"MERRY CHRISTMAS'

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 79, 27 December 1937, Page 8

"MERRY CHRISTMAS'

Christmas Eve Sees Streets Thronged in Hastings GAIETY & GOOD CHEER Crowded streets, bright lights, langhter, noise and bnstling activity — this was Christmas Eve in Hastings Weather eonditions were perfect, and thpusands sncenmbed to tlie glamour of the streets at Christmas time. Never has there been more crowded streets on a Christmas Eve. Everything was forgotten but the spirit of " the season, and the people who eddied along Heretaunga street, calling merry greetings and brightly enjoying the oecasion, were as happy for the nonce as on any previous Christmas. * It was good to note the crowd that roamed the streets that were barricaded off from vehieular traffic. Groups congregated and exchanged seasonal greetings and cared not a whit for obstructions. Certain it was that, had vehicles not been debarred, there would have been a pedestrian jam that would have brought shopping to a standstill. Such, in fact. was almost a reality in the late afternoon, when bargainhunters were at work. And wasn't it hot! A merciless sun made crowded stores into ovens during the day, while even the cool Of tho evening failed to offer any respite to the thousands more who surged around the store entrances, elbowing, shouldering and stagiag inoffensive, impromptu -jousts with elongated parcels, which crushed and creaked. under the pres&ure. TheTe was no such -thing as a rule of the road; town and country rubbed slioulders in a eosmopolitan hurly-burly which scorned by-laws and reciprocal rebukes from fellow-shoppers who Avanted everything and gaAre nothing. A Fitting jSettiUg. The brilliantly illuminated streets, fe&tooned with coloured lights, and shop windows decorated with well set-out displays formed a fitting setting.for the jollity. which, uurestrained among the younger set, eventually affected everyone. There was more informal, harmless fun than was usual. There were balloons, raueous squeakers, smilingfaced shrieking children — and adults too — and hundreds and hundreds of parcels to show that trade was boo:ning. Thousands of throw-downs and a few crackers added to the noise. There was an atmosphere of spontaneou3 gaiety that a crowd and an approaching holiday, espeeially the Giiristmas holiday period, usually fosters. In drapery stores a steady stream of eustomers looked Avith a little Dewildex'-: ment at a wide ranga of fancy goods, felt fabrics and cheeked lists while assistants were engaged in a whirlwind tiisk of tearing paper, deftly wrappmg parcels of all shapes and sizes, and writing dockets in quick succession. Overhead trolleys travelled miles conveying the spending-power of the throng from the counters to the office and returning with the change — which was little enough all too frequently. The children 's departments. however, were the greatest attractions, and purchasers were legion. It was a wonderful Christmas for the children. Ail the toys dearest to their hearts were stocked m even greater variety than evera but lieavy inroads were made in those same stocks as the evening Avore on. Santa Olaus 's task is always a big one, but it seems that he Avas perfectly capable of meeting all the deisiands this year, judgiug from the cheerful creseendo of tingiing cash-register bells. For those who • just Avanted to pass by with the throng there was endless amusement. There were many whose Christmas shopping was practically completed and AVere drawn into towrn by idle curiosity, but thex were in the minority. x Shoppers are a study in themselves, ahd often the baigaining o± the marketpiace was not very far away. It was quite impossible at times to get into some of the more popular emporiums and scarceJy a vacant place Avas to be found in the shops of purveyors of cold delicacies. Strewn With Ruhhish. Brisk as- it was, Christmas Eve shopping was over at 10 o'eloek, when the majority of the shops had to close. Shops lost their interest when their doors were no longer invitingly open, and people deserted them for motorcars. buses and taxis to convey them home. The crowd soon thinned and the extinetion of the shop lights soon after the closing hour drove home those tvho lingered. By 11 o'eloek Heretaunga street was as it AA'Ould be at the same hour on any other late slippping night, except that a greater quantity of paper and rubbish was sti'ewu about the roadAA'ay aud pathways. And to all it was a "Merry Christmas." * CHRISTMAS EVE IN NAPIER Gay Crowds and Full CashRegisters With merry -go-roqnds, games, side shows and all the fun of the Christmas Mardi Gras in full swing on the Marble Parade and with • gaily bustliug crowds of last-minute shoppers and sightseers on the streets, Napier celebrated Christmas Eve in the traditional manner. One bumped a stranger on the pavement, clutching falling parcels and, instead of the customary glare that mutually says "Curse you!" roceivod and reciprocated a laughing ' ' Merry Christmas! " Show-eards flashing with silver glit ters, potters in gay colours, imitation snow and holly beekoned from the shop windows whiie inside tired but smiling assistants worked to the eheerv cJatter and clink of rapidly-filling cash registers. Truly an old-time Merrj Christmas with money and laughter flowing freely. 1 The consensus of upiuion among re lailer# was that they had a busy but

prosp'erous Christmas Eve. This year there Lad been less restraint and more demand for quality in the gift-buying. Provision saies refleeted a return of better economiq eonditions with more lavish holiday menus. FATHER CHRISTMAS AT . NAPIER HOSPITAL Balloons, streamers and bright flowers left no doubt that Christmas had really arrived at the Napier Rospital on Baturday morning, and all the children were wide awake from the earliest hours eagerly looking for Santa Olaus to appeaiv And when he did •trrive, 'to be met by a guard of honour of nurses outside the entrance and ! criumpliantly escorted to the children 's ward, there was the wildest excitement. The little patients forgot their aches and pains and every pair of wide eyes was focussed on the Christmas tree, • hung with all its excitingly mysteriouii . pafcels. There were gifts and kindly greetings for one and all, and Santa felt the warmth of many a kappy sinile as he left the ward to be eonducted over the rest of the institution. Matron, sisters and nurses had spared no effort with the decorations, producing a definitely " ChristmaBsy " atmosphere throughout the building. They con- 1 tinued to do their utmost to make it a ;ioyful morning as they conducteU Father Christmas through the various wards, where he had a word of ch'eer for every patient. Before the sumptuouB Christmas dinner was served, Santa drove away, taking with him the certain knowledge that his morning '» work had been well worth while.