NEW YEAR'S EVE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 37, 5 January 1945, Page 4

NEW YEAR'S EVE

REVELLERS ON THE STRAND

ANTIC!PATORY CELEBRATION

Because no doubt New Year's Eve occurred on a Sunday this year, the official celebrations were by common consent advanced two days to coincide with the late shopping night, on Friday, December 29. At least such was the case as far as

Whakatane was, concerned and all

things being equal, the choice was a happy one. On Sunday nighty certainly a few isolated groups endeavoured to 'welcome in' 1945 but

apart from the midnight dance at Ohope, and the lifting off their hinges of a few gates in the Borough in the. wee sma' hours by an occasional reveller there was little to denote the auspiciousness of the occasion. Friday night, as far as the general public was concerned, was, to all intents: and purposes, New Year's Eve, and up till nearly midnight the crowd was determined to regardit as such. It was somewhat unfor-i tunate that the traffic was not barred from the Strand, as on Christmas Eve for -with the crowd approaching the same proportions there were many close shaves, and at least one accident in the crowded thoroughfare. Moreover as the majority of the people were more intent upon promenading the street than on shopping there was actually more upon the open roadway than on Christmas Eve.

It was amazing to note the manner in whieh people produce, fancy hats upon the slightest excuse of holiday. New Year's Eve saw the finest selection of headgear it has been our privilege to note 'in Wha-t katane for years. Particularly did tlie Maoris co-operate in this respect. There were dozens of dusky groups of strolling players on all sections of the Strand, but. these were quickly dispersed when the Pipe Band made its appearance and swung off in a long single line to play through all the shops. This gesture of 'gui.d luck' for the new year ? has now become traditional in Whakatane, ai/i shopkeepers and public alike would be sadly disappointed were it not carried out annually in the now approved fashion. The perspiring pipers headed by the burly figure of Drumj-ma'jor swept through even the smallest interiors and were everywhere greeted with smiles and applause. Behind them danced, sang and galloped a motley of revellers who gathering the reflected glory of the. band ? made the most of it ? and hailed every shop attendant with delight. Both sides of the Strand were covered in record though as one old Scot observed to a Beacon representative "the puir wee lads wull be wantin' a wee deoeh an' doris ; at the monument > or me name's not Angus Mcßagpipe!"

The ever-popular Boys' Band also took the public fancy and once again under Mr W. Jarrett's baton, they played selections and marching a-irs which drew about them an admiring crowd. The boys a all of whom are under the age of 16. are to be congratulated on their performance. A feature of this year's celebrations ' seems to have been the abundant supply of confetti which was showered liberally on all parts of the Strand. Even in the shops customers and attendants, were seldom free of the downpours of goodwill. Out in the streets, roving gangs of youthful revellers spared in their efforts to make the night as lively as possible and to add a little excitement to their own activities. The celebrations having no midnight apex came more or less to an abrupt end' with the closing of the shops. However there were numerous dierhards, who nothing daunted continued to parade up arid down the Strand endeavouring to maintain the spirit of levity. Most of these eventually found their way to the dance promoted by the Paper Mill Workers Social Committee which likewise was a grand successand carried with it the full essence of the New Year spirit anld all that it means.