho girls of the High School,made a most felicitous speech, | As he is taking Dr Belcher's place, t and not leaving Dunedin, and as lie puts it, "Ho is only going higher up tlio hill to teach the girls' brothel's . instead of them," Was not like say- ' iiii? good-bye to them altogether, but I noticed many of the girls had moist eyes and handkerchiefs were in great [ demand, They certainly did not liko losinpf their principal.

The Hose Show was held to-day, a week later than usual, as it had to be postponed on account of all the very wet weather experienced lately spoiling nil the flowers. The bad weather came to an end last Sunday, after a pheuominally tropical thunderstorm, which lasted just 20 minutes, flooding the guttors and drains, and breaking culverts—it was a perfect deluge. Three lads who wero out in a sailing boat were caught in the storm, and the boat was capsized, The two oldest boys—William Stronacli, aged 20 years, and Herbert Forsyht, aged 17 years—were both drowned. The youngest boy, aged 9, brother to Herbert was, however, saved by a fisherman who was in another boat a short distance off and bolicld the accident. This makes the seventh person drowned within three months, all boys out in small boats that they do not understand how to manage. The poor man Robertson who was lost in tiie bush at the top of the flagstaff was found after a week's diligent searching. He was lying across a log and had evidently been dead somo days. Mr Wales, our now Mayor, is being installed to day. It is to be hoped that Mr Fish will now retire into private life as he said he would do. His friends and admirers mado him a presentation of 100 guineas on Monday evening as a panacea for his disappointment, but it isn't so much

money that Mr Fish craves as for honours; the gratification of holding a public position giving him power and influence.

The Otago Cricketers' Japanese Fair was opened in the Garrison Hall on Tuesday evening, and a wonderful oriental pageant it is. One hundred and fifty persons, all dressed in full Japanese costume, go through some wonderful dances, both with gongs, umbrellas and fans, Tho stalls aro filled and draped with the colours belonging to their respective Clubs, and a mora attractive entertainment it would bo difficult to find, Some very handsome prizes are to be drawn for on tho last evening of the Fair, tho first prize being a very large oil painting from the brush of Wilson, valuod at 40 guiucas. As tho New South Welshmen will

bo hero on Friday, Saturday nnd Monday, thoy will bo entertained every night at the fair. Cricket is such a splendid old English game, and seems to lwve a great many more admirers than football, so 1 hope this Fair in aid of the Cricketers' Association, will bo a success, The Caledonian Sports to be held on New Year's Day, will bo one of the special features of the holidays, as there is usually an immenso "Gathering of the Clans" on such occasion. The New Year being observed far more by the Scotch people as a holiday than Christmas itself, The U.S.S. Company are advertising an excursion to Stewart Island, leaving here on 'Xmas eve, returning 011 Friday morning in time for business Given lino weather this will be a delightful outing, the scenery being so beautiful tlio whole passage down, I saw Mr Malcolm JlcPherson, Managing Director of the Loan and Mercantile Company in town yesterday, but 1 understand he will bo in tho Umpire City again for tho 'Xmas holidays, Dean Fitahett preached a farewell sermon at All Saint's on Sunday morning last, joining the" Wailiora" tho same afternoon, which sailed for the Bluff, The rev. gentleman, I hear, has gono without making any arrangement whatever for his placo to be Hilled.

I Lear afashionablo wedding is to take place early iu the venr, when Miss Neil, eldest dmigiitor of Mr P. C. Neil, is to bo united to Mr Rattray. As the parents of both brido and bridegroom, are old identities and merchants of this city, no doubt the wedding will be a most interesting one.

The town is very full of country people, who are selling their wool, or else attending the sales. Tho first wool sale of tho season commences to-morrow (Thursday.) Apropos of farmers visiting tho town, tho following veracious and amusing story is told:-An old Scottish farmer visiting his sou here, was takeu by him to the Theatre, oue night when a comedy was to be played. The sceuo opened with, a domestic squabble From high words the actors camo eventually to I blows, and confusion for the time, noted on the stago. The old man eyed the proceedings for some time, with curiosity; but, at length, turniug to his son, he whispered," Weel Jamie, I think we'll gang hame, for I sco naething will be dune here the nicht, as they,, Jiae evidently fa'len oot among themsal's."

An old lady also from.the rnral districts lately in town thought to visit onr museum and as she was carrying.an aggressive-looking umbrella of the last decade, eho was

aaked to leave it at the entrance by the man in charge, " What fur r ■ Oan I no get takin' it in wi' me P she naked in surprise. " No," replied the caretaker," you might push it throngli a picture or knook some of the casos with it." With a freezing v look the lady replied," Deed namon I'm no sae daft. I think faur mnir o' ma umbrella! Now as I have come to the end <A,my notes, I mast wish everyone whtyP reads them very much happiness at' this festive season and a New Year without care.