CHRISTMAS CHEER

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 18

CHRISTMAS CHEER

MT. CRAWFORD VISITED

The annual party given at Mount Crawford Gaol by the Presbyterian Social Service Guild, Mr. Norman Aitken, and Mrs. M. H. Chatfield, took place on Saturday afternoon, and was, as usual, a most successful effort. The weather was delightful, and the centra] hall was excellently decorated with many flags (kindly lent by the City Council), as well as with greenery, etc., added by the inmates. The tea, a bountiful one provided by the Social Service Guild, was set in the long corridor, the tables being covered with white cloths and centred with a bowl of Christmas lilies, others with red and white roses being placed along the tables. These flowers were provided by the kindness of Mr.. MacKenzie, Director of City Reserves, and by friends at Wadestown and the Hutt. Those helping at 'the tea were Mrs. Bell, Mrs. R. Tait, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Webster, Mrs. Leeks, Mrs. Rushbrook, Miss Thompson, and Miss McFarlane.

The programme, which is always arranged by Mr. Norman Aitken, was a most popular one. With Mr. Harry Wilson as accompanist and leader, it went with a swing. The items included some from the Aeolian quartette, Messrs. Church, Coe, Mayall, and Hall, a dance" duo by Misses Cooke and Hathaway, songs by Mr. Claude Moss, Mrs. Pengelly, and Mr. Peter Dawn, a recitation by Mr. Norman Aitken, and a sketch by Messrs. N. Aitken and J. Cooke. A very popular item was a most amusing one-act play, entitled "The Indicator," played by Mr. Dudley Alexander, Mr. Jim Cooke, and Miss Thornton.

The inmates also provided some excellent items, including a liaka, songs, etc., as well as a very amusing printed programme which mentioned among other performers "Our Road Hogs," this causing much mirth.

The cigarettes, which were also a much-appreciated part of the entertainment, were provided generously by Messrs. H. W. Moss and Co., Messrs. W. D. and H. O. Wills (per Mr. Hunt), Messrs. Joseph Nathan and Co., with the assistance of a donation of £1 Is from, the Wellington Justices' Association. The collecting of tobacco and cigarettes'was the work of Mrs. Chatfield, who wished to cordially thank the donors.

Among those present were Mr. B. L. Dallard, J.P., Controller-General of Prisons (who thanked all those who had contributed to the enjoyment of the party, making a cheerful speech, with good wishes to all), Mrs. Dallard, the Rev. Mr. Wainwright, of the Presbyterian Social Service Guild (who returned thanks for. the helpers), and others. Those who provided cars were Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Leeks, Mr. D. H. Edgar, the Justice Department, Mr. Claude Moss, Mr. B. Mayall, and Mr. H. Wilson.