SANTA CLAUS ARRIVES

Southland Times, Issue 21577, 15 December 1931, Page 8

SANTA CLAUS ARRIVES

HIGH CARNIVAL IN TOYLAND.

GIFTS BY THE HUNDRED.

It was obvious to the most casual observer that something unusual was about to happen in Esk street between the hours of two and three yesterday afternoon, the vicinity of .Messrs H. & J. Smith’s Departmental Stores being thronged with hundreds of children and adults, who appeared to be eagerly expecting the arrival of some one. Some of the children w’ere showing signs of impatience when the cry went up, “Here he comes!” and a general rush was made for the roadway. A few minutes later, a car, drawing a four-wheeled carriage, drew up before the entrance to Smith’s Hall, and Santa Claus had arrived to take up his abode in the Departmental Stores until Christmas.

Excitement registered fever pitch as the good Saint’s carriage passed through the ranks of the children, and with good reason. The carriage was preceded by two heralds dressed in the familiar livery of the Departmental Stores, and armed with trumpets to announce his arrival. Santa Claus himself, looking rubicund and genial, was accompanied by two fairies, who escorted him from bis carriage and up the stairway to the hall.

With a rush and a scramble the five or six hundred interested spectators followed and in a very few minutes Santa Claus was surrounded by scores of children. The heralds laid aside their trumpets and the fairies dropped their wands and set to with a will to assist the genial Santa in the herculean task he had set himself—to hand a gift to every child present. About 400 presents were handed out in the first 15 minutes and then Santa Claus resigned his post to his assistants and set out to inspect the hall and all it contained. He was immediately besieged by an army of children, who presented him with letters, presumably containing directions regarding their Christmas stockings.

Whether Santa Claus succeeded in completing his journey around the hall or not is not known, but if he did he must have enjoyed his trip. Both sides of the hall were lined with stalls, those on one side being filled with good things for the Christmas season while the other side was entirely devoted to things that entertain. The stage, too, was occupied, a large model of Mr Chichester’s famous plane, kindly lent by the Shell Oil Comany, being arranged there so that it flew round and round in circles. A Ferris wheel, with dolls for passengers, a mighty Christmas tree, resplendent with toys, and a working model of a coal mine and railway, constructed by Technical School pupils, all attracted attention, and the attendants at the ice cream, sweets, and soda fountain stall, the bon-bon stall, the mechanical toys stall, hte book stall and the dolls and animals stall were all kept busy selling good things to those who came to buv.

Santa Claus will be at Toyland until Christmas Eve and he is certain to have a busy time dispensing gifts from day to day.