CHRISTMAS CHEER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20610, 26 December 1936, Page 4

CHRISTMAS CHEER

HAPPY TIME IN LOCAL INSTITUTIONS SANTA CLAUS HAS BUSY DAY Every effort was made to ensure that the inmates of the old people’s home, Timaru hospital and the orphanages had a happy Christmas and in each instance the results exceeded expectations. Santa Clause was an early caller at most of the institutions and from that hour the day w r as a succession of pleasant surprises for all. Old People’s Home The Christmas spirit was truly abroad at the Old People’s Home where the day was regarded as one of the best on record. Father Christmas appeared with a large retinue when the inmates were assembled at breakfast, the party being enthusiastically received. Each inmate was presented with a gift—acknowledgment being made on behalf of the recipients by Mr J. Dawson, who expressed brief but effective thanks and praised the spirit shown by the visitors. Manj' organ-

isations, firms and private individuals made further gifts available, and there was sufficient to ensure that each inmate spent a most cheerful Christmas. To quote some of the old folk the dinner and tea ’‘were something to be remembered.” The staff did their utmost in contributing to make Christmas 1936 a memorable one. Hospital Festivities at the Timaru Hospital commenced on Thursday night when a children’s party was staged in the presence of the Mayor (Mr P. C. Vinnell) and the Mayoress, who provided the Christmas Tree containing gifts for the children and for the ward staff. Father Christmas, in the person of Mr E. Laverty, gladdened the hearts of the young patients. The wards have never, it is considered, been more effectively decorated than yesterday, when a truly Christmas atmosphere was introduced at 5 a.m. when the nursing staff sang carols in the wards. The patients had their Christmas dinner at mid-day and the staff later. In the evening many presents were distributed, this being followed by the customary staff gathering after they had through the day assisted the

patients to spend one of the happiest Christmases on record in the institution. The Orphanages Christmas Day observance at St. Saviour’s Boys’ Home commenced with a service in the chapel at 6 a.m., which was conducted by the Rev. H. S. Leach. Father Christmas and his associates arrived at 7 a.m. and were given a rousing welcome. A treasure hunt followed breakfast, the Christmas dinner being one of the features of the day. There was a carol service after tea, after which a heavily-laden Christmas tree had its very welcome fruit harvested. It was very pleasing to the staff to have a number of old boys amongst the gathering, these young men, now in employment, having ’ returned home to spend the holidays. Father Christmas continued his busy round with a visit Co the Presbyterian I Children’s Home in North Street, where he was warmly received, and > where he brought a great deal of hap- ' piness to the children. As is cus- ’ tomary a party was held earlier in the : week.