ANNUAL PICNIC ON NEW YEAR'S DAY

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 337, 26 January 1889, Page 5

ANNUAL PICNIC ON NEW YEAR'S DAY

for some years in Whangaboau Harbour. This year it was rosolvecl Co have it on the reserve neat the Maori hall, and wind up with a dance there in the evening. The day was magnificent, and the gathering of the old and new settlers large, not less than 200 people, including children. It was a regular gala day for the neighbourhood, and evorybody seemed bent on making the day a thorough holiday. Sports on a small scale, racing, boating, cricket. The dance was kept till the small hours of the morning by the young people. One of the novelties of the day was Mr Septimus Meiklejohn bringing his lamily in a spring cart, the first wheeled vehicle that has appeared on tho new road. The settlers most indignantly lesent the opprobrious tonna which have been applied to them by some M.H.K's and others as paupers, and spoon-fed by Government. The village settlement scheme was piopounded by the government, and generally approved by the community. They, the settlers, accepted the terms, and are cairying out their pait of the agreement. They are doing their best to fulfil their part in trying to be useful citizens of the Commonwealth instead of remaining amongst the ranks of the unemployed in the towns and a burden to society. hy then should such terms be applied to them ? It quite possible that some of their Iraducera have been much greater spongers on the Government thau any village settler.