A BANQUET IN CARDIFF.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1040, 25 January 1882, Page 2

A BANQUET IN CARDIFF.

Something like a fete was given at Gardiff recently by the Marqttis of Bute to the Sabbath school children in honor of the birth of his son, the Earl of Dumfries. Por one day children of every religious persuasion — Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, Independent, Roman Catholic, Unitarian, Baptist, and Quaker—met on common ground, and enjoyed themselves together. The number of children was 20,000, and upwards of 10,000 of their friends were admitted by ticket to witness the fete. ,The children met in their school-rooms about 1 o'clock, and all marched off as arranged, four deep, with flags and banners flying, to one or other of the four entrances to Cathy's Park. Each of the children and their teachers had been previously supplied with a rosette or device suitable to the occasion ; and as., a more enduring memento of tm>

event, China cups were made with the arms of the Earl of Dumfries and the date burnt into them, and each child after taking his or her tea out of it became possess©, of the cup — care being taken of it by the managers till after ther fete was over. To guard against tlie clanger of any of the infants getting lost h*the crowd the name of the school to which it belonged, arid the number of its tent, were written on the back 'of its badge. In Cathay's * wen *y hjg-ge marquees were erected, capable of accommodating 25,000 people all fitted up with tables and benches and at tlie sound of the bugle at three o'clock the children repaired to the tents allotted to them and had tea and' cake.' The quantity of tea prepared was 3500 gallons, and there was supplied 12 tons of excellent currant cake, and in addition 2700 41b loaves. After tea, amusements recommenced, which included music, roundabout, swimming, marionetts, Punch and Judy, foot and sack races, climbing the pole, &c, for the latter of which prizes were given. At six o'clock a i large ballon .asoeoidask. -At half-past six the burgle again called the children to their tents, from which they marched to a central platform, where cheers were given for Lord and Lady Bute, and three cheers more for the Earl of Dumfries. They then sang two verses of the National Anthem — the words being printed on cards with which they had all been provided — and gave three cheers for the Queen. The various schools then returned to their respective tents, and had further light refreshments, including grapes and other fruits, lemonade, £c.' and thereafter were marched off homewards by the various gateways by which they had entered. The opinion of all who witnegeed tbe ■ fete was that it was the grandest * s%ht " ever seen in South Wales.