OUR BOYS IN ENGLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 307, 27 December 1915, Page 2

OUR BOYS IN ENGLAND.

i A REAL HOME CHRISTMAS. GREAT DOINGS BY THE MAORIS : HAPPINESS IN THE HOSPITAL. (By Cable.--Tress Association.-—Copyright I , (Received 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 20. • Every Australian and New Zealand ; soldier in Britain spent Christmas mcrl rily. The Anglo-Australians have been i diligently preparing .for months to ensure ' that none was overlooked. This neccs- , sitated the most elaborate organisation l to take in all tho men isolated in the ; provincial hospitals, but the Australian : and New Zealand Red Cross and War • Conting—ll Associations, and, N_tive_' Associations arranged that all Anstra- ' iasians in English hospitals should be given special comforts. The principal functions were held at ; London, Plymouth, Bostall Heath, Harefitli and Walton, where invalids, convalescent patients and soldiers who have 1 recovered were made to feet tTint Christmas, without their southern sun, far from their homes, and in a war atmoev 1 phere, can still be merry. , The. dinner ' at the Hotel Cecil of Australians in Loirdon was largely attended, and was a ! splendid success. Many jovial Australian and New Zealand parties, dined at the Carlton, the Piccadilly, the Criterion ' and other hotels amid lavish festivities. .Soldiers thronged the Anzae Buffet, and ' all day long there was a continuous and lively entertainment. 1 Two hundred and fifty New Zealandcrs dined at the Midland Hotel. The Hon. T. * Mackenzie, who presided, said that all were proud of the New Zealand heroes. He read Mr. Massey's greotings, and also * General Birdwood's message of good j cheer to the boys from all the comrades ! in the firing line: "Return soon and we r will sec this through together." - Mr. Mackenzie presented Madame Ada 5 Crossley with the New Zealand coat of arms. 3 Lord Plunke.t. who received an ova--5 tion, congratulated the New Zealandcrs > upon their gallant exploits, and wished them good luck. 1 Mr. Cecil Wrny, formerly of Wangaf imi, distributed cigars from the residents ' of Kakatahi. ' The boys cheered, shouting, "Good old 3 Kakatahi." Afterwards Mr. Mackenzie and h_ daughter and Lord Plunket visited Acton-Walton, whero forty Maoris were the guests of Mrs. Scott. They cooked pork, pigeons, eels and kumaras in a 1 Maori oven at the back, of the garden. 2 The Acton suburbanites anxiously rushed to their windows when the war whoops 3 announced Mr. Mackenzie's arrival. , Crowds gathered in wonderment at the 8 hakas, ferocious contortions, and the 1 hunting and love songs. They sampled , the Maoris' turkey, aud pronounced it » excellent, and marvelled at the Tcsnlt obtained from a heap of earth and hot 1 stones. The Maoris continue their fcasti ing to-morrow. There was a dance in \ the evening amid lively scenes. The r hospital hpt-rda 1 at Walton were fes--1 tooued. The patients cheered Mr. Mac--5 kenzie and his son, who visited every i bed. A concert party of New Zealanders L ' provided an enjoyable entertainment.