FESTIVE SEASON IN BRITAIN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18762, 29 December 1930, Page 9

FESTIVE SEASON IN BRITAIN.

Royal Family’s Christmas. SIMPLE CELEBRATIONS AT SANDRINGHAM. United Press Association- -By Electric Tel egraph—Cop vrlght (Received December 28, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 27. Their Majesties, with the Prince of Wales and Prince George, spent a simple family Christmas at Sandringham. They attended Divine service on Christmas morning, the King and his sons walking home across the park. Their Majesties in the afternoon presented gifts to the members of the household, and devoted the evening to taking down presents from the large Christmas tree specially provided for the Duke of York’s children. Snow caused the abandonment of the Boxing Day shoot. The Duke of Gloucester has returned from Abyssinia, and joins Their Majesties at Sandringham on Sunday. Accident to Prince George. Hunting with the Belvoir hounds, Prince George was thrown heavily on his left shoulder, the horse somersaulting. The Prince of Wales, riding nearby, rendered assistance. Prince George was X-rayed at Melton-Mowbfay Hospital. His shoulder is badly bruised and dislocated. It was the first appearance of the brothers in the hunting field since the King’s illness. Details of Accident. Prince George’s shoulder was reset under an anaesthetic. His condition is satisfactory. The “Sunday Express” says that the Prince of Wales was riding shoulder to shoulder with Prince George at a fast pace, when the latter’s horse stumbled at a flooded ditch, and threw its rider clear. The Prince of Wales ran to his brother, who was lying helpless in the mud. He wryly requested a cigarette, and set his teeth while his shoulder was being strapped with a stirrup leather. A woman spectator drove Prince George over the bumpy roads eight miles to hospital, where his shoulder was set. LONDON’S BANK HOLIDAY. WET AND UNCOMFORTABLE CONDITIONS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received December 28, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 27. The bank holiday was one of the wettest and uncomfortable in the memory of Londoners, and the coldest Boxing Day for twenty-four years. The majority of the people preferred to spend the day at home by the fireside. Rain spoilt football and horse racing. The highroads, which are usually crowded with motorists, were relatively deserted, though police patrols made a big muster in anticipation of the new Act operating on Thursday. Two hundred police patrols, driving motor side-cars, tested their speedometers and chased imaginary reckless drivers. Some patrol side-cars attained 70 miles an hour. The theatres and cinemas were poorly attended, but concerts and entertainments at the hospitals were carried out, including one at Saint Mary’s, Paddington, where Queen Mary sent a special present for each child patient. The Queen and the Prince of Wales also sent special gifts to the children’s hospital at Great Ormond Street. Survey of Business. A Christmas survey of shopping districts discloses an appreciable growth of Empire consciousness, largely attributable to the National Mark and Empire Preference movements.

All big stores featured Empire goods, including wines and tobaccos.