CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2859, 30 December 1908, Page 10

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS.

i , THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. Christmas goose and plum pudding, in addition to a number of extras outside oi the ordinary ' every-day diet, constituted a special attractiontg the children in the Industrial School on CKrietmas Day, the inmates, as is usual at the fastive season of the year, doing full justice to the good and well-pre-pared cheer provided. In all -about SO chil- , dren s&t down to "dinner, several of those present having come to the institution tq renew associations with former companions and friends, and the matron and staff exerted themselves to make the Christmas gathering as happy as possible. After dinner the children spent a pleasant afternoon, in the - garden and grounds of the institution, and, ' judged by their happy faces and laughter, no more happy day than Christmas of 1908 had been spent by them in the institution. j THE-HOSPITAL. The Hospital is* an institution where celebrations do not often take place, and where unusual exuberance of spirits is difecouraged. But annually an exception is made in favour ...of Christmas, and *taff and patients combine to get the largest possible amount of joy out of what British people everywhere recognise as the chief holiday of the year. Early on, Christmas morning some 40 of the nurses formed themselves into , an impromptu*-.choir, and for an hour en- , tertained the inmates of the__various wards by carol-singing. Following that, the wards were put into spick and span order, ready for the inspection of the visitors, who, in unrestricted numbers, are allowed to throng the Hospital during- the day. Flowers are always distributed about the various wards, but Friday's blooyiß in larger quantities arid of greater excellence decorated the tables about the institution. This was particularly noticeable in the Victoria««vVard, ! where, with a pTetty suggestion of patriotism, bunches of red, white, and blue flowera were displayed. Presents "were scattered freely thrOTigfH<w*fc fcHe instl'fcution, the h-estirfc of every inmate being gladdened with an appreciation of the kind lines that inspired some small gift, while every patient capable of doing so took part in the piece de resistance of the day's celebrations— the dinner. Many friends of the Hospital, including Mr S. Solomon (chairman of the trustees), a number of the trustees, and his Worship the Mayor, assisted at this function During the afternoon the Hospital was visited by large numbers of people, who, imbued with the true spirit of Christmas, sought by gifts and other little manife3taions of kindness, to cheer and bring a little gladness to the many unfortunates confined within the big building. i BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. The old and infirm people maintained' at the Benevolent Institution at Cavereham were treated! to the annual Christmas dinner in the spacious dining halls yesterday. The institution, was, for tihe occasion, nicely deconaited, the well-kept gardens and j grounds providing a lamge guanifcity of flowere and foliage for this purpose, and' the manager and his staff were, ac usual, at the utmost pains to make Christmas as bright and: happy a one as was possible for their charges. The old people were again remembered by many friends and a number of city firms, which sent as gifts various articles calculated to addi to their pleasure and comfort, and to these the manager of the home desires to express his thomiks. The 'home was, during the day, visited by a mimbex of the Benevolent Trustees. PATIENTS AND PRISONERS' AID. It is' pleasing to know that in connection with the Christmas services the prisoners in H.M. Gaor have not been overlooked. A. special service for them ( was held on Christmas morninjr, conducted by Mr Cumming, gaol chaplain, and assisted by a large number of ladies from St. Paul's Cathedral, Who delighted their audience- with some pleasing carol singing. On Boxing Day the usual lecture was given, the Rev. W. Saunders being chairman, and Mr Bone giving variety tothe proceedings witih one or two of his excellent song-s. The lecturer was Mr , Cumming, and the lecture was entitled " Java and Ite People," an address that was interesting, instructive, and very attentively listened to. The chief gaoler, Mr Bratby, has shown himself very glad to allow this class of recreation for the prisoners under his care, and welcomes the ladies and gentlemen who are disposed to spend a few leisure hours in the work. SEAMEN'S GATHERING. The thirty -fiftih annual gathering of seamen was held on Christmas Night in the Choral Hall. Those who are interested in the welfare of seamen will be pleased to know that this year's meeting, like many another of the past, was a success. In the olden days of our port, when at times a fleet of 20 sailing ships lay in our harbour, the Christmas gathering was composed mostly of merchant seamen of the

old eehool ; nowadays, as on Christmas Night, the guests are men-o'-warsmen, seamen from Home and colonial steamers, and 6eam«n. from the few sailing vessels «that may visit the port. However, whatever class or clime the seamen hail from, they generally enjoy the hospitality — shown tihem by their shore friends, especially during the festivities of Christmas. It was evident the men did so on Christmas Night, judging from their hearty expressions of r>leaeurp. Most of the seamen present wee stili in their youth, and possibly '"In- fclks at Home" axe still alive, thus, though the seamen were stian^ere here, worked

j ' amongst our 1 sailors find it not , alone a duty, but a gTeat joy, in showinjr - them while they are with us here sympathetic and practical interest. - The Choral I Hall was filled, tables were decked witli i beautiful flowers and a bountiful repast. r Workers had been busy all day making pre3 parations. Hosts of lady frinds were in attendance, and a number of young men j helped in many ways. Tea" and eon- - versation filled \u> a good hour. Air A. . R. Falconer (seamen's missionary) presided . at the after meeting. The eeamen were > handed their Christmas "ditty bags," and 5 through the kindness of some friends each' - was presented with a copy of Dr Waddell's » booklet containing four addresses on "The f Building of the Ship." Mr Falconer, in t his opening remarks, made special mention p of the passing during the past year of iTc L Andrew Thomson, oif Port Chalmers, who : for long years, had been one of the maini stays of the Seamen's Mission there. Captain Robert Neville, commodore of the U.S.S. Co.'s fleet, followed with an earnest address, drawing practical lessons from Seven Seas, mentioned in Scripture. After the hymn, "Mother's prayer," had been sung, the Rev. Andrew Allan, a wellknown evangelist/ from Glasgow and South [ Africa, gave & most touching address 1 . Mr ; Ruda.ll Malck (from Switzerland) followed with a short address, telling of his seafar- ■ ing experience, of his coming: to Dunedin a year ago, of what the Sailors' Mission, here had been to him, and. what the Gospel of God's grace had done to save and • v keep and satisfy hinj. " Mr Malck's peri eonal testimony, speaking as a seaman to | eeamen,' appeared to leaye a deep impresi sion. " Will the anchor hold " and many ■ - other appropriate hymns were heartily sung 1 during the • evn&ifc, a, petty officer of the 1 warship Pioneter, presiding- at the piano. > 'After the closing- hymn had been sung,« Captain. Neville closed the meeting with prbyer, and an opportunity was given for any seaman further to wait for personal conversation. The following- ladies presided and assisted at the tea tables: — Mesdames Thomas Black, Herous, Kirkland, Pearson, Cook, Inglis, Romeril, Kirkpatriok, Bain. Simpson, Mirams, Driver, Sfisses Hall, Harrison, Broadbent. Gairdner, Enid Inglis, Hercus, Neville, Flora Allan, Jessie Inglis, Bertha. Simpson, Dora Heycock, Shuttleworth. i Maltby, and the Misses Falconer. On Boxing Day a number of the crew of H.M.S. Pioneer, wjth the Sailors' Mission workers and friends, went for a day's^ outing- in' drags to the homestead of Mr Walter Blackie, Glasgow Farm, East Taieri, where all were hospitably entertained by the host, his family," and friends. This^ country outing and drive, to and fro, lfEe others ins tihe past, was greatly enjoyed by our sailor visitors.

Lecturing at the Royal Photographic Society's Exhibition, Mr T3. R. Ashton said that the idea of the camera as 'the "evil eye" is widely nrevalent in India. The natives, he said, believe that should any accident befall the negative which bears their portrait, a disaster will over* -take tbem shortly afterwards. Ome of, the leading baker* in In--vercargill says that since tihe inauguration of the coupon system of paying Tor bread there has been a falling- off of about 2200 loaves per w.eek in the consumption of bread in the districts supplied by the ca-rte of the InveroargiLl bakers. This estimate has been carefully compiled from the returns of the associated bakers, and ie equivalent to over three tons of flour per week.