Recent Druids’ Picnic at Te Aroha.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4343, 1 December 1908, Page 2

Recent Druids’ Picnic at Te Aroha.

Past Akcu,” in the course of a descriptive account in the “ Goldfields’ 1 Advocate,” of the recent combined excursion to Te Aroha, thus refers to oui popular township, and its famous bath.and mineral drinking waters : “ When we reached our destination and the train began to unload its numerous passengers a better estimste of tin number could be formed, and it is safe ti say that no less than 1,500 had taken advantage of the excursion in anticipatiou of a good day’s outing, and from obervations made, very few, if any, returned home without those wishes becoming fully realised. The Waikino Band which bad been engaged for the purpose, led the procession through the well-appointed and scrupulously clean streets, discoursing martial strains to the rymthic tramp of the fraternal brotherhood in the tear who were decked with becoming pomp in all the regalia pertaining to the mysterious degrees of their offices Arrived at the Domain, shady spots were at once sought by innumerable small parties, extending all over the gardens, and immediately the ladies produced from hidden sources no end of appetising morsels in the shape of dainty rolls of confectionary, fruit, etc., which when spread out on snow-white table cloths, presented a spectacle wai ranted to gladden the heart and satisfy the hunger of the most ravenous of mortals. Meanwhile the males were despatched for hot water, which provision had been most thoughtfully bargained for by the committee, and soon all hands were busily engaged in satisfying the cravings of the inner man. After this very cs-ential part of the proceedings had been accomplished, the minds of the excursionists became alert to the beautiful surroundings and due admiration was expressed of the many improvements which have lately been made by the hand of man to the already bounteous gifts that nature had provided, and which at this time of the year can be seen to its fullest advantage. 1 We are indeed fortunate to have such a beauty spot so adjacent, where we can in a fraction of time be lifted out of our ordinary dull routine environment into as it were a glimpse of bsai’on. Veering the afternoon rates, unde- tie management of a special committee, were held for the children, a- d toys and books, etc., were dispensed to the winners. It was a noticeable fact that while the parents were greatly in evidence at this part of the programme, the youths and maidens were conspicuous by their absence they preferring the shady nooks, in which l'e Aroha abounds, and to get as far as possible “ away fr.an the maddening crowd.” I wonder why