MONSTER EXCURSION TO RANGIORA.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1517, 27 December 1878, Page 3

MONSTER EXCURSION TO RANGIORA.

Yesterday (ho children attending the Roman Catholic schools were treated to an excursion and picnic at Rangiora. Shortly after 9 o’clock the scholars, to the number of some 900, ra relied from the Church, where they had previously attended divine service. The procession on Us way to the station presented a very striking appearance, the children being all very neatly drtssed, bearing banners and bannerettes, and marshalled by th ir several teachers, and headed by the Hibernian braes band. On arrival at Raugiora the concourse, which, with the parents and friends of the little ones, together with about 300 children from the surrounding distindq, uow numbered upwards of 1800. proceeded to a paddock kmdly placed at the disposal of the committee by Mr Buss, where extensive preparations had been previously made with a due regard to the comfort of both children and adults. A very creditable programme of sports was gone through, on a cbtifao tth.cii

had been marked off, and although a profusion of lligs denoted the contesting ground, a number of “pods” were disqualified for “boiling” off the course. Various sports and games were also prepared for the juveniles, who seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves. The brass band of the Hibernian Society, under the leadership of Mr E Or. Chapman, considerably enlivened the proceedings of the day by performing at intervals selections and popular airs. Taken as a whole, the affair was a most marked success, a result which was entirely due to the able committee, to whom the management was entrusted. The children and their friends left Rangiora platform shortly after 5 o’clock, and arrived in Christchurch at about 6 30, when they proceeded to tho Church, where benediction was held, and thus terminated one of the largest and most successful gatherings of school children yet witnessed in the neighborhood.