CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1929, Page 13

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

INFLUX OF MOTOR VISITORS PARKS, BEACHES AND MOUNTAIN. THE VOGUE OF MOTOR CAMPING. Though the really genial summer atmosphere had not arrived, the weather has been at least forebearing for the Christmas holidays so far gone. Overcast mornings have given way to fine afternoons. A warm sun yesterday attracted hundreds of holiday-makers out of doors in light apparel and the light rain that came from the sea about 5 p.m. was too late to have any serious consequences. By that time the majority of the picnickers and racegoers were on their way home, or preparing to leave. ' . The main attractions were the summer meeting at New Plymouth of the Taranaki Jockey Club and the representative cricket match* between Taranaki and Victoria University College at Pukekura Park. Both of these fixtures will be continued to-day. Again there has been a large influx of motorists to New Plymouth. There were 40 camping parties at the Belt Road camp reserve on Christmas night, and though a number of cars moved on yesterday, by the evening others had arrived to take their places, with the result that more tents were pitched than during the corresponding period last year. From an inspection of the reserve made yesterday afternoon, it is evident that camping out no longer entails the sacrifice of domestic comfort that once was looked upon as a natural concomittant of the simple life. Nowadays the motorist‘apparently packs up a kitchen, a bedroom, part of a dining room, a gramophone or radio set, his own electric light, and other comforts one expects hi a well-appointed home. After pitching his tent, he furnishes it with a degree of thoroughness that would have 'amazed the old time camper. Other popular camping grounds about New Plymouth were the Fitzroy Seaside Park and the Huatoki Domain, while further afield were the Waitara beach reserve and the Urenui Domain. Lar"c crowds of picnickers spent yesterday on the beaches and in the parks, while many of those with motor-cars went to the mountain. The sea was warm enough to make bathing a pleasure that one wanted to prolong.