THE HOLIDAYS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2694, 27 December 1909, Page 4

THE HOLIDAYS.

CHRISTMAS EVE IN GISBORNE

SANTA CLAUS DEFIES THE ELEMENTS.

Despite the persistency of the rain, the crowd of visitors which continued to flock into town all day on Friday, betokened 'that Gisborne held some attraction that day which adverse weather conditions had no power to render less alluring. It was Christmas Eve, and the time-honored custom of foregathering in the streets to see the special decorations, to ‘ watch the crowd, and to exchange greetings with friends from all parts of the district, was followed this season as religiously as it had been in the past since Gisborne was rough hewn from the wilderness of ti-tree and sand dunes. Perhaps nothing could moro strikingly mark the marvellous progress the town has made than the celebration of Christmas Eve. The steady stream of country visitors that poured in from the surrounding hamlets augmented the crowd of townspeople and the streets soon became filled with a happy, bright-eyed throng, which even the steadily-falling rain had no power to depress. The hotels and boarding-houses were soon taxed to their utmost holding capacity, and many there were who cheerfully agreed to content themselves with shake-downs so long as they might spend a merry Christmas in Gisborne. As the afternoon wore on the streets presented a bustling and gay appearance. Most of the business premises had been gaily decorated with foliage and streamers, and the windows of the shops presented a most alluring spectacle with their choice array of Christmas goods. - About 4 o’clock many country people left town for home, their buggies well laden with' bulky packages and parcels, the outlines of which proclaimed loudly that they were destined to hang at the foot of the cots of the little ones on Chrismas morning. . Then darkness came down much earlier than usual on account of the murky gloom of the afternoon, but the lights of the town flashed out and illuminated the streets "with their constantly passing and re-passing rows of sight-seers. It was then that the special significance of Christmas as a Children’s Carnival was made manifest to the onlooker. Despite the driving showers of rain which never abated, the little ones came forth in their hundreds. Proud fathers and mothers, with groups of progeny, of various numbers, sizes, and ages, piloted their charges into the shops and gravely presided over momentous deliberations as the choice of a yacht or a motor-car trembled in the balance. The scenes in the toy shops baffled description. Standing room was scarcely obtainable, while the. attendants were almost driven to -distraction in their endeavors to snmiltaneouslv meet the insistent demands of scores of customers. Here and there amidst the throng were to he observed hardened old bachelors-snrreptiously purchasing wondrous toys that could never by the greatest str.otch of imagination have been intended for’their own nfe. And it did one good to see the spirit of love and unselfishness abound to so great an extent. In a leading milliner’s shop, a hale and hearty husband was observed buying a fashionable hat for his wife. Little he recked the cost of the purchase, or whether the shade of the wonderful creation matched his better-half’s gowns, but he was determined that his Christmas gift to bis wife should be something out of the ordinary, and the extraordinary pains he took in its selection certainly proved that whether it pleased his helpmate or not he certainly meant that he should he satisfied as to make, shape, and shade. But the fond look of love on his ruddy countenance plainly indicates that the gift came straight from his large heart. And so it was through the length and breadth, of the streets;"'* Loving-kindness'iand unselfishness reigned supreme, and the purse-strings were flung wide apart in spite of bad weather and the alleged stringency of the money market. As the evening wore on the clamor of the Carnival waxed most \insistent. , The’ strident‘notes of trumpets’ bugles; .and*' horns in man v keys mingled with' the noise’s of various kinds of weird toys whose chief characteristic lay in the volume of sound they could produce. The Bacchanalian songs of revellers who had spent Christmas Eve not wisely but too well • were borne on the breeze, and above all sounded, shrill and clear, the skirl of the bagpipes, chanting forth the war-notes of Loqhiel. One bv one, the units of the crowd bfoke 'off and w.ended-their :way:''homewards,' heavily laden with - their purchases- There was scarcely a man, woman, or child who did notresemble a . modern Santa .Claus, while 'some were ’sb heavily Taden as td appear veri'table' moving Christmas'trees, impelled by the motive power of Christian love and goodwill. Perceptibly the crowd dwindled, ; and, grew smaller, until there were left only belated groups of revellers about the streets, and these, too, soon sought the shelter of their virtuous couches, and Christmas Eve of 1909 was gathered to the bosom cf" Old Father Time. :

What a night of it poor old Santa Claus must have had,'to be sure ! lne rain came down in torrents, the wma whistled and’ howled round the chim-ney-pots and bent the. branches or the tall trees till their leaves almost touciied the ground. But through the wind and the rain during the long hours or the tempestuous morning, kind old Father Christmas went sturdily on his mission of love. Some there be who assert positively that they saw him. ’They declare that he had a large cov--ered-in waggon, resembling those the Boerg used when on trek in South. Africa. He wore a long oil-skin coat reaching to his knees, ana a large souwester. How he got to the bedsteads of his little friends no one can tell with any certaintj*. If he came down the chimney the dear old man must have had a trying time of it, for the soot was so wet, you know. However he managed, he suceeded in getting round to every house, and not one of tho Gisborne children did he forget. The marvellous thing about the work he accomplished that night was the good order. in which he delivered his parcels. Hundreds of happy little hearts on Christmas morning acclaimed him a marvellous old gentleman. And everyone will agree with them. Long live big-hearted old Santa Claus! While Santa Claus, was going his rounds, he must have been cheered while driving through the rain and the mist by the strains of the Christmas carols which sounded on the air. From out the darknes s were to be heard the sweet strains of “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” “Lead Kindly Light,” “Christians Awake,” and several other well-known. hymns. The Salvation Army Band provided the music, and from 12.30 a.m. until after 4 a.m. they visited the houses in the West End district. and greatly pleased the residents by the tuneful manner in which they played the well-known Christmas carols. Just as daylight was breaking they called at the Hospital, and thoughtfuly played several selections for the delectation of those who were spending their Christmas there. Two contingents of the Gisborne City Band took up the running at 4 o’clock, one being under Corporal Falconer and the other under the secretary of the band, Mr. Miller. Kaiti and Whataupoko were serenaded, and so pleased were the inhabitants at the sweet manner in which the carols were played that over £l6 was voluntarily donated to the funds of the band.

Morning broke dull and grey, and a faint light stealing over the Wainui hills proclaimed the fact that day had dawned on the 1909th anniversary of the birt-li of'the Lord Jesus Christ.

CHURCH SERVICES. HOLY TRINITY CHURCH. Special Christmas services were held at the Holy Trinity Church on both Christmas Day and yesterday. On Saturday morning, at 7 and 8 o’clock, Holy Eucharist was celebrated, the officiating clergyman at the earlier service being Rev. H. H. Hamilton. At 8 a.m. the vicar officiated, and was assisted by the Rev. W. H. Roberts, of Te Ivaraka. There was again a large congregation at the 11 a.m. service, which consisted of choral morning prayer. The vicar conducted the service. and at the third celebration Rev. W. H. Roberts officiated, preaching an eloquent sermon on “The. Message of Christmas.” Special music was rendered by the choir, and, in addition to tile favorite Christmas hymns, the anthem “The Message of Peace” was given. The altar -was tastefully decorated with -white flowers, and the new sanctuary curtains, which had been placed in the church by the" members of the Women’s Guild, were most effective in appearance. The customary services were held yesterday. At- 11 a.m. the Rev. P. Williams, a recent arrival from Cambridge, England,- was the officiating clergyman, and preached a powerful sermon from the epistle to the Galatians, the epistle for the day. In the evening, the vicar conducted the services, speaking on the 90th Psalm. Special music was rendered by the choir, but owing to the boisterous weather the congregations were small. ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Special Christmas services were held at St. Mary’s Clnireh on Saturday and yesterday. The altar was prettily and lavishly decorated with a’ profusion of greenery and white flowers. Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., sind High Mass at II a.m. At the early services the Sacrament of Holy Communion was administered, the Rev. Father Lane officiating. At 11 a.m. the choir sang Weber’s' and Former’s Masses, and the quartette “Adeste Fideles” was given by Mrs. Hennessy, Miss L. Power, Messrs Doyle and Kinipton. The evening service consisted of tlie Rosary and Benedietion. Special music, was again, given by the choir, and as at the early services there was a large congregation. The usual services Avere held yesterday at 7.30 and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. The choir repeated the Masses sung on Christmas Day, and the Rev. Father Lane at the morning service delivered a most impressive sermon on f ‘The Nativity.” Tlie choir was under the conductorship of Mr. G. Palairet, and Miss M. Neill presided at the organ. .ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Owing to the inclement weather, the congregations at St. Andrew’s Church yesterday were not'large. The Rev. Wm. Grant officiated at both morning and evening services, taking as his subjects “An Old Evcr-new Message” and “The Shadow on the Joy.” Appropriate hymns Avere sung at both services. BAPTIST TABERNACLE. The Rev. W. Lamb preached at both sendees in the Baptist Tabernacle yesterday, but the congregations were small on account of the rough weather. In the morning the Rev. W. Lamb spoke on “A Surprising Feature of the Incarnation,” and in the evening he took for his subject “The Birth of the Christ.” Special Christmas music was .given, at each :service'. ' ' . , METHODIST CHURCH. Like the other churches, the Methodist congregations suffered severely on account - of Hie weather, but bright and interesting services were held. In the morning, Mr. Geo. Morice was the preacher, and in the evening the Rev. J. A. Loehore officiated, taking as his. subject “The Fact of, Christ.’ The usual; Christmas hymns and special music was sung at both services. SALVATION ARMY. .. . , Bright and cheery services were'hold in the Salvation Army Citadel yesterday morning, afternoon, and evening, and were conducted by Adjutant and. Mrs. Melksham. The congregations small, ,but. helpful times were experienced. The presence of the band, and the pleasing rendition .of appropriate Christmas music, did much to add to the. attractiveness of the services.