THOUSANDS CROWD SQUARE TO WELCOME NEW YEAR

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28783, 2 January 1959, Page 3

THOUSANDS CROWD SQUARE TO WELCOME NEW YEAR

While some celebrated by sitting at home listening to the radio and others attended parties, the biggest combined celebration was made up of the thousands who thronged Cathedral square to welcome the New Year.

The crowd, which began to gather shortly alter 11 p.m., swelled rapidly minutes before midnight, as a theatre showing finished. and as cars, bumper to bumper, were left empty around the square as merry-makers jumped out and joined the celebrations.

The crowd was not restricted to youth. Elderly persons sat around the Cathedral. One woman sat in her whedchair and watched youths and their girl friends playing guitars and singing the last minutes of tie old year out. Others crowoed around the Ladies’ Highlanc Pipe Band, and a small group oi the balcony ol a hotel watched as a few joined hands and begaa to sing “Auld Lang Syne.” Th< singing did not spread and not nany finished before the Cathedral bells began to peal away tbe oil year. No Inddents

Policemen joke! with the crowd and there were so incidents. A few persons proiiced bottles for their last drink of the year. Others donned coloured paper hats and got out their whistles. As the Post Office clock sounded the new year fireworks were set off, and peopte in the crowd danced about. One group led what sounded like a school haka, whistles blew ind motor-car horns honked.

Minutes later many left the square, while others began' parties on the spot. A group of youths, girls and some American sailors, rock ’n’ rolled, accompanied by a guitar at the Godley statue. A lone piper played by the War Memorial.

One man, ran barefooted around the crowd offering one and all a drink from his flagons of beer—his wife, or girlfriend, followed a few yards behind—carrying his

shoes and socks and imploring him to put them on. A group of youths:ran a party by the War Memorial. They sang as one of the group played a piano accordian and they delved into a large crate of beer beside them.

By one o’clock, the square wes beginning to empty. Some youths pushed a red sports car in an endeavour to get it started; a few persons stood talking in small groups and the youths at the War Memorial, with their beer nearly finished were preparing to move on.

NEW YEAR’S EVE TRADING Fruit And Tomatoes Popular Trading at the Christchurch produce markets on New Year’s Eve was very steady. Large quantities of tomatoes and fruit were available with many private buyers in attendance. Locally-grown tomatoes were cheapC selling from 9d to Is 2d a lb. They dropped about Is 3d a lb during the Christmas trading period. Peaches and apricots were also in demand. Good quality peaches sold up to 12s a tray and 10s to 14s a case. Similarly, apricots sold from 18s to 22s 6d. Cherries sold up to 31s 6d a case or 2s to 3s a lb. Plums were plentiful and. according to quality, sold from 5s to 9s a case. Lettuce were available from 9s to 14s a dozen. In the shops, various retailers were busier in the morning when peaches and apricots were in demand. Both sold for Is 6d a lb. New season’s pumpkins were Is a lb and runner beans, at 2s 6d a lb, sold well. Lettuces varied from Is to Is 9d. QUIET PERIOD FOR TAXIS Demand Not As Great A fairly quiet New Year was experienced by taxi businesses in Christchurch, and only for a few hours from late New Year’s eve until early yesterday morning was there any appreciable rush for vehicles. The period was generally considered to be much quieter than last year. No great demands were made on vehicles on Wednesday until about 10.30 p,m., and from then until after 4 a.m yesterday morning business was very brisk It slackened off after this and throughout most of yesterday, and even although a race meeting at Addington, roller skating practice, and other attractions were conducted in the city, business was described by a spokesman for one taxi firm as “fairly dea£?*< The official said business generally during December was much quieter than in the previous year, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day when considerably more requests for fares than could be handled by all the taxis in service, were made He attributed the falling-off in demand thia. year to persons not having as much money free!* available for spending as i other years. Other officials al] reported quieter period than usual, r some said the fine conditions throughout the holidays had probably attracted many Aore people away from the city than in other years. Special Church Services Services for the New Year were held yesterday in the Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches At 11.30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, a Watchnight Service was held by the Salvation Army at the Victoria street Citadel For Roman Catholics, Masses were held for the Holy Day of Obligation—the Feast of the Circumcision It was customary in the Lutheran Church to hold services at New Year, Pastor G. A Doecke said His text was, “Today if you will hear my voice, open up your hearts.” Whether services were held in Church of England, Methodist, or Presbyterian churches was left to the individual parishes to decide