Anniversary Day.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3462, 29 January 1880, Page 2

Anniversary Day.

The Sunday School Festival.

To-day, the 38l® anniversary of the province of Auckland and of the colony, has been observed as a day of recreation by the holiday making population of the Thames. The banks and places of busi--1 ness were closed, and during the early part of the day the streets had quite a Sunday appearance; flocks of neatly attired children might have been seen hurrying to the Sunday Schools, this being the day of the great Sunday School Festival, so eagerly looked forward to by our little ones. Daring the past two or three years they have been sorely tried, —the weather on the great day proving unpropitious, but the cloudless sky and cool breeze to-day made up for all former disappointments. With the exception of the St. George's and Tararu Eoad Sunday schools, the scholars connected with the , Sunday School Union rendezvoused at Shortland to the number of about 1500, and with banners and flags flying and a band at the head of the procession, the main band of children inarched off' to Parawai Gardens, where they enjoyed themselves in orthodox fashion, being regaled at intervals with cake, buns and other good things. We must not forget to mention that amongst the children on the ground was the Sunday School conducted at tlie Orphanage, the ladies and gentlemen of the Orphanage Committee having kindly provided a treat for them. The children returned late in the afternoon, looking somewhat tired, but had evidently enjoyed themselves heartily. The St. George's Sunday School, to the number of about 400, proceeded to Tararu gardens, tlie younger children being conveyed by the Grahamstown and Tararu tramway. Jhe children enjoyed themselves in a similar manner to those at Parawai,