LE BON'S BAY SCHOOL PICNIC.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 150, 24 December 1877, Page 2

LE BON'S BAY SCHOOL PICNIC.

The Le Bons Bay School Picnic took tjlaco en Friday last, in the school grounds., iEhe day was warm, ''afiMffiasant breeze/f was I, blowing. The .3mslJ ieinerjta were?! of ttie£most perfect ipffjipion] all $c inhabi&nts having Jjsj||c B<tedi Jso Jiwtrttjjr to tjhe Wall for subThe' tables gs«ed under the "IWtgfikbf t6ys and' laid out in a very tasteful manner, under a large tent kindly erected by Mr James Barnett, who also rigged up a swing for the girls and prepared thfept>ther arrangements > |or 'the amuaenjentv of the children. The sports ' commenced about twelve oclock. Over a hundred children arranged in a row received a liberal supply of cake lollies, &c, including 25 gallons of ginger beer'grven by Thomas Oldridge, after which the Bchool children each received a prize. Tile following is a list of the first and second prize takers in each class •— i Ist class. — Ist division — Duncan Wright, 1; MaryXouisa Oldridge, 2. 2nd division — -Thomas Oldridge, 1 ; John Oldridge, 2. 2nd class.—Andrew Cairns, 1; Wallace*. Crotty, % 3rd class.—lst division—Mary L. Condon and George Oldridge equal, 1 ;, William Crotty, 2. 2nd division—Mary 1. Senior Infant class—Marianne Oldridge, William Allen, and Alice Barnett. Junior—James Oldridge, 1. Junior Sewing class — Marianne Hall, 1; Marianne Oldridge, 2. The good conduct prize was awarded to Harriet Fairbrass. The books, which were exceedingly handsome and had been judiciously chosen by the Committee, were delivered to the children by ' the Rev. D. 0. Hampton, who addressed a few appropriate words to each child, and at the close told them he hoped the more fortunate would cherish the prizes they had received as a memento of their efforts and that those who had received the less valuable ones would be stimulated to fresh efforts. The toys were then drawn for and some amusement was created by some of the boys getting necklaces and girls toys ; while some girls got whips, tops,&c, but this was easily rectified by a fair exchange. The toys which remained were then run for by the children in ' 5 a gieat variety of wa y S —flat, sack, and three-legged races, &c. The married ladies' race was very well run, Mrs Fredrichsen coming in a good first, followed by Mrs H. Barnett. The men's "race jvas gained by Mr Macmillan, followed . closely by Mr R. Bailey. The entertainment, was the most enjoyable one ever held in ,the bay, everyone went heart and soul into the affair, each one vicing with the other to increase the amusement. ,

Messrs Hampton and Hall were the spirit of the day, never letting the fun flag for a moment. • Tea was tastefully spread on the table at about 4 o'clock, and presided over by MrsMacmillan. After which Mr Hall, the Chairman of the School Committee, stated that he had the pleasing duty to perform of calling for a vote of thapks to Mr Macmillan, for the way in. which things had been carried out; -that-the whole burden of preparation had.fajfjen on him and Mrs MacmiUan, as- those who would willingly have assisted, Jjad been prevented by the business of the season. Such a day's fun and enjoyment he had never before seen in Le Bon's. also had to thank the Eev. Mr Hampton for his kindness in every way, He it was who had kept the fun up and amused old and young in a way that no one else, he believed, was capable of doing. He hoped they would give three very hearty cheers for Mr Macmillan, and for Mr Hampton, and a third time for Mrs Macmillan and the ladies who had assisted in the preparation for the day's entertainment. Three times three cheers having been given, Mr Macmillan said he had taken great pleasure in getting up this entertainment for the sake of the children, but that the hard work had fallen on the ladies; they deserved the thanks, as without their help he could have done nothing. Mr Hampton then rose and said: He was much pleased at having , been able to assist in the. day's amusement, and that, although not married, he would do his best to acknowledge the vote of thanks for the ladies, which he did in his usual masterly style, saying it was one of the pleasantest days of the kind he had ever spent, and he also, in the name of the people, proposed a vote of thanks to the Key. Mr Douglas, for his kindness in coining

Mr Wright said that Mr Douglas had not been forgotten; "that Mr Hampton had just taken the -words out of his mouth ; that on account. of Mr Douglas' numerous engagements,, special thanks were due to him for coming. Mr Douglas acknowledged the compliment by saying he was very glad to be present on that occasion, as he took a deep in terest in Mr Macmillan's professional career, and although he had had to be present at the Akaroa School examination which had taken place that day, he had hurried over. He was sure that this school would thrive under Mr Macmillan, who was making a" name as a schoolmaster; that he had every opportunity to be a good one, both on account of the educatiqn he had received, and being the son of one of the greatest Edinburgh educationists of his day. He hoped the art was hereditary. He added that,he would propose a vote of thanks to Mr Geo. Hall, the chairman of the School Committee ', he thoroughly deserved it, for the great interest he took in the educational matters of the district, pushing' them on whenever opportunity presented, and also for the hearty manner in which he had entered into the fun of the day. Three hearty cheers were given. The schoolmaster then proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Montgomery for his kindness and liberality. The awful hour of milking being at hand, the greater portion of the people went home, returning at.about eight o'clock to a dance, which was kept up till the ' The kye cam' hame."