NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20133, 30 December 1939, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Gisborne Herald will not be published on Monday, January 1.

Wellington's Chiistinas Trade The Christmas trade of Wellington shops greatly exceeded expectations, according to representative shopkeepers and business managers. The general op ’.non was that trade was better than last year, and much better than the year before that. Several managers referred to the shortage of stocks as the result of import restrictions, but said that diminution in trade from tnat cause had been more than offset by freer spending oy the public.

Motor Camp Activity Each day several parties of touring motorists leave the motor camp at the Waikanae Beach, but before nightfall their places have been taken by new arrivals. There were 74 camps in the grounds last night, 18 parties having arrived yesterday afternoon. All types of vehicles and cars of all vintages are to be seen in the camp. Although there are several light lorries and caravans, the majority of the travellers seem to favour trailers for the stowing of their camping equipment. New Year Shopping Holiday

After the strong wave of buying which marked the approach of Christmas, the past week has been comparatively slack in almost all lines of business, and the prospect of a further long week-end during which the shops will be closed lias stimulated interest only in the provision market, according to information gathered today from representative shopmen. There was a moderately keen crowd of buyers in many shops this morning, but the volume of business done was hardly more than for a normal Saturday. Shops in Gisborne will reopen on Wednesday, January 3, to commence the new trading year.

Leap Year Privilege The incoming year will have 366 days, compared with the 365 days of 1937, 1938, and 1939 respectively. The addition .of one day to the calender year, giving February 29 days instead of 28, represents a rough-and-ready method of correcting the losses made in the three previous years, amounting to six hours for each calender year. Leap Year has a special significance for maidens and bachelors, and is the subject of much half-serious joking concerning the right of any unmarried woman to choose her man and to amend her single state on her own initiative. There are cynics who declare that woman’s general invasion of man’s privileges has outmoded the special characteristic of Leap Year; and whether they be‘right or wrong, marriage statistics show little variation as between leap years and normal years of 365 days. Maidens of to-day may not be aware that in 1288 Margaret, Queen of Scotland, enacted that “every maiden lady of both high and low estate shall have freedom to bespeak the . man she likes,” and imposed fipes for non-com-pliance on the part of the bespoken.