FATHER CHRISTMAS ARRIVES AT WANGANUI ON FIRE ENGINE

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 December 1949, Page 4

FATHER CHRISTMAS ARRIVES AT WANGANUI ON FIRE ENGINE

Forsaking his traditional reindeer and sleigh for one of the Wanganui Fire Brigade’s modern engines, Father Christmas arrived at. Central Station last night to the huge delight of a large' number of firemen’s children awaiting to give him a warm welcome.

Father Christmas was met by Deputy-Superintendent W. Brown and escorted upstairs to the social room, where a large Christmas tree, overflowing with presents, delighted the children who clamoured in his wake. The occasion was the annual children s party arranged by the brigade and financed from the staff fund/, principal source of revenue being donations from business firms in appreciation of meritorious service by the brigade. The firemen proved that as entertainers they were equally as efficient as when putting out fires. For the children it was a memorable night, with a treasure hunt, games, soft drinks flowing constantly and liber helpings of ice cream. Every child in the room received a present and with it the good wishes of Father Christmas and the brigade. Youngest to be given a present from the Christmas tree was Robert Black, aged two weeks, a son of Motorman R. Black, Castlecliff.

Robert was too young to step forward and receive his present personally, so his mother deputised for him. A touch of reality was given to the festive occasion when the “bells went down” a few minutes after Father Christmas had arrived

Firemen who were busily engaged in attending to the demands of children went to their stations immediately, and in less than a minute it machine had turned out. '

It was merely a grass fire in Nelson Street, put the smart turn out demonstrated that in the midst of play the brigade was ready for any emergency