GALES, HAIL AND RAIN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 9

GALES, HAIL AND RAIN

BOISTEROUS CHRISTMAS IN BRITAIN SUNSHINE BETWEEN STORMS LONDON, Wednesday. Boisterous gales, hail and rain were the main ingredients of the Christmas weather in Britain today, though there were occasional bursts of sunshine between the rainstorms. No snow fell in any part of the country, but there were falls of icy sleet in the north-east of Scotland. Gales were experienced in the Scilly Isles, of a velocity of 75 miles an hour, and elsewliere there were winds of high velocities. These caused residents in the Orkneys and other northern areas to miss their Christmas mails.

Many university students and school children were unable to reach outlying districts for Christmas owing to the suspension of sea services. The cross-Channel services, however, were operated as usual. The Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald, is spending the Christmas holidays at Lossiemouth, Scotland. He is to return to London in the second week in January. CHRISTMAS AT PARIS RESTAURANTS CROWDED ALL NIGHT LONDON, Tuesday. A message from Paris says Christmas this year in the French capital was brilliant. The restaurants were crowded with Parisians, who forgathered after midnight Mass, and the usual suppers were served all night. A total of £128,000 was collected in taxes on holiday foodstuffs brought into the city. As the result of a wager on a tennis match Jean Borotra was compelled to act as host to W. T. Tilden, American champion, at a Christmas dinner in one of the most expensive restaurants. Tilden and Kingsley had defeated Borotra and Torralva in a practice set, 17—15.

The people of Germany, says a dispatch from Berlin, celebrated Christmas Day with less money to spend than last year, but with the same traditional cheer and devotion that has characterised the day always. Economic distress, months of which have caused increased unemployment made it necessary for people to restrict their gifts, particularly those of a luxurious kind. ROYAL FAMILY’S DAY CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES AT “ SANDRINGHAM

Reed. Noon. LONDON, Wednesday. The members of the Royal Family spent Christmas at Sandringham, among those attending being the Prince of Whies, the Duke and Duchess of York, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Mary and the Earl of Harewood and their two sons, the Duke of Gloucester, and Prince George. In the morning they attended church. The festivities commenced with a luncheon, when the Christmas gifts were distributed.

During the evening the Royal Family looked on at a dance in the servants’ liall.