CHRISTMAS EVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1923, Page 4

CHRISTMAS EVE.

BIG CROWDS IN TOWN. BATTLE WITH THE ELEMENTS. SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS WINS. Christmas of 1923 will live in the memory of the majority of New Plymouth people as one of the most pleasant since the war. The spirit of Christmas descended on the town early last week, and as each day passed it increased in strength, until on Christmas Eve the shopping area of the town was a moving ma-ss of happy men, women and children. The dull weather of the morning turned to torrential downpours in. the afternoon, but it 1 required more than the rain to damp the ardour of the big crowds intent on completing their Christmas shopping. As evening approached, the stormy, elements . seemed to recognise the futility of the struggle, and gave way to a kindly moo|i, which batned the town in a Apod of light from a clear sky. 2xu New Plymouth appeared to be on the streets on Monday night, and the ranks were swelled wit'll a host of visitors from the country. The special train from Stratford brought a flock of eager buyers from all the stations along the line, while special ’buses and cars brought hundreds of others from down r he coast and beyond Waitara. On every side one could hear the exchange of seasonal greetings in the brief seconds of silence between the hooting of trumpets and rattle of imitation Klaxon horns, over which the ear piercnig shriek of a ualloon squeaker rose triumphant. Decorated with branches of palms, inlerspersed with the scarlet bloom of the “Christmas tree,” strings of gaily coloured balloons and lights, Devon Street presented a brilliant picture from which ever point it was viewed. The brightly illuminated shop fronts reflected their light on to the happy looking faces of the passers-by. There would be a block in the traffic while the way was being made to the shop entrance, and then tlie crowd would move on slowly, to repeat the process a minute or two later.

Inside the shops the staffs wore never still for a moment. As fadt as one customer was served there was another to be attended to, but everybody was ■n a cheerful mood and the business was done in a shower of smiles. There were many who thoug'lit that the rain of the afternoon would mean a serious setback to the retailers who had laid in large stocks of Christmas goods. It did, but not to a great extent. “I should say that the rain has made about £lOO difference to our receipts,” one shopkeeper in a big way told a Daily News reporter, “but the week, as far as I can remember, has been the best since L have been in business.” Another retailer who deals in a different class of goods remarked that he had had the same experience.

As the night wore on the refreshment rooms became crowded, the refreshing cups of tea stirring the memory and bringiijg to mind the one last present that had not yet been bought. A hurried rush to a shop was made and weary but joyful the homeward steps weer taken. At. home there was a final muster of toys pending the visit of the -nndmanto tlie children and then Santa Claus, more liberal this year than for many Christmasses past, started on his round of juvenile .beds. It was a fitting conclusion to a happy day.