WALTON.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 79, 25 April 1918, Page 1

WALTON.

The annual school picnic was held in Mr A. E. Gillingham’s paddock near the railway station on Friday, and fortunately for all concerned the weather changed and ideal conditions prevailed. The members of the school committee with their wives and many other willing assistants, including the teachers, worked hard to make the function a success. A considerable sum of money had been collected by the children, and cash prizes for the athletic events was the rule of the day. A championship race for the boys was the first event. Result: — P. Dixon 1, B. Insull 2, E. Svmes 3. Girls’ championship —M. Symes 1, Iris Witt 2, Rowena Hill 3. Big fields entered for these events, and the children were handicapped for all subsequent races by Messrs Jordan and Attwood on the form shown in the championship with the result that some excellent running was witnessed with, in some cases, a very close finish. Messrs Insull, Dixon and Adams acted as judges, and Mr Trapski, secretary, distributed the prizes. Mr Insull, head teacher, is using his influence in encouraging the children to invest their small savings in the war loan, and as the prizes for some of the events were substantial ones it is to be hoped that his advice will be acted upon. Ample provisions were provided by the ladies, and a very pleasant day was spent by all present. A recent canvass of the district for Red Cross funds returned the sum of £67, and for the King Country Fire fund £3l 5s 6d, which amounts are being forwarded on through the Thames Valley Sub-provincial union of the Farmers’ union.