ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2596, 19 December 1893, Page 3

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Wesleyan,

GERALDINE

At Geraldine, yesterday was observed as the Anniversary holiday, owing to Saturday being the busy day of the week for shopkeepers and shoppers. The day was held as a close holiday, and the weather was perfect for every kind of pleasure seekers.

PICNICS. About nine o’clock in the forenoon, Mr R. Morrison's Sunday School left in several conveyances for Pleasant Valley for their annual picnic. At 9.30 o’clock the Presbyterian Sunday School children passed through the town —a large gathering, with flags flying—on their way to Waihi Gorge for their annual treat. Mr J. Mundell’s big picnic drag full, came first; then followed Miss Button with another drag, kindly lent by her for the occasion ; Mr Chas. Grove’s new spri g van; and, following up, 13 private traps and buggies. At Geraldine, the Salvation Army held a field day in the Domain, at which there was a large gathering, and all present seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Altogether the day was a pleasant opening for the holiday season. Picnic parties from Timaru and elsewhere drove into Geraldine and spent an enjoyable day in the bush.

TEMUKA. Anniversary day was celebrated yesterday in place of Saturday, and, apart from business relations, people are to be congratulated upon the fact that the weather improved wonderfully, and nobody could wish for a more enjoyable day for outdoor pursuits. All the business places in Temuka were closed, and the township was practically deserted. A number of residents interested in sport proceeded to Timaru to witness the Bicycle Races. Others visited the Milford lagoon and the various streams about Temuka, in order to let the finny denizens thereof know that Anniversary Day did not extend itself to them. The majority, however, attended the several Sunday School “treats,” the preparations for which caused the township to be astir very early in the morning.

SUNDAY SCHOOL PICNICS. Sx. Saviour’s, The annual treat in connection with St. Saviour’s Sunday School, Temuka, took place on Saturday, the 16th. A start was made at about half-past nine, in vehicles kindly lent by Messrs Aspinall & Co., Benbow, Walker, and Davis. On arriving at the Bluegums,” Winchester (placed at their disposal by the kind permission of Mr Deßenzy), some of the teachers quickly busied themselves to amuse the children, while others looked after the provision department. Lunch was served out at about 12 o’clock, 170 children sitting down to it, whilst the teachers and friends numbered 30, During the afternoon rounders, swinging, racing, etc., were indulged in, tea being served at 4 o’clock. Fully 50 more parents and friends had arrived by that time. After tea hearty cheers were given for the Revs. Gillam and Butterfield, Mr Deßenzy, the superintendent and teachers, owners and drivers of the vehicles, and all others who had assisted with money and provisions. The weather during the day was all that could be desired, and all seemed to enjoy themselves.- Temuka was reached at about half-past six, when the children dispersed, apparently well pleased with the day’s outing.

Presbyterian. A combined picnic of the Temuka and Milford Presbyterian Sunday Schools was held at the Geraldine Bush yesterday. The weather, it is needless to say, was delightful. The children and a large number of the parents and friends assembled at the church at 8 o’clock, and the picnic was lively as well as picturesque, as they all got into the conveyances ready to take them to their destination. Messrs Aspinall & Go’s mill waggon, and several others besides buggies, were soon loaded, and a start was made at 8,30 a.m. About two hours later they reached the Geraldine Bush, and were in a few minutes joined by the Milford contingents. All kinds of juvenile games were indulged in while some of the adults prepared a very substantial repast, which was ready and partaken of at 12 o’clock. After this some went rambling through the bush, while others played rounders, cricket, etc., and a most enjoyable afternoon was spent till about 4 o’clock, when the second meal was discussed, and shortly afterwards a start was made for home, arriving in Temuka about T p.m. The supertendent and teachers wished to thank Messrs Aspinall & Go. for having given their waggon and also all others who had so liberally contributed to the fete.

Primitive Methodist. The annual picnic in connection with the above was held yesterday in the Victoria Park, close to the park cottage. The children reached the church about 10 o’clock, and were then conducted by the superintendent and teachers to the park. Here the games at once began, and everybody soon appeared to be enjoying themselves. About 12 o’clock they had dinner, to which they did ample justice, their appetites having been sharpened by lively exercise. - After dinner many of the parents aud adult friends joined, and, together with the children, enjoyed the games. Tea was taken about 5, for which they were quite ready. The picnic ended with hearty votes of thanks to the teachers for their kindness, especially Mr R. Metson, the superintendent, at whose house the things were prepared. All went home feeling much better for a good day’s outing.

The annual fete in connection with the Temuka Wesleyan Church was held yesterday in a paddock belonging to Mr J. Lewis, on the Geraldine Road. The children, with their parents, teachers, and friends, assembled at the Church, at about 9 a.m., and were driven in a variety of vehicles to the appointed place, where games of all kinds were immediately started, and kept up spiritedly till about 1 o’clock, when a very substantial meal served out. Games agv.in wepe the order q| the day tyitil about 5 when tea, sandwiches and pake were again partaken pf and dope full justice to. Notwithstanding that the eports all through th§ day fiad fieen attended difigeiigy, tfipeg ppgsgnt did net *s39in to tire'of them, foe stewed u —j were re- - on and kept up until after seven o’clock. The invitation given to parents and friends to attend the picnic was readily availed of and the attendance was large. Shortly after 7 a start was made for home, and the church was again ra tched about 8, every one present at the p cnic having spent a very enjoyable day. •I-/might Vie mentioned that in order that t ie provisions might be fresh the teachers were at work before 5 o’clock a.m. cutting Up sandwiches etc.

ENTERTAINMENT. St. Joseph’s School,

The annual entertainment by the pupils of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Tetnuka, was held in the Volunteer Hall, last evening, and proved an unqualified success. The attendance, as usual, was very and the hearty manner in which the children were applauded for the various items showed tuat the people were fully satisfied with the endeavours of the youchful performers. The long programme was gone through without a hitch, and no doubt the creditable manner in which the children acquitted themselves was a source of much satisfaction to their teachers, whose painstaking efforts are worthy of the greatest praise. A detailed report will appear in our next issue.

CYCLING,

The Championship Meeting under the auspices of the Tourists’ Club commenced at Timaru on Saturday last. There was only one event contested on Saturday, the Twenty-Five Mile Championship. The weather was fine and the attendance very good. There were eleven starters, nine of whom rode the distance. During the whole race the riders were within a fifty-yard limit.

Twenty - Five Mile New Zealand Championship. First prize, gold medal; second, silver medal; third, bronze medal. (New Zealand record, 1 hour 15min 0 2/sth sec. T. C. M. Rallinshaw (P.B.C) 1 W. J. S. Hayward (P.8.C.) 2 C. H. Jones (P.8.C.) 3 Other starters—C. E. Hall (T.0.C.), W. Morgan (T.C.0.), A. Donn (T.C.C.), H. J. Pither (P.8.C.), C. Blackburn (T.C.C.), J. Whelan (T.0.C.), R. Crow (D. 0.0.), B. R. Godward (0.C.C.). Following are a few details : Donn got away with the lead. At the mile distance Hall was leading, time 2min 43 2/ssec; two miles, Hayward leading, smin 24sec; three miles, Bmin 13 3/ssec, Crow leading ; ten miles, 28miu 19 4/ssec, Hall leading; 11 miles, 30min Ifisec, Hall leading; 12 miles, 33miu 20 4/5 sec, Goodward leading; 13 miles, 36min 21sec; 14 miles, 39min 10 2/5 sec, Hall leading; 15 miles, 42min 3/ssec, Pither leading; 17 nrles, 48min 2 2/ssec, Whelan leading ; 20 miles, 56min 41 2/ssec, Whelan leading; 22 miles, 62min 52 l/ssec, Crow leading; 24 miles, 69min 8 2/ssec, Hall leading; 25 miles, Ihr 12min 55 l/ssec, result as above. Only half a well separated the first and second men. The time put up was a record, the race being a remarkably good one throughout. Hall secured a special prize of £2 2s for passing the post first the greatest number of times during the race, 36 times. Crow was next with 24 times.

Yesterday the sports were continued, the weather being splendid, and the attendance about 1200 or 1500. The following are the results : Mile Novice, £2 trophy Morgan (T.0.C.) Half Mile—J. Lack (T.C.C.) Three Mile Roadster—J. Lack (400yds .1 Three Mile First Class Handicap—C. Hall (T.C.C.), 80yds, 1. 200yds Flat Race—J. Philp (20yds) 1. Ladies’ Bracelet, Trophy value £4, \\ miles—J. Henry (G.C.C.) 290yds 1, J. A. Daly (A.C.C.) 240yds 2, Morgan (T.0.C.) 250yds 3. Two Mile Roadster—J. Ritchie (P.C.C.) 70yds 1, W. Oliver (T.0.C.) 280yds 2, J. Lack (T.C.C.) 270yds 3. One Mile Championship W. J. S. Hayward (P.C.C.) 1. Five Mile Handicap—C. H. Jones (P.C.C.) 220yds 1, O. E. T. Hall (T.C.C.) 75yds 2, Alex. Donn (T.C.C.) 100yds 3. Consolation, 1 mile—Blake (T.0.C.) 1, Carrie (T.C.C.) 2. In the Half Mile event Rallinshaw ran into the ropes and sustained a nasty fall. Both himself and his machine were much injured, and he did not ride again during the day.

At the Friendly Societies’ Sports at Ashburton yesterday, J. Findlay (of Temuka) won the Mile Handicap and was third in the Five-Mile event. T. B. Brosnahan won the 100 Yards Flat, and was second in the Ashburton Handicap,

A Melbourne cable message says the 25-mile bicycle road race was won by Patterson, of Victoria. A. J. Body, of Christchurch, though unplaced, made the fastest time, namely, 1 hour 21 min 67sec.