FAIRYLAND SCENE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27265, 16 December 1949, Page 10

FAIRYLAND SCENE

SINGING IN GARDENS CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT The scene which one has come to associate with fairyland, dim lights twinkling in the darkness and sweet singing, was presented in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens in North Dunedin last night when the YWCA held its first “carols by candlelight” evening. From the street, the hill at the back of the Gardens was a glitter of small lights with no sign of any living person. This bubble of the imagination was pricked on closer observation for a crowd estimated at more than 1200 attended to join in the carol singing. The candles could be brought along voluntarily, but there were supplies on sale. They had a small disc of cardboard around each one to stop the grease from getting on to clothes in the darkness.

The candles played a double part, for besides allowing the large crowd to read their carol sheets, they gave a light for the people to get off the hill on to the various tracks after the singing. The programme started at 8 o’clock and finished after 9.30.

The Ist Otago Regimental Band was in attendance tb supply the music and Mrs C. J. Evans played the piano for the soloists. Such well-known carols as “Good King Wenceslas,” “Come, All Ye Faithful,” “The First Nowell” and “Away in a Manger ” were sung to the accompaniment of the band and the meeting finished with the mass singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Miss Dora Drake sang “Holy Child” and Stars All Dotted Over the Sky,” and Allan Howker also sang a solo. The Rev. I. P. Gordon gave the Christmas message and Mari Miller the Christmas reading.

The secretary of the YWCA, Miss Aldridge, told the Daily Times later that she was very pleased with the result and the number of people who had attended. She thought that it would become an annual fixture, and hoped next year to hold it nearer to Christmas. Although a small gathering was held last year, she said, this was the first one to be attempted on such a big scale. All the funds collected went to the YWCA.