WONDERFUL TOY SHOW AT ANDERSON & MCAULEY’S

Northern Whig, Wednesday 30th November 1927

The Christmas Toy Show in Anderson & McAuley’s is now well underway, and the entire Basement has been given over to the Display, the China Department being temporarily removed to the First Floor.

Two special Demonstrations are at present being given, one of the well-known Hornby Trains, and the other of the fascinating “Kliptiko” Building Toys.

The Model Toy Farm, every pieces of which is sold separately, is well worth seeing. The majority of these pieces are British made. Meccanos, which delight boys of all ages, are this year greatly improved, as the Sets can now be obtained in beautiful colourings.

A gift which would be really appreciated is one of the new Indoor Games, of which there is a large and comprehensive selection. There are Dolls, both dressed and undressed which will appeal to every girl. In addition, there are Doll’s Houses and Prams.

The soft Toys for the babies are delightful, and can be obtained in the shape of puppies, rabbits, donkeys, cats, &c., in pretty pastel colourings. There is a wide selection of Children’s Books, including the annuals, which boys and girls covet so eagerly.

In fact, the Toy Show is a very Fairyland of lovely things for boys and girls of all ages. We heartily invite you to inspect this Show, and bring the kiddies, too.

Anderson & McAuley Ltd

Belfast

Find out more about the history of Anderson & McAuley here.

To view a selection of old images of Belfast at Christmas click here.

Find out more about Kliptiko here.

BIRD THAT WAS LOST AND WAS FOUND: THE MISSING BUDGERIGAR, JOY IN A BELFAST HOME

Belfast Telegraph, Tuesday 4th February 1936

There was great rejoicing in a well-known Belfast manufacturers establishment in Donegall Street this morning when one of the young men was able to take back with him a budgerigar which had escaped from his home on Sunday and they all thought had been lost.

The bird, which is a perfect pet, remains in the office all through the week and flies on the shoulders of the customers that come in, and spends the rest of its time actually perched on the pens of the clerks.

To prevent it being lonely the owner takes it to Holywood on a Sunday, and on Sunday last while he went out into the garden the bird followed him.

Feeling strange in the open air, it evidently for the moment went back to its natural state of freedom and flew up into the air. The owner did his best to try and follow its flight, but it disappeared.

He reported its loss to the police and throughout the rest of the day made every search, but was unsuccessful in recovering his pet.

At midnight on Sunday the police received a message from a gentleman at the top of the Downshire Road, Holywood, which is a considerable distance away from where the bird took flight, that this bird had been in his garden and had actually flown on to his shoulder and followed him into the house.

The owner was apprised, and with great joy he went to the house and as soon as he called it by its name it flew on to his finger.

Thanking the gentleman for caring for his pet in the meantime, he returned overjoyed at its recovery.

MISSIONS TO SEAMEN: THE WORK OF THE BELFAST BRANCH

Belfast News-Letter, Wednesday 25th March 1936

The annual meeting of the Belfast branch of the Missions to Seamen was held, yesterday, in the recreation hall of the Institute, Donegall Quay, Belfast, Lord Justice Best presiding.

The financial statement presented by Mr. E. R. Stephens, hon. secretary, showed a total income from all sources of £1,4333, an increase of £152 over the year 1834. This increase was largely due to an anonymous donation of £150 from a well-wisher in the Irish Free State, and £80 raised by Mrs. Clarke, Upperlands, from the sale of a cookery book.

Rev. O. A. J. Nibbs ( London), assistant superintendent of the society, said that seafaring men in all parts of the globe looked to the various missions as being a “home,” and the home associations meant more than could be adequately expressed. From the Royal Family down everyone did what they could for British seamen. The mission was out to help the sailor, no matter what might be his creed or nationality. They prevented many young sailors in port from “going the pace” and perhaps from being ruined. The institutes provided a harbour of refuge. Mr. Nibbs said he had been commissioned by the committee of the society to bring sincere and hearty greetings to the Belfast branch, and very real congratulations on the success of the work being carried out.

Rev. J. W. Doherty, chaplain to the mission, in a short address, spoke of the work of the mission and of the work being done by the staff as distinct from mission work. The job called for all sorts and conditions of men, he said, and one never knew what situations would arrive next.

Lord Justice Best said he was pleased to hear that those in authority at headquarters considered that the work in Belfast was very satisfactory. He commented on the various contributions, saying that the mission still had many loyal and enthusiastic friends. The missions to seamen was doing a splendid work throughout the world, and the sailors themselves were potential missionaries. Christianity was judged not so much by what people said as by what they did. If the sailors did not believe in Christianity, how were people who had never heard of Christianity to place any faith in it? Lord Justice Best concluded with a comprehensive expression of thanks to all who had helped the mission in any way.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and speakers, proposed by Rev. M. H. G. Willis, M.A., M.B.E.

The Archdeacon of Down (Ven. C. C. Manning, M.A., M.C., proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs. James Campbell for kindly entertaining those present to tea.

The Benediction was pronounced by the Dean of Belfast.

To read more about The Mission to Seafarers to Belfast click here.