CHRISTMAS EVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1923, Page 6

CHRISTMAS EVE.

FINE WEATHER PROSPECTS. TOWNS IN GAY MOOD. MANY TRAVELLERS ON TRAINS. To-day is Christmas Eve, the real beginning of the season of joy, and all the pleasure which the occasion brings has been quickened by the beautiful weather of the week-end. New Plymouth and the other Taranaki towns are in their gayest mood with decorative schemes and brightly-dressed shop-windows. Tonight will witness the climax, and then Taranaki will disappear into the genial world of playgrounds and pleasure. The shops during the past week have been filled with eager purchasers. The holiday attractions in the province are numerous,' 1 and, given a continuance of the fine weather, Christmas of 1923 should see the realisation of the spirit that is ruling of ‘"Let us make this the best Christmas yet.” On the railways hundreds are on the move. The mail train to Wellington on Saturday was composed of 10 passenger and two mail vans, while a relief train was run in conjunction with the ordinary mail train from Wellington. The first train arrived just before seven o'clock, but the mail, made up of 16 carriages, was an hour and a quarter late. It is expected that there will be another big train-load of .passengers to Wellington this morning. There will ►also be a relief train from Wellington ’Jo-night. SHOPPING HOURS. POINTS TO REMEMBER. The following points in connection with the Christmas holidays will be of interest to New Plymouth housewives and others: To-day (Christmas Eve) all the shops will be open till 10 p.m., and some a little while longer. The drapers will be closed to-morrow and Boxing Day all day, and will be open til! twelve on Thursday morning. On Friday and Saturday they will be open till 5.30 p.m. Grocers will be closed to-morrow and thp day after. No bread will be available to-morrow. The butchere will be closed all day to-morrow, but will be open for a few hours until 9 a.m. on Boxing Day and the day after. Fruiterers will be open till 11 o’clock to-night, and will be closed only on Christmas Day. The tobacconists will be open till 11 -o’clock to-night. On Boxing Day and the day after, the hairdressing saloons Will be open from 7.30 to 11 p.m.