PASSING OF THE YEAR

Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1926, Page 15

PASSING OF THE YEAR

TURNING THE CALENDAR CELEBRATIONS OF TO-NIGHT. HOST OF HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS. Once again we stand upon the threshhold of another year, and with the passing of the old so will its joys and sorrows become things of the past, to be replaced by the contemplation of the future with its new resolutions and promise. When the clock chimes the hour of twelve to-night the year of 1926 will fade into realms of the past, leaving m its stead the new-born year of 1927. Composed as it mostly is of people of English descent, the community of Taranaki naturally does not consider the New Year with the affection of the people of the land of the heather and the brae, of whom there is a sufficient leavening in Taranaki to ensure that the occasion of its entry will not be allo wed to pass without the traditional ceremony of Scotland. So it is, that at the midnight hour to-night the habitual band-accompanied crowd will gather at the post office to sing the benediction of “Auld Lang Syne,” and greet the New Year as only the Scottish are able.

While this is so, there is no doubt that few will miss the opportunity for revelry, and the streets to-night will surely resound with the gay laughter and boisterous amusement of the usual dense crowds which perambulate both road and footpath on New Year’s Eve. With the brightly-coloured lights and gaily-bedecked shop windows, conducive as they are to the highest spirits, there arc few who can resist the excitement and diversion of the street.

To complete the holidays there is a full programme of attractions. Racegoers will flock to the Stratford racecourse, where Taranaki’s New Year meeting will be held. Suffice it to say that the transport and other arrangements for two most successful days of racing are complete. There will be two seaside picnics at New Plymouth tomorrow. one at Ngamotu and one at East End. Both have many novelties ready for the crowds of adults an<T children. Other forms of amusement abound and if the weather is at its best the New Year will be ushered in as perhaps no other has been before.