GREAT SPREAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1944, Page 2

GREAT SPREAD

CHRISTMAS IN NEVI/ CALEDONIA HOSPITAL. N.Z. SOLDIER DESCRIBES EVENT. A signalman who is a patient in the Fourth General New Zealand Hospital, New Caledonia, describes in a letter to friends in Masterton how the patients spent their Christmas. He writes on December 25 as follows: •‘Last night the sisters, nurses, etc.. effectively carolled the patients. They in white uniforms and white veils, each carried a candle and walked the length of the darkened wards. It was a calm evening and they looked very beautiful. Afterwards there was a dance for the staff. . . This morning there were Communion services

For breakfast we had pineapple and the great Army rarity —egg. For dinner they put on a great spread. It started off with oyster patties and other sorts of savouries and tomato soup. Then there was turkey, potato, kumera and peas. The turkey was very nice. Then followed an excellent piece of Christmas pudding finished off with cream. Then there was a bottle of beer apiece but I didn’t spoil the dinner by having any. I soon got someone t<> drink it! The streamers and decorations made everything bright and gay.

‘‘During the morning Father Christinas arrived and distributed a Patriotic Red Cross Fund parcel to each. The reindeer was well done, drawing a decorated wheel stretcher. They went to a lot of trouble to make it as bright as possible and really it was most enjoyable. 'The Red Cross parcel contained two tins of sweets, two tins of talc powder, three small cakes of soap, a small writing pad. a book, four handkerchiefs. and three packets of twenty cigarettes; quite a useful outfit." Reference is made in the letter to a visi, on Christmas Day by the British Trade Commissioner and Consul, Mr. Johnston and Mrs. Johnston.