WINCHESTER SCHOOL JUBILEE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1590, 4 June 1887, Page 3

WINCHESTER SCHOOL JUBILEE.

The people of Winchester have taken time by the forelock in celebrating the Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. About three weeks ago Mr Thomas Corcoran brought the matter up at the School Committee meeting, and on his motion it was decided to hold a “Jubilee” school treat for the children. Collectors were at once appointed, and about £ls was raised in subscriptions, Mr Corcoran himself collecting over £lO of it. So as not to clash with the Temuka celebration it was decided to hold the treat yesterday, and accordingly at about 12 o’clock the children assembled on the school grounds, and all kinds of juvenile sports commenced. Mr Northam deserves special mention for the part he took in carrying out the sports. He spent most of the previous day preparing the ground and making other minor arrangements, and when the sports commenced everything was in readiness. The Chairman of the School Committee (Mr A. W. Ena or), Mr Corcoran, Mr Northam, and the otter members of tjje Copjmijitee, fisted by t)ae Master, Mr J. L. Cooke, and Mr John

Lawson, of Temuka, were most indefatigable in tbeir efforts to make everything bright and pleasant for the youngsters, and their labors were crowned with success. Mrs Ensor also t( ok great interest in the sports of the little girls, and got up several races for them, and provided special prizes independent of those given by the Jubilee Committee. Some of the races were well contested, and great amusement was created by the obstacle races, in which the competitors had to crawl through barrels and get over other difficulties. The sports continued up to 3.30, when they gave place to a scratch football match, which for a time was played vigorously. During the whole afternoon refreshments were to be bad by both young and old in the schoolroom, and MesdameSEnsor, Cooke and Corcoran, and Misses Manse’ , Bishop (2), and Bennett were untiring in their efforts to supply the wants of all in this department. Mies Bennett, the Mistress of the school, deserves special praise for the way she worked to minister to the comfort and pleasure of the children. There was a large attendance, and everything went as merry as marriage bells till about 4.30, when the bell rang, and all the children assembled in the schoolroom, where, after having been seated, they sang “ God Save the Queen ” exceedingly well. The Chairman of the School Committee then addressed the children, and said they were celebrating a very exceptional event, the Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. Fifty years she had reigned, and it was a reign of peace and prosperity. When he was a boy he remembered that people then slept with a pistol under their heads, and they did not know the day on which a hostile army would attack them. The Queen was crowned at the age of 17 years, and ever since she had led a blameless life, and no one ever said anything against her. He would now call upon them to give three cheers for Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. The request was most heartily complied with, after which the prizes were given out, and all were again regaled with tea and cake.

The prize list will appear in our next.