MAORI MISSION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5517, 23 December 1929, Page 2

MAORI MISSION.

FUNCTION AT PARISH HALL. / —— TREAT FOR NATIVE CHILDREN. Dark eyes, were very bright and faces were smiling at the Parish Hall on Saturday night, when the Maori Sunday School children kept their Christmas treat. Frqm all round they came, on foot, on bicycle, on horse, by train, or by friendly “lift.” Clean faces and smooth heads was the order of the day, the Mission Room , drinking-water carafe serving its turn for the latter. Shyness vanished at the sight of the big Christinas tree, laden with pres-ents—-both the gifts of Christmashearted people. Paper caps soon lent gaiety to the scene, and all settled down to a series of games, into which the children entered whole-heartedly. Then there was music, Maori songs, and carols, the children’s voices swelling the chorus of “Nowell” with great delight; then scrambles, dancing, a bounteous tea ; and more games filled the hours till six o’clock. Then came prizes, well-earned for good attendance at the classes, pretty frocks, scarves, and such things rejoicing the girls, while the boys received games of skill, knives, etc. Afterwards the tree was attacked, and every child was given a gift, a bag of lollies, and another of raisins. Had all the kind friends who contributed so generously to the feast and tree seen the children’s pleasure or heard the eager requests for “another next year,” they would have felt well paid. May their own Christmas be the happier !