END OF THE HOLIDAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 10

END OF THE HOLIDAYS.

RAIN MARS LAST DAY. SHOPS REOPEN THIS MORNING. Heavy rain marred the last day of the Christmas and New Year holidays yesterday, when the long spell of fine weather was broken. The majority of shops and offices and tho banks will reopen this morning, but there will be a further respite for the city's workers in the weekend. as the Saturday half-holiday will be observed as usual. Ait hough keen disappointment was felt, with yesterday's weather, Aucklandcrs have no reason for complaint with the conditions prevailing during the holidays. Joward the end of the year the weather was anything but settled and it was feared that there might bo a repetition of the 1929-1930 holiday season, when only two days wero fine. However, throughout most of tho period, warm sunshine prevailed. Occasional showers of rain fell on New Year's Day, but these were not sufficient to spoil the holiday.

The rain yesterday caused the postponement of several sporting fixtures. The cricket match between" Auckland and North Auckland at Eden Park had to bo abandoned. North Auckland commenced its first innings, but, after the bowling of olie over, play was stopped. The first four matches were in progress in the outer suburban tennis tournament at the Domain when rain interrupted the. plav. The tournament will be resumed this morning. The final games in the Auckland Bowling Centre's Christmas tournament at the Auckland Club's greens proceeded as far as the playing of 11 heads, when an adjournment was made. Better progress was made with the Remuera Bowling Club's tournament, the playing being interrupted only once, when hoavy rain fell at mid-dav. Soveral showers fell during the progress of the final day of the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting at Ellerslie and there was" a falling-off in the attendance. Up to yesterday, the season had been a particularly gooj ono for harbour and other excursions, and the volume of traffic carried was considerably in excess of that of tlie 1929-30 holiday period. However, yesterday saw a drop in the number of excursionists. Trips to resorts far afield were most affected, as the showers in (lie morning persuaded many against making all-day outings.