RAILWAY EMPLOYES' PICNIC.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 895, 27 February 1879, Page 2

RAILWAY EMPLOYES' PICNIC.

This annual event came oft' yesterday, at Hampden. The weather was inclined to be raw and disagreeable when the train left the Oamaru station, fitful bursts of sunshine, however, had the effect of cheering up the good folks and enabling them to expect a pleasant day. In passing down the line, through Totara, the thickly stooked wheat fields proclaimed large yields of grain, and a fine covey of young partridges, eight or nine in number, were flushed by the noise of the train. Arrived at Maheno, we waited for some time expecting the Dunedin mixed train to pass us. Here Mr. Loring procured a horse, and rode to Herbert, from whence lie telegraphed to Hampden to send the express on to Waianakarua, meantime our train went on to Herbert. From this point Mr. Loring sent off a special messenger with written orders to the train delayed at Waianakarua to come on. When the messenger got there he found that the guard had left his train, and had proceeded up the line to Herbert to find out the cause of the detention. The engineer then refused to go on without his guard, and the messenger then returned post haste to Herbert. Mr. Loring having instructed the engineer and guards of the excursion train to remain where they were until he returned, rode off to Waianakarua. Arrived there, he got into the express and returned to Herbert, followed in a short time by the mixed train. The cause of the delay resulted from an error in the working of the Dunedin portion of the line, as no mention was made on the circular supplied to the guard and engineer of the mixed train, of the suspension of the Oamaru to Dunedin goods traffic. Hence the detention of the train in the first place ; in the second, the fault lay with the guard in leaving his post, thus causing Mr. Loring's messenger to cross him between the two places. The detention was unattended with any other inconvenience than that of the time lost, and it was rectified with the utmost dispatch possible. Mr. Loring deserves much credit for the way in which lie pulled the trains through, and secured the comfort and safety of the excursionists, and here we .would again point out the absolute necessity which exists for a telegraph extension from station to station on all railway lines ; time, money, goods, and, human life, demand that this should be attended to at once. The Oamaru excursion train was accompanied by Mr. Verner, Inspector of Locomotives, and Mr. Sims, Foreman of Locomotives ; the driver was Mr. Fred. Gat wood—these, together with the guards, did all in their power to make things comfortable. Our train arrived at Hampden at 12.50, and delivered its load of men, women, and children, followed in twenty minutes by the Dunedin train, carrying some 1300 more. The ground selected for the picnic and sports was that lying between the road to Hampden and the goods shed, and on it was erected two refreshment booths, one of which was owned by Mr. Geddes, of Dunedin, and for which he paid L 33. It was conducted by Messrs. Dunning Bros, of Princes street. The other was a private establishment. A small prize tent occupied the high ground on which the sports took place. Here Mr. Henry, of the Dunedin Committee of Management, was in charge, and here also the respective winners of the games were awarded the prizes their prowess entitled them to. The Committee consisted of the following gentlemen:—Mr, Grant, Manager; Messrs. Armstrong, Matheson, Buchart, Monk, jSTeiven, Rodgers, Lake, Asher, Fyfe, Robertson, Chisholm, Leigh, Hislop, Henry, and Barry. The sports programme was as follows. As the prizes given consisted entirely of toys and fancy goods, we omit them ; 50 yds Race, for boys under 9 years, 10 entries—R, Martin, 1 ; F. Gilligin, 2 ; W. Payne, 3. 50 yds Race, girls under 9 years, 7 entries —C. Casey and A. Clarkson, tie ; A. Anderson, 2 ; B. Woolford, 3. Running High Leap, 15 entries—R. Treasurer, 1 ; W. Hicks, 2. 100 yds Handicap Race, for men over 40 years—T. Lynch, 1 ; A. Davidson, 2; D. M'Lachlan, 3. 100 yds Handicap Race, for boys under 12 years—\Y. Wilder, 1 ; A. Davidson, 2 ; A. Duffie, 3.. 100 yds Handicap Race, for girls under 12 years—W. Downie, 1 ; K.' Crawford, 2 ; A. Clarkson, 3. 100 yds Handicap, for men—G. Whitehead, 1 : J. M'Phee, 2 ; C. Saxby, 3. 100 yds Race, for ladies (unmarried) —J. Quigley, 1 ; C. Gibbin, 2 ; M. Lloyd, 3. Wrestling, Cumberland style—M 'lntyre, 1 ; Fitzgerald, 2 ; Murray, 3. 100 yds Race, for ladies (married), 6 entries—Mrs Keating, 1 ; Mrs O'Connor, 2 ; Mrs Bennett. 3. 100 yds Race, for boys under 15 years, S entries—H. Haraway, 1 ; W. Cameron, 2; Cooke and Denny, tie. 100 yds Race, for girls under 15 years— M. Gordon, 1 ; M. Allan, C. Cribban and A. Stewart, tie. • 300 yds Handicap, for men—Hamder and Dunkinson, tie; Mitchell, 2. Surfacemen's Race, 150 yds—J. Perry, 1 ; P. Dalley, 2 ; M. Kennally, 3. Sinsle Ladies' Race, 150 yds—M. Gordon, 1 ; J.~Quigley, 2; C. Gnbbin, 3. Band Race, 150 yds—Markland, 1; J. Watson, 2 ; H. Graham, 3. A number of scratch matches were then got off, for the benefit of all and sundry. -The winners seemed to enjoy most heartily the amusements, and were very proud of their prizes. Thus, pipes, workboxes, bats, and a vast miscellany of similar articles were contended for, and handed over by the indefatigable committeeman, Mr. ' Henry, The railway band was in attendance, and gave full employment to the lovers of the dance, while from Maheno we are indebted to Mr. Brown for the music of the ci land of the mountain and the flood." A merry-go-round on the most approved principle, gave our boys a turn round the ring on all the horses of the p6riod—all winners and no blanks. The anchor, crown, and heart business attracted some speculative

folks ; while for one dip a shilling p 6OD i were invited to make their fortune. 8 Throwing the hammer at old aunt Sallv was indulged in, while some folks sought the Ocean beach, others the bush, many the township of Hampden, and enjoyed their outing'wonderfully. At 5.30 the Dunedin excursionists left the station for home, amid the cheers of the Hampden men, who assembled on fh 6 platform to see them off. At 6.40 our special got under way, and arrived in safety at Oamaru at 8.15