YULETIDE IN HOSPITAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21991, 24 December 1934, Page 13

YULETIDE IN HOSPITAL

DECORATION OF WARDS LIGHTHOUSES NOT FORGOTTEN Through the generosity of many business firms, social welfare organisations and private persons, Christmas will not pass unoelebrated in hospitals or other institutions where the usual family festivities cannot bo held. The nursing staff at the Auckland Hospital and Epsom Infirmary always works hard in co-operation with the patients to brighten the wards, and this year many very original schemes of decoration have been evolved. Where patients are able to do so, they arrange many of the decorations themselves. For all able to partake of them, special Christmas delicacies, even including the traditional fare for the robust cases, will be served in the hospital to-morrow, generous donations by the public having helped to make this possible. Special care is taken to ensure that all the children in hospital are given a happy time. The annual children's entertainment, arranged by the Mayor of Newmarket, Mr. S. Donaldson, and Airs. Donaldson, took place in the massage department on Saturday evening. Every child who could be safely transported there was present, and a very happy time was spent. Mr. Donaldson enacted the role of Father Christmas and distributed gifts, later visiting all the small patients who could not be at the entertainment and giving them presents also. The chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, and members of the Hospital Board paid a Christmas visit to the Warkworth Hospital on Saturday and to-day they will visit the infirmary to wish all the inmates season's greetings. A similar visit will be paid to the main hospital to-morrow morning. Special Christmas services will be held to-morrow _by various denominations at both institutions. The visiting hours at the hospital in both the Christmas and New Year weeks will be as follows:— Tuesday and Wednesday, 2.30-3.30 p.m.; Friday, 7-8 p.m.; Sunday, 2.30-3.30 p.m. The lonely children on the lighthouses are not forgotten. This 3'ear, as in the past, the Government lighthouse tender Matai, on her trip with Christmas stores to the northern lighthouses, took with her parcels of toys, scrapbooks and sweets for every child. J. ho girls' branch of the Navy League was responsible for the gifts, and also for consignments of presents which the Auckland Harbour Board tender took during the week to the Tiritiri and Mokohinau lighthouses in closer proximity to Auckland. _ _,j The prisoners at the Mount Eden gaol will not be overlooked. The Prisoners' Aid Society has received fine public support for its efiorts to provide little tokens of the festive season Cigarettes and tobacco, small presents and delicacies, such as fruit and sweets, will be distributed and butter and cheese will be welcome "extras" to the menu. In addition the society has distributed parcels of groceries and clothin" to the wives of prisoners, and toys for their children. A Christmas service will be conducted to-morrow morning by the prison chaplain, the Rev. G. E. More ton.