TOYS FOR THE ORPHANS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 300, 18 December 1926, Page 11

TOYS FOR THE ORPHANS.

THOUGHTFUL CHRISTMAS GIFTS. SHOP ASSISTANTS' GENEEOSITY. The orphans of Auckland are not forgotten at Christmas, and the Shop Assistants' Union, among others, make the matter of their happines at this ,'ime of the year an especial consideration.

It comes as a surprise to realise how many orphanages there are in and about Auckland. At the office of the Shop Assistants' Union yesterday boxes were being packed for institutions at Takapuna, Vauxhall Road, Richmond Road (the children from here being now in camp at Narrow Neck), The Grange, Mt. Albert, Buckland Road, Mount Smart (Boys' Home), Meadowbank, Otahuhu, Howick, Papatoetoe, Manurewa, and the Karitane Home. Altogether there are fifteen of these institutions, and they had joy brought to their doors this afternoon by the kindliness of the shop assistants of Auckland. And not only did the children receive presents; their guardians, too, were not forgotten in the distribution of gifts. In addition to its special gift, each child received a quarter-pound box of chocolates and a balloon. The gifts were purchased at wholesale rates, and there is nothing shoddy about any of them, all being of the highest quality in its line. This has been seen to by the selectors, who are, of course, experienced in values. Each institution was presented with a cricket outfit, footballs, tennis racquets and balls, and indoor games. Many of the boxes of games contain as many as twenty devices, whilst there are no fewer than 54 games contained in one particular box. In selecting the individual gifts for the children, care had been exercised to provide things which would prove useful. Father Christmas (in the person of Mr. Peter Dawson, who, with Mrs. Dawson, has rendered the greatest assistance to the scheme) presented the gifts, a number of cars, lent by various business men of the city, visiting the orphanages. All the gifts were bought with money subscribed by the shop assistants and raised by them through the medium of social evenings and jumble sales, and the generosity of these workers in so contributing towards a happy Christmas for the orphans is altogether praiseworthy. A " BUFFALO " TBEAT FETE AT THE DRILL HALL. There was merriment and general happiness at the Drill Hall this afternoon, when some 500 children were entertained at a fete by the members of the Buffalo Lodge, P.P. and F. In addition to their own children, the "Buffs" invited 200 youngsters from the Catholic Orphanage at Takapuna, the Salvation Orphanage at the Grange and the Leslie Orphanage at St. Helier's. The young visitors were entertained to a fine concert and regaled with sweets, cakes and soft drinks, while a life-like Father Christmas presented them with gifts suitable to their varying ages. Mr. J. Rees was chairman of the committee which arranged the. entertainment. Among those who helped to :' : entertain the children was Mr. V. H. FotteryiM.P.