A DAY AT THE BEACH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 29, 5 February 1915, Page 4

A DAY AT THE BEACH.

STRATFORD SCHOOL EXCURSION Glorious weather prevailed yesterday morning as the trains moved away from Stratford en route for the Eastend Beach, New Plymouth, the occasion being the annual school picnic in connection with the Stratford School. A largo number of Mahoe parents and children joined at Stratford. On reaching Inglewood, drizzling rain was falling, and all hopes were shattered for a wet, miserable day, and as one looked ahead, made the prospects look worse, but a change came o'er tho .scene on nearing their destination, and the day (although light rain fell on one or two occasions) was quite at pleasant one from ■ every point, the wind being the worst factor. Mr Kivell, caretaker of the Stratford school had proceeded to New Plymouth the day previous, and everything was in order, and hot water was soon requisitioned for morning tea. Not long after the arrival of the trains, the sea. waves were well patronised with bathers from the tender ages of two and three years to those well in the sixties, and all were having a: merry time. Those who di hot like the "briny" indulged in various other pastimes, such as riding on the donkeys, the sea-wave, swings, seesaws, boating on the Henui river, and the African dip, while those who were not suited with this amusement, were treated to a little "light fantastic." The East End Committee deserve thanks for the arrangements they had made, and for the kindly assistance given. The chairman (Mr Skoglund) and willing members of the School Committee, as well as others who assisted, worked hard to make tho picnic the success it was. The railway

arrangements wore excellent, and no mishap of any description is reported. The attendance at East End was not as large as expected, as a large number of the excursionists spent the day in town, some patronising the Garden Fete in aid of the British and Belgian Relief Fund, while others looking for exercise journeyed on to the Breakwater and climbed Paritutu. ami the green at Fitzroy was occupied by members of the bowling fraternity.