THE HOLIDAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1918, Page 7

THE HOLIDAYS.

" ~ .CROJVBbV -"*****■ i For themostyjarfr .(lap passed wi&»ut any wmsaal Mat* ym. la. fact, a» orthodoxy has wwett Stself alsout tike obarrvaujco of the ■Cluastnjas season, \rineh w«wtd mate any departure therefrom appear almost .groteeqoe. Perfect weaS&er eontirrae® fctooaghout the wfeota time. .crowds gathered into tiro Taranaki :towaa on du-isfcmas live, ami. tAeshoua, -did steady business throttgasowt tfex* At aigilit t)iore was the it&t&abio snjsfr tf (business associated fee Antef tours preceding tUo olosag time, tbf 'Streets w«re thronged wife tkosa who. up and'dovtt £of &e&oral hours, but the crowd soon <K»«*ty°4 iteftear tie shops closed.

In New Plymouth it was as erflffltEjr ;a gathering as canld be found aifywfespv. The prominent note throughout Was tto sound of the festive trumpet and the;.penny squeaker, and thuuugh ttee ■medium many found the mmura iing eipression to their joy at tfc« <wess- • ion. ' - 1

[ Christmas Day was, as it afetaysr fe, pand probably always will lie, tt day Aw home-keeping. It is- the day of fawify re-unions, aad consequently no public function is €ver aDowwl to efiercaefo Tipon the sacred hours of-that day. A. few folks strolled abroad during tke afternoon hours, either along the waterfront or in some of the many 'beautiful re-, serves which are the rich nijreritanc-;} of the residents of New Plymouth, while a number of bowling enthusiasts met to enjoy an hour or two's play on the greens, .which are now getting into fiatclass order. • ■

In most of the churches the customary services were' held during the day. ■CHEISTMAS NIGHT CONCERT.

The only public gathering on Christmas night was the concert in Everybody's Theatre, given under the auspices of the Ngamotu Seaside Committee, in aid of funds for the improvement of that section of the foreshore. From the point of view of patronage the concert was not a great success, the attendance being disappointing. What the audience lacked in numbers, however, was more than made up by the enthusiasm and appreciation with which the items were received. Encores were demanded in ! every Case, and in some instances performers were twice recalled. Pianoforte solos were played by Master Harold Morey and Mr Russell Grave, the former opening the concert with Ohaminade's "Autonne," which was very well given for so young a pianist, and for an encore he played a Chanvenka "Polish Dance." Mr Grave played Grey's well-known "To the Spring" in such a way as to demand an instant recall, the num'ber chosen being a waltz by Brahms. Mr F. W G. McLeod! gave a finished rendering of Sullivan's "tost Chord" as a cornet solo, and for an encore he played "The Dove" (Yadia). Of the vocalists Mrs Colin McLaren wag undoubtedly the most successful. For her singing of "The Floral Dance" (Katie Moss)' she received a great reception and responded with a veTy apropria te musical monologue entitled "Christmas Bells." For this she was again recalled and gave "Love's •Own Kiss" (Friml). In the second half Mrs McLaren sang "Melisande in the Wood," and for encores gave a recitation and Guy d'Hardelot's "Because." Miss Ethel Duff (Christchurch) who made her first appearance before a local audience was cordially received, and for her singing of Stanton's "Spirit Flower" was twice recalled, singing "In a Garden" (Hawley) and "0 Day Divine" (Oliver). Miss Cocker, who is one of the most popular local sopranos, sang Francis Allitsen's "Song of Thanksgiving," for which she was encored, and gave Ethel Barnes' "Soul of Mine." Mr. S. H: Dunstan gave a first rate rendering of dough—Leigh ton's inspiring number "The Song of the Sword," and as an etieore he sang Nutting's "My Dream." Later Mr Dunstan sang "One flour Beyond". (Stirling) and as an encore "A Song,of Hope" (Haydn Wood). Mr. R. ;L. Cooper'# progr amine numbers were' "Naznreth" (Gounod) and "Son of Mine" (Wallace) and for an encore he gave Aliitsen's "There's a Land." Mr Arnold 0. Sturrock played the accompaniments in hia usual'musical manner.

, BOXING DAY. boxing Day is invariably a day of outings and picnics, and yesterday was ■no exception to the rule. The continuation of the glorious weather of the past few days attracted large numbers of people out, and there was an atmosphere of gaiety everywhere. The beaches received a good share of public patronage, The lateness of the summer season has prevented anything in the way of sea-side pleasuring up till now, and it was not surprising, therefore, that with sudden appearance of perfect summer weather, the sea front should have made an irrestible call on a. large portion of the population. This will no doubt' be even more apparent as the season advances. The chief attraction yesterday was, of course, the Taranaki Jockey 'Club's summer meeting, which drew a' record crowd, visitors coming from all over the province and outside districts. There has been a large influx of visitors to New Plymouth for the season, and again tho acommodation has bedn considerably taxed. Visitors to the North Egmont Mountain. House have been numerous, as has also the day-trippers. <