ENGLAND'S CHRISTMAS

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 306, 27 December 1922, Page 5

ENGLAND'S CHRISTMAS

INDOOR CELEBRATION. DRIZZLE AND DOWNPOUR. ROYAL FAMILY'S REUNION. (By Cable.—rress Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, December 26. Christmas Day in London was chiefly distinguished by incessant rain. In the morning it began to drizzle, and the afternoon brought a downpour. The West End and City streets generally were deserted except for an occasional policeman, and an equally occasional churchgoer. The train and omnibus ser vices hud been reduced, and taxi drivers elected to take a holiday until evening, when the prospects of carrying fares to hotels for gala dinners brought them into evidence. All the leading hotels were gaily decorated, and those which secured an extension of hours, during which wine and spirits could be served, were well patronised, but those which offered the extra attractions of good bands and dancing floors fared better. Otherwise the city seemed quiet and closed within itself. Tlie Royal family is at Sandringham and is spending Christmas on simple, happy old English lines, though on a larjrcr scale probably than ever before. The gathering includes their Majesties, Queen Alexandra, the Prince of Wales, Prince Henry, the Princess Royal and her daughter, Princess Maud, Princess A'ictoria, the Dowager Empress of Russia, Dowager Queen Olga of Greece, Dowager Queen Louisa of Denmark, and King Haakon, Queen Maud, and the Crown Prince of Norway.—(United Service.) CRIMES IN AMERICA. NINE PEOPLE SHOT. NEW YORK, December 26. ; Nine persona were shot in fracas on Christmas Day In various places in the United States, At Seattle a ferry-boat worker became demented, invaded the home of a citizen, killed three of the latter/a children and then shot himself dead. At Louisville, Kentucky, a woman shot a man in her apartment and kept an all-night vigil over him. At Uniontown, Pennsylvania, four men were shot during Christmas celebrations in the local mining, region.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.). " TOMMY** AND THE CHILDREN. NEW YORK, December 26. A dispatch from Berlin states that thousands of German children were the guests of the British and "American armies In the occupied regions of Germany. Children, led by their school teachers, received packages containing clothing, food, toys, and candy. Army bands furnished music.—(A. and N.Z.) WILHELM'S FEAST. NEW YORK, December 26. The correspondent of the New York "Times" at Doom states that the exKaiser celebrated Christmas in something like former Imperial style. The so-called Goblin Hall of his residence was decorated with a huge Christmas tree cut by the ex-Kaiser and adorned by his bride. The ex-Crown Prince and his grandsons attended the feast. The children presented Wilhelm with a copy of his own book of memoirs in a de luxe binding. Carols were sung after dinner, in which the ex-Kaiser's Staff were allowed to join. The ex-Kaiser led the singing in a lusty voice. A special service was held in the private chapel, Wilhelm dispensing with a chaplain and officiating himself. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.) ALCOHOLIC POISONING. EIGHT DEATHS IN NEW YORK. ■(Received 9.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, December 26. There were eight deaths in New York on Christmas Day as the result of wood alcohol poisoning. Apart from this the enforcement of prohibition was stricter than on any previous holiday, with the result that the number of those charged with drunkenness at the city courts was the lowest on record for a holiday period. (A. and N.Z. Cable.)