SCHOOL PICNICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 189, 30 December 1912, Page 6

SCHOOL PICNICS.

OKAU AND MOUNT MESSENGER, y On the Friday before Christmas the |] Okau and Mt. Messenger Schools lield : their annual breaking-up picnics. The ji Okau picnic was held in the pretty lit- {' tie school grounds on the Okau Road,. ' where a large crowd assembled, some I coming from a considerable distance. The . teacher, Mr. Pennington, and Messrs. Foreman (chairman), Earnshaw, Schraid, J D. Cannell, T. Astwood and others as . well as Mesdames Foreman, Bower, Shaw, Cannell, .Schmid and others all worked hard towards the general enjoyment, ami it is quite certain that all present had a happy time. The commissariat department was in great demand, j and proved equal to the strain, provisions being catered for by Mr. L. Jacobs, of Mokau. Games and races made the time pass pleasantly. All the children were made happy with prizes. Mr. Geo. Tweedie's special prize for punctuality, regularity and cleanliness were awarded to J. Cannell and Ivy Schmidt, the ? sewing prize going to E. Cannell. The' races were very interesting. Mr. Fred Sullivan and Mrs. Fred Chapman each annexed a married ladies' race and Miss Schmid the single ladies' event. The usual dance in the evening was well attended. Misses Rattenburv and Chapman (piano) and Mr. Schmid accordion, provided the music. During the evening Mr. Stratton sang several songs. Mr. Pennington as M.C. kept things moving.

The Mt. Messenger School picnic was held in a charming piece of bush on Mr. A. E. Sutton's property. Every child was made happy with a prize, consisting I of a book and a bag of lollies. A strong committee of ladies and gentlemen devoted themselves to looking after the children, who thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and so, too, did most of the older ones. The ladies' race was won by Mrs. Fraser (senior), Mrs. Brough second, and the married men's by Mr. A. E. Sutton. Mr. D. Brough being runner-up. During the day Mr. Sutton, on behalf of the children, presented the teacher (Jfrs. Pearson with a leather writing-ASiSe aa a mark of appre-.mion of her year's work.