CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM HOME

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22594, 27 December 1938, Page 10

CHRISTMAS AWAY FROM HOME

Day Celebrated In Institutions

SANTA CLAUS COMES TO THE CHILDREN’S WARD

The big number of persons, young and old, whom sickness and misfortune prevent from enjoying the traditional happiness of a Christmas in their own home and with their relatives, have a special claim on the community on December 25. And this year the custom of giving special treats to hospital and sanatorium patients, to inmates of orphanages, old people’s homes, and other institutions, and to prisoners in gaol was celebrated as nappily as ever. Committees of citizens in many cases assisted the staff of the various institutions to devise and introduce special treats for Christmas, and their work gladdened hundreds of hearts on Saturday and Sunday. Christmas Day was, as it always is, the outstanding day of the year at the city’s several orphanages. Christinas trees and the gifts from them — eagerly awaited from the night before in the general expectation that Father Christmas was due to call again—began the day for most of them, and a Christmas dinner, keenly awaited and long to be remembered, was the next attraction. Entertainments for the children were provided in most cases, and by the work of the staff combined with the generosity of outside helpers the young inmates were given a memorably happy Christmas Day. The Children’s Ward In all his long travels at this time of the year. Father Christinas can have had few more pleasurable visits than the one he paid the Children’s Ward at the Chi'istchurch Public Hospital. Decorated wards, in the arrangement of which much care and time had been given by the staff, helped the Christmas atmosphere, and the distribution from a huge tree weighed down with toys or gifts in the traditional manner made an extremely happy hour both for the children, to whom Christmas means so very much more than any other time of the year, and for the adults whose pleasure it was to serve them. In addition to the nursing staff, the Rev. Canon H. Williams and Mrs Williams took an active part in the work. The' Cashmere Sanatorium, too, remembered Christmas in the traditional way, with special entertainments for the patients. decorated rooms, and a complete break from the normal hospital routine. Visitors from the city who take a special and kindly interest in the hospital’s work and inmates also attended, assisting the staff in their very successful endeavour to provide a really happy Christmas for those whom illness kept from their own homes. The usual Christmas observance was given at the Sunnyside Mental Hospital. Those patients who. could be given leave went to their homes for the day, and for the big number that remained a special programme was arranged. A tasty dinner in specially decorated rooms, special church services, and entertainments as well, gifts for the children, and many other variations from the ordinary routine of hospital life were provided for, and greatly enjoyed by, the patients. In Prison A Christmas dinner conforming more to the spirit of the festive season than to the normal rules of prison diet was one special reminder for the men in Paparua Prison that the date was December 25. In addition they were given a special issue of cigarettes arid tobacco —some provided by the State and some by outside donors —and other privileges as well. Special entertainments, of moving picture shows, and of concerts by parties from the city, and Christmas church services were also given the men in the last few days and their list of seasonal privileges will also include a similar commemoration of New Years Day, next week.

GERMAN SAILORS CELEBRATE

PARLY HELD AT LYTTELTON

Long tables lighted only by candles, a large Christmas tree gaily decorated and lit with small candles, mellow, tuneful voices singing "Stille Nacht” in the original German; in this manner some 45 Germans, officers and crew of the steamer Goslar, now at Lyttelton, celebrated Christmas on Saturday evening in the Seamen’s Institute. Above the top table the German flag with the swastika and the New Zealand ensign were draped, with the flag of the British Sailors’ Society between. It was a real Weihnachtsfeier, or German Christmas Festival. The arrangements were in the hands of the young fourth officer, Mr Mayen. As each man entered the hall he was greeted with a handshake by the commander, Captain Evers. When they were seated, Captain Evers first asked the port missioner, Mr E. S. Matheson, to convey to the society the thanks of himself and crew for the use of the hall. He said they would long remember the Christmas spent in Lyttelton, which he described as a pleasant town in a pleasant and friendly country. He then addressed the crew, telling them that although they were so far away from the Fatherland, from wives and children and friends, they would all celebrate Christmas in the manner in which they were accustomed at home. The fourth officer read a number of messages of goodwill received from Germany. The men then sang a carol and began on the good things on the table. In each man’s place was an envelope containing a 10s note and an order on the chief steward of the Goslar for two bottles of German beer. The gifts on the Christmas tree were numbered and officers and men their numbers.

More carols were sung, the men breaking into them spontaneously and a real spirit of goodwill prevailed. Pipes and cigarettes were lit and there was much talk among the men. Then another carol, and an officer distributed a paper bag to each man. The purpose of this was obscure until it was explained that, with characteristic German thoroughness, the bags were provided to enable each man to take back to the ship the sweets, fruit and other things not consumed at the table. Funds for the party were provided by the owners of the Goslar, who cabled £4O, and by the officers of the ship.