SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 96, 30 January 1872, Page 3

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION.

ANNIVERSARY MEETING,

Yesterday the anniversary re-uni<sn of the Thames Sunday Schools took place. At an early hour of the morning troops of children might be seen wending their way towards their various schoolhouses, where they were mustered, each school by its own Superintendent, and were then marched in procession to the corner of Pollen and Grey-streets, opposite the Court-house, where they were all placed in order and sang very nicely and sweetly some hymns which they have been learning tor some time past. The following schools mustered, each headed by its banner : —The St. George’s Sunday School in three divisions—the Shorthand under Mr West, the -'superintendent, to the number of 250 pupils and 20 teachers ; Tararu, under Mr Taylor, superintendent, 50 pupils, and 3 teachers, and the Parawai branch under 4 of their teachers to the number of 38. Mrs Mackay was unfortunately absent in Auckland, so that she could not superintend this branch school, which is under her direction. The total for the Church of England was thus —27 teachers and 338 pupils. The Wesleyans mustered in great force, having 4 different schools present. The Graharnstown, under Superintendent Fletcher, 300 strong, with 30 teachers ; the Shorthand, under Superintendent Ashby, 250, with 24 teachers. The Eureka under Superintendent Melville, 60 strong, with 8 teachers ; and the Shellback, under Superintendent Campbell, to the number of 44 with 8 teachers. The total number of the four schools was thus 654 pupils, with 70 teachers, a very large number altogether for one Church to send in a community the size of ours. The whole of the schools are under the general superintendence of Captain Richards, who was present. The Presbyterians were in very good force, their two schools, from Shortland and Graharnstown, being united, arid numbering 350 pupils and 20 teachers, urider Superintendents McKee and Unthank. The Baptists also came out well, 100 pupils and 16 teachers, under Superintendent Rensbaw, being present. The Primitive Methodists, under Mr Wnr. Johnson, their superintendent, were 88 strong, with 16 teachers. The various ministers were of course present, and under their general supervision, assisted by the superintendents and teachers, the various amusements, feedings, &c., were carried out. It will not be out of place here to describe the various banners carried at the head of each school. The Church of England banner, which has been kindly manufactured and presented to the school by Mrs Joslin, was one of the prettiest at the procession ; it consists of a blue square in the centre, with a white border about six inches wide, and on the outside a nice deep red fringe. In the centre of the square was a white Norman shield with St. George’s Cross on it, and the words St. George’s Sunday School in large white letters above and below. Th» Wesleyans had four banners, those of the Shortland and Grahamstown schools being the same, red white and blue, with the words Grahamstown and Shortland Sunday School in large letters inscribed on them. The Eureka School banner was dark blue with a red border and the inscription in white letters, and looked very pretty. The Shellback banner was a very pretty one, red centre square with a white border and a blue one on the outside, the words being in white. The Presbyterians carried two large banners, the Shortland one being light blue, with the name in large white letters, and the Graharnstown white with a blue border and blue letters. The Primitive Methodist banner was red with with the name of the school on one side, and on the other the sentence, “ The Lord of Hosts is with us.” The Baptist banner was a very neat one, with one or two sentences inscribed, but we did not catch what they were. About 9.45 a.m., the procession moved from Butt’s corner on towards the Parawai old race-course, and very beautiful they looked as they wound in and out across the flats along the road, the children carrying large numbers of small flags, which they waved about, causing a very pleasing effect to the eye. They sang snatches of hymns as they marched along, and it was evident, from all appearances, that all were well prepared to thoroughly enjoy themselves. Arrived on the ground, which was reached in less than an hour, we found that a different spot had been set apart for each school, and they each had their separate sets of swings, &c. Tents were provided for holding the provisions, of which a large quantity had been required, and they were wanted, ns may bo imagined, for when we come to add up the totals of each school, we find that there were 1,530 scholars and 149 teachers present, or 1,679 persons altogether connected with the meeting. Games of all sorts were indulged in by the youngsters, led by their teachers and others. Cricket, football, foot races, rounders, French tig, kiss-in-the-ring, and singing, formed the principal amusements until about 11.30 a.m., when the youngsters were all seated round their various commissariat departments, and were served out with tea, cakes, buns, bread and butter, ad libitum. As soon as this very important part of the ceremony was over, the youngsters all set to again to amuse themselves with undiminished ardour, in spite of the heat, which was intense throughout the day, and the effects of which were very apparent on the countenances of nearly every one present. By this time, besides those immediately engaged in the gathering some 600 children and at least 1,000 oi 1,200 adults must have arrived on the ground. We noticed a great many parties picnicing in various spots around and further up the river, in fact wherever any shade was to be obtained it was fully occupied. Taking all the above into consideration there were about 3,500 persons present of all ages. This number is, we are confident, not exaggerated, mid when we come to think that by far the larger proportion of grown up people there were females, and this in a settlement only a little over four years old, we must naturally come to the conclusion that the population is a fixed and steady one, as with something about the same male population two years ago as we have now we had not one-tenth the number of women now here. The number of young ladies of marriageable age also struck us veij forcibly; and we fancy that our young men need not go away from the district to themselves in this respect. We only heard of one slight accident having occurred during the afternoon. A young lady fell from a swing on to the back ot her head, but as she was possessed of a good-sized chignon she was not veij severely hurt, and though she was nearly insensible for a time, nothing serious was the matter, as we afterwards saw her engaged in an exciting game of French tig, which she seemed to enjoy as if nothing had happened. About 4 p.m. another set to was made by the youngsters on the good things provided for them, and all

had as much as they could possibly manage to ear. The Volunteer Band who had kindly offered their services for the occasion, arrived on the ground shortly after 3 o’clock, and discoursed sweet music,which was evidently much relished if we are to judge by the numbers who crowded to their neighbourhood. By about half-past 5 p.m. preparations were begun for a retreat homewards, and everything was packed up, swings taken down, tents struck, &.c., a constant stream of people all the while leaving the ground, and still the diminution in numbers was not very noticeable. The children all mustered under their respective banners and marshalled by tlicir teachers, made a start headed by the Volunteer Band playing suitable airs for the children to march to. The Band played for them at intervals from the ground up to Mary-street, where they halted and broke off. The children marched to their respective schools, and having left their banners, returned to their homes well tired out and and well pleased with the day’s amusement so kindly prepared for them. W are very much pleased indeed to have to chronicle such a gathering as that wli'ch took place yesterday, and more pleased still to see the large numbers of people who showed their interest in the affair by turning out and taking part in it. The moral tendency of these gatherings cannot be too highly appreciated, as they serve to ccinent the bond of union which exists between the members of the different churches on the Thames, and exercise a most salutary influence over the minds of the young, and imbue them with ideas and influences which, in many cases, will remain with them through the whole of their after life, and which must necessarily effect a great deal of good. This is the largest gathering of the kind which we ever remember to have taken place in the province, as there were in all some 3,500 persons to take part in the Sundayschool Anniversary, a thing we should imagine that has never yet taken place amongst an entirely mining population. It will also serve to show the absolute necessity that exists for procuring a public recreation ground for the district, as though hitherto the same place as used yesterday has always been available for such things, it has now passed into private hands, and will very shortly be all fenced in, and, in consequence not open to the public. We would strongly urge on those in whose hands the matter rests ’(the Superintendent, we presume) to push the matter ahead vigorously, as it is now certain that something of the sort will have to be provided ere long, and the longer the matter is deferred the more costly and difficult it will be to arrange it. One thing seems now to be fixed, and that is, the Thames must have a recreation ground of some sort, no matter what it may cost, and as we have already observed, the longer the delay the more the cost. We have omitted to mention that several boats were kindly put at the service of the different schools for the children to use as long as the water in the creek served, which unfortunately was not long. The ’bus proprietors must have reaped a good benefit from the very large numbers of people they conveyed to and fro from the scene of action. In conclusion we would say that the anniveisary re-union was a complete and unqualified success, and those in whose hands the management of its affairs was vested deserve the greatest credit for the way everything was carried out.