THE CHILDREN'S PICNIC.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 618, 4 January 1870, Page 3

THE CHILDREN'S PICNIC.

This annual treat, given by the public to the children attending the Sunday Schools of Greymouth and Cobden, took place on New Year's Day, in the paddock belonging toMrFairhall, which was kindly given for the occasion. Luckily, the day was one of the finest we have had throughout this very fine season ; the subscriptions had conic in so liberally that refreshments aud prizes for the children were provided in galore, so that there was no limit to the children's enjoyment of the day's sport provided for them. In the morning the children belonging to the Sunday Schools held in the Town Hall, the Wes"leyan Church, and Cobden School, assembled at the wharf and walked in procession through the town with flags flying and headed by the Greymouth Brass Band, to a paddock, where all sort 3of games were speedily being proceeded with, and were maintained with the utmost spirit until shortly before sundown. There were boys' races, girls' races, with boxes of toys as prizes in abundance ; swings, cricket, football, while the more mature teachers, parents, audfriends, indulged in suchtimehonored games as kiss-in-the-ring, twos-and-threes, &c. It was indeed as fine a sight as could be seen anywhere to witness the thorough enjoyment and hearty relish with which old and young entered upon the day's amusement. It i 3 almost invidious to mention the names of any who made themselves prominent in rendering the day a happy one to the children ; but the exertions of Messrs Magoffin, Shaw, Cannon, Savage, Nancarrow, Dixon, Newton, the Rev. Mr Cannell, &c, deserve to be mentioned. In the evening the children marched home in procession, and later the teachers j with their friends, wound up the days' amusement by a soiree in the Town Hall. On the same day, and under almost similar details and circumstances, which we need not repeat, the children attending St. Patrick's School, held a picnic in Tivoli Gardens, where they spent a very happy day. This is the first New Year's Day that the Sunday School children have been separated, and we very much regret that such a system should have been commenced here. Whatever the causes may have been, it is a pity that the children of parents of every creed should not be allowed to mingle on an annual public holiday.