CHRISTMAS SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17040, 23 December 1918, Page 9

CHRISTMAS SEASON.

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS.

HEAVY RAILWAY TRAFFIC.

The return to more normal conditions brought about by the cessation of hostilities is reflected in the demeanour of citizens, all of whom display a jubilant spirit and show a tendency to celebrate this Chmtmae, the first after the great World War, in similar manner to those of prewar days. And this despite the fact that the Dominion is just recovering from a serious epidemic. There is a cheerfulness prevailing everywhere, and with the adve"t' <»» SJ,ell of glorious weather, which, judged by present indications, promises to continue, the Christmas season of 1918 bids fair to bo an successful as those of bygone years. The city is already full of visitors, and although largo numbers of citizens have gone, and are going, to the seaside resorts, country districts, and Southern town?, it is especially noticeable that visitors to tho city greatly outnumber the departures. All through tho last week, boats, trains, and other means of conveyance have brought their quota to town, and accommodation at hotels and Ooardinghouses is now at a premium. Holiday arrangements have been completed, and thero are attractions to suit most testes. In addition to tho lure of the beaches, excursions will be run to such popular resorts as Waiheke, Kawau, Waiwera, Arkle's Bay, Orewa, and Great Barrier. The Suburban Cricket Association has arranged a match between Auckland representatives and a team from Lower Waikato, and this will bo played at the Domain on Christmas Day. The Auckland Centre will open a " bowling tournament on local greens on Boxing Day. A special feature is a carnival, comprised of seven days' racing. The Summer Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club will bo held on the beautiful Ellerslio racecourse, which is now looking at its best, on December 26 and 23, and January 1 and 4, and admirers of light-harness horses will be catered for by the Auckland Trotting Club, which will hold a meeting at Alexandra Park on December 27 and 30, and January 2. Then thero is the theatre. At His Majesty's, a J. C. Williamson Company, headed by Miss Muriel Starr, will open a season of drama on Boxing Night, vaudeville ■ entertainment will be provided at the Opera House, .-.nd special programmes will be submitted at the picture houses The Railway Department is not issuing excursion tickets, but a number of special trains have been provided. A decided improvement in the number of people travelling on the railways was noticeable during the week-end, and it is quite evident that the Christmas " rush" has now set in. On Saturday the 9.15 a.m. train, which usually carries passengers for Rotorua, Thames, and Cambridge, did not carry passengers for the Rotorua line, a special express being despatched .to Rotorua at 9.30 a.m. These two trains conveyed about 500 passengers, while the two trains inward-bound from the same districts conveyed about 600 people. The two expresses which arrived at Auckland from j Wellington on Saturday each brought about 275 passengers. " A special des- ! patched for Wellington at 7.10 p.m. on Saturday was only fairly patronised, about 100 people travelling from this city. Yesterday the accommodation on the expresses from Wellington was taxed to its utmost, every seat Deing occupied. The passengers numbered slightly over 300 on each train. A special express arrived from Palmerston North at 5.40 a.m. with 250 passengers. The two outward-bound expresses last night each carried approximately 250 travellers. Late trains will be run between AuckI land and Henderson, and Auckland and I Papakura to-morrow evening. A limited : time-table will be run on Christmas Day, i and on Boxing Day special trains will be ; run to the Ellerslie racecourse, while a j train will leave Auckland for Helensville I at 8.40 a.m.

The usual Christmas Day and New Year's Day tram services will bo maintained.

The usual Christmas holidays will be J observed by the various business institutions. Banks, insurance offices, and Government offices will be closed from Decernber 25 to 28 inclusive, and on January 1 and 2. The Supreme Court vacation comi menced on Saturday and will extend to | January 31 next. 'The office will close i from to-morrow to January 3 inclusive, but will be open until 1 p.m. daily for jth< remainder of the vacation, with the I exception of Saturdays when the office will I closest 12 noon.

The Magistrate's Court will close this afternoon and will reopen on January 4, and members of the Auckland La* Society will close their offices to-day, but will not reopen until Monday, January 13. The Auckland Stock Exchange will not resume business until January 6. The office of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association will be closed from to-morrow to January 11, inclusive.