WELCOMING NEW YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19215, 2 January 1926, Page 10

WELCOMING NEW YEAR.

RAIN MARKS ITS ARRIVAL. LITTLE COMMOTION IN CITY. A VERY ORDERLY EVENING.It is customary to usher in the New Year with some degree of revelry, in which everyday sedateness is apt to give place to practical jokes and noise, but like Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve passed quietly in Auckland this yoar. A downpour of rain at midnight sufficed to damp any celebrations that might have been planned in tb.a city. Good numbers of people thronged Queen Street and Karangahapo Road from early evening, but the crowds were at no time uncomfortably 'large. The usual tram service in Queen Street was kept going without congestion, and the cars did not have to be diverted, as on Christmas Eve. Most of the people seemed to have come to see the bright lights and the crowds, rather than to shop, though some went on making purchases' until closing time, 10 o'clock. Theatres and refreshment places did good business. Only one band was in evidence in Queen Street, and its music for the most part consisted of familiar old English and Scottish airs. Horns, rattles, and other noise-makers were rather more common ihan a weok earlier, but on the whole people were remarkably quiet. Secure in the knowledge that the tram service would be extended until after midnight,, and that the motor-buses would not leave them in the lurch, a good number stayed on to see the old year out. A little after 11 o'clock rain began to fall, driving everybody to tno !»holte.T of the verandahs. Older folk mostly elected to go home, but many hundreds; remained, chiefly at the lower end of Queen Street, : where they could be sure of getting transport to th» suburbs. Merry parties. entertained themselves with mild skylarking and jokes, and two rival groups of youths on oue corner tried to outdo each other with ''Homo, Sweet Home" and "My Old Kentucky Home," sung in a variety of keys. As 1926 approached other choruses and college ""yells" competed with the noise of departing trams and motor-buses, and when the clock of the Ferry Buildings began to strike there was a wild din of motor horns, tram gongs, and shouts, but it was not kept up for long. Young and old beigan to scurry through the rain to the waiting vehicles, not relishing a walk home on such a night. A few revellers remained, but there was no temptation to play the. usual pranks. The Scottish element was not noticeable. Faint strains of bagpipes had been heard somewhere near Queen Street in the afternoon, but evidently at midnight Hogmanay was being celebrated elsewhere, most probably in the safe shelter of scores of homes all the city over. Steamers' syrens and the whistles of locomotives, as usual, gave the New Year its loudest welcome, arid their sound penetrated into even' the most distant suburbs.

YESTERDAY'S HOLIDAY. LARGE CROWDS ON THE MOVE.

The heavy rain that ushered in the New Year had an unfortunate effect cu yesterday's holiday. Many', people who had made arrangements to spend the day out-of-doors undoubtedly decided . against this course when heavy clouds gathered and intermittent showers fell in the morning. The crowds that have thronged the b.oaches during the past week' were th'nned considerably, although the patronage of ferry boats, trains and trams was an indication that holiday-makers were making the best of things. ,/* The races at Ellerslie attracted large crowds and before the first race 114 tramcars had left the city, while seven special trains conveyed 1600 passengers to the course. Ir. addition, motor-buses were well patronised. Nine excursions to various harbour resorts were run by the Northern Company, and all received good patronage. Rangitoto proved popular and it is estimated that over 500 people journeyed to the island. Devonport, as usual, received a largo quota, and the vehicular ferries were kept extremely busy all day. Over 1350 people travelled on the Bayswater ferry during the day. Train traffic showed a substantial _ increase on last year, and all suburban lines were freely patronised. Although three expresses were provided on the Main Trunk service last evening each drew out without a seat to spare. , The limited took 220 passengers, and the second express 250. The third wafe much larger, and the 550 passengers who travelled by it brought the total up to 1020._ Exceptionally heavy traffic is expected to-morrow evening, when three trains will leave for Wellington.. The- limited express and ordinary expresses will be followed by a train at 8.40, while another will leave at 9.5 for Frankton and intermediate stations only. If sufficient passengers offer,- this train might run right through to Wellington. Tho attendance at the Zoo was only about half that of the corresponding day last year, totalling about 2500. Here again the weather had an effect. GAIETY AT ROTOBTJA.

BANDS OF MASQUERADERS,

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] ROTORUA, Friday.

The passing of the Old Y.fcar was marked by memorable scenes in Rotorua. At eight o'clock crowds began to gather and hundreds of gaily-bedecked and lighted motor-cars paraded the streets. In the Government Gardens the Port Auckland Band played and hundreds jazzed merrily on the greens. Impromptu bands followed by processions of fancy-dress masqueraders flocked into the town square at 10 p.m., to hear a concert programme. The whole of the square area was banked with cars, over 300 C people being present. A platform had been erected, and the trees were hung with Chinese lanterns. The night was intensely dark, and the picturesque costumes and colours of the revellers made a most effective pantomime scene. The concert, assisted By the members of the Port Auckland Band, was a huge success. At midnight pandemonium was let loose, after which the masqueraders gathered in their forces and retreated t-o various boarding houses, where dancing was in full swing. There has never before been anything approaching the numbers of cars and visitors taking part in an entertainment in Rotorua, or such gaiety and enthusiasm. The geysers continue active, Pohutu being in holiday mood. There is no diminution in the tourist traffic. Motors continue to pour into Rotorua, many being loaded with camp equipment. But for the camping facilities there is no doubt that housing would fail to meet demands. Numbers are enjoying nil ideal holiday at very small cost. Visitors are most appreciative of the Borough Council's action in this re.spcct. '