DOMAIN: SUNDAY-SCHOOL FESTIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 639, 29 January 1872, Page 2

DOMAIN: SUNDAY-SCHOOL FESTIVAL.

The Associated Schools in connection with the Church of England places of worship of the city and suburbs held their annual gathering to-day in that beautifully retired spot at the rear of the Domain, overlooking Parnell. The scene was one of the loveliest we have witnessed. As

wo gazed upon tho thousand happy children, with faces all beaming forth the joys within, whose little hearts (on this occasion at least) knew not one pang of sorrow, we could not help thinking that the plans laid ninety years ago, and the seed sown then, by that venerable philanthropist, Robert Railces, in t he establishment of the sabbath-school system for the amelioration of mankind, had been signally crowned with success, lucre , were about 1,500 children, teachers, and | friends, upon the ground. The arrange- [ mentsofthe committee, for the amusement of the little ones, were most com plete, comprising, swinging, French tig football, cricket, racing, &o. Aoout o::e o'clock the children of the several schools ground together, to partake of the good things of this life which were provided in abundance. There was a lack of nothing, excepting water, and this had to be procured at an enormous expense of labour to the teachers. This department ol the work was taken up with a will, and soou there was an ample supply, The sports were carried on to a late hour, and we did not hear of a single mishap. As the day was closing, the whole company seemed so utterly exhausted, that it was well that such fete days only come once a year. Ihc day will long be remembered as a happy one, and its return next year looked forward to with delight.