CHRISTMAS EVE IN NELSON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 305, 28 December 1896, Page 2

CHRISTMAS EVE IN NELSON.

The time may be hard, and there may bo very fow signs of the depression lifting ; but Nelson people, especially the young folk, devote at Jeast ono ovening in the year to ouldoor enjoyment regardless of the cares to come, and that is OliriatmiLs Kve. The good old fashion of purchasing gifts for the little ones and presents for ouch othei 1 bus a very pfcrong hold on a community which is rather proud to be considered itself somewhat old-fash-ioned, and Santa Clans, though he may bo repudiated elsewhere, still holds court here. It is very probable that so far ns the actual "shopping" is concerned it is mostly done during the week, and that the majority of the people come out tin Christmas Eve more to see and be seen than to buy ; but a large trade is done, nevertheless, on that last busy night before the succeeding close holiday, for each child, even the poorest, has a little something to spend, und is eager to spend it. Then there is the sudden discovery at home that certain essentials for the Christmas dinner have been lorgotten, or that in the busy preparations for the season, Mary's present, or John's gift, or the Christmas card for the friend far away needs buying at the last moment, Hence it is that one and al 1 urn out on Christman Kve on a shopping expedition, and the business places have to prepare for a late and busy night, though all the week the Christmas orders have been pouring in and goods have been delivered. The shop assistant and the carter b,y no means find Chrisfmas Eve .sinecure, and indeed to them Christmas Day itself is generally a period of necessary rest after a long and arduous vigil the night liufore, As usual the principal streets of the city were thronged with people, and hundreds came in from the country, perhaps for the first and only time in the year. Old friends met arid 'exchanged pleasant greetings, and the most season^ nblc good humour and jollity prevailed The Xo Pican of fcjanta Claus is anng on Christmas Eve in a toy symphony and the iifusic is, tq say the leaab of it, monqtonous; but who, would have the custom abolished, even though It is ar R ued ! froni tb? e.W4u»& love of -noise that we ar.e not O.W ?FB>» r he^Pfoaf savage after all 2 ""■*««" Mm. BfiDfty Rustle do The 8(i.... hfcyg the supreme, no harm, and ■„. t -~ fchat tto (fo virtue of things munuau v . ' -~ «tb not last. The instruments of tortuic soon gathered that the bosom of the " "Ghost of Christmas >vas past," and in a few daya they, have but a memory, and y not an unpleasant memory either. .>

There did not seem to be any diminution in the orowds in^he streets on Christmas Eve, 1896 compared with those of previous years and the decorations of the shops weie very creditab.e. Tbe utmost good humour -prevailed and complete order and decorum we:e observed. Thongh some thousands were in the streets, and though the public houses did a roaring crade the absence ol larrikinism wasvery marked. To those used to a Christmas Eve celebration in the cities and towns of Australia this pleasant feature appealed with especial force. By 10*30 the crowd began to melt away, and by 11 , 30 - very few people were left ; but the bnsiness of the night was by no means over. Even though the shop doors were closed and the shutters were np, those inside were busy making up paroels and the woik of the assistants and carters did not end till well into Christmas morning. These caterers to the convenience of the public did not see tbeir beds till " the wee short hours ayont the twal," and they- thoroughly deserved their Christmas rest and tho holiday outings of the following days,