CHRISTMAS AT ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1921, Page 6

CHRISTMAS AT ELTHAM.

A PRESENTATION FUNCTION. PRESENTS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN. Hard times or no hard, times, the people of Eltham this year seemed determined that. Christmas festivities for the children should be such as would drive away dull care and be remembered by the young people for a long time. That energetic band of enthusiastic citizens, the Eltham Progress Committee, after canvassing the town and securing the aid of the business people, promoted on Saturday a presentation of Christmas presents, which must surely be one of the biggest functions of its kind ever attempted in Taranaki. The town in the afternoon was crowded with visitors. Following a procession through the town, Father Christmas, brought specially to Eltham for the occasion, proceeded to the Town Hall, and there distributed presents to over 1600 school children. The schools which participated in the ceremony were Mahoe, Finnerty Road, Ngaere, Pukengahu, Mangamingi, Rawhitiroa, Mata, Rotokare, Te Roti, Matapu, Riverlea, Te Kiri, Mangahume, Awatuna and Eltham public schools, Eltham Convent, Eltham Salvation Army Boys’ Home and Miss Hooper’s private Church of England School. Proceedings opened with a parade through the town. Father Christmas first appeared to the public outside Wilkinson’s store, and, meet ’g the band at the Fanners’ Co-op., marched round the town drawn in a sleigh by two stalwart, horses, and then to the Town Hall, where he was escorted to the stage by the Hon. W. C. Carncross, M.L.C.,. Mr. O. Hawken, M.P., and the Mayor (Mr. G. W. Tayler). There was a large crowd on ' the streets to see him pass by, and the ground floor of the Town Hall was crowded with children, the dress circle being well filled with spectators when Mr. Carncross introduced Father Christmas. Proceedings opened with the singing of “God Save the King”.

M.r Carncross, in introducing Father Christmas, said he had seldom seen a more inspiring sight than the present one. The hundreds of young people in fi)ont of him formed a great spectacle, and no doubt the children would remember the time for many years to come. To the elder people he said they were gathered together under the happiest, auspices imaginable. Mothers and fathers were gathered together with well-dressed and well-fed children, whilst in some parts of the world there were children who were not so happy, and who would not have such a happy Christmas. Mr. O. Hawken, M.P., said that they were lucky boys to be able to see Father Christmas. He wished them all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Mayor (Mr. Tayler) said that in his experience of Eltham he had never been able to meet so many children gathered together, and it was very pleasant to be able to bring the town’s children and the country children together. He wished them all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Three cheers were given for the Mayor, Messrs. Carncross and Hawken, and four cheers for Father Christmas. Then the children filed up to receive their gifts. The principal character was well taken by Mr. W. S. Heyes, and included in those who proved of great assistance at the hall were Misses Hawken and Belcher, Mesdames O. Hawken, R. Gow, Syme and C. Wilson, and Messrs. G. King, H. C. Johnson, A. W. Holden, Mills, McTavish, F. Townsend and I. J. Bridger (chairman of the Eltham Progress Committee). The great despatch with which the gifts were presented, and the smoothness with which all the arrangements went off were a great credit to all concerned.