CHRISTMAS CHEER

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 December 1934, Page 5

CHRISTMAS CHEER

! RUNANGA CHILDREN’S PARTY. ’ [our own correspondent.] Saturday was a Gala Day for the children of Runanga, when they, together with Rapahoe, Rewanui and a number of children from Greymouth, wore entertained at a Christmas party. Short working time over a long period, and the prospect that most of the children would not get anything from Santa Claus was responsible for this effort being started. The children will remember it for many a long day. A strong committee of about thirty men and women, representing the Women’s Institute, Ladies’ Guild, State School Committee, Convent School, Caledonian Society, R.S.A., ; Co-operative Society, Plunket Society, ; Croquet Club, Labour Party, Depu- i tics, Rewanui School, Bowling Club, i Church of England, Methodist Church, i Borough Council, Miners’ Union, En- ;

gine Drivers’ Union, Pipe Band, Cumbrian Society and the Literary and Debating Club were responsible foi the arrangements. There were 700 children present, and together with about 100 parents, a most animated scene was presented. The Runanga Pipe Band piped •the Rewanui children down from Dunollie and the .Greymouth children from Runanga Station. The children were first, taken to the Miners’ Hall, where ice cream and soft drinks, as much as they could consume, were distributed. Each child was given an orange and a banana, and they proceeded to the Kotare Domain, where a sports programme was held for an hour, prizes being given for the various races. On returning to tlie hall, tea, cakes and sandwiches were partaken, and most important of all, each child received a Christmas gift. A remarkably good quality gift was given and they all seemed well pleased with their toys. In many cases, where the articles were not of great value, several articles were given, and amongst these, whistles appeared to' be predominant, judging by the sbunds as the children left the hall. Prior to disbanding, Mr G. English, Chairman of the Committee, spoke to the children, wishing them a merry Christmas, and expressing the hope that they had enjoyed themselves. The financing of the party was a big task, but with the generous support received, not. only from Runanga people, and the Greymouth business houses, but also from many large trading concerns throughout the Dominion, the task was made comparatively easy. Altogether, £B5 was raised in cash, besides many donations in goods. The donations were made up as follows: —The business people of Greymouth gave goods and cash £5/8/-; Hotelkeepers £7/10/-; Outside Trading Firms, goods and cash £l3/16/-; Bowling Club £3 12/-; Old. Cycling Club £5; Co-op. Mining Parties and Workmen £l6 1 I'6/-; State Miners, Officials, aril Staff £27/18/6; the rest of the cash being donations of various amounts. The town bakeries gave cakes, one a gift of 201 b of fruit loaf (Adams Ltd.). The Runanga Co-op was generous in donations. Milk was supplied free by Messrs Rankin, Noble and Baty Bros. Ice-cream to the extent of 18-gals. was required to supply the appetite for this delicacy, and several cases of oranges and bananas, a large quantity of cordial, and well over 1000 toys were also distributed. It has been suggested that this might be made an annual event, although it is hoped that next year it. will not be n.ecesf.aiy to provide on quite so lavish a scale, for, it. is hoped, times will have improved. In the evening, as a conclusion of the proceedings, a dance was held in the Miners’ I-la.’l, and there was a large attendance. Mi’ G. Kendrick provided the music, and Messrs W. Aymer and G. Pope were M’s C.