RAILWAY EMPLOYEES’ PICNIC.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1218, 29 January 1878, Page 3

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES’ PICNIC.

Great was the gratification of thousands of railway officials, their wives and families, on Saturday morning, when it was found that the weather was to be propitious on the occation of their picnic, an affair which will in future be an incident of annual recurrence. Crowds began to congregate at an early hour atthe new'railway station, where carriages were drawn up alongside the platform, the two largest sized engines being tastefully decorated with flowers, banners, and evergreens. The flags had been lent for the purpose by Messrs Miles, Hassal and Co. and Captain McLellan, Harbor Master at Port Lyttelton, and to these gentlemen wo are requested to convey the thanks of the committee. Indeed the merchants and several citizens came forward most liberally in the matter of cash donations and cups to be given as prizes, and the amount of money to be competed for reached a very handsome total. A few members of the committee went round to the leading merchants of the town, and a very little persuasion was required in inducing them to suspend all goods traffic for the day, thus affording an opportunity for the men to attend who would otherwise have been engaged in the sheds. The merchants further expressed their entire sympathy with the movement. As conveying some idea of the number of people who started from Christchurch —the complement being supplemented by numbers from Port and from the North - it will be sufficient to state that the train was composed of seventeen carriages, three vans, and thirty-one trucks, and that they were all completely filled. Adding to these the numbers who arrived from Christchurch upon the ground by the later ordinary train, and the southern contingent, it is safe to compute the entire muster as being at least four thousand people. The train started at five minutes past seven to an enlivening tune discoursed by Mr Toomer’s efficient band, under the able leadership of Mr W. Dorn. At the Dunsandel station the ordinary up train was passed, and the Rakaia was reached at 9.20, where a stoppage was made for the purpose of watering. The country in many parts looked very cheering, and the strides which agriculture has made in South - Canterbury during the last few years were very noticeable. Harvesting operations were in full swing ; and in one paddock in the vicinity of the Rakaia, and belonging to Mr William White, the quondam contractor for the Rakaia bridge, as many as seventeen reaping machines were at work. The hotels at the various centres of population were a very great feature in the aspect of the country, particularly Messrs Robinson’s and Sharp’s at the Rakaia, Mr Stenning’s at Cherteey, and Mr Quill’s and the Somerset at Ashburton. The permanent way was in fine order, and reflected great credit upon the inspector, Mr James Knight, who has brought forty years’ experience to bear upon his work. The new station of Dromore, situated about twelve j miles from the Rakaia, and six from Ashburton, was also commented upon. The estate of the Messrs Wood stands out in bold relief, and will eventually'become a very valuable piece of property. The average pace at which the train travelled was twenty-five miles an hour, and at six minutes past ten the crowds alighted about three-quarters of a mile north of Ashburton, at a fifty acre paddock /kindly lent for the occasion by Mr Hay Smith, a resident in Ashburton, and who is .distinguished for his liberality. The sight was particularly interesting, the ladies and children all well dressed, and delighted -at the prospect of a pleasant day, and the men all eager for the various contests in which they might hare an opportunity of displaying their athletic prowess. The labor of the committee in collecting the funds and making the necessary arrangements must have been particularly arduous, and the more so taking into consideration the very limited time at their disposal. Besides the large sum of money subscribed by the general public, several amounts were collected by Mr Wm. Currie, F. McSherry, W. Fender, and L. Bradley, of Mr Knight’s staff, and the picnic in a great measure owes its success to the exertions of these and the others composing the committee. The work of arranging the ground fell more especially upon Mr H. Stevenson, locomotive foreman ; Mr Pat. McTague, permanent way ganger; and Mr W, Nelson, foreman carpenter; and it is almost unnecessary to remark that their efforts were most completely successful. Soon the various coteries had chosen their respective positions in which to enjoy a rest, and the heavy Maori kits and bags which wore deposited here and there settled the question at once that, come what might, starving was not to be the order of the day. The supply of tents for the committees was quite ample, and the merry-go-rounds, swings, booths, grand stand, telegraph board, and various other points of attraction, presented quite a picture. It was remarked by many that a photographic artist should have been upon the ground with the necessary apparatus, for the sale of his views would have been very considerable. The booths were supplied by Mr Shearman, one under the management of Mr Jacob,Moore, another presided over by Mr Antonio Agcrea, and the third in charge of Mr R. Sullivan, with numerous and efficient staffs. The arrangement was that Mr Shearman should prepare lunch for as many as liked to avail themselves of the opportunity at one and sixpence a head, wine and beer of course excluded, and about two thousand chose to partake of the many good things provided, while a very considerable number elected to provide themselves from home with their necessary confections, after the conventional style of the picnic proper. At a given hour the commencement of the sports was announced, and the fun was fast and furious, with but little or no intermission until the time of departure had arrived. A small body of police under the charge of Sergeant Felton were in attendance, but their services, excepting in a friendly way, were never once called into requisition. Besides the running and walking matches, the list of events comprised cricket match, quoits, skittles, standing high jumps, running jumps, horizontal bar, leaping with the pole,, putting the stone, tossing the caber, throwing the cricket ball, hop step and jump, Aunt Sally, and a host of other items, ail of which found ardent votaries, and were closely and keenly contested. The children’s races require special notice. • The arrangements were very oomph te, and were carried out by a committee of facies, who were ably assisted by Mr Stringer in the combined capacities of clerk of the co» rso, starter, referee, and bellman. The ladies were indefatigable in their endeavors to pn mote the amusement of the little ones, a case of very superior toys having been given for j tires, and several of the children were thus enabled to secure many pleasing aod fftlvfbj? jwwwceuces of the jucaic,

(Another great feature was a band of Christy minstrels, whose appearance was very grotesque, and who succeeded admirably in entertaining their numerous audience. An amusing scene was a baby show, in which Messrs D. M. Owen, F. H. Yalpy, and G. Turner were chosen judges. An extensive ring was formed, and the space inside devoted solely to the various S atrons, their blooming offsprings, and to the three judges. Such babies, it need scarcely be remarked, were never seen in the world. The judges were soon unanimous in fixing upon a subject for the first prize, but the award of second and third was no easy matter. Of course, to say that the judges were influenced in any way by the blandishments of the mothers would be doing them great injustice, and it is only fair to say that their task was no sinecure. The return journey was commenced a little after six o’clock. The only contretemps durin«- the day was an accident which happened to°a lady, who, while in the act of receiving her child from the hands of a gentleman, fell from the train, but it was fortunate that beyond a torn dress and a great fright, no other serious consequence was occasioned. The homeward journey was enlivened in various ways, and at last the Christchurch station was reached, a large crowd having assembled to witness the arrival of such a huge train of living freight. The band struck up “ Home, Sweet Home,” and this vast concourse dispersed, some towards home, and others to assuage their thirst at the bar of the refreshment room, presided' over by host Kirkwood, while a large number thought fit to pay a visit to the enormous hotel on the other side of the road, yclept The Terminus, in which Mr Wearing dispenses creature comforts. Thus terminated a very enjoyable day, and the railway picnic to Ashburton will be long remembered in Canterbury. Our reporter desires to record his thanks to the members of the committee for the uniform kindness and consideration afforded to him during the day, and the alacrity which they evinced in furnishing him with all necessary information. The following is a list of the events and the various results:— 220 yards race, for boys under 10 years of age; four entries.—lst prize, D. Wilson; 2nd, J. Lane. 220 yards for boys under 14 years of age; 6 entries —Ist prize, C. Gladdon; 2nd C. Necve. 100 yards for girls .under 10 years of age; thirteen entries —Ist prize, Nellie Nairn ; 2nd, Bessie Keast. 100 yards for boys under 10 years of age; twenty-seven entries —Ist prize, T. Gillingham; 2nd, T. Courtney ; 3rd, C. Orange. 100 yards railway handicap; Ist event; ten entries—lst prize, G. Black ; 2nd, T. O’Grady and H, Freeman tied, and O’Grady eventually took it. Ha'f-milo walking match for boys under 14; nine entiles—lst prize, J. Amos ; 2nd, L. Curtain. 220 yards for boys under 16; ten entries —Ist prize, J. Atkinson; 2nd, H.Nelson. Half-mile race for permanent way hands only; twelve entries—lst prize, D. Quinn; 2nd, T. Barron. 440 yards for boys under 10 years of age ; seven entries—lst prize, A. Ford; 2nd, C. Groghan. 440 yards for boys imder 16 years of age; eight entries. —Ist prize, W. Cassin; 2nd, D. Parish. 220 yards Railway Handicap (2nd event); thirteen entries. —Ist prize, H. Freeman; 2nd, J. Black, 220 yards for men over 40 years of age, a handicap ; sixteen entries. Ist prize, J. Hinson; 2nd, a tie between Gudsell and V. Hugo, who divided, ' Mr Lawson’s prize, 150 yards, for all railway employees; six entries. —Ist prize, R. Frame ; 2nd, H. Freeman. Half-mile walking match for boys under 16 years of age; three entries. —Ist prize, W. Cassin ; 2nd, J. Amos. Three-legged race, 200 yards; four entries. — Ist prize, C. Gladden and C. Knee; 2nd, B. Jeffery and J. Hobbs. Nigger race, 150 yards; five entries. —Ist prize, M. Cusack ; 2nd, J. Gilby. Quarter-mile Eailway Handicap ; six entries. —lst prize, G. H. Kitcliingman; 2nd, T. O’Grady. Committee mens’ race of 150 yards (the race of the day , for a cup presented by Messrs Coates and Co.; fourteen entries. Ist prize, D. M Owen; J. Eankin running second, and McGarva third. As these gentlemen averaged frsm 15 to 16 stone each, the interest evinced amongst the spectators was immense, and the winner proved to be a gentleman who was by no means the lightest representative, and who had the misfortune to get a very indifferent start. The committee men who did not start were fined ss, and the proceeds went to the general fund. > Mr Conyers’s prize, for a race of 150 yards, brought thirteen entries, and was won by G. Hepburn. Mr Menzies’s prize, for 150 yards, was won by a gentleman whose name we Were unable to obtain. Baby show; forty-seven entries.—lst prize, Mrs Higgins; 2nd, Mrs Wolfe; 3rd, Mrs P< rter; and seven highly commended. The judges gating that they had experienced the greatest difficulty in arriving at their decisions, owing to circumstances over which they had no control. Quoits.—lst prize, Eob. Hepburn; 2nd, Hugh Hodge; 3rd, David Snedden. Skittles.—lst prize, Cray; 2nd, Butler; 3rd, Nicholls. Eunning High Jump.—lst prize, E. Frame ; a tie for second, between Heaton and Hepburn, who divided. Vaulting with the pole—lst prize, D. McFarlane ; 2nd, J. Marshall. Putting the stone—lst prize, Scrimshaw; 2nd, Hodge. In this case Wm. Anderson should have won the first prize, owing to the fact of his adhering strictly to the rules ; but this point was waived, owing to the clamour of the competitors, and Anderson liberally conceded hia position. _ Hop step and jump was not competed for, but good work was evinced by Harry Turner. The guardian of Aunt Sally realised the sum of <£l 8s fid, and owing to the severe treatment the old lady experienced she will he unable to take any active proceedings in the next merry meeting. Eace for girls under 12—1st prize, M. Simister; 2nd, J. Hamilton ; 3rd, A. Morse. Eace for boys under 12—1st prize, A. Cbilds; 2nd, Phillips ; 3rd, E. Stringer. Eace for girls nnder 6 years of age—lst prize, L. Dovic ; 2nd, B. Hoban; 3rd, A. Ashton. Pace for boys under 9 years of age—lst prize, C. Childs ; 2nd, A. Childs; 3rd P. Howard. Eace for girls under 13 years of age. Ist prize, Grace White; 2nd, F. Austin; 3rd, Jessie Hamilton. Eace for girls under I 1 years of age—lst prize M. M‘Tigue; 2nd, M. Anderson; 3rd, A. Simpson. » Eace for gold brooch presented by Mr Hawkcs, for young ladies between 16 and 20. Ist prize, E.Hepburn. Eunning long jump—lst prize, G. Hepburn, 15ft; 2nd, Nelson. Several other events were improvised, and the recipients of the various prizes appeared to he perfectly satisfied with the day’s proceedings. The train arrangements, under (he superintendence of Mr D. M. Owen, traffic inspector, were simply perfect, inasmuch as not a single hitch occurred during the day, and there was a generally expressed opinion of satisfaction with the whole proceedings. The committee of management consisted of Messrs Dickenson, Owen, Croebie, Turner, Lane, Rankin, Knight, Fife, Stringer, Anderson, Stevenson, M'Garva, Pope, Dowden, Valpy, Lloyd, R. T. Macdonnell, T. B. Bain, Knight, and Williams. The ladies’ committee were—Mesdames Stringer, Dickenson, Rankin, Silk, Bain, Percival, and Miss Percival. The starters were—Messrs Dickenson, Owen, Yalpy and Lloyd, and (he officers for the day—Messrs Conyers, John Lawson, J. Lowe, A. D. Smith, and F. Back. Marshals Messrs Crosbie, Owen, and Turner. The judges were selected from among the ladies and gentlemen composing the various committees.