At the Seaside

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 269, 14 April 1914, Page 6

At the Seaside

PICNICS AT EAST AND WEST ENDS. BIG CROWDS PEES EXT. Tlie perfect weather which prevailed yesterdiy tempted many people from town and country to patronise the two beach picnics, and special trains, motor cars, 'buses, bicycles and traps Hooded the beaches with seasiders.

THE WEST END. The West End Foreshore Improvement Society's beautiful reserve, Kawaroa Park, presented an animated appearance, and resounded to the laughter and shouts of happy children and not less happy if noisy adults. The pleasant shades with which the reserve abounds were dotted about with family picnic parties, the swing-boats agitated scores of clamorous youngsters, some paddled, some built the sand-castlcs dear to youth, and all most heartily enjoyed themselves. Paterfamilias, too, forgot the cares of business, and incidentally some of its shrewdness, for he fell an easy victim to a vociferous advocate of the joys of 'hoop-la" and "ringulet" at sixpence a time, and entered in innumerable guessing competitions at the solicitations of sundry smiling young ladies. The pretty little pavilion was filled with patrons at afternoon-tea time, and several stalls did a good trade in fruit, soft drinks, and similar seaside specifics. The committeemen were indefatigable in tlieir e/forts to keep things moving. Races and games for the children, a tug-of-war, and kindred sports provided amusement for competitors and spectators alike.

The weight of a somewhat resignedlooking sheep was the subject of manyprofitable guesses. Those who felt energetic shared in the merriment. Those who did not, found merriment in watching it, and all enjoyed themselves, each in his own way. Excellent music was supplied by Mrs. Wood and Mr. Van Heck.

Kawaroa Park is rapidly growing in popularity, and as it is in the hands of a live committee, it will doubtless continue to do so. The committee has in view the probable erection of a groyne, in order to form a stretch of sandy beach, which is at present the only thingj which the reserve can be said to lack.

♦ . THE EVENTS. The following are the results of some of the numerous events:—

Stepping the chain —Mrs. J. George and G. Waters. Girls' Potato Race—Violet Hurle 1, Eileen Lowe 2, Emily Ilopkinson o. Girls' Race, 15 years to 17 yearsMabel Francis 1, J. Cummins 2. Girls' Walking Race, (i to 8 yearsRuby Aitken I, lona Cornwall 2,' v. ,)IePherson 3. Boys' Pick-a-back Race—Drinkwater and Maekay 1, Howell Bros. 2. Boys' Cock-light—Stolir and Drinkwater 1.

Boys' Three-legged Race—Putt and Reid 1, Howell and Inch 2, JleMahon Bros. 3. I

Boys' Wheelbarrow Race—L. Arrowsmith and N. Sharroek 1, Wooller and Drinkwater 2. Girls' Race, 10 to 12—Winnie Walters 1, Rose Davis '2. Boys' Race, 10 to 12— S. Drinkwater 1, A. Harre 2, F. Lepine 3. Girls' Race, Bto 10— E. Myrle 1, N. Beale 2.

Boys' Hopping Race—R. Lindstrow 1> A. H. Ward 2, R. Downs 3. Roys' Hopping Race, Bto 10— J. .MeMahon 1, G. Drinkwater 2. ■ Boys' Race, 4to «—E. Connett 1, K. Rampton 2. Girls' Race, 4 to fl—Alma Bcale 1, P. Berridge 2. Grirls' Race, open—Mill y Francis 1. Gladys •Schelling' 2. trirls' Race, 12 to 14—M. Everett 1, 0. Parrott 2. Boys' Wrestling Champion^iip—H. Boys' Wrestling 10 to 12—A: Harre 1. r'. Cummins 2, R. Lindstrum 3. Boys' 'i'ug-ofwar—K. Ward's team 1. Boys' lag Race, 50yds—Leoil \V;i v 1, Ron Yates 2. Boys' Potato Race—S. Ward 1. Girls' Race, 10 to 12—uladvs Scherney 1, Malic] Francis 2. uirls' Race, Sto I<>—L. Francis 1, L. Everest 2, M. Everest 3.

GUESSING COJIPETITIONS. Humber of Watcli —A. Harding TOIKi, actual number 1111. Bean Guessing Competition—Miss A. lirokenshire 527, actual numlxu- 551. Doll's Name ('"Jean") —Mrs. Mander. We'.glit of Cake—Mrs. J. Pickerel], Morrison and W. Newman, 3ibs. 14'/,0/.., dead heat; actual weight, 3ibs. ljoz-~ Weight of Pumpkin—jonnson, ] Slackburn and Crombie (tie); actual weight, lOVjlbs.

Weight of Sheep—H. E. iiill and Miss I. Reid (tie), 7(ilbs.; actual weight, 70 ' 41bs - ' .-i.i.V.3^l:

AT THE EAST END. There is no doubt about the popularity of the East End bathing reserve. At the Easter picnic yesterday the beach was alive with young and old, the paths were a stream of people, and in the shade of the pine trees were innumerable picnic parties—family baskets, capacious teapots, sand, sandwiches and merriment.

Every corner of the reserve had some attraction. Oil the beach there were the joys of paddling, sand-wallowing, swimming, and, last but far from least, the donkeys; on the river, quite a fine stretch of water now, were boating and swim 111 in« races; outside the pavilion a large crowd gathered to watch the ttig-of-war, and, lingering, were lost to the 'rmgulet" fiend, or ensnared liv the canvassers for tile dolls' house competition. Among the trees tile "ocean wave" held sway, despite its rather startling resemblance to a bad passage on tb<> TCa- ' rawa.

The indefatigable "Paddy"" a-nl his megaphone were heard and'seen to advantage, and followed by admirin" .youngsters. In the surf, swimmers of both sexes shrieked and .splashed. On the sail Is they lounged in lazv hmiry Ifcre and there knots of spectators

gathered round the ;>f.lr.-n-Lion, be it the life-saving deiiirnstrations, child-1 ren's races, swimming ■"nils, ur an obj stinate donkey with loadi-d ;tnil vocifer-jj Oils panniers." Staid who had; never relaxed since their !■ .vh.iod days,' succumbed to the s-piril, of f"h,. day and incontinently paddlid. Mnlhers andg sisters boiled the hill,- in i!.,> <!u(lc, and? brothers and some oilier fei':>,vi' sisters! made the most of flii-ir opportunity. Everyone forgot that work and worry existed, and lalighed at the tea whicit was smoked or the i...ke besprinkled with sand, with the best of good humor. The XI. Regiment !i uicl, under Bandmaster Cummins, added additional pleasure to the outing. A social and dance in t|ie pavilion brought an enjoyable day's outing to a merry ending. Tlie committee is to be congratulated on its reserve and its success. TUG-OF-WAR. !..ere were eight 'entries for the Tug-ot-war for a lirst prize of £lo and a second of £5, which was won by the I'itzroy team, with New Plymouth Fire Brigade second. Following are the details of the puHs:--Fir.st round—Fitzroy (Cutten, K„ Tanner, W. Sturmey, Harjcnett and I. ( olson) heat the native team (NeriPonga, Tannui, Morere, Clare and Tiaki-amaru in 2min. 54 sec. Urenui {Pukere, Phillips, Anderson, Koumati and Huff) beat E. nine's team Howell, Jiendall, Kay ana (rraliam in . the lull 7 minutes. Fire Brigade ' (Doughty,_ Prior, Knowles, Allen, Berry j and OJrien) beat East Bnd (Kurta, Smith, Stroud, Milne and Wroblenski) in full time. Ilawera (Harris, Blue, Carr, Muihinniek and Healy) ueat Wallabies (Francis, Harvey, Salstrury, Ivibby and Allen), in full time.

Second Round—Fitzroy beat Urenui, and Fire Brigade beat Hawera. mal—Fitzroy ueat Fire Brigade after a good pull, which lasted the full seven minutes.

_Mr. li. Whittle acted as judge, Mr. W. Lints as timekeeper, and Messrs. J. li. Hill and G. A. Colson as stewards. OTHER EVENTS. The chain stepping' wsw won by J. liorne, out l of 48 entries. The '.shimming races were abandoned, as the water grew too cold as the evening came on.