PARISH FESTIVAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1294, 24 January 1885, Page 3

PARISH FESTIVAL.

The annual parish festival and Sunday School treat in connection with St. Mary’s Church, Geraldine, was held in the Domain on Thursday. The weather was so bad on Wednesday that it was thought the gathering would have to be postponed, or held at a great disadvantage, but on Wednesday night about 10 o’clock the clouds cleared away, and Thursday broke a bright summer day. The sun, aided by a good breeze, quickly dried the grass, and the weather kept during the day as pleasant as could be wished. Not a great many people came from a distance, perhaps few caring to put confidence in the fineness of the day owing to the sudden changes that have been continuously taking place in the weather during this season. The attendance of children was large, about 500 sitting down to tea. The tea was served out to the children about 3 o’clock, and when their appetites had been appeased, races for toys, etc., were got up for them, under the management of Mr Hughes. Several games were got up by the young people to pass, away the time, and cricket was also freely indulged in by young men. A refreshment tent was on the ground, the tables beingunder the superintendence of Mesdnmes Fish, Foster, Totton, Hawke and Pearpoint, assisted by several young ladies. The taking at the tables amounted to a considerable sum, any surplus from which, after paying expenses, will go to the Sunday School fund. The refreshments for the adults and also for the children ware supplied by Messrs Williams and Son, and were of first-class quality. The gathering on the whole was considered as successful os' any former one, and bad the weather up t« the day been more favorable there would doubtless have been a much larger attendance. All seemed to enjoy themselves, and many did not leave the ground till dark. A word of praise is due to the Incumbent, the Rev. Jas. Preston, and to Mrs Preston for the manner in which they worked to make the gathering as successful as possible. '