WATERSIDERS AT PLAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 872, 16 January 1930, Page 7

WATERSIDERS AT PLAY

PICNIC AT MOTUIHI ISLAND Motuihi Island presented an animated scene yesterday, when 2,000 Auckland waterside workers and their families revelled in sports and games at the annual picnic. Tho picknickers were transported by the Northern Steamship Company’s steamer Rangitoto, which had a full complement of passengers when she left the city in the morning. Fine weather during the morning was succeeded by heavy showers in the afternoon, but the full programme of sports and games was carried out under the energetic direction of Messrs. C. Wheeler (secretary) and W. Weston, W. Pauling, C. Morris, G. Clark, G. Harvey, S. Jacobs, G. Gardiner, and T. Solomon. The proceedings were also enlivened by selections by the Waterside Workers’ Band. On boarding the steamer, each child received a half-pound bag of lollies, and at Motuihi the children received a further treat of ice-cream through the generosity of several city merchants and firms, Keen competitive interest was displayed in the children’s recitation of a poem written by a Westport watersider, known as “The Mixer,” for which the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union offered a prize of £l. The second prize consisted of a book. Tlie prizes for Auckland W'ere awarded to Miss Eulalie Purdon, 1, and Miss Elva Noakes, 2. The general recitation resulted: Elsie Thomas, 1; Lorelle Purdon. 2 ; Verna Purdon, 3; Edna Swanson, 4. There were 35 entries. Sports results are as under: Waterside workers’ maiden race: F. , Workers’ sons’ race: F. Joy. Workers handicap SUBall. Workers, over 40: A. Nelson. McKendrick handicap, for married waterside workers: S. Ball. Workers' daughters’ race: Jean Armour. Workers wives’ race: V. Story. Bandsmens race: A. Mailman. Open race: S. Ball. Thread-needle race: Gay Lyons. Women’s nail-driving competition: V. Bickerton. Workers’ wives’ race, over 40: V* Ward. Three-legged race, under 15: J. King and I. King. Women’s open race: Miss Nelson. Boys’ and girls’ sack race: A. Keith. Stepping the chain, women: Mrs. A. Edwards. Women’s egg-and-spoon race: Mrs. H. Smith. Boys’ race, 8 to 10 years: H. Phillips. Girls’ race, 8 to 10 years: G. Lowrie. Girls’ skipping race: M. Rafferty. The prize for the largest family present at the picnic was won by Mrs. Horned, who attended with six children, the youngest being a baby 16 days old. Mrs. Horned was presented with a, prize of 10s and a shoulder of bacon. Cheers were given by the picnickers for Llie captain and crew of the Rangitoto, and for Waterside Union officials, when the vessel berthed on her return last evening.