TE ARAI SCHOOL PICNIC.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 347, 22 February 1902, Page 3

TE ARAI SCHOOL PICNIC.

Mr Clark’s fine paddock, opposite the Te Arai school-house, familiarly known as the Triangular Paddock, pre-

sented a gay and animated appearance yesterday afternoon, when the annual J.'tnic in connection with the Te Arai public school was held. The afternoon was beautifully fine, though a trifle on toe warm side for record-lneaking. ,The two handsome flags possessed by the school were bravely floating on the breeze. The New Zealand Ensign .was d splayed on the schoolhouse, and the Red Ensign was prominent on a liagstafl on the picnic ground. The bunting added greatly to the attractiveness of the naturally picturesque surroundings.' From 11 o'clock in

■: the morning, the children of the school ran, skipped, jumped, and played to ;their hearts’ content for prizes pur- / chased by the School Committee. The arrangements for the sports were most complete, and a casual visitor might lave been excused for imagining that ha had strayed on an Austialasian championship meeting instead of a > school picnic so excellent were the ", arrangements. A racing trark, im--qiiovised of posts and binding twine, •had been marked off, and the beautiful sward of Italian rye grass made a carpet underfoot far ahead of ail the Kidderminster or Brussels ever laid ' down. One could not help being struck . .by the conviction, as lie wat.ned the -'sturdy "youngsters, well clothed and fully developed, disporting themselves, that there is a bright future ahea.d of the nation which has such a rising

generation. The events were all f Keenly contested, and showed that “l tne school has a number of budding . athletes who may be heard of on the racing tracks of the colon/ when • .tneir day arrives. The half mile was a splendid race. Rangi Halbert, the . • .winner, ran with great heart, and won all out on the tape from scratch, - amid the cheers of the crowd. He is the worthy son of a worthy sire, and ■ -,tne race was worth going a hag way - .to see. Mr W. Baird, Chairman, and Messrs T. Daulton, T. Halbert, Finucv.ne, Roberts, and P. Callaghan, (members of the Committee;! were in attendance during the day, and did • all in their power to sec that the ‘children had a royal time. Mr A. Crawford, the popular headmaster of ' Ric school, was a prominent figure throughout the proceedings, and was a regular “ Hans the Boatman ” among the children. Miss Davis, t'n newlyappointed mistress of the school, also worked hard to promote the happiness on the ground ‘on which tie events of the girls. There was a black-board were announced. There was no delay in the carrying out of the long progiamine, the events followed each other with clock-work regular.ty , a "d each child, from ttie dux of the school (down to the latest arrival of the A. B - c classes, became the proud possessor of a trophy of some kind brother The Young Ladies Race, which was - W on by Miss Wilson, attracted a lot . of attention, and the time recorded shows that the swain who attempts to run after a To Aral damsel will need to register something under Id v seconds to have a ghost of a chance. The catering was m the hands of the - ladies of the district, and an abundance of good tilings was pronded. The following ladies were most assiduous in attending to the wants of ‘the voung ones, and also to those of ~ tlie iarge number or friends and visitors who attended the . ground during the course of the afternoon :-Mesdames Wyett, Muir Finucane Roherts ' and 11. King, and Misses Daus, Kirk, . Bougen, V. U’Ren. and Wilson The tables were laid in the welcome shade of a group of tall bluegums, ■ and literally groaned beneath the weight of the good things with which ■- they were loaded. Rounders and othei games were played during the day, and lolly-scrambles were frequent. Indeed. young and old spent a most enjoyable time. , The prizes, which were of a handsome and varied assortment, were pre- ' se ted to the successful competitors after the programme had been gone through The Committee desire us to thank all those ladies and gentlemen who so generously contributed to the supply of provisions for the picmc and to the prize fund. Mr M. Hall, oi ' Matawhero, donated a special prize for the pupil who had gained the highe t number of marks for attendance m Standard 111. during the past year. following was the programme - 100 yards, boys . I ouigram 1, 1 I ‘ \T*Sl’ilM I, Rahirahu 2.

Skipping : Marara 1, J. Wain *&2£Nfc*:W. Tttohy 1. PiSSrff'iU Callaghan 1, Race: Piha 1, 2 - Sack Race : H. Quina 1, H. Cram * 'iTtireadihg N« etl i e ace 1 lar^

f laghan 1, A. Tuoiiy 2. ' Hurdle Race: Kangi Halbert 1, Poulgrain 2. , - TT Climbing the Mast : i j T uohy I,H. K Hoop Race : ft. Daulton 1, I\ L'raig 2 Young Ladies’ Race: L Married Women s Race • Mrs llat y King 1 Mrs Finucane 2, Mrs Wyett o. Committeemen’s Race : Finucane 1, B Voo yards: II- Craig 1, H, Quinn 2, R. Daulton 3. „ , TO Half-mile: Rangi Halbert 1* Tuohy 2.