SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION PICNIC.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 335, 4 March 1874, Page 2

SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION PICNIC.

A. picnic in connection with all the Sunday schools of the district was started last year as an annual fete. It was at that time wisely decided that the religious or denominational element should' not on any account whatever be introduced. It was assumed that every child attended some Sunday school, and the Union was therefore called the Sunday School Union. The second gathering took place on Monday last. The previous Saturday was the day originally fixed upon, but the wet and stormy weather of the two previous days induced the Committee to postpone the holiday until Monday. Their choice was a fortunate one, as the weather was everything that could be desired. About eleven o'clock thd children 290 strong wentin theLawrenceGrammar School, when, after singing a few of their school songs, they were ranged in the order of procession, and. accompanied by their teachers, marched xia. Boss Place- and Peel-streefc to the scene of action. Oa their arrival at the ground their numbers rapidly augmented from "Wetherstones, Evans Fiat, Blue Spurj and surrounding districts, until thero must have been upwards of 400 school children assembled on the ground. To cater for such a large number was na mean task, but those who had the management of the commissariat department Avere equal to it, and ah far as possible t&e wants theHttte of ones word amply supplied. Early in the day visitors began to arrive, and continued coming all the afternoon, thus showing the general interest taken in the children's gala day. Several substantial swings were erected on the ground, and were kept continually going the whole of the day, whilst other outdoor games wdrt also largely patronised, The generally ex-

pressed want was a band of music, which would have gone far to enliven the proceedings. At half-past five the children weW reformed into procession for the homward march, and the schoolhouse was reached about ■iz o'clock, allowing ample time for the young ones to reach their homes before dark. "Several gentlemen kindly lent vehicles to convey children residing at a distance to and from lheir_ homes, which was a great boon, the running about on the ground being '■quite sufficient to tiite them* The Committee de•erve the thanks of "_the_ community for their excellent arrangements in carrying out the picnic so successfully. Not a hitch occurred to mar the day's enjoyment. General astonishment was eibressfed at the number of people assembled. Such a gathering for a similar purpose had never before been seen in Lawrence, the crowds of visitors testifying by their presence the interest taken in the proceedings. We therefore expect to see the annual picnic become a more general holiday than it has hitherto been.