WAIKAIA CHRISTMAS TREE

Mataura Ensign, Volume 15, Issue 1352, 29 December 1893, Page 6

WAIKAIA CHRISTMAS TREE

the 22ndj was : ared le^er day In the annals of the children of. Waikaia. The State school broke up in the forenoon with the distribution- of prizes by Mr Colin. Kobertson, chairman. All the pupils who passed their standard at the last examination were the recipients of a handsome r-word for the year's work. The event of tl>e d»y came off at nighr, wh/n the schoolroutn was crow. led t<excess with c'uMren, tlieir mothers, sinters, cousins, »uuts, brothers, uncles, anii sires. The ssual Christmas tree, which had been growing f.v some weeks, suddenly, as if by some magic spell, blossomed with ;:ome 150, parcels' of attractive gif >, immprising the useful and ornament nl, b< \sidi>s a great variety o c toys to delight il;e hearts of the children. Their eager anticipations were amply satisfied. The tree was a brilliant spectacle, beiug lit effectively ' With Chinese lanterns and -fairy lamps, [ crowned by a fair bride, dressed in the I orthodox fashioD, who was drawn .for exclusively by the bachelor present, and successfully carried off by- a i most unsentimental youth. Tha entertainment was conducted by the !Rev. W. Panton Brown, assisted by a committee of young men and maidens, who heartily aird willingly worked to produce this successful issue. The evening was enlivened by music of various kinds : a songiiy the school girls, one by + Mrs Wat^caJ jygd a ' selection by Mr E. Haqae?^ t^eompaku' ments of shrill treble p,ipi?s whistles, trumpet b^gla no,tes 4 bieniing in ex^uisj,te lia.rmpny to the word " order." The proceedings olosed with votes of tnaaka to the committee ; to Mr Sproat, the giver of the tree; to Mrs A. T. Clarfe i for her large collected sobscription and > to Mr Thomas l?oung, who miioh to the pleasure of t^e evening, by an exhibition of s^agnificent fireworks in the sah.ppjl graundi as the aforesaid ehildferi, u&ix mothersj sigters, cousins/ aunts, bfothersi uncles ancl sires betook thei4> iems to their respective homes/ -■ <