THE HOLIDAYS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1631, 24 December 1912, Page 7

THE HOLIDAYS.

CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR. BIQ CROWDS IN THE STREETS. RETAIL TRADE BRISK, No one with any sentimental imagina tion oould havo walked through the city yesterday afternoon without becoming moro or less affected by tho spirit which moved "on the bosom of the air." Tho dropping streets wero those whero tho crowds most did congregate, and right merry crowds they were, jostling, bumping, squeezing, and chattering with an exliilaration tliat only comes with Christmastide. To the onlooker the world appears to be divided into two distinct classes during the low feverish days immediately'preceding December 25. On tho ono hand tho busy, hustling shopman and his hard-worked assistants doing their utmost to servo the community at large with anything and everything, and on the other tho public, kosn on spending for its own and others' pleasure every penny it can possibly afford. Both aro oqually keen to meet one another, and tho result is that the money spins round at high speedmuch to the satisfaction of everyone, it is hoped. 'It is the blessed season of giving. It is a pretty custom, this of Christmas giving, and ono which gives moro sincere pleasure in the world than almost any other one could name. That it is a delightfully common one in New Zealand the mail-room officials can answer. Note the great mail motors stacked sis feet high, with bulging grey canvas bags forging into tho heart of the groat building in Panama Street, glance through the open doors, and watch the perspiring officials spilling the contents of the bags on to the sorting tables—enve-' lopes, packages, and parcels of every colour and size, some scrawled with almost illegible baby writing, some with girlish pointed caligraphy, and others stamped by tho firm black writing of busy men of affairs, but all, or nearly all, in these, days, contain the dear' wishes of the season to those lemembered near and far. This all means business to tho man be. hind the counter, and he is out to make the most of it. Every artifice is used to draw the public indoors, but very little is needed. The- spirit of Christmas is working in the average man like yeast.on Christmas Eve'and unless he be a Scrooge his money is burning holes in his pockets. "What about tho kids?" one. toil-stain-ed worker was heard to remark' to his smiling "missus" last evening outside a dazzling display of toys in a city shop. That is what most parents will be thinking of to-day. The anniversary of the birth of tho Babe of Bethlehem makes a peculiar affinity- between Christmas and children, and to sea the toddlers happy if one of the delights' of older folk.

OUTINGS AND AMUSEMENTS. WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO SEE. The festive appearance of the streets, aud the invasion of the city by largo numbers of holiday, visitors from other places, are'portents of the Christmas and New Year season of gaiety, outings, and amusements. Christmas Day. (to-mprfo'w) will be very quiet in the city, but, given fine weather, holiday-makers will no doubt seek the green' fields of country places within convenient reach of Wellington, trip across Uib harbour to the various ' bays, or journey on the cars to tho surrounding suburbs. Mr. J. Maughan Barnett (City Organist) will give an organ recital in the Town Hall in the evening. During the day all. the picture theatres in town will show kinematograph studies of sacred subjects, ajid a special programme will also be submitted at tho Theatre Royal. Pleasure-seekers are well catered for on Boxing Day. The following are the chief attractions:— During the Day. Basin Reserve.—South Melbourne v. Wellington Representatives. Petone.-Hutt Valley Trotting Club'a meeting. Clareville (Wairarapa).—Taratahi-Carter-ton Racing* Clubs meeting. Palmerston ' North.—Manawatu Racing Club's meeting (three, days). Lower Hutt.—Catholic Picnic in Father Lane's grounds. < ' ■ ■ ' • • • Picton.—Excursion to :' Picton by 6.9. , Mararoa. Day's Bay.—Excursions throughout tho day. ' Lawn Tennis Tournament. In the Evening. Town Hall—Grand Tug-olVWar Carnival and Pictures. . Opera House.—"Get-Rich-Quick Walling- - ford" Company. Te Aro Reclamation.—Barton's Circus. Empress, New/ Shortts', King's, Hia Majesty's .Theatres, and People's Pic-. ture Palace—Moving Pictures. Theatre Royal.—Fuller-Brennan Vaudew ville .Company.

POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS. ONE DELIVERY ON BOXING DAY. On Christmas and New Year's Days, tlio Postal Department will be closed in all its branches. On the above-named daya mails dispatched by steamers will. close at G. 30 a.m., also mails by trains for the Wairarapn, Taranaki, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu,, Hawko'6 Bay, and Auckland districts will close at 6.30 a.m. Thers will not be any clearances of the city receivers' or' deliveries :by letter-carriers on the above-named davs. On. Tuesdays, December 21 and 31, there will be : deliveries' by the letter-carriers in the' lettercarriers' 'room, on the first-floor entrance, Featherston Street.irom 8.30 to 9.30 p.m„ and the Parcels Department will be open from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m.; also deliveries over the public counter at the Chief Post Office from 8.30 to 9130 p.m. of correspondence addressed to the Post Office only. On Tuesdays, December 24 and 31, extra clearances will be made as follow:— All city receivers Will be oleared at 6 p.m.; Wellington South, Kilbirnie,, and Haitai receivers at 5 p.m., and suburban ones at 4.30 p.m. ,'..,,,.•, , On Boxing Day the Postal Department will be open in all its branches (except the Monev-order and, Savings' Bank Departments) from 9 to. 10 a.m. Mails dispatched by steamers and. mails tor the .Auckland district, per Main Trunk tram, will close at 9.15 a;mv; mails to- trams for the Wairai-apa, .Taranaki,' Wanganui, Kangitikei, Manawatu,' and Hawkes Bay districts will close at 6.30 a.m. The.lettercarriers will make one'full delivery, closing at the Chief Post Offico at i a.m. The city receivers.will not, bo. cleared during the day. TRAM SERVICE. RUNNING AND. RAISED FARES.' For. the Christmas holidays,, commencing to-day, the Citv Council has made specialarrangements for the running of cars. . Special'cars connecting with thaj; train leaving the Thorndon station for Wanganui at 11.20 p.m. will run as follow:—Depart Newtown. 10.30, 10.35,'10.40, and 10.15 p.m.; depart Island Bay, 10.30 p.m.; depart Constable' Street, 10.42 p.ni:; depart Oriental Bay, 10.47 p.m.; depart- Seatoun, 10.28 p.m.; depart Botanical Gardens, II.G p.m. . ..':7. Cars will run- to < connect with trams leaving Thorndon station during to-mor-row morning; when the city fares will lieAdults 6d., and children 3d. On the borough lines the fare will be double ordinary, feres. In the afternoon and evening a snecial sen-ice will be maintained, and double fares will bo charged on all lines. On Boxing Day special services will be 'run on principal routes in lieu of ordinary time-table services. . Further particulars concerning the holtday servieo will bo found in another' column in this issue. .

The usual Christmas morning services will be held in the city churches to-nior-row. The Bishop of Wellington (Dr, Sprott) will preach at St. Paul's ProCathedral at the eleven o'clock service, and particulars of other services will be found on page 9. Sunday hours will be observed at the Te Aro and Thorndon Baths on. Christmas Day, but the. baths will remain open all day on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The Corporation offices will be closed from noon to-day until Saturday morning. Ono of the. chief attractions for Boxing Day is the Catholic picnic, which is to bo held on the Day's Bay grouiid-v Special picnic steamers will leave the Terrv Wharf at 9.30 a.nu