STRATFORD SCHOOLS PICNIC.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 47, 14 February 1908, Page 3

STRATFORD SCHOOLS PICNIC.

About f, 10 thousand people from the Stratford district attended the aunu.il schools excursion yesterday. A special train left, Stratford about half-past 8 0 dock, ami made a fast run, arriving ill Ac-iv Plymouth at about a quarter tu IU. Several hundreds detrained at the station and came into town, but the great majority went on to the breakwater. -Vbout a couple of hundred came ill by the ordinary morning train, special permission having been obtained from the Minister 'to travel by this train. His Worship the Mayor had intended welcoming the visitor's at the station, but tlic train arrived earlier than he had been led to expect, and had left again for the breakwater when lie reached the depot. The detraiument ' was rapid. Hampers and baskets were tumbled out, but these were the concern of the elders. In a brief ten minutes the beach seemed alive with the figures 01 youngsters disporting themselves ill the waves, Bigger members o? the human species soon stripped shoes and stockings, and with skirts gathered high "paddled'' along the shore. Arrangements had been made bv the committee for a supply o£ hot water and milk, and the Harbor Board placed some of its buildings at tha disposal of visitors. Hundreds oi little parties were scattered about the beach and hillsides as lunch-time came round. From an early hour Mr. Newton King's oil launch Awikino ran freß_ trips about the bay, and shortly afterwards the Union Steam Ship Company's Takapuna cast off with about five hundred passengers for a few hours' cruise. The visitors were loud in their praises of Mr. King and of the Union Company thus displayed. The company's local agent and the harbormaster rendered valuable assistance. Apart from Nature's provision of sand and sea for enjoyment, there were several attractions on the beach, and the Boating Club's races" attracted some notice. Mr. J. W. Thomson had a refreshment booth en the beach. Hundreds of Neiv Plymouth people visited the port during the afternoon, and every vehicle was pressed into requisition to eonc with the traffic. Messrs. J. B. Connect ami N'. King, members of the Harbor Hoard, were amongst those present, the former having arranged for the harbor works stalf to make concrete blocks for the breakwater extension, 111 order to give the visitors an idea of the magnitude of the work. The influx of New Plymouth visitors was not an unmixed blessing, for "when tea-time came arou.xl too many of them made inroads 011 the hot water and milK supplies, on the misunderstanding that these were being provided by local people fo-;,.,ue use of visitors. Twenty-one carriages and vans fully laften with a cheering, laughing human freight left for Stratford shortly after 5 o'clock, after a most enjoyable day had been spent. The smoke" from the bush fires wtra an objctionable feature, lmt this had one good point, in tliat it tempered the rays of what would surely have sun.

A draught horse usually weigh* 11001b. A gallon of water weighs lOlli. The first cannon was invented in 1330.