ST. MARY'S PARISH FESTIVAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2463, 9 February 1881, Page 2

ST. MARY'S PARISH FESTIVAL.

SECOND EDITION

The annual Ilarish Festival in connection with the St. Mary’s Church took place to-day in Mr C. Green’s paddock, at the top of Elizabeth street, kindly lent for the occasion. The morning was cloudy and threatening, but the afternoon proved fine and, better Weather could hardly have been desired. Shortly before 12 o’clock the children mustered to the number of about 800 at the St. Mary’s Church, where a short service was conducted by the Rev. Archdeacon Harper, after ■which the youngsters formed themselves into a procession, and headed by the Artillery band playing appropriate music, marched to the paddock, bearing a number of flags and banners decorated with suitable inscriptions. At the large paddock everything was in readiness, several tents having been erected for the occasion, besides a number of swings which afforded considerable amusement to the young people. Funning, jumping, and other games agreeably disposed of the interval before lunch, which took place at 1. 45. the children forming a large ring with the band occupying the centre. And now the luncheon, consisting of an abundant supply of ham sandwiches, bread and jam, cake and buns, made its appearance in large baskets borne by the Sunday School teachers, assisted by lady members of the St. Mary’s Church congregation, and inexhaustible as those baskets appeared, the number were emptied of their contents with a rapidity which bore testimony both to the excellence of the viands, and the appetites of the juveniles. The teachers and their friends were kept very busy in ministering to the wants of the little holiday-makers, and the baskets having at length disappeared, buckets of hot tea were brought out, and their contents rapidly followed the sandwiches. The tea was made on the ground in big iron boilers, the water having been conveyed from Timaru in a huge tank, which ought to have been sufficient for the the wants of an army. The tea was excellent, and a word of praise is due to Messrs Green and Dupree who undertook the brewing. The young people having betaken themselves to their games once more, the teachers and their friends assembled in one of the roomy tents to partake of an excellent repast, provided in the most liberal maimer by Mr McGuinness of the Ship Hotel. A feature of this year’s festival was a large tent full of all sorts of pretty and useful things, the residue in part of the St. Mary’s Bazaar goods, and which was presided over by Mosdames Goodall, Ostler, Jones, and the Misses LeCren (2). The attendance gradually increased during the afternoon, and at 3 o’clock there were probably fully 1500 on the ground, the majority of course being children. No effort was spared by the teachers and grown up visitors to make the holiday an enjoyable one to the youngsters, and the Archdeacon himself was to be seen wherever any work was going on one of the busiest on the ground, nor must we forget to mention Messrs Will way and Wells, who superintended the racing, or Mr G. Robins, who superintended all sorts of things, and whose services seemed to be in constant request. To give some idea of the scale on which the good things have to be provided for these festivals we may mention that Mr Henry Brown,

baker, of this town, received an order for six cwt. of cake for the treat, which was conveyed to the ground per express van.

One great reason of the popularity of the St. Mary’s festivals is that they are thrown open to all children alike, without reference to scot or creed, and this is as it should be. The following are the events of the sports : Boys’ Race—6ooyds. Hibbard ... i Lutterworth 2 400 Yards. Waterhouse 1 Allen 2 Three-legged Race. Wilson and Cork ... ... 1 Cole and Jones 2 400 Yards. Tate ... 1 Goodall 2 400 Yards Walking. Cole X Traddell 2 200 Yards. Goodall ... 1 Machin ... ... ... 2 200 Yards (under 12.) Thoreau ... ... ... 1 Hibbard ... 2 400 Yards. Jones ... ... ... 1 Cole 2 200 Yards, Tate 1 Stevens ... ... ... 2 400 Yards. Hibbard 1 Ricketts 2 400 Yards (under nine.) Tate 1 Goodall 2 300 Yards Girls Race. A. Allen 1 R. Newton 2 150 Yards Girls Race. N. Cliff 1 J. Wilson 2 150 Yards Girls Race. N. Ostler 1 Cliff 2 150 Yards Girls Race. R. North 1 S. Ball 2 200yds Walking (girls.) C. Tate ... ... ... 1 C. Allen 2 100yds Walking (girls.) M. Oxley 1 13. Beall 2