WET NEW YEAR’S DAY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28474, 2 January 1958, Page 8

WET NEW YEAR’S DAY

Quietest Holiday

Since 1942

Not since 1942 has there been a more unpleasant New Year’s Day in Canterbury than yesterday: Light rain fell continuously from early in the morning until the late afternoon, when it became heavier.

Although play in the Dominion bowling tournament was postponed for the day after bowlers had waited in the shelter of pavilions for two hours, the main sporting event of the day in the Christchurch district—the opening of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting—was held The track deteriorated during the afternoon and the second day of the meeting, fixed for today, was abandoned.

The club’s New Year’s day meeting in 1942 was postponed because of heavy overnight rain making racing on the track dangerous. The weather on the morning that day was dull and threatening but the afternoon was brilliantly fine. It was perhaps the quietest New Year’s Day on record as travel restrictions were in force and petrol rationing kept cars off the roads.

Yesterday the streets of the inner area of Christchurch were deserted except before and after the picture theatre sessions. The last New Year’s Day on which rain fell in Christchurch was that of 1949. The fall was early in the morning and the day was fine.