GREAT PARTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 296, 13 December 1940, Page 11

GREAT PARTY.

BACKWARD CHILDREN.

SANTA CLAUS A VISITOR.

About 40 children had the time of their lives yesterday afternoon when the annual breaking-up ceremony of the Institute for the Care of Backward Children was bold in the institute's classrooms in Upper Queen Street.

Due to the generosity of a band of city business men, the children were treated to the kind of party that everyone dreamed of as a child. First of all came the "eats"—strawberries, icecream and jelly, cold drinks, and the most exciting bread and butter slices sprinkled with those gay-coloured '"hundreds and thousands" beloved by voutli.

Each kiddie had an intriguing paper hat, and a tall Christmas tree at the end of the dining room, decorated with all the tinael and colour of genuine Christmas trees, gave promise of still more wonderful things to come. And

they did come, too. Santa C'laus — there was no mistake about who it wa<, whiskers and all—arrived with a pack oil bis back later in the. proceedings, and each child received a substantial -ift.

The room was gaily decorated with Ciirintmax streamers and the furniture, in a motif of criwin and jrreen, added to a jolourful scone. It was explained, however, that this is always a "bright" school as far as decorations are concerned.

11l the adjoininp playroom the children jrreeted parents and visitors with a "welcome sonjr," and later there was an operetta followed by a "percussion band." A "percussion hand," by the way, is one in which all the instru-

mentalists have something that can l>e banged—drums, tamlxjurines, triangles and gadgets Jike that. Thnn there were songs and games and a, Christmas carol. It was a great day.

Among the guests were representatives of educational, social and welfare institutions, in addition to parents. A telegram wag received from the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. \V. E. Parry, regretting that he could not be present.

The ladies' committee of the institute entertained tho parents and guests to afternoon tea. The president of the commitee is Miss B. C'arnachan, the secretary is Miss F. Waddinghain and the treasurer is Mrs. J. C. Gulliver. The members of the committee are Mesdames S. K. Kenning*, J. W. Hollis, K.

K. Dowding, J. G. Hopkins and Misses K. Mahon, K. Goldsworthy, M. Muir, K. Martin and K. Kennedy. The headmistress of the institute is Miss M. Lang.

During the afternoon Miss Waddingham presented Mrs. W. Baber, who helped with the musical programme, with a floral tribute in appreciation of her services.

This was the fir»t school of its kind in the Dominion, be in" founded in 1933, but go successful has it been that one has been started in Welligton, and plans are under way by the Education Department for the establishment of similar schools in Dunedin and Christchurch.