CHRISTMAS IN THE INSTITUTIONS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9919, 27 December 1897, Page 3

CHRISTMAS IN THE INSTITUTIONS.

At the various charitable institutions and the Police Station Christmas was observed most thoroughly, thanks to the help and assistance rendered by various persons. Appended are the particulars :— THE CITY MISSION HOME. The number of individuals assisted at the City Mission Home this Christmas shows a marked falling off compared with the number last Christmas. Last year 192 families, representing 1044 children were helped, and 30 men dined on Christmas Day in the Home. This year 150 families, representing 720 individuals, of whom about 500 were children, were assisted, and fifteen mon dined in the home. The families included 28 widows, 29 sick and infirm, 11 very aged, and 6 deserted wives, the balance being made up of unemployod and other needy persons. All who were able visited the home on Christmas Eve, and were supplied with enough necessary provisions for a good Christmas dinner, and some of the children received books and clothes. The sick and old people were visited by Mrs Herrick in the evening, and I supplied with provisions or monetary help as ! seemed most desirable. The children of a number of very deserving families were provided by the Wesleyan Christian Endeavour Society with toys. Mrs Herrick, who superintended the distribution on Christmas Eve, desires to convey her grateful thanks for the generous response faom the publio to her appeal. AT THE HOSPITAL. Tlie patients at the Christchurch Hospital spent as happy a Christmas as, under the circumstances, could be expected. The first indication of the festive season was the decoration of [the ward 3 and corridors with evergreens and appropriate flowers, followed on Christmas morning by a distribution of useful presents to the adults, most of whom later in the day sat down to an excellent Christmas dinner. The little folks were not by an}* means forgotten. Santa Claus paid them his annual nocturnal visit and left a choice collection of toys, which gave the youngsters much pleasure when they awoke on Christmas morning. In the afternoon the patients were further delighted by the singing of carols in the corridor by the choir of St. Michael's church. The presents to the patients were provided by the Lady Visitors' Association, who were assisted by many sympathisers and others who had friends in the institution. THE ARMAGH STREET DEPOT. The inmates of the Armagh street depot speak with gratitude of their Christmas treatment. Through the kindness of the mayor they sat down to a specially inviting dinner of roast beef, poultry, plum pudding, &c., with two glasses of beer each. AT THE POLICE STATION. While Christmas was not celebrated at the police barracks on so elaborate a scale as has been the case in previous years, the occasion was not allowed to pass unnoticed. The members of the force stationed at the depot dined at a specially prepared mess of the delicacies fancied at this season of the year and afterwards honoured the occasion in the customary manner.