ORDERLY AND PEACEFUL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 855, 26 December 1929, Page 8

ORDERLY AND PEACEFUL

XMAS EVE CELEBRATED IN QUEEN STREET large crowd in city A myriad lights shone their greetings. Queen Street, on Tuesday evening, strangely d e . serted of tramcars and vehicular traffic, thus permitting a seething crowd to move to and fro across the street with impunity, was the scene of that traditional gaiety and joy of Yuletide. It was Christmas Eve. Here and there were drunken men. and here and there were bands of noisy revellers, but generally viewed, this grand festive occasion of the year was celebrated with creditable quiet and peace. At 7.30 p.m. all traffic was stopped from entering Queen Street. Traffic officers, with their conspicuous white gloves, stood at the intersections of the side streets to turn aw ay the unknowing motorist. Apart from risk of accidefit and extreme congestion, his appearance would have sadly dj s . turbed the good-humoured and very contented crowd which thronged the country’s busiest thoroughfare 0 „ such a night. When traffic ceased there was unusual quiet. Only the t amping of many feet met the ear. Folks were then too busy shopping to enter into the real fun of the fair. Every shoo was a hive of activity. Business was brisk, although, according to a number of shopkeepers, it was hardly as good as last year. COUNTRY VISITORS Shop windows, many so tastefully arrayed with Christmas decorations, proved a big attraction to visitors who, although laden with parcels, had time to stop and admire. Then in the side-streets the true atmosphere of the eve was provided by scratch bands. Strains of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and others so familiar were heard from the by-ways. Rival

musicians would sometimes clash, but it was Christmas, and results were not unpleasant. Country folk formed a large portion of those in the crowded street. Many of them walked aim-

lessly along, failing to observe footpath rules, but such were only trifling errors, soon forgotten in that atmosphere of good cheer.

In his book of poems, Thomas Hardy laments the influences which have spun the world in recent years, to make it a whirl of discontent and shallow pleasure. That dirge is certainly not applicable to Yuletide in Auckland. The man in the street on Tuesday evening caught the traditional glimpse of Christmas, with all its merriment and real happiness, even though it may have waned the slightest. And carnival did not appear to be a mere scramble for profit and pleasure. Many mean hearts were lifted temporarily to a more radiant zone of generosity. How many of those parcels tucked under the arms of busy shoppers were of contents, to cheer the child or invalid who faces the colder side of prosperity? The elusive and mysterious Santa Claus bad indeed a busy evening. As the evening wore on, when the busy shopper had completed his task, Queen Street became more crowded and more gaiety was afoot. But shortly after 9 o’clock before the traffic burled along on il s way again, the streets thinned out considerably. But all was revived when the numerous packed theatre houses emptied out. There was once again a seething throng of humanity. Crowded buses and trams whirled on their way to the suburbs, bearing many that were tired and weary, but honestly happy, to their homes. Within an hour of midnight the street was prao. tic-ally deserted. Ivarangahape Road, Newmarket and other busy thoroughfares had their share of -the crowds and the glamour of the occasion. And there, too, well organised traffic control played its part in making the event a great success.