OLD YEAR DIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1943, Page 6

OLD YEAR DIES

QUIETER STREETS

Except for the irrepressible spirits of youth, it was a-soberer crowd which saw the New Year in in Wellington streets than in recent years. It was also much smaller, the streets were much dimmer, owing to the cutting out of all the brighter shop lights which formerly added to the gala spirit of the time-honoured,occasion. Except in the purchase, of eatables shops did only moderate business. Manners Street and Cuba Street were, as usual, the most crowded, perhaps because more shops remained open there. Amongst the adults, it was a more subdued crowd in more ways than one. Possibly the beer shortage, and the fact that stronger liquors are almost unprocurable, had something to do with' that, while the fact that many stayed at **. home to entertain friends where the lights were not dimmed and where preparation had been made long ago for just this occasion, may have kept the more jubilant way of seeing the year out to parties indoors. Certainly there was less intoxication outside than in pre-war years. Nothing can dim the resilient heart of youth, and the scene was given life by groups of young men and women, passing in singing, eddying progress apparently as carefree as gnats on a summer night. The extent to which New Zealand is taking her part in the war was shown by the fact that quite half of "the crowd was made up of men and women in the various uniforms of the forces Lambton Quay, . opposite the old Government Buildings, where there is the only clock in the city to strike, was the gathering place towards midnight. It is difficult to achieve a stunning crescendo of sound without an adequate orchestra. Sirens were silent, and there were fewer cars to hoot, had they dared to break the emergency warning regulations. The lack of sound seemed strange. It did not prevent the : good-will gestures of the past, however, and joining hands people sang "Auld Lang Syne" with all the usual feeling. ~. . _ , I Doubtful looking weather deterred many outings on New Year's Day. The beaches were not so well patronised as ; on previous days, but the picture theatres were, crowded in the evening.