CHILDREN’S PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1938, Page 10

CHILDREN’S PARTY

THE METHODIST HOME VISIT OF FATHER CHRISTMAS. BRIGHT & MERRY GATHERING. The annual Christmas party was held at the Methodist Children’s Home last night there being a large attendance of visitors including former inmates of the Home. The function was a most successful one and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The adults found the proceedings most interesting and thoroughly appreciated the invitation extended to them to be present. A number of visitors from Wellington were in attendance. The tables set for the tea were laden with the good things, including Christmas cakes, which gladden the heart of children, the large dining room being filled with visitors, the.staff and the inmates of the Home. Mr J. H. Handyside (chairman of the Management Committee of the Home) presided, and welcomed the visitors to their gathering. Several of the visitors expressed themselves in terms of praise of the cheerful surroundings 'in which the children were brought up and the excellent manner in which the Home was conducted. There was, it was pointed out, a happy atmosphere about the Home where although there was discipline in operation the children had a very large measure of freedom. After tea those present either inspected the Home or indulged in games with the children. A happy hour in the open was followed by a gathering in the Social Hall where speeches were made relative to the work of the Home and the progress that was being made in bringing up children in a Christian way and assisting them to make a start in life. Members of the Wellington and Masterton committees referred in glowing terms to the management of the Home and especially to the work Sister Allen, the Matron, and her very capable staff. Mr J. Handyside presided. The Rev. P. Paris said that it gave him great pleasure to be able to refer to the excellent work of the staff. Gifts from the Wellington Board were then handed to Misses M. Allen, Q. Henderson, M/ Hopkins and I. Mygind amid applause. Mr Handyside stated that it was possible that Mr A. Bate, their se-cretary-manager, would not be with them much longer as he was going to another position outside of the town, and he asked Mr Bate to say a few words. . '

Mr Bate sketched the work of the staff. It had been a joy to him to serve the Home during . the past four years. He' regretted having to surrender the work he had loved. He had always received the utmost consideration from the staff and the children. It was pleasing to see so many of the former children of the Home present that night, several of them having come long distances to participate in the annual Christmas gathering. That these children of former 'days, now grown men and women, had returned to Masterton to visit them that night showed the good work the Home was doing and that their early associations had not been forgotten. (Applause). The chairman referred to the presence at the gathering of a very old and highly esteemed member of the church vzho had done such excellent work for the Home, Mr C. E. Daniell, and they were indeed pleased to see him. Mr Daniell was heartily cheered by those present. What interested the children probably more than anything else was the Christmas tree, and the arrival of Father Christmas was greeted with loud cheers. From the tree Father Christmas handed but presents to each child and to members of the staff, while James Handyside, Frederick Parker, Norman Prior, Charles Daniell, Archie Daniell, Arthur Bate, Harold Skuse, Frank Wells, Percy Paris, Arthur Kellow. Ernest Kellow and Sarah Cocker, Mary Elliott, Nellie Daniell, Florrie Iveson, Mary Burton, Ivie Donald, Connie Donald, Elsie Donald, May Allen, Margery Parker, Violet Paris, Maud Hopkins, Edith Mygind, Elsie Kellow and Edith Kellow were presented by Father Christmas with gifts suitable for good boys and girls, much fun resulting from this part of the proceedings. Presentations were also made to a number of old girls and old boys of the Home who attended the function.

Mr Handyside< proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Ivie Donald, Messrs P. Paris and B. Iveson and the visitors from Wellington; those who were responsible for the gifts on the tree, the Matron and 5 staff for the excellent tea provided and all who had assisted in connection with the function. This was carried by acclamation. The Christmas Tree function being over Father Christmas was farewelled with musical honours, and. this brought one of the most enjoyable functions in the long history of the Home to a close.

During the evening a number of items were excellently rendered by the children of the Home, Miss Ivie Donald playing the accompaniments. Miss Donald was warmly congratulated on her splendid work in teaching . the children singing, elocution and piano playing. Mrs Paris presented the scripture prizes to the following successful candidates: —Senior: Joan Stanley, 90 per cent. Junior (under 12 years of age): Hazel Day 93 per cent, Robin Richardson 89, Vivienne Day 85, Pamela Benjamin 83, Inez Walker 74, Leslie Saunders 72, Ivy Saunders 70, Bill Hunter 67. Intermediate: Charles Richardson 89 per cent, Dick Butters 76, Gordon Orr 72. Gordon Mygind 60. Triers prizes: E. Richardson, J. Hayward and Grace Saunders.