Matawhero School Picnic and Sports.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 417, 15 February 1890, Page 2

Matawhero School Picnic and Sports.

The seventh annual pionic and sports in connection with tho above school came off on Tuesday in a beautiful spot in one of Mr E. Cameron's paddocks, a place hard to surpass for such purposes. Tba weather was all that could be desired, a gentle zephyr tempering the heat, and though dark clouds gathered in the afternoon there was no rain to mar the enjoyment. There was a number of visitors from town, and Makauri, Waerenga-a-hika, and Te Arai also supplied contingents, while what with parents, children and others, the gathering must have numbered nearly four hundred. To cater for and amuse eo many w«s an arduous task, but it was thoroughly done, and the general verdict was that the affair was the most successful of its kind ever yet held in the district. The Ladies’ Committee are to ba congratulated on their management of the Provision Department, the reeouroM of which wore severely taxed, but still held good —the loaves, cakes, hams, rounds of beef, sand wiohes, jam rolls, tarts, and othel things, when placed in the form of a column, say 4 feet square at the boss, and raised a certain number of feet, say 10, gives but a loose approximation of the quantity disposed of. Among those who took a prominent part fat the affair, aud “ helped the thing ” along, were—Mesdames Walsh, Dunne, Johnstone, King, Bright, Wright, and Harris, and Misses Mackie, Johnstone (3), Greene (2), Wright, Caldwell (2), Cameron, and King (2.) The undernamed gentlemen also worked hard to promote the enjoyment of allMessrs Arthur, Wright. Sherrin, Jobson, Weston, Riohardson, King (2), Tombleson, (2), Quinn, Biddle and Johnstons. Thanks are due to Moisrs Hall, Tshtley and Little for conveying children and visitors to the ground, and particularly so to Mr E. Cameron for the use of his grounds, and hi* assistance generally. Mr Weston earned tho gratitude of the Ladies' Committee for his kind attention. Ths sports oams off during the day ; the programme included 80 items, and was so arranged *s to give all slaas and ages of children special races to compote in. The Obstacle races and “ Catohidjj the qvli; man,” proved ths most amusing to ths h»« standsrs, while ths Pols Jump, and" J mil* Walk gavs the most exalting oonteeto ot the other items. Ths finishes ia the flat races were very close, showing tho souadnee* of the handicapping. At the conclusion of the sports the prises to the winners wer* given out by Mr Harris. This, followed by a distribution of bags of lollies to'sack ol)lld> brought a happy day to a close, but some of the elder plonlokere lingered for a time, and prolonged the enjoyment by partioipaUM In such games as French tig.— [Contributed,]