BUSY SHOPPERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25084, 23 December 1944, Page 6

BUSY SHOPPERS

. . - i CROWDS IN THE CITYi LATE NIGHT FAIRLY QUIET, Shoppers were busy making last, minute purchases of Christmas gifts yesterday, and, in spite of the sultry weather, both Queen Street and Karangahape Road were thronged with people. Retail establishments reported that, a good volume of business was done yesterday, and it was obvious that the public was spending freely. Consider, ing that it was the equivalent of Christinas Eve, however, there was not the customary crowd in the streets last night, and the city was comparatively quiet. , The fact that Christmas Day this year [alls on a Monday rather detracted from the usual hurly-burly in the city last night, which was the last shopping night before the holidays. Those who have become accustomed to forcing their way along the streets during the past few days found that it was fairly easy to walk from one end of Queen Street to the other. During the day, however, Queen Street was a mass of seething humanity. Dutiful parents led protesting children by the hand, and many a harassed citizen searched from shop to shop for the required present. Hot and uncomfortable Santa Claus worked overtime in city stores, and about the only shoppers who appeared at ease in the heat were members of the forces who were wearing either shorts or their summer dress uniform. Large city retail establishments closed at 9 p.m. until Wednesday morning, and every -shop assistant was glad when the closing time arrived. The crowd in the city was quiet, and there was little traffic congestion. Apart from the numerous and awkwandlooking parcels carried by many a shopper, there was little to indicate the approach of the festive season. Generally speaking, the choice of gifts Was greater tlian usual, but so groat was the public demand that few of the more popular lines were obtainable last night. Most of the factories in the Auckland area have now closed for about a fortnight. Banks will be open as usual this morning, and will also be open for business next Saturday. Chemists' shops.will be open on each of the holidays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The all-night dispensary at Symonds Street will be open between 10 a.m. and noon tomorrow and Monday, and will be open during the holiday nights when other chemists are closed. holiday spirit at rotorua THERMAL CENTRE CROWDED (0.c.) ROTORUA, Friday The spirit of carnival took charge of Rotoura this evening, when the shops were thronged until closing hour. The pipe band paraded the be-flagged streets and the diversions of travelling shows on the lake front attracted hundreds. Motor camps as well as hotels and boarding houses are all booked out over the Christmas and New Year period. Among the visitors are a number of servicemen on leave. TURNED BACK TASMAN FLYING-BOAT DUST CLOUDS OVER SYDNEY Dust clouds which obscured Sydney Sre vented a Tasman Empire Airways, ying-boat. which left Auckland yesterday morning under the command of Captain C. Griffiths, from completing its trip. Three hours after the machine left Auckland a message was received from Sydney- stating that it would be impossible to land there. visibility was then reduced to less thnn 1000 yards and there was a flying ceiling of only 100 feet. Conditions were expected to become worse by the time ~- the flying-boat was due to reach Sydney, The machine returned to Auckland and reached tiie Mechanics' Bay air base after midday. It is hoped to make the trip today. Although some dust from Australia was reaching New Zealand, most of it was being deposited in the Tasman, said the service's chief pilot, Captain 0. Garden, yesterday. He had noticed large, discoloured patches in the water many miles from the Australian, coast on recent trips. In some cases the sea had a red tinge. Red dust from Australia has been noticed by fliers on the 6now-eapped peaks of the Southern Alps and also on North Island mountains. LOCAL AND GENEBAL Holiday Arrangements The Herald will not be published on Monday. Christmas Day. For the convenience of advertisers, the Queen Street office will be open from 4 p.into 8 p.m. on both Monday and Tuesday, Boxing Day. Normally, orders for advertisements are not received by telephone after 6 p.m.; on account ot the holidays, telephone orders will be accepted between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Manpower Appeals _ Sittings were held by both the No. 1 and No. 2 Auckland Manpower (Industrial) Committees yesterday _ mornmgwhen 46 appeals against decisions and directions of the district manpower officer were heard. Of these, 33 were lodged by men directed to the freezing industry and four by girls sent to the Internal Marketing Division's plant at Pukekohe. It is expected that the committees will not resume sittings unt!> January 15. Tramwaymen's Donation A cheque for £124 10s has been received by the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee from the Auckland Transport Club, which is comprised ot tramwaynien. This donation brings total amount subscribed to the patriot fund by the club to £4009. In a let accompanying the cheque the hope i expressed that this will be the 1.Christmas that the forces will be call upon to make the sacrifices they at preseut making. Truck and Tram Collide A crowded tramcar bound for t e citv and a motor-truck belonging the Alva Mineral Water Co., Ltd., were involved in a collision at the wte section of East Street and S.yni , Street yesterday afternoon. Althoug broken glass was strewn over a * area at the scene of the acciden , only person injured was the nwtorni of the tram, who was treated.a . t casualty department of the Auckl Hospital before being allowed ceed home. Ambulance Corps Divided The division of the Auckland tor of the St. John Ambulance Bngad into four has been approved oy . acting-Commandery Commissioner F. W. Ward. The area under the Auck land corps was formerly from Bel _ ville to Pukekohe and the tion that the division be made to en more efficient administration w as p bv the district commissioner, Mr y- . ' Mackay. The superintendents tor four corps are Mr H. N. A"P° ; r ,T. A. Phillips, Mr T. Ambrose and C. E. Cooper. Outbreaks of Fire Brigades were called out oil [ n ° the sions to attend incipient hres . city and suburbs yesterday The serious outbreak occurred at /•- •, ft in the living quarters at the back dressmaker's shop owned bv - Cowper. of 152 A Ponsonby R °"J: , 0 f ding being destroyed and a sect on a room damaged. Mrs Cowper burns to both hands wlule _tryi S ft combat the flames. Tn s f fl re small fire in James Adams shoe in Wellesley Street East ,n 1 , tat jon ing. firemen from j attended « small car. belong ng Auckland Rental Car Co.. uhicl alight outside the Civic Plieati ' ; n p.in No serious dam nee wa %, raileither case. A grass lire on o o ad, wav embankment near Sunn} p a. R emu era. was attended at 4.£» by the Remuera brigade.