PEOPLE’S PICNIC.

Shannon News, 26 January 1926, Page 3

PEOPLE’S PICNIC.

i MEETING Qp THE COMMITTEE^ ! a meeting of the committee of the People’s Picnic which' was held on Now Year’s Day took place in the Council Chambers on Thursday evening. Present: Messrs Hyde (chairman) Thwaites, .Sinclair, G. Quarrie, C. Hook, C. Young, J. Gray, W. Murdoch, Elwood, Hudson and T. KohlICcL Mr Hyde, in opening the meeting, referred to the success of the gathering, which he said wias largely due to the harmonious manner in which the Committee had worked together, and the splendid response of the public under such adverse weather conditions, rain having fallen to within an hour of . starting. The secretary (Mr Thwaites) presented the balance sheet, which showed .the total receipts to be £45 lie 6d, and the liabilities £2B 12s 4d, leaving a balance of £l6 19s 2d. In adopting the balance sheet as read, the meeting expressed itself as mghly satisfied with the financial resuits, and an the motion or Mi lhwaites it was decided to make the gathering an annual one. , In respect to the balance' of money in hand, Mr Hyde and the Mayor (Mr Murdoch) were appointed trustees, tne money to be deposited' in tite Post unice Savings Bank. me ciiictu'iii'cUi. ui complimenting die secretary (Mr Thwaites) for the splendid services rendered by him noth on the day of the picnic and since, moved that he be accorded a hearty vote of thanks for tile able manner in which he had carried out ins duties, and Ihiast the same be recorded in the minutes*, which was carried unanimously.

. Mr Thwaites, in returning thanks, said his work had been made easy oy the good organisation of the committee. The Mayor said the promoters of the picnic were deserving of praise mr organising such a gathering for New Year’s Day, which filled a long felt want and now that it had been decided to make it an annual affair ne hoped it would not he allowed to elapse, this having been the fate of so many organisations in Shannon. BAiKA AND POI COMPETITIONS. In reply to the chairman for suggestions for next year’s gathering Mr Thwaites said that already there were a number of places where Scotish competitions are held, but as far as he knew there were none where competitions for our two national dancesr-the Haka and Poi danoe—were regularly held, and it nad 'struck him that it would be a good idea to put on competitions lor these two dances, and that a shield for the* winner in ev?nt be offered, . winch would b- held by the winners from year to year If the »vents were properly organised, teams from the neighbouring districts would compete 1 and also some from further afield. He felt that it would bring about a large' gathering of teams and their friends and would prove a big draw as there were plenty of people who had never seen a haka. Asked for his opinion on the suggestion Mr Kohika thought it a good one. He said he had been connected with something similar in the Waitotara district, which had generally been successful. In regard to accommodation for visiting natives he thought, this could be arranged for at the meeting house. He said he was prepared to do his best to help with the competitions if it was decided to hold them. The Mayor said it wias a happy thought on the part of Mr Thwaites in introducing the suggestion. Th Maori, he said, was an enthusiast i a matter of this kind and a good ,sport. To give effect to the suggestion he moved that a small committee be appointed, consisting of Messrs Thwaites, Hyde and Kohika to take the initial step to get the scheme m working order and arrange for _ necessary finance to purchase shields, etc., and to report to the general committee on a date to be fixed. Th motion was carried, those preset being unanimous that the suggestion was a step in the right direction Another suggestion was that more side shows be procured for the picnic and a committee flonastog o Messrs Young, Sinclair> fid GW were appointed t 0 , matter and to report to the general committee ait a later date. After dealing with a number of minor matters the meeting adjourned.