CHRISTMAS CROWDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1009, 27 December 1910, Page 9

CHRISTMAS CROWDS.

. _ BUYING PRESENTS '■- THE- STREETS ON SATUEDAY. ' Christmas shopping this year was at-. traded .with some unpleasantness', by reason of tho strong galo that swept the city without intermission throughout last week, but .it. would take fiercer.and more persistent. blasts than were ever experienced in our "windy City of tho Straits" to, intcrfero seriously with tho ancient Yuktido propensity to walk about the streets looking for something to give to somebody. . Day by day, during the latter, half of the weeK, the 'shopping crowds increased. .-Wellington seemed" to be, not emptying, but filling,: for tho holidays. Tho fact probably is that tho going to and fro ot tho population at Cnrisamfs timo leaves about as many people in tho city as there, are at' other tinies.. Tho difference- is that in the days just before tho twenty-fifth they pour, with one consent, into "the central streets to make their seasonablo purchases. i Tho forenoon of Christmas Eve, when tho heavens cleared, and only an occasional white cloud, scudding across the blue, briefly jnterrunted tho sunshine, was the climax of, tho merry spending' time. It was like nothing so much as the swarming of bees. That commingling of happiness and perplexity, purpose and recklessness, which is experienced in tho peculiar, buzz and the whirling movements of those great migrations of the hive, was written plainly on the worried but smiling faces and the in the • eager, though irregular, movements of the shoppers. Ipstcad of tho usual steady going to and'-fro along tho sidewalks, there.' was no eudor stopping and looking into windows, tho entering end leaving tho still more tempting interiors, and pausing hero and there for exchango of greetings. Some people shopped furtively, as though -,in .fear that a" "plotted surpriso would he spoilt by the sudden appearand of, tho intended recipient of" the ■ gift. Others moved in pairs—husband and wife—lover and lass, girl friends, schoolmates, brother and sister, greybeard and -grandchild. And, best of all, there were_ tlto family groups, pater and mater leading the foray on the toy shops, and piling the booty around babv in the go-cart, and only sorry that they, had to say'"No" to so many entreaties that they would have liked to grant. But. it was in the afternoon "and evening that most of these family parties were seen. , Hour after hour the , swarming lasted, and tho happy hum of the givers and gatherers .of.the honey of goodwill | went up from all ■ tho sidewalks. Shop i assistants were courteous through all tho rush, and smiled'in spite of Weariness. Buyers, with . parcels hung about them, .as reckless of "appearances as of tho inevitable climb, from tho terminus to tho home-perch on/the, high slope, dashed, to the overloaded bars. '■ ' ' .■ • Evening came, and after a brief interval of reduced not suspended—animation,' the crowds renewed themselves. And .now the sidewalks wore top.narrow, arid they.,! spread all over the street. ■. The cars could only move slowly and with much clanging ,of gongs. ;,-,;1t.-:was an enlarged edition, a glorious-exaggeration, of the usual Saturday night'. Shopping-was.still brisk, but'good-humoured idleness was the prevailing note.. Juveniles and some others, to whom anv noise is joyful, performed slrcpitoso.on" the latest puffing and claekI ing instruments of. the top-shops* Real music was dispensed bv a band, and bluejackets from tho Pioneer contributed •rather over-bibulous comedy. At 10 o'clock the crowds were visibly thinning, land well before : midnight the streets were quiet again. ~.

. ON THE TRAMS. , ' The trams had a busy day's work, but it is problematical whether the day's traffic will eclipso tho volume of business done for'tho, corresponding day last year. However, the-figures are not yet available, and will notjjo immediately. The traffic to Lyall Bay was very heavy, also the traffic-to Seatoun. Every available' car was on'tho lines in, order to copo with tho traffic. HEAVY RAILWAY TRAFFIC, The number of • people whose inclinations van towards tho country yesterday put a heavy strain on tho railway officials. The number of" passengers to Paekakariki or : intermediate- stations was 12-13, and beyond ■ Paekakariki 1300. With tho Thorndon figures,' tho total to Paekalcariki was swelled; to 1600. Between 2000 and 2500 people visited the Catholic picnic at Khandallah.": For stations between Wellington and Upper Hutt about 2500 tickets were issued, and about 3500 booked for stations beyond Upper Hutt. -~- CATHOLIC PICNIC. The' Catholic picnic, held yesterday at Khandallah, proved in every respect a complete success. Perfect weather favoured the occasion, and the day was cue of enjoyment to all who participated'. Prior- to the departure of the special picnic trains, a procession of children, headed by the Garrison Band, marched from Boulcott Street to Thorndon Station. Two. special, trains and three others that left during-the forenoon wero crammed with people travelling to the scene of the picnic at Khandallah. It is estimated that over three, thousand people made-tho journey, of-whom about one thousand were children.., Many of tho Catholic clorgy attended tho picnic, nnd it was visited during the day by his Grace, Archbishop Redwood. No better spot could have .been found for a picnic ■than the extensive grounds (owned by tho Onslow Borough Council) which were 'selected for the occasion. Ample .open spaces were available for the'main body 'of holiday-makers, and charming gullies closo at 'hand provided a wealth of pleasant'retreats for those who preferred to wander away in separate parties. Tho Khandallah School Committeo kindly placed local school at the disposal !ci the Picnic Committee. Tho Garrison Baud played selections at intervals ■ throughout tho day. A sports meeting for children occupied the greater part of the day, and. a tempting array of prizes aroused keen competition. In a harrier raco from Khandallah to .Tohnsonvillo and back, first plnce was taken by a competitor named O'Sullivan. A Picnic Committee, with Father J. Hickson as chairman, and Mr. J. W. Calla-ghan as secretary, very successfully discharged an onerous task of organisation. Tho big picnic party, returned safely to town in the evening, not a single mishap having marred tho pleasure- of tho day.

AT OHIRO HOME. Though Christmas Jay whs spent rather quietly at the Ohiro Home, those, of the inmates who were not visiting friends were treated-to good cheer. An excellent Christmas dinner, was provided, the tables and the Home being specially decorated. Presents were also distributed to the. old people, and in' general the day was made as pleasant as possible for them. • Floral Tribute.—Gifts of ' rare oiid choiee Flowers are always-acceptable for friends or relatives. Designed and arranged artistic emblems are always to be wen at HISS MURRAY'S, Vice-Regal Florist, 36 Willis Street. Tel. 2G5. Wedding Bouquets and designs sent. to any part of Dominion.—Advt. 'For Up-to-date Costumes, seasonable and well cut; go to W. S. Bedford, 43a Willis Street, over Shop occupied by V. Cohen, Mercer.—* For Children's Hacking Cough at night, :Wood's Great Peppermint Cure, Is. Gd., 2s. Gd.-Advt, ■•