EASTER FESTIVAL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2560, 10 April 1928, Page 5

EASTER FESTIVAL.

INFLUX OF VISITORS TO TE KUITI. FINE WEATHER PREVAILS, The 1928 Easter festival was. celebrated locally in, for the most part, fine weather, punctuated by several autumnal showers and a suggestion of seasonable chilliness.

Eiaister, the Feast of the Resurrection, is regarded by the Christian Churches as the year's most sacred season to which even Christmas must give place. Though primarily a time for religious devotion and ceremonies, it is at the same time one for rejoicing, which takes the form of holidaymaking, family re-unions, and sporting fixtures. In all these respects, the festival wa's observed locally, \ The town was thronged with -visitors from many parts of the Island, many of. whom make) Te Kuiti their annual E'aster Mecca in order to be present at, and participalte in tho< sports meeting held here and at Otorohanga and Pio Pio. In addition to those who remained here over the iseaison, there were many visitors from all pai-ts to inspect the Oaves, and these in addition .to those Avho were en route North and Souths caused local hotels to be packed to overflowing. Local and all other motor services had at very busy time, there being great numbers travelling. The number of private cars on the roads was stated by a .number : of motorists to be in excess of that during, the last Christmas season.

VISITORS TO OAVES

There was. a very large number of visitors to the "Waitomo Caves, and the motor (traffic thereto has 'been enormous. The management at. the hostel has found, it difficult to cope with the rush of visitors which was especially heavy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Booldngs for the season had to be closed over a fortnight "ago, and hundreds had to be turned away from the hostel over Easter.. It was found necessary to provide extra guides to conduct the parties through the Caves,, and these were taken through in fifties and sixties. A number of the visitors, among them several from overseas, while expressing themselves greatly impressed with the Caves, had one loud complaint—"the roads."

Many local residents took their departure from Te Kuiti and made for the cities and other attractive resorts, and whilst the town was thronged with visitors, it was almost deserted as far as its residents, holiday bent, were concerned. Thursday. evening Inst in Te Kuiti presented the most animated sight that hais been seen in the main street for many months. The advent of the festive season was given expression in the large crowds in Rora Street. An old local resident remarked to a Chronicle reporter that he had not seen a- greater- crowd in the streets for years, Christmas Eve not excepted. Easter eggs and the hundred and one other novelties and fancies associated with the season met with a ready demand. The tenor of the season .was enlivened by the presence of a pipe band from Auckland comprising members, of the Auckland Corporative Pipe Band under the baton of Mr D. K. Court, who, together with members of his band, is now a familiar figure in these parts during Easter. On Saturday night the band .hiairched to the Parish Hall where the' Friendly Societies' dance was in progress, followed by a large crowd.