CHRISTMAS AT THE BOYS’ TRAINING FARM.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 January 1922, Page 4

CHRISTMAS AT THE BOYS’ TRAINING FARM.

At the Boys’ Training Farm at Went roa, the usual Christmas dinner was given on Christmas Day. Tire boys

had a bounteous repast: of duck, ham, green peas, new potatoes and plum pudding. The dining room had been tastefully decorated by the women staff and looked really well. Thanks io the kindness of a few staunch ■friends of the Farm, the boys had a plentiful supply of cordials, fruit and lollies.

Owing to the wet weather the spoils meetings were postponed and were held yesterday, running, swira•juing, cricket and other sports being miHlulged in.

jLast night the festivities were brought to a close with a concert in l tire. Kjiiwg hall, items for which were j limply 'Supplied by the boys. Reflmeshmesfis were handed round in the i imtorvai .trad the hoys thoroughly en- | ycyed themselves.

j ' lOpporumify was taken of saying i ©oad-bye to Air A. Thoiiey, who lor j'faimly reasons t&Ms it necessary to ! leaweuthe district. The Manager, in a lew well-chosen words, wished Mr Thoiiey success wherever he might go r a:ml 'Thanked him for many kind seirvltfiffi both to the Farm and to the boys. Mr Thoiiey feelingly- replied, I evpressh.'g regret that circumstances f had!, necess itated his severing his conjieistion will.' the boys. He gave the ifboys'some really good advice as to j fihedr fuiure llv es, and Ire \ oiced the general opinion . amongst those who lan aw wiren lie staged that the boys tat ihe present lime '.' vere much better all round than svsc‘ oey- had been. He also mentioned thai ili bis travels, on Ins holidays, lie had (ftpnfe across former inmates -of (the /:£Wn, 3fld , without exception They 'Were doing ! well.

Mr Eggeltou, formerly of I'he (Fairm staff,...was present, and said ,a fe>" words to the boys. Tie congratulated the Manager, the staff, and the. boys' on the general atmosphere of content and. goodwill which was .apparent | throughout the institution, j Mr Hayfield presided at; the piunp.j ar.’d was thanked by the Manager land | tin! boys for his services. Mr Hay--' field, in replying, reminded the Tads thaJit he had been on the staff of the Fan u, and would always take- a kind ly interest in them, and would be perfectly willing at any time to assist ’them in their musical evening’s,. The 1 . gathering broke up at 10-$1 p.m. vith ringing cheers for, the staff 'and .'especially that paaldon of it which had been responsible for the arrangement of the the vefp’eslimenls. Mrs Hooker, who contributed two' very pleasing items to the pyogramitae; in addition to the supper, received a most flattering reception. - ' Mr Thorley ciwdribuied Two -items on the bagpipes, and Ins son, Master A. Thorley, danced a’Highland Fsing very well .indeed. Mr Pike-was a host in himself, heybing the boys with their choruses an.d contributing items' to the- programme. The turn-out was ‘ voted one of ■ the most .pleasapt Ihat’ b f id Ajver been 1 held. '