NEW YEAR’S EVE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22469, 2 January 1943, Page 4

NEW YEAR’S EVE

Quietest Night For

Years

Bands Play On The Bay

New Year’s Eve, and the last few hours of 1942.—Stafford Street began to move with the New Year’s Eve crowd shortly after tea and at 9 p.m. It swayed with an eager and happy multitude. Not all of them were shoppers, but all of the shops were open. The majority had plenty of money to spend and spent it, from all accounts, and when they had made their round of visits to the shops, made their way to Caroline Bay and waited for 1943 to dawn. It was one of the quietest New Years for many years.

There was by no means a record crowd in Timaru on New Year’s Eve although the footpaths could not hold them all. Shopkeepers report that more money was taken this year than last, although a smaller quantity of articles were sold. The increase in prices was the reason. Cigars, fancy hats and streamers were much in evidence. Bombs and crackers shattered the atmosphere, but there were not as many explosions as usual on the last night of the year. There was a large attendance at the carnival on Caroline Bay and the dance in the Bay Hall was crowded. Concerts were given by the Timaru Municipal Band and the Timaru Highland Pipe Band. There was no bonfire at midnight and the Old Year passed away quietly. The Pipe Band played “Auld Lang Syne” and all joined hands and sang. Wnderers meandered in the town until daylight, but all that remained were the Council watercarts at work on the streets.