HOSPITAL CHRISTMAS CHEER

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1929, Page 7

HOSPITAL CHRISTMAS CHEER

VISIT FROM VICTORIA LEAGUE. ' T .-■ . ”■ ' A visit to the New Plymouth hospital was made by members of the Victoria League and a number of junior associates of the league on the morning of Christmas Eye. The object was to provide Christmas entertainment for the inmates of the institution, particularly the children. Gifts were distributed amon<r all the patients, ■■ ' - ' ■ The children’s ward was the . first visited* It had been decorated by. members of the staff with paper streamers criss-crossing about the ward, paper lampshades and . delicate green fern fronds, so that it provided a fitting setting for the ceremony. ' Proceedings opened with a musical programme provided, by the junior associates, the accompaniments being played by Mr. C.'H. Fox. • Posies of flowers were distributed amongst the occupants of the ward, including several women. Numerous little gifts were also handed out to be received with great delight by the children. The junior associates were soon at home talking-to those for’ whom they had given "their Saturday- mornings during the year. Every child received several toys and many of the children, and the adults too, were wearing paper hats. On behalf of the patients and staff Dr. C. R. Burns, acting medical superintendent, expressed his appreciation of the . action of the league and assured them that the patients had enjoyed every minute of their stay. It was extremely good of the members to go to the hospital every year, and both the hospital authorities and the patients appreciated the action immensely. Mrs. C. H. Burgess, president of the league, said that the greater portion of the gifts driven to the children had been made by the junior associates themselves. Under the tuition of Mrs. Edgar Carter they had met on Saturday mornings in anticipation of this occa-. sion. She thanked the matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) for giving them the opportunity of visiting the hospital. The Victoria* League, she thought, had been the first organisation in New Plymouth to start visiting the hospital at Christmas time, and it had kept up the practice for many years and hoped to con-, tinue doing, so. .77-