[Editor: This article, regarding the New Year, was published in The Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas.), 1 January 1925.]
New Year’s Eve.
Seeing the old year out and ushering in the new.
Although the high jinks which in years gone by were regarded as inseparable from the celebration of New Year’s Eve were to a great extent absent from last night’s festivities, yet the rejoicing appeared to be as keen. The business establishments, with the exception of the small shops, refreshments, and fruit, were closed, but Brisbane, Charles, and George streets were brilliantly lighted.
From an early hour crowds of people of all ages patrolled the city streets. Friends meeting friends exchanged salutations for a bright, happy, and prosperous New Year, and the good wishes were reflected in the beaming faces of a majority of the moving crowds.
There was music for all. St. Joseph’s Concert Band played through the streets to the Royal Park, where they gave a concert that was well attended. The Salvation Army Band also played through Brisbane-street, and took up its position in the Quadrant, facing Brisbane-street, Adjutant Grindlay addressing the large number of people who stopped to listen to the music, and the testimonies advised the public to make good resolutions at the commencement of the New Year and keep them throughout.
Then came the Highland Pipe Band, in strong numbers, led by Drum-Major George White. They played Scottish pibrochs and other national music, and on the march the strains were particularly inspiring.
At various stopping places a speech was made, calling attention to the St. Andrew’s Caledonian Sports, to be held at York Park to-day, at which the prize money offered amounts to £150. A plea was made for the citizens to foregather in large numbers, so as to help to make York Park, the city sports ground, a payable proposition. The Highland Band drew large crowds, which at times cheered the music, and also applauded the remarks of the sportsmen.
The bands mentioned were not allowed to have things their own way, for as the night advanced youths brought out a tin can band, and if it raised a discord it yet took a prominent part in the celebration of the energy of the year 1925.
Watch night services were held at St. John’s Church, Patterson-street Methodist, the Baptist Tabernacle, and by the Salvation Army at the Citadel, good congregations attending.
As the Post Office clock struck the hour of midnight responsive cheering was held in various places, and rockets were sent up and crackers exploded in honor of the advent of the New Year.
Source:
The Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas.), 1 January 1925, p. 4
Editor’s notes:
pibroch = a piece of music for the Scottish bagpipes, usually of a martial or mournful nature (pibrochs are commonly used for death commemorations, funerals, and military purposes)
See: “Pibroch”, Wikipedia
[Editor: Changed “celebration of the enery” to “celebration of the energy”.]
[Editor: The original text has been separated into paragraphs.]
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