CHRISTMAS IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1916, Page 8

CHRISTMAS IN NEW PLYMOUTH.

A BUSY iPERIOD. Though lh(! dark ;-lou<l of war is again in evidence this Christmas, and in many New Zealand'families the abjsr.cs of familiar faces -will .Vc feit, the people on the whole hit. maintaining a buoyancy of i-vkits which augurs well for a happy Vuletide. In New Plymouth business is extremely brisk, and .the shops are thronged "daily by hundreds of eager purchasers, and the staffs arc working at high pressure in order to cope with the heavy demands of their numerous customers. The presence ot a large number of soldiers in town on holiday leave serves as a reminder of the war. Evidence of the popularity of New Plymouth as a holiday resort may be gauged from the fact that there is an increasing demand for accommodation for visitors jt all the hotels and boarding-houses, and for some weeks past dozens of applications have had to he refused. At. the Mountain House and Dawson Falls House the accommodation books were filled weeks ago. The Taranaki Jockey Club's meeting on December 20 and 27 promises to .ittract a large crowd of visitors All arrangements for this popular gathering ai\> complete, and present indications point to fresh records being established. Good fields arc assured, and, with the course in perfect condition, the racing throughout should he of-a. very high order. The lawns are in admirable order, reflecting the care which has been bestowed upon them by the custodian, Mr. J. Blewman, whilst the numerous flower-beds, which are scattered about the lawns and around the tea kiosk, add color to the delightful .surroundings. Special train arrangements have been made for the meeting, and these should be found very convenient to Intendign visitors from down the line. •Picnics at the Breakwater and East End_,slioiild provide a big' attraction to visitors on New Year's Day, while the Stratford races will also draw many. A large number of visitors have arrived in town during the past few days, and last evening Devon Street was t?ronjeti.