NO CHRISTMAS DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 308, 29 December 1934, Page 5

NO CHRISTMAS DAY.

BUT FUN AS USUAL MARIPOSA'S PASSENGERS. Longitude cannot be altered, so the Matson liner Mariposa, owing to the difference in calendar dates between the United States and Fiji, was compelled to officially ignore Christmas Day. Nevertheless there were happy hours spent in celebration of Christmas the day before the liner reached Suva on her way out from Los Angeles. Although these celebrations were held on December 24, when the steamer arrived at Suva the next day it was December 2(>. In both first and cabin classes a gay evening was spent. Mr. John Fuller, one of the passengers, made an excellent Santa Claus, and after giving a sincere talk on the meaning and spirit of Christmas he proceeded to distribute presents to each child aboard, on behalf of the company. A Christmas tree in each class was a feature of the jollity, and in one class the tree was hung with more than 150 gifts which Santa Claus presented to passengers from other passengers. Christinas carols were sung with enthusiasm, and later a topical concert was given. When the Mariposa is on her way to Sydney on New Year's Eve there will be a costume ball, which is expected to out-rival even the fun of the Christmas party.