HOLIDAY SEASON.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1915, Page 3

HOLIDAY SEASON.

END OF THE FIRST PHASE. MANY VISITORS IN TOWN. The first phase of the Christmas and New Year holiday season may be said to have ended yestcrdaj', for to-day business will be resumed and the town will assume its normal state until Friday night, when, after the festivities of New Year's Eve, the holiday spirit will be released again and business will be put aside until next Tuesday. Though the sentiments associated with Christmas have been somewhat held in cheek by the feelings aroused by the war. the past few days have, nevertheless, been happily spent by thousands of holidaymakers. The trains and motor-bus services poured thousands of people into New Plymouth, and the streets have been thronged with newcomers, while the bustle of traffic on race days gave the town a bright and animated appearance. Trade, as anticipated, has been splendid, and the reopening of some of the shops yesterday brought crowds of purchasers to town. The weather behaved splendidly, and so added to the success of the holidays.

The number of travellers on the trains lias been very heavy. Throughout last week there was a steady stream of holiday-makers into and out of New Plymouth, but the rush did not commence in earnest until Friday. It is estimated that about 1000 people left New Plymouth by train on Friday, while a similar number arrived here. On Christinas Day the outward t-a callers numbered about 400, while over 500 came to New Plymouth. On Monday and yesterday there were special railway facilities for visitors to the races, and each day the trains brought about 3000 travellers. These approximate figures show that in the past four days that the trains have been running'over 3500 visitors have arrived here, while motor cars and 'buses from the coast brought about another 500. In addition to these visitors many people from as far south as Wanganui motored to the races, staying in town over Monday night. The races were the principal attraction, and it is estimated that daring the two days about 13,000 people visited the racecourse. Unusually large crowds patronscd the picture theatres. The holiday arrangements for New Year are of an attractive nature. At New Plymouth two big seaside picnics will be held on New Year's Day—one at the East End and one at Moturoa—and it is expected that if the day is fine there will be very many visitors from the country. Special train arrangements have been made to enable people to spend a full day at the seaside, and the organisers of each picnic are sparing no effort to provide a full day's interesting sport on the sands. The races at Stratford on New Year's Day and January 3 will, no doubt, receive splendid support from all parts of the district, while the Sunday between race days can be pleasantly spent by a visit to Ngaere Gardens, where a sacred concert will be given by the Wanganui Garrison Band. Bowlers will be catered for on New Year's Day and January 3 by ft tournament at New Plymouth.