NEW YEAR'S EVE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 199, 5 January 1942, Page 5

NEW YEAR'S EVE

SCENES IN THE STREETS PIPE BAND ASSISTS OUT But for the Pipe Band, Whakatane's New Year's Eve would have been hard to> discern from -any other shopping nigiht ■during' the year. The crowd though not -as large as usual was nevertheless i'n 'a gay miood and fully an|ticijpa)ted< something whilich! would either give or assist in the making of entertainment. The Pipers, filled the gap and by playing through most of the • shops infused animation and! colour to the proceedings which until the band's appearance were in danger of becoming flat. Blackout, benzine restrictions, and *so many away had a very sobering effect on the scene which was in direct contrast to the liveliness of the Carnival: programme promoted U by the Chamber of Commerce last The Maoris, however decided very early that they were out to make the best of it and their appearance in town dated from o p.m. - onwards. Carnival hats and novelties were quickly produced, and it was not long before the street was filled with natives from all parts flaunting some piece of gaiety. How the transport ■ .difficulty was overcome is a mystery, but it would be safe to say that the crowd on the main was a Maori one, and that they certainly made the most of the occasion, even though their Pakelia friends-failed to give the same response as in past years. Groups of singers, assisted by tf\ stray guitar or a mandolin, were to be seen up and down the Strand til! midnight but apart from that there 'was little to indicate the occasion. A group of youths near the Rock •carried away by high spirits attempt ed to do a little mountaineering but quickly relinquished the idea on the approach of the arm of the law. There was however very little attempts at boisterousness and according to the police the whole holiday has been rather remarkable. There was a complete absence of ■ arrests of any kind, and the ciowds were most orderly and disciplined. In and Out the Shops The approach of the pipers about 8.30 p.m. was the signal: for new life in the street. The band aftei playing up and down the Strand soon had a goodly quota of followers, all bent on a bit of fun. Forming into' a single line, the 'Scotties' played in and out the shops for an hour and a half. The din of their entry in the smaller business premises only helped to ensure their : greater welcome. They were greeted with smiles and applause everywhere while the followers who danced 'in their wake brought trade and brightness . The Theatre Stormed A humorous interlude occurred at the Regent Theatre* through'which it had evidently been. arranged to play at half-time. By some iniscal- • culation the band, pipes playing, and -drums beating happened along just -.at the moment when the patrons were making the interval exodus. A slight faux pas, in which the tartan ;and the civvies mingled in a flurry colour was overcome when the rushed to the rescue and formed an alley-way through the •crowd. As one Scot said ■ afterwards •"It's a' in a nicht's work. At any rate it was New Year's Eve, an' that •oor nicht, isn't it." The band was certainly the life •of the town, and we are informed by the Pipe Sergeant that it was the aim of the pipers to play in all shops, but owing to the number of --customers they were prevented from ' so doing in one or two instances. Successful Dances The only feature at midnight, as far as Whakatanc was concerned was the dance in. the King Street Hall, and the one at the Captain's •Cabin, Ohope. In both instances the ■occasion was marked at midnight by a special dance and a demonstra-' tion by those present.