THE PICNIC AT MOTUROA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 223, 3 January 1911, Page 3

THE PICNIC AT MOTUROA

uUT FOR THE DAY. ; Ji v be impossib'e -to gu.uk the ■Hi. r. !: . at tin; Seaside Picnic at JuolUiv.i '.wteiday With even a. slight degree i.i accuracy. The beach for a long distance i:i dotted witll picnicker:*, the wharf was thronged with an interred and happy throng, and the hillsides—aye, even unto the summit of Paritv.tu contributed their quota. Ihey reached the rendezvous in defiance of all oiler; trains from 11 a.m. were loaded, and the 'busses and expresses did great "fiiz." Motor-cars whirled them in, aud cycle* made curious tracks upon the dusty, road in the interstices among the traffic; ponies capered with joy at their loads of laughing boys and pretty maidens; and jpedestriaiiß well, ithe) mostly went by the 'N'ade and made footprints on the sands. Fathers, husbands,- swains and other convenient males were really useful for the time being, in currying hampers and selecting sequestered nooks for the family luncheon. It was a foregone conclusion that when the hot tea and the milk and sugar had been procured from the committee's store, this part of the proceedings was an unqualified .success. How could it be otherwise under snch delightfully novel circumstances? The voungsters sported like true amphibians in the water, and all gave themselves up gieefuil v to the enjoyment of the day. The wind blew in fresh from the sea and "white horses" chased one another upon its surface. The Rarawa could not make her appointed trips, but only the wares were angry, renting their spite upon the Sugar Loaves and the shore. The gentle zephyrs carried dignity and the conventions over the lupins and far away, at least in the case of one dear old paterfamilias, who stripped and in his bathing costume made even the kiddies laugh at his antics in attempting to prevent them venturing anywhere except in less than six inches of'water. So time was beguiled pleasantly, and the Garrison Band gathered crowds at the foot of the wharf. His Worship the Mayor was I the shadow if not the substance of the children's benefactor, Santa Claus, and mana'_' 1 races and distributed sweetmeats 1 libitum. The committee, with their ' e 'ial secretary, Mr. A. L. Humphries. did all that lay in their power to give the youngsters a good time, and there is no doubt their efforts were crowned with success. As has been stated, circumstances over which there was no control prevented a royage in the Rarawa, but the disappointment was eranescent, except with the comfor this was practically their sole source of anticipated revenue. The 1911 picnic will be remembered by all as a splendid holiday, although during the morning the threatening rain-clouds and a few fitful showers made the holding of the affair a bit problematical, and possibly prcrented some folks from putting in an appearance.