CHRISTMAS DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 38

CHRISTMAS DAY.

CHURCH SERVICES

The usual Christmas festival services were held in the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches in Dunedin and suburbs. BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION.

Thei 180 inmates (120 men and 60 women) of the above institution sat down to a well-furnished Christmas dinner at midday on Monday, with the exception of the few who were unluckily confined to their beds in the infirmary wards. Here, however, everything was at its best, and those who were unable to profit by the good things of the table had the satisfaction of feasting their eyes on the decorations of flowers and greenery lavishly displayed all" through their building. In all parts care and age seemed to have been thrown aside, and smiling faces wished one another the compliments of the season in a manner that left nothing to be desired. Whatever could be done to ensure the complete success of (the function seemed to have been overtaken, and the staff, which received no outside assistance, is to be warmly congratulated on the success of its endeavours. In the morning a service was conducted by the Rev. V. G. B. King, and the Cargill Road Wesleyan Choir rendered a number of carols, to the complete satisfaction of all present. There was an abundance of fruit and soft drinks, while a barrel of beer was forwarded by J. Speight and Co., and another by M'Gavin and Co. A cask of jelly and a large quantity of biscuits were received from Mrs Gordon, and Moritzson and Co. sent a donation of figs. Biscuits and chocolate were sent by Mrs Leslie Harris, and parcels of books were received from a friend at Maori Hill and from Mr W. H. Middleton. Mr Talboys, the chairman of the Benevolent Committee, paid a visit in the course of the morning and addressed a few words to the inmates, and in the afternoon visits were paid by Mir Jacobs and Mr Myers. Mr Myers took with him a large quantity of cigars, which, needless, to say, were warmly welcomed. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. The routine of life at the Industrial School was pleasantly varied over Christmas, and the children all had an enjoyable time, being well catered for in the matter of fare and amusement. They sat down to a plentifully-furnished table at dinner-time, and after their more apparent needs had been satisfied attention was given to the less material side of their natures by distributing from a Christmas tree a number of cards and presents—the seasonable gifts of various friends. In the evening indoor games and a' " bran tub " kept the minds of the children occupied in a pleasant manner for seve-ral hours, when all retired to rest contented with having passed a happy Christmas. AT THE HOSPITAL. At this season of the year when human sympathy is more active than at any other lime special thought is naturally given for those who axe so unfortunate as to have to spend the season of festivity and rejoicing suffering in the Hospital. The usual weekly service held in the waiting room was not observed on Sunday. Instead the Hospital Choir, conducted by Mr Logie, and with Miss <E. M. Logie, A.T.C.L., as organist, rendered Christmas music in each of the seven wards. The nurses on duty and the patients highly appreciated the pieces selected and the manner in which the choir rendered them. The selection included Gounod's "Nazareth," arranged for mixed voices; Hullah's -setting of " Adeste Fideles," " 'Tis night on the silent mountains," "Come, where a manger so lowly," "In exoelsis gloria," and others. At the conclusion Mr F. G. Cumming, the Hospital chaplain, on behalf of his society and for himself, thanked the ladies and gentlemen for their practical and valued sympathy and assistance in his work, and in bringing some of the Christmas atmosphere to the patients in the Hospital and the inmates of the prison. On Christmas morning the Hospital matron, Miss M'Kenzie, and her nursing staff assembled in force at 5.30 and sang some of the standard old favourite Christmas pieces to the patients. Their singing of " The first Nowell," "Hark, the herald angels sing," "0 come all ye faithful," etc., was decidedly meritorious, and well deserved the patients' appreciation. As they sang in four different parts of the buildings every patient, including those in the isolation ward, was within hearing. The singers were accompanied by the organ, at which Nurse Wethey officiated. The Christmas fare at dinner-time, for which provision, is made with the aid of a special fund, was appropriate and fully worthy of the occasion. The bill included turkey, goose, duck, fowl, ham, lamb, and ox-tongue, with new potatoes and gre'en peas. This was followed, of course, by the traditional plum pudding, decorated with holly, and for dessert there were apples, oranges, bananas, muscatels, and figs-. Among the gifts received for the patients was one of a keg of beer from Messrs Speight. The tables in the different wards were presided over by the fol-

lowing gentlemen :—Dr O'Neill (No. 1), Dr Closs (Plunket), Dr Marshall Macdonald (Dominion), Dr Stanley Batchelor (Houghton), Dr Fitchett (Mfrller), Dr Riley (Victoria) and Dr Moore* (Children's Ward). Among the visitors during the day were Mr W. T. Talboys, of the Hospital Board, and Mr J. Jacobs, secretary of the board. After dinner the usual Christmas gifts of cigars were handed round by Mrs Falconer; the wife of the medical superintendent. To add further to the comfort and pleasure of the patients the sisters and nurses went to much trouble and exercised not a little taste and skill in decorating thoir wards. The display was particularly commendable in view of the difficulty in securing flowers at present. The Plunket and Victoria wards were the most elaborately decorated, the former with ivy and the latter with moss. Gifts of toys, lollies, and eatables helped to brighten the day in the children's ward, and not a few tokens of remembrance of friends known or unknown found thoir way into other wards. H.M. PRISON. Even gaol walls cannot keep out the pervasive spirit of Christmas, and a bright Christmas service, conducted by Mr F. C. Cumming, chaplain, and assisted by the Hospital Choir, was held in H.M. Prison at 9.30 on Sunday morning. Mr Cumming, in his kind and sympathetic manner, gave a short address on the first Christmas Day. He also told the inmates that friends interested in the welfare of the inmates and their families had placed funds at his disposal whereby he could be a Father Christmas or Santa Glaus to their wives and children. Mr Cumming, agent of the Patients and Prisoners' Aid Society has devoted considerable trouble and time in remembering the families whose fathers, etc., are at present in the local, Lyttelton, and Invercargill PrisonsThe Hospital Choir under Mr W. L. Logja, with Mis© E. M. Logie as organist, rendered some carols very acceptably. An unaccompanied male quartet and a solo by Mr T. Ritchie were specially acceptable. The inmates joined in the singing of such well-known Christmas hymns as "Hark, the herald angels sings," "0, come all ye faithful," and " While shepherds watched their flocks." SEAMEN'S CHRISTMAS GATHERING. The thirty-eighth annual Christmas tea and gathering of seamen in connection with °the Sailors' Mission took place on Christmas evening in the Choral Hall. Unlike past years, tew vessels were in harbour, yet, including the friends of the mission, there was a large gathering, the ball being full. .Sailors' Rest workers and other friends had been busy during the day, laying a bountiful spread on the various tables, which were also brightly decorated with bouquets of fresh flowers. The centre tables were occupied by seamen,, ladies, of course, ministering at the head of each table to the guests of the evening, assisted by a host of willing workers. Tea commenced about 6 o'clock, and- occupied, with friendly chat between workcjrs and visitors, about an hour. Every seaman was presented with a ditty bag, "containing many useful knick-nacks, such as worsted, thread, needle-case, buttons, stationery, magazines, Christmas cards, and, of' course, a Bible or New Testament, and Sankey's Hymn Book. Mr Falconer desires us to specially _ thank Messrs Gordon and Gotch, Whiicombe and Tombs, Sligo, and others for gifts of late monthly magazines for the sailors' bags. At the" after-meeting Mr A. R. Falconer (sailors' missionary) presided, giving out as a suitable opening hymn " Jesus, my Saviour, to Bethlehem came." Interesting addresses were given by Rev. W. Gray Dixon, Dr North, Major Cumming, Mr Wood, and others. Thanks were returned -on behalf of the 6eamen by one of the crew of the s.s. Paparoa. The following ladies presided at the tables, assisted by many helpers : Mesdames Maltby, Hercus, Wood, A. C. Begg, Kirkpatrick, Simpson, Nimmo, Cook Gordon, Inglis, and Misses Simpson, Gordon, Kirkpatrick, Inglis, Walker, Heycock, Falconer, Maltby, Flora Allan, Broadbent, Harrison, Hercus, Aldred, Finlay, Fitzer, Thomson, and Grant Smith. Mr Dearsley presided at the piano.