A FAIRYLAND.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 December 1924, Page 4

A FAIRYLAND.

CHRISTMAS ; IN HAWERA. % ACTIVITIES IN. THE TOWN. GAY SPIpflT PREVAILS If snow; were to gently fall to-day ancl cover tbe streets of - Hawera with a carpet of white, the town would present an appearance typical bf the Old World and exactly , akin ; to the .fairy scenes Uepicted on Christmas cards. ■ ' As . lfc is the townspeople have risen to the occasion, and apart from the snow there is absolutely no difference between the gay seeiies characteristic o older days in the Homeland and the minds.. of_ many adults who stroll along the; gaily lighted/ thoroughfares : - to-night aiid see the beautiful dis- ; plays, particularly of children's 5 toys, will harken hack y. to scenes of long ago before the cares of the world were apt Lo _ mar the undiluted happiness which should- prevail at; this season of the year; , There. Can be no 'doubt but that no community in New Zealand, has enn J or e whole-heartedly .into the °r Christmasfcide than Hawera. Retailers, with the splendid ,co-opera- 1 tion. of the Borough Council, have converted.; the; town • into a ; vertitabJ© fairyland. , The community lighting system , inaugurafed: recently* has/enabled the; townspeople; to' add greatly to the beauty of the iscene. ■.■■■■ A * series' ■ of _ coloured - lights, by the way; in High Street, would no doubt have had A. still more striking effect. ROUND THE TOWN. indlcations point to a record - Christmas from the point of view of trade. 'The shops! display; heavy stocks of, goods all calculated ; * to' at--tract Christmas purchasers, and there is no denying the fact that the retailers have a bigger and better collection of goods from which customers may choose, than ever before. This, combined with , the - fact that at no previous time lias Hawera been made to appear so attractive, should . bring tlie best results. --.1 ‘.

Tins morning a steadily increasing trade was noticeable, ; and < as ' oars brought their loads inti* High Street the footpaths became busier, Children, with toys and squeakers, made ' their appearance early; the noise con- ■ tnbuting to the happy Christmas' atmosphere. -As the/day; wore' oil' the scene ' became more animated; and this afternoon and- evening; will. fin.d . the 5 ' business area densely crowded, rwhilo-V '• inside the, shops busy hands;: will do v - their best to serve ; their, customers /■ with as little delay as .possible. y-To-night the attraction will be the . strongest. The wonderful lighting V effects, will be. seen to the best’' advah-1 1 -for. ampngst the geileral scheme of-decorations; the illuminatibhkv will 1 create a. Christmas sceite ' which it would be hard to improve; on. ' -J further attraction ~vand one which * has been awaited .with interest, is the / . I appearance ~of - (the i Hawera ’ Municipal Band under the new con/ diictor, ■ Mr. Fox.. y,; From :what one v\ hears of. the recent practices, the residents of the town' may. be prepared to be agreeably surprised. The speciak -lighting is really comprehensive, fpr: in addition to; the community lighting, scheme of over eighty lights; numerous extra installations have - been made. Between the Princes Street and Victoria 'Street' interseetidiis seven ; strings: of lights I have' been : swung across /High .'Street, .'and i;■■ as if this were not enough two-'2OOO ' caudle power and two 1000 candle power lights have,been hung over four of • the principal intersections. One of the 2000 candle power lights does duty iat the south Road and Princes . Street Intersection, and the other at the 'High and Princes Street intersection. .At ;.the; Union Street ■ corner there is installed the latest. in lighting in the form of a 1000 candle power light.” The remaining large light is at the intersection of Victoria Street and High Street. iHOW TO SPEND THE HOLIDAYS: '

People iin South Taranaki will have ample opportunity ot spending their holidays Happily, ror this year there is no of pleasant resorts and means for reaching them. The barometer has' risen considerably during the past two: days, and. it is hoped, that a spell of fine weather will be ‘experienced after the recent gales. Those who enjoy racing have two meetings which will claim their attention, and on Friday (Boxing Lay) and Saturday .the Taranaki Jockey Club’s course will no doubt attract, large gatherings, and on New Year's Ijiry and the day after the Stratford dubs popular meeting 'will be held. The Railway Department has made speoial train arrangements for both fixtures and excursion fares Will be charged. These meetings should provide, many excellent races. No doubt the “call of the beach” will be heard by many people v to whom the days spent by tne sea in its life-giving atmosphere spell happiness and renewed health./ THe Waingongoro and Opuhake beaches will be brought within easy reach by the motor Ngaere, Gardens, which Jiave enjoyed increasing popularity, will present, scenes of life and gaiety. Lester Bros, announce that a special train 1 has been arranged for and the proprietors have special efforts to cater for the numerous yisi-> tors. The Stratford Citizens’ Band will be present on Boxing Day;' Mount Egrnont, of whose glories: visitors never tire, will prove another,' centre of attraction, and the traffic on the roads leading to Dawson Falls will be heavy during the next week or. two. ' : . v '

Even these places of attraction , do 1 not exhaust the opportunities for those who desire to spend happy hours amid beautiful surroundings. King Edward Park, with its beautiful shrubs and' flowers, Turuturu-Mokai, closely ■ associated with the early history of the district, and Te Ngutu-o-te-ManU, also having old associations, are spot® worth visiting. 1 ■ /. In the realm of sport cricketers, bowlers and tennis, players will no doubt make good use of the holidays, while in the evenings the picture theatres will present attractive ’ programmes.

To-night the gaily decorated and well-lighted streets should be thronged with happy crowds, and shopkeepers are anticipating heavy business. Everything points to the Christmas season this year proving most enjoyable.