YULETIDE SPIRIT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 539, 17 December 1928, Page 10

YULETIDE SPIRIT

ORPHANS REMEMBERED “MR. AND MRS. SANTA CLAUS” That the spirit of the Yuletide season has by no means gone out of existenco was convincingly demonstrated by Auckland shop-assistants who. this season, have distributed toys to the value of £ 400 among Auckland orphanages. Other organisations are also giving valuable assistance toward ensuring a happy Christmas for the less fortunate members of the community. For the orphans the sum of £ SOO was collected as a result of charity dances organised by shop assistants throughout the year, the remaining £4OO already being distributed between various deserving charities in the Auckland district.

The work of distributing the toys was commenced ' jr 40 representatives of the city shop ii sistants on Saturday, who, headed by Father Christmas, set off on their very acceptable pilgrimage. An innovation this year was the presence in the party of Mrs. Christmas, the result, it was said, of a recent marriage in the polar regions. The explanation was readily accepted by the children.

The work on Saturday was made much easier as a result of a preliminary visit to each orphanage by Miss L. Purcell, honorary secretary of the Shop Assistants’ Christmas Gift Fund Committee, who undertook the big task of noting the individual wishes of some SSO children, who were thus enabled to receive gifts they fancied most.

Sleeping dolls, meccano sets, boxes of tools, clockwork toys, footballs and boxes of stationery all lieped to delight the youngsters who showed their appreciation in a manner which must have proved sufficient reward for those who have worked so hard in this very deserving' and commendable cause.

At Royal Oak the party was joined by Masters Walter and Marcus Turley, whose joint efforts in canvassing the district augmented the fund by £5 3s Gd. During the past four years these boys, together with a younger brother, have collected £35 for this cause.

On Saturday evening the Leslie Presbyterian Orphanage at Meadowbank, Kemuera, Presbyterian Home in Mount Smart Road, and the Buckland’s Road Methodist Home were visited.

This evening the shop assistants will visit the two orphanages at Takapuna, to-morow evening they will go to St. Mary’s Homes and the Convent at Otahuhu, and St. Mary’s Orphanage at Howick, while on Wednesday the Raritan© Hospital, the Methodist Epworth and Wesley Homes, the Anglican Children’s Home in Richmond Road and the Salvation Army Orphanage in Clifton Road, Ponsonby, will be visited. Next Saturday a visit will be paid to the Manurewa Children’s Home and the Anglican Orphan Home at Papatoetoe. - CHRISTMAS TEA CONCERT AT INFIRMARY The 32nd successive annual Christmas tea for inmates of the Auckland Infirmary was held on Saturday. It was organised by Mrs. Lonsdale Pritt, of Kemuera, and the delightful treat given the old people was much appreciated. Songs, piano items and recitations were provided by a concert party organised by Mrs. Tolhurst. After tea Mrs. Fritt’s assistants distributed bags of sweets given by Mrs. Alfred -Nathan. Mr. Robert Poster, one of the patients, thanked Mrs. Pritt and the party for their kindness? Extending good wishes to the patients on behalf of the visitors, Archbishop Averill said they all hoped that they would live to enjoy a good many more teas. Referring to the serious illness of the King, he said there were none who wished for his recovery more than they. They all prayed that he would be spared to carry on his good work.

The concert programme comprised piano duets by Mrs. M. Wilcox, and Mr. D. W. Christie, recitations by Mrs. R. Stratton, and songs by Misses Winifred Averill and M. Atkinson and Messrs. Karl Atkinson and J. Watson Cumming. ORPHANS’ OUTING

An enjoyable drive to Kobimarama and surrounding districts was provided orphans of the Richmond Road Home by members of the Sports Motor-Cycle Club on Saturday afternoon. The party met at the City Mission in Albert Street at two o’clock and proceeded to the home, where 27 children were taken for an outing. At Kohimarama the children were given a run on the beach and icecream was provided. Then they were driven across to St. Heliers and the drive continued back to the city. Altogether a very enjoyable two hours were spent. , A KINDLY ACT A happy idea was the organisation of a party for the wives and children of the unemployed, given at the Y.W.C.A. Hall on Saturday afternoon. This was organised through the City Mission by the sta ff of the Lands and Survey Department, of which Mr. Hulme was chairman. A willing band of workers provided a well-equipped Christmas tree and an excellent afternoon tea was provided., A thoughtful and useful provision was the gift of a parcel to all who attende d. This thoughtful act and the kindly manner in which it was carx*ied out was much appreciated.