BIRTH OF NEW YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17979, 3 January 1922, Page 6

BIRTH OF NEW YEAR.

AUCKLAND CELEBRATIONS. SCENES IN QUEEN STREET. HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS. Thousands of Aucltlanders celebrated the passing of the Old Year and the openinj; of the Now Year on Saturday night. In homes all over the city and suburbs th<s members of numerous families stayed up until midmjrht, when the sinking of "Auk! Lang Syne" and the shaking of handu was a favourite custom that still found popularity. In Queen Street animated crowds promenaded as the night drew on. Late picnickers and excursionists swelled the crowd, and by 11.30 p.m. the foot of Queen Street was packed with gay and exuberant throngs of people intent upon seeing the New Year in and liberally supplied with toy trumpets and "squeakers," which were blown by young and lusty lungs with a good deal of vigour and persistency. Numbers of the waiting people took advantage of the charabanc service to go for drives in rarious directions. On the stroke of midnight by the Ferry Building dock restraint broke loose, and 6houts, singing, and laughter, and the noisy explosion of fireworks were added to the babe! of noise from wind instruments and the sirens and whistles of the ships in port. Groups of people were to be seen shaking hands and offering each other good wishes for happiness and prosperity in the New Year. Everyone was in joyous mood. After some minutes the crowd which had closely packed the street in front of the Ferry Buildings began to disperse. A special late f xam service wae engaged in taking suburban residents home until well after midnight. The chief holiday attractions on Saturday were the Auckland Trotting Club's races at Alexandra Park, which were very 'largely attended. For bowlers there was the concluding day's play in the Auckland tournament. As New Year's Day fell on Sunday yesterday wa6 observed as a holiday, and the weather being perfect large numbers of citizens and visitors V'ere out and about early. The principal attraction was tlie third day of the Auckland Racing Club's meeting at Eller£iie- A very large crowd attended, the different, means of transport to the course being taxed to the utmost. As early as 9.30 a.m. special race trams were busy taking people to Remuera, and a heavily patronised train sen-ice also commenced about this time and continued until well after mid-day. Cricket enthusiasts found much to interest them in the Plunket Shield match at Eden Park between Auckland and Otago, which, opening on Staurday, was continued vesterday. The Caledonian Society's sports meeting in the Domain attracted a good many people, while hundreds of others spent the day at the innumerable seaside resorts enjoyed by Aucklanders. The ferry steamers Were crowded bv happy and parties spending the day picnicking. The various beaches were crowded with people, children having a most enjoyable The programme of holiday attractions for to-day includes the final day s racing of the Auckland Racing Club s Summer Meeting. A number of harbour and gulf excursions will be ruxi to the .difiert jt beaches and holiday resorts, and these will doubtless he taken advantage of by numerous pleasure seekers.. A special steamer service will bring campers in the Haurski Gulf back to the city in time for business to-morrow. HOLIDAY PASSENGER TRAFFIC. FULL TRAINS AND STEAMERS The Devonport Steam Feoy Company did not carry maty panseugers above the normal number on Saturday and Sunday, but yesterday record crowds ..thronged to the beaches. Rangitoto was well patronised and the service to Notutapu Island and St. Heliers Bay wai taken full advantage of. Large crowds favoured Milford and Takapuna beacfes and the frequent service run by the Takapuna Tram and Ferry Company was kept very The number of passengers travelling by train on Saturday was not unusual, although the afternoon Waikato; train took a full complement. On Sunday the two inward expresses from the south brought ahotft 900 passengers, and the short distance outward trains were fill. Large | crowds were carried yesterday, the racej trains alone conveying 5000 people to EUerslie, a greater total than «n the corresponding day last. year. The Henderson 3nd Helensville trains earned over 500 passengers and the outward midday express took about 300 to southern stations. Over 700 people came in to EUerslie by a special train from Hamilton; In the evening the two Main Trunk expresses carried outwards over. 800 passengers and the suburban lines, took picnickers home. The temporarj booking office outside the station has proved of gredlt benefit in relieving the congestion in the inquiry office. Already all the accommodation on the outward expresses for the next few days is Booked.