SHIPPING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 8 January 1912, Page 8

SHIPPING.

In the palmy days of the old sailing clippers it was the custom to decorate the ships with evergreens when in port at Christinas time, and those who remem her seeing them thus adorned at Port Chalmers about a quarter of a century ago will recall the large amount of trouble and care frequently involved by the ollicers and crew in “decorating the ship.” With a number of vessels lying in port says the Otago Daily Times, there was keen rivalry witn each other to make their ship look the gayest, and oftimes muon labour anti ingenuity were required not only in scouring the bush for foliage, but also in placing it in position. The masthead, the end of the jib-boom and the tips of the mainyards were usually tiie places chosen for the largest trees or shrubs it was possible to place in those precarious positions, j'ne bigger tiie tree the more the kudos lor the ship. With the advent of the steamer and the consequent displacement of the sailing ship, this oioasant Christmas diversion gradually faded into the mists of the past, and for quite a number of years the festive season has merely come and gone to tiie accompaniment of a drapery of ship’s bunting. This year, however (says the “Dominion”) the custom lias been very agreeably revived by the officers and crow of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Paparoa, which was gaily adorned for Christmas Day. The gangway was wreathed with evergreens, and at the railings there was a leafy archway. Just within the cabin was placed a large figure representing Santa Claus, who, with staff in hand, extended a cordial greeting per medium of a large signooard, decked out with ivy leaves,- on which was “lA Merry Christmas” 'in large white letters. Out on the vessel’s yardarms large evergreen shrubs tosljf lied to the goodwill of the ship’s company to the world at large, and on die flying bridge and other points of vantage there were festoons of evergreens tastefully arranged. The general effect was pleasing in the extreme and recalled a Jiost of pleasant memories to those who had trod the decks of the old windjammers.