NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19832, 30 December 1927, Page 8

NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.

CLOSING OF THE SHOPS.

AN EXTENDED WEEK-END.

RACING AND SPORTS FIXTURES.

Another extended week-end, from the poitit of view of the closing of business premises, planned exactly as was the Christmas spell, will commence to-mor-row—New Year's Eve.

Employees and employers alike have cause to call blessed the calendar coincidence which brought about a Christmas Day and New Year's Day on Sundays, thereby providing two week-end holidays of three and a-ha'if clear days each. The first was favoured by beautiful weather, and if the New Year vacation is also fine there will be a wealth of outdoor attractions. The conchiding day of the Auckland Trotting Club's Summer Meeting will draw thousands to Alexandra Park tomorrow and on Monday and Tuesday racegoers will attend the third and fourth days' races of the Auckland Racing Club at Ellerslie. The Plunket Shield cricket match between Otago and Auckland will commence at Eden Park tomorrow and there is a possibility of the match extending over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Premier attractions at the theatres will be the continued season of the musical comedy, "Rose Marie" at His Majesty's and many of the houses of entertainment are presenting special programmes for the holiday. season. Joyous nights will be spent at cabarets, which are offering special attractions. Commencing at Newmarket this evening, the Balclntha Boys' Band will play outdoor programmes throughout the holiday in the city parks and at several watering places. A huge fireworks display will be given at Alexandra Park on Monday evening. On Monday, too, the .Whangarei regatta will attract many competitors a.nd spectators from Auckland.

The beaches, tennis courts, playing fields, bowling and croquet greens and picnic places within easy reach of the city will make their usual successful "call to the open." Observers of the time-honoured custom of "seeing the old year out and the new year in" may be expected, to judge by the experience of past years, to make Queen Street animated until the "Big Bens" of the city have chimed the midnight hour.

THE HOURS OF SHOPS. " LONG NIGHT " THIS EVENING. With the approach of the New Year holidays, to-day and to-morrow will nee brisk business in shops supplying household provisions. Throughout the city and suburbs shops will observe the " longnight " this evening, remaining open until 10 o'clock.

To-morrow, the shops will be open until 12.30 p.m., when they will close until next Wednesday morning. Housewives will thus be forced to purchase ahead for three and n-half days as was the case in the Christmas week-end.