NEW YEAR'S EVE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 118, 11 January 1932, Page 7

NEW YEAR'S EVE

A.B.

C.)

AN IMPRESSION IN ROTORUA ELDER GENERATION GO GAY

(By

It is seldom in these anxious times that an opportunity arrives to banish dull care, but on New Year's Eve the residents and visitors in Rotorua showed conclusively that they were out for a good time, depression or no depression. With the huge crowd of visitors present, there were unrivalled opportunities for merry-mak-ing, and everyone seized the chance of letting themselves go for one short evening. And if there were sore heads the next morning, who would be so hard as to wish to deny the harmless pleasures of the evening's revels.

To one of the younger generation it was very amazing on New Year's Eve to notice the numbers of staid elder ly people, in many cases 4;he last persons one would think capable of anything but the most decorous behaviour who paraded the streets imperfectly disguised in a mask or a fake nose and blowing squeakers with the best of them, determined to miss nothing of the proceedings. Some of the disguises were almost perfect, and many old friends were only recognisable by some mannerism, or generally by their voices. If one stood still for a moment in Arawa Street, which had been closed to vehicles, a sea of faces was seen moving slowly along, each face with a smile imagined if not always seen under hideous masks, false noses and large glasses. Everyone had to wear a decoration of some sort and the we'irder the better. Even those who rentured out determined not to follow the crowd, 'finally joined in the rush to get the last paper hats in the sh'ops. „ There was no need to warn any who might not join in the merry-. making. Mirth and laughter were as usual contagious, and it would have been easier to find the proverbial needle in the proverbial haystack than an unhappy person in Rotorua on New Year's Eve. With the Conclusion of the official programme and as the clock in the Post Office tower 'commenced the midnight chimes, came Father Time to see the Old Year well on its way to the proper destination of old years, and to make sure that 1932 was ushered in with befitting ceremony. None seemed very sorry to see the last of 1931, but most looked forward hopefully to the new year. Although officially the proceedings were over, the younger generation were just starting to enjoy themselves, and if dancing can do anything to eneourage prosperity, 1932 should be a wonderful year.