NEW YEAR’S EVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26349, 2 January 1947, Page 4

NEW YEAR’S EVE

ORDERLY CROWDS IN STREETS RAIN DAMPENS ENTHUSIASM Holiday-makers in Dunedin, as well as elsewhere in the Dominion, have had ample cause for bitter lamentations over the vagaries of the weather during the past week, and they must have been deeper than ever in the doldrums on Tuesday, when, following a particularly dismal morning, heavy rain set in early in the afternoon. At this time it certainly looked as if the weather would cast a very heavy shadow over the New Year festivities. The rain, however, ceased in the late afternoon, when there were actually a few glints of sunshine, the first of tne day, and a blue sky made a welcome, if belated, appearance. More than half the business premises in the city were closed, and those that were open, such as provision and chain stores, did their best to cope with the inordinate- demands made upon .them with their depleted staffs. Throughout the afternoon the city’s transport services were crowded taking dripping shoppers back to their homes, and during this period heavy demands were also being made on taxis, which reported record business during the day. Most of those who had braved the weather seemed determined that once they reached their homes Lhey would remain there for the rest of the day. The. unexpected change for the better in the evening, however, no doubt had a stimulating effect on the mood of those who were forced to visit the city, but there did not appear to be nearly as many people parading the streets as are generally to be found on New Year’s Eve. There were large queues outside most of the city’s picture theatres, and later several hundreds tarried in the Octagon to listen to the Wellington Waterside Workers’ Junior Band, which certainly did its best to impart a little carnival atmosphere to the proceedings. Only the most ardent celebrants, however, remained in the city streets to see the old year out, and these were exceptionally orderly. Altogether, it must have been one of the least boisterous New Year’s Eve crowds for years. '