NAVAL CHRISTMAS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 80, 29 December 1931, Page 5

NAVAL CHRISTMAS

Pohutukawa at Masthead <• ' >' ■ ' ''' DEVONPORT OBSERVANCE In accordance with ancient tnstom the warships at Devonport base, Auckland, were. decorated early on Christ-; mas morning with “evergreens;” Al-i though in tai country where little of the. native flora is deciduous, : the Royal Navy holds firmly to the. term “evergreen.” In the absence of holly, box or bay, bunches: of pohutukawa were used.

“Please say,” said one seaman to a reporter, “how grateful all our ratings are for the hospitality extended to them by the people of Auckland. The majority of our people' had ‘leaf’ and everyone, who did not have a home to go to had an invitation to someone’s table. Our hearts feel more than our tongues can often express.” Six fifteen is the beginning of the, official day and at six fifteen the bunches of pohutukawa; were in posi--tion at mastheads, on all yardarms and on jackstaffs afid ensign staffs. There they remained until sunset, when Christmas.ls officially over. , “I was reading about Yuietide customs'in. the Royal Navy,”’ said a petty officer with the smile that covers a. lot: of home-sickness at this time. “Well, you can say that the youngest boy did* not don the uniform of the chief’ boatswain’s mate and neither did the boys celebrate the day by caning the Regulating Petty Officer. I don’t know when these tricks were a custom, but: they don’t come off nowadays.” !