CHRISTMAS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2600, 28 December 1893, Page 2

CHRISTMAS.

AT GERALDINE

At Geraldine, Christmas, 1893, passed off in the usual quiet manner. On Saturday night—the shopkeepers' Christmas eve—the streets were paraded with people old and young, the former chiefly intent on purchasing something to fill the stockings in the chimney corners. Consequently the shopkeepers had a pretty busy time of it till rather a late hour to J copo with the extra pressure of trade. | Mr Dunlop had a large share of customers inspecting his shop and commodious sh>w- ! room ; the latter being lit up with fancy lights was a most brilliant sight. Mr J. W. Pye's shop was crowded out from the early evening till late at night. Mr Pye's verandah was illuminated with several unique and pretty coloured Chinese lanterns. Mr Pearpoint's store was brilliantly illuminated, as was also Morrison Bros., and every other shop in the town, and all appeared to be doing plenty of trade. In addition to those shops mentioned in our Saturday's issue we might say that Mr W. P. Turner's tobacconist shop window was nicely dressed with a variety of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, tobacco, fancy goods, etc. On Sunday night —Christmas eve proper — the members of St Mary's Anglican Church met and sang a few Christmas carols under the leadership of Mr H. W. Moore. The Geraldine Brass Baud also turned out in Mr Chas. Groves's van and serenaded about 32 of the principal residents in and round about the township. They commenced at Mr M. C. Orbell's, Raukapuka, and finished up with Mr below the stone bridge. The pieces played were " Devotion," " Hark the herald angels sing," "0 ! come all ye faithful," "Holly," "Winchester," and " God save the Queen." Of course the programme was varied at each place visited, but altogether the band played about eighty tunes and netted about £9 in donations. In the absence of the conductor the band was under the charge of Mr James Colbert, and we can truthfully say that no better band music has ever been heard in Geraldine. The Salvation Army Brass Band serenaded Woodbury and Peel Forest on Christmas eve and were very cordially received. The Churches. At St. Mary's in the Bubli Roman Catholic Church the usual Christmas services were held. Mass was held at 8 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. respectively, when there were large congregations. The altar was prettily decorated with flowers, and the Rev. Father Bowers preached an appropriate sermon. The Mass concluded with the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

St Mary;s Anglican Church waß full to the doors on Christmas morning. Mr J. Wiustone conducted the service and read the Christmas sermon, having previously announced that the Rev. Mr Preston, owing to sore throat, wa3 unable to take pint in the service, but would be present to celebrate Holy Communion. The text was from Luke ii., 7, " And she brought forth her firstborn son ; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes," etc. The singing was the best we have heard at St. Mary's, and this is not to be wondered at, seeing that the choir, under the leadership of Mr H. W. Moore, had been practising very assiduously during the past few weeks. Miss A. Fish officiated at the organ. This year the decorations eclipsed any previons efforts in this respect, the most notable part of which was some handsome work in silk and gold thread by Miss Ella Tripp, viz., a cross in gold, and on either side a crown and flowers. These were placed in the panels at the back of the altar. Below these was also the text " I am the Bread of Life," with the letters in white (like snow) on a dark marone background and bordered with holly leaves. Then at each side of the building an evergreen chain was hung in loops from one end of the church to the other, and beneath these were alternately set light blue bannerettes and white ones each holding the part of a text io. gold letters. The text was Isaiah ix., 6. The first bannerette commenced with " For unto us a child is born," and the bannerette on the wall immediately opposite took up the next part of the sentence and so it went on from one side to the other till the text finished with the last bannerette above the altar, "The Prince of Peace.*' The lamps were decorated with Lycopodium, the organ with Canterbury bells and evergreens, and the font with a wreath of white roses and holly and a cross of white roses. Other decorations were also placed on the pulpit, lectern, and prayer desk, and altogether the church presented a very pretty appearance. The ladies of the church should be commended for excellent taste in decorating. We understand that the designing was left to Mr H. W. Moore, and the ladies carried out the work. Holy Communion, was held after the ordinary service,

On Christmas night the Salvation Army singers opened at Geraldine and had a successful time. The programme consisted of songs, solos, duets, choruses, medleys, company pieces, etc., and those taking part acquitted themselves well. The audience appeared to be quite satisfied that they had their money's worth. Lasj} nigh> t}se singers appeared at Orari, to-n|ght they appear at Hiltqn, tq-morrow niglrt £(,t Woodbury, and on JSfew Year's night at Pee], Forest. The admission is small, and children are admitted at half price.

AT TEMUKA. On Christmas Day special services were held at St. Saviour's Ohuroh, Tomuka, where the Key. Mr Gillam officiated, and at St, John's, Winchester, where service whs conducted by the Rev. Mr Batterfield. Both churches were very nicely decorated. The attendance at neither was so large as was expected. At Ternuka a number of those recently confirmed partook of their first communion. At St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Teinuka, decorations as usual consisted of the Bplendid array of artificial and natural flowers. Masses were celebrated at 8 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. by the Rev. Father Fauvel, who preached a sermon appropriate to th,e ocgasion. The 10.30 mass was a high mass, and the choir rendered Bateman's Mass, the hymns being the " Angelic Messengers," the " Adeste Fideles," and the " Ecce Panis," the soloists being Misses Connolly and Miss Lucy Quinn. Miss Quinn presided at the harmonium, and the choruses were well sung. The music altogether reflected great credit on the ohoitf. At St. Mary's Catholic Church,Pleasant Point, there y/ero two masses, the Rev. Father Lflpetit officiating. The church was nicely decorated with natural flowers, and Est's Ma*§ wa g g U ng by a very etrionnt choir, the hymns being suitable. to the ogcasiou.

At the Primitive Methodist Church, at 11 a.m., the Rev. Mr Hindes preached from St. Luke ii., 10 and 11. The congregation was good, and hymns ap propriate to the occasion were sung. At Holy Trinity Church, Maori Pah Temuka, services were conducted at 11' a.m. and 6.30 p.m. by Mr H. K, Kahu, the subjects of both addresses being

appropriate to the day, and suitable hymns were sung by the choir. The church was prettily decorated with evergreens and flowers, and looked very nice.