Vast Crowds Invaded City For Xmas Eve

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1950, Page 4

Vast Crowds Invaded City For Xmas Eve

Although Christmas Eve does not 'fall until tomorrow night, for shop- ! ping purposes it was observed on Fri'day when city business premises re- | m-ained open until 10 p.m. The usual I Friday throng of shoppers was swelled by hundreds of country folk and throughout the day Victoria Avenue footpaths were packed with a seething mass of pedestrians, all of whom seemed to be laden with parcels. I It was not possible last night to ascertain just how business compared | with previous years but, judging by . the crowds about, business should i have constituted a record. Shops i were packed during the afternoon and at night with customers either stockI ing up the larder for the four-day holiday break or making last-minute purchases of presents. The humidity of the day was not appreciated by shop assistants whose tempers must have been frayed by the time the last customer was ushered out. One feature of the crowd which was noticeable was the number of Maoris about. They seemed to have descended on Wanganui from all parts of the district, and duri'ng the afternoon constituted a great proportion of the shoppers. The Indians from up-river farms, too, were in town in numbers. Yesterday was a good day for Greyhound Buses and its vehicles were packed on most routes throughout the afternoon and evening. Extra services were run to cope with the rush of passengers. The parking of cars at times became an acute problem and last night every available space in blocks adjacent to Victoria Avenue was in use. Buses from conn f rv districts brought large crowds Into the city swelled by visitors. Hotel accommodation for the holiday period is booked out—in fact it has been booked out for some time—and hundreds of people are living under canvas or in caravans at city camping grounds. Perhaps the busiest places during the afternoon were city hotels. Bottle stores, lounges and bars were thronged and late In the afternoon some hotels were unable to deal with the volume of customers. Last night, extra police were on duty and the suburban constables were used for city duties. The Christmas crowd was generally well behaved and the control of traffic was well organised by the City Council traffic department. For the first time for many years, the Avenue was not closed to motor vehicles. The success of last night’s experiment will determine whether the council will open the Avenue to traffic on New Year’s Eve. City picture houses held extra sessions yestprdav and were well patronised. The rate sessions were held at 10.15 p.m. When shopkeepers make up their holiday returns it is expected that business will show a record for the Christmas period- Yesterday morning shops experienced a brisk trade soon after opening their doors and this rush was maintained throughout the day with only occasional let-ups.