CHILDREN’S DAY

Evening Star, Issue 22780, 15 October 1937, Page 13

CHILDREN’S DAY

SAILORS AS HOSTS Jack Tar is a fine host, and when he sets himself out to entertain the children he excels himself. This was evident yesterday afternoon, when the ship’s company of H.M.S. Leander gave a children’s party aboard the vessel. The custom of giving such a party in Dunedin was instituted by H.M.S. Dunedin in order to mark her visits to her name port, and when she was relieved by the Leander the ship’s company of the new vessel assumed the responsibility and obtained permission from the commanding officer (Captain J. W. RivettCarnac, D.S.C.) to again entertain the children of Dunedin. The result was that yesterday afternoon approximately 700 children between the ages of six and 10 years, the majority of whom were from various orphanages, were the guests of the sailors. Preparations had been in progress for the party ever Since the arrival of the vessel at Dunedin, and its success was never in doubt. The children were met by the sailors in the Octagon early in the afternoon, and, accompanied by the ship’s band, were marched to the vessel. The costumes of their hosts were as varied as the individual tastes of the men themselves, but it was a happy band that set off for the ship. Considerable interest was caused by the antics of a coal-black “ steed ” which caused its “ female owner a considerable amount of trouble and defied all attempts to be mounted. As soon as a would-be rider was comfortably settled on the animal s back the hind legs, for some unaccountable reason, collapsed, depositing the equestrian on the roadway. It would be difficult to determine what many of the men were supposed to represent, so cosmopolitan was their garb, but to mention a few there were firemen, complete with hose and ladder, a chain gang, and a party of matadors. On arrival at the ship’s side the children were taken aboard, and soon the decks were ringing with the merry laughter and shouting of the juvenile guests. First in popularity was undoubtedly a cruise round the steamers’ basin in one of the motor boats belonging to the vessel. The harbour was rather choppy, and as the packed boat pulled out into the open water the excitement was intense. Another popular form of amusement was an aerial ride in a breeches buoy which had been rigged from the ship to the wharf, and carried its human cargo high above the heads of the crowd. A shooting gallery was erected in the bows, and young marksmen who rang the bell behind the target were rewarded. No playground is complete without a slide, and the one which was erected on the foredeck of the Leander was well patronised. At periods during the afternoon the children were deeply interested in the descent and ascent of a diver who went down from the ship. Crowds of eager faces lined the rails and gave whoops of joy as enormous air bubbles rose_ to the surface, and finally the diver himself shot up with a fully-inflated suit. There were various adaptations of the “ Aunt Sally ” show, in which balls were thrown, at diffeernt' objects, and no end of fun was obtained by attempting to pin a tail oh a donkey painted on a screen while blindfolded. A cinema was also shown in one of the wharf sheds, and attracted good audiences. Last, but not least, many a youthful Sandow was vastly intrigued by an electrical machine designed to calculate one’s “ toughness.” All one had to do was to hold a pair of brass cylinders wired to a coil, and the result was shown on an illuminated gauge. The degrees were, “ Sissy, yellow, normal, strong, tough, very tough.” Afternoon tea was served in a shed alongside the ship, the whole of the catering being carried out by the ship’s galley staff. The arrangements for the party were in the hands of an energetic committee, headed by Lieutenant J. F. Thompson, and its success reflected great credit on all concerned. The committee thanks all those who made donations toward the party—■ namely, Mr F. Fraser, who_ supplied the cakes; Lane and Co., cordials; Phoenix and Cadbnry, Fry, Hudson, sweets; Gordon Berry Ltd., toys; and Woolworth’s, for various articles. The tables and trestles were lent by the Otago A. and P. Society and the Otago Early Settlers’ Association, while all the departments of the Otago Harbour Board lent assistance. The reserves department of the City Corporation provided a quantity of greenery, and conveyed it to the ship, while the work of the mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox), and the town clerk (Mr R. A. Johnston, was also greatly appreciated.