HANGATIKI.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 61, 20 December 1907, Page 3

HANGATIKI.

The Hangatiki school picnic was held on Friday afternoon, December 13th. The children were liberated

from school at 12.30 p.m., when lunch waiting for them beneath the -■ willows in Mr Board's paddock. After lunch sports were commenced. Races for boys and girls, the high jump, three-legged race, skipping, etc., were greatly enjoyed, prizes being distributed to the winners. In the skipping, one child of ten years of age kept up for seven minutes, and was then stopped as it was considered impossible for her to be beaten. Rounders and other games followed,

3.nd were entered into with great spirit

by young and old. Next came a lolly scramble, and hardly had this ceased when the teacher sallied forth, wearing a coat decorated with festoons of lolly bags. This was the delight of the small boys, and the chase followed up rapidly till the master was brought to bay and stripped of the bags, as well as a good deal of the coat. Tea, welcome after all the fun, was next kindly treated. What with bananas, oranges, letc., in plenty, cakes of all kinds, shapes and sizes, the children did the last item as energetically as they had done the first. Night was now drawing in, and the people dispersed in various directions, only to meet later in the school room for an evening's dancing. The dance passed over as successfully as the picnic had done. The floor was excellent and, in fact, everything was good, and the Committee deserve great praise for the manner in which the function was organised. This district is looking much more prosperous; building is going on steadily, and sheep, cattle, wool and cream are going out and money is coming in. All crops are free from blight, and are doing splendidly. In new districts, and especially in prosperous ones, old buildings soon become inadequate. For the past three months the goods shed here has been packed to overflowing with goods of all descriptions. A- new building will soon be an urgent necessity and settlers are complaining already. A plague of mosquitoes is upon us, and the old theory that these creatures suck blood, is now exploded. According to results here mosquitoes are carnivorous animals, living on meat, and preferably cuts from the human face. If plagues have the same effect as in ancient times, church in Hangatiki will be better patronised next Sunday.