HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25085, 26 December 1944, Page 4

HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

MIDDLE EAST DRAFT ARRIVAL ON SUNDAY A draft of Auckland and North Auckland repatriated prisoners of war, sick, wounded and other personnel who cently returned to New Zealand from thb Mediterranean war theatre arrived in Auckland on Sunday morning. Their timely * arrival on the very eve of Christmas festivities reunited the men with their families for the first Christmas, in most cases, since December, 1939.

There were about 30 men and three nurses on the train when it arrived at Auckland and there were many friends and relatives to give them a warm welcome. Transport for the draft was provided by Array personnel of the Northern Military District and the Red Cross Transport Service, and within a short time of the train's arrival the platform was clear and the men and women with their relatives were on their way to their homes. After a meal at Government House Club the North Auckland personnel were taken to their homes by . Army cars. No official reception was given at the station, but the Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum, Colonel H. M. Foster, officer commanding A rea 1/ A. P. Postlewaite, president of the Auckland Returned Services Association, were present on the platform.

LOCAL AND GENERAL Holiday for Sailors Thirty-three seamen from ships at present in port are just now enjoying the complete change of a five-day countrv holiday on farms scattered from Put-arum to Maungaturoto. It will be an entirely free outing for them, as the farmers concerned are providing the hospitality, and travelling expenses are being met by the Flying Angel Missions to Seamen, which has organised the scheme. Christmas Music

Several bands were out on Christmas Eve, playing appropriate music and taking up collections for charitable objects. One of them, the Auckland Watersiders' Band, must have raised a fairlv good sum early in the evening when it plaved outside two large blocks of flats. Silver coins showered down from as high as the sixth storeys and the collectors were so active that it is unlikely that any of the money was missed.

Work ot Y.M.C.A. v , f ri A tribute to the work of the Y.M.O.A. with the New Zealand Division in the Middle East was paid by Corporal I. A. St. George, a repatriated prisonej ot war, who returned to Auckland on fc>undav after four and a-half years overseas. The Y.M.C.A. secretaries went rigte»P to the front line with tieir mobile canteens and did sterling work among the troops. "We don't see much o them behind the lines.' said .CorpoVal St. George, "but up at the front they re good. Auckland's Dust-Free Air Bright sunshine, with a light n °Yf" erly breeze, made conditions on 1 Waitemata Harbour particular pleasant on Sunday afternoon. . ers who arrived from Sydney by ilymgboat expressed their appreciation or the fresh, spring-like atmosphere or Auckland after enduring the hunud, dust-laden air of the Australian city Thev reported that they had A through dust clouds until well off tne Australian coast and it was not until they were about half-way to INew e land that they encountered clear, sunshine.

Boxing Day Origin * Several origins have been given to Boxing Day, but the one most usual J accepted relates to a Christmas < or small gratuity, given to servants ami others on the day after Christmas DayIn the early days of Christianity bo. were placed in churches for chant and opened on Christmas Day. The contents were distributed next day &y priests and called the "dole of ) - Christmas box" or "the box money. « was customary for heads of houses give small sums to their subordina •'to put in the box" before Mass on Christmas Day. Quiet Day in City As a holiday Christmas Day is invariably responsible for a marked s! ing of the tempo of city life probably more outstanding 111 .t- .-i: spect than any of the other public ho days. This distinction was accentuates to a greater degree than usual 3J S ,. day and activity in the heart or city was quieter than the most P of Sunday afternoons. The almost plete closing of shops and re^ r0 , s ! 1 " t i lo places played a part, but probably falling of Christmas on Monday was the main cause. It was m effec V. tIP v. Sundays on end. This prevented n of the hilarity and gaiety mduced ? Christmas Evo shopping and mdulg overflowing to the day after.

Protest Against Dog Pound A petition with 250 signatures ' been presented to Mr S. Takle, man of the City Councils J own PI nine Committee, in protest agaiu construction of a new dog P° u " d . the site of the old Nelson Street bisli'dump. It is stated that tje protest is based on the use of a r tial area for such a purpose, proximity of the site to the Ber Street School...and on the general ciple of health. The pound has j been completed. It will ® cc eight dogs and is intendedto tila . the one in Freeman s Bay. the tion of this one being poor ana facilities inferior to those pr° . the 1 new pound, where there separate compartment for eac..»