THE EASTER SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21142, 28 March 1932, Page 10

THE EASTER SEASON.

LARGE HOLIDAY CROWDS. FASHIONS AND AMUSEMENTS. GAY SCENES ON SATURDAY. RACE-GOING AND PICNICS. Although the majority of Aucklnnders thankfully laid down tho cares of business and "work on Thursday evening. Easter holiday-making did not commence in earnest until Saturday, when tho day broke full of promise for devotees of the out-of-doors. A bright sun and billowing white clouds in a blue sky called irresistibly to a community that fihvavs sees summer pass with regret, and few people, ifc seemed, were content to remain indoors. Although from time to time the whito clouds gave place to black ones, which predominated in the afternoon, the weather remained on tho side, of holidaymakers until late in the evening. The warmth of the sun over a groat part of iho day niado it seem that summer 'this year is itself reluctant to depart, and Aucklauders showed their gratitude by responding to tho favour of tho season in a whole hearled manner. ,A stranger arriving on Saturday from overseas would have been justified in thinking that summer was at ils height, for all the indications were present. There wero the coloured dresses and tho sun-burned girls, tho flannelled men in gaudy blazers, and the usual sprinkling of middle-aged men with whito boots and jaunty flowers in {heir buttonholes, without which no summer scene is complete. Women in Small Hats.

To tlioso white-booted men past, their first, youth goes the honour of brightening the landscape on behalf of men in general, for although the younger men slip easily into their open-neck shirts and blazers upon even the hint of an invitation from the sun, it is tho men in white boots and shiny stiff collars who set out militantly to welcome tho high days of the year and thus pay tho debt of gratitude for the rest. They did it on Saturday. Tho women and girls, who claim nil the credit for brightening tho seeno wherever people congregate, did their share on Saturday to make tho holiday crowds colourful to look upon. Tho average male, who expects to see largo-brimmed hats shading (ho heads of his womenfolk in such weather as prevailed, saw instead that many a fair head was crowned with .1 quaint little hat that sloped over one eye, recalling perhaps tho hat which ho himself wore at tho South African Waraid tho early days of tho Royal Flying Corps. "Whether or not tho wearers were addicted to white boots or little hats, nli found common ground in enjoyment of tho last long holiday they will got until next summer. Depression had no place in the vocabulary of~ tho day and taxation was an unpopular word. Crowd at Ellerslie. Ellerslie racecourse was tho magnet which attracted a large number of holi-day-making Aucklanders. In sp-te of the difficult times, racegoers were early on the road, by motor-car or tram, most of them with a little cash and a lot of optimism. It was with less of both that tlie majority went home, but lovers of a clean limbed horse felt that their day and money had been well spent. They hope to be at Ellerslie again to-day, for they believe it would bo folly 'to stop away and miss the chance of backing a sure thing. Tho ever popular beaches of Auckland were as usual the scene of family picnic parties. Bathing is not as popular as it was a few weeks ago, for tho casual visitor to the beach is not given to plunging into water that is losing its summer warmth. Certain bronzed and hardened young men and women there were who swam or bathed in the sun as if winter wore as far away as ever, but the more cautious parents, whoso blood perhaps was thinner than it used to be, wcro content to sit, on tho sand 'while their children paddled in the water's margin.

A beautiful sight was provided by tho always attractive Waitemata. The water sparkled under the morning sun and the green-clad cliffs showed vivid through the clear air. From either sido the opposite shore seemed but a stone's throw away and the islands of the gulf stood clear cut as if seen through a telescope. From the North Shore, Mount Eden seemed but half its usual distance, such was the curious but beautiful effect of the atmosphere, presaging Iho rain which fell at night. Gull Resorts Patronised. Each ferry boat carried a quota of picnickers, the, numbers increasing after midday, but tho harbour'was almost clear of private pleasure craft. Several excursions were arranged to tho various beach resorts in tho gulf, and earlier in the morning tho scene on the waterfront was an active and colourful one. Summergarbed trippers carrying picnic bags and hampers jostled each other with good humour, and prim little girls in nowlyironed frocks who stood among them gave no hint of tho pending havoc to frills and lace. From an early hour all roads leading out, of tho city saw tho passage of private motor-cars, some bound for near by picnic grounds and others going farther afield. Trampers and cyclists were not absent from tho outward (lowing throng, and tho pleasure spots adjacent to the city provided a day in the open air for those whoso duties or inclination kept them closer (o homo. The Zoological Park, as is usual at holiday time, was vorv popular with day 1 rippers, both on Friday and Saturday, tho adverse weather being reflected in yesterday's attendance. Tho patronage on Saturday was particularly good, children predominating in tho crowd. Visitors from tho country in many cases made a point of taking their families to the zoo on S.'iturcliiy, wliich is usually consiucicd as children's day.