RAILWAY EMPLOYEES' PICNIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 998, 13 February 1882, Page 2

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES' PICNIC.

The third anqual picnic of the Wellington and Mnstertnn railway employees was at Crop's (Jrepk, ot) Saturday last, and was undoubtedly the most sue- '■ ceasful out-door gathering that has as yet 1 been held' within the borders of the \ Wairaraoa. No less than two thousand persons were present at this monster 1 meeting—where they all came from was ' «mystery, and how they nil got there wbb 1 almost a miracle, but there was no mis--1 Uke as to their numbers, the special train from Wellington bringing twelve hundred 1 and the Wairarapa special about five hundred, to say nothing ofthe; ordinary trains which contributed their quotas to the concourse; The site chosen for the' gathering was one of the most picturesque spots io the Wairarapa, arid is situated ' hiilf way between pigwri sus|) and Cross' Creek, The Committee were indebted to Mr Lot Cross fur the use of this secluded ! and rnmantio retreat, whioh combines , almost every beauty oonceivable, not only in landscape, hut as Artemus Ward has it in " waterscape" also. At this point a pleasant grassy slope extends from the shore of the Wairarapa Lake, to the feet , nf two Titan hills, which stand as the advanco guards of the Kimulata ranges. The background is a dense mass of dark greet) which js relieved by the , lighter : i infs of thd grass and scfub qn tjje two sentinels. Here and {there a'bouc the sjrnsßy sward are clumps and. clusters of . trees, on which scores of private picnics were improvised. There is a clear stream of spring water hard by, and beyond it an endless supply of ferns and mosses for those who took a'plpasiipe' it) bbtapjsing, We ascended the latter of the two watchtower hills which mark the spot, and had the pleasure of a more''extended view from it tjian nijr J999 picnic companions, could obtain from lower levels. From, its sumtnit a very pretty panorama was presented. To the North and Weal loomed the dark green spurs of the mountain range, but "eastward, oh I" bathed \n sunlight, lay the broad Uyiirarapa plains The white houses of Qreytqwn 'arid'.Feathenton were very distinct, Carterton was hidden by intervening bush, and Masterton was too remote for our vision. We poujd only trace tlje online of the familiar hills njpyond It. The view to the South was tlje cwm of thp picture, for there lay ■ the Wairarapa Lake, and' the eye could trace the margin of its further shore till it reached the sand hills at its < ninqtti, and beyond them the broad expanse of thV blue' waters of Palliser 'flay, Tl)b--oommittee which selected this spot fqr a picnic knew what they were about, and if they go back te it again next year, we - recommend those who can endure a moderate amotjnt of physical fatigue, tq climb the mountain. It was after uqon before the Wellington train reached the Bcene with its string of twenty-five oaroiages, the' Wairarapa train having delivered its contingent nearly two hours before. Jt was a pretty sight" to see^ha' ; twelve hundred Weilingtonjaris parching.' up the green slope. : There seemed to be an endless stream of gaily dressed yoqng. people, not a few old ones, and .'a. coniid* eraWe sprinkjing of rwM >pwpl»i <

who boieeither big baskets of provisions or carried numberless 1 Rabies and small children. _ There wai room for everybody, no orowdihg and no confusion. A pair of portly constables in' uniform marched about, but their services as guardians; of the peace were not called into requisition -all they had to do was to look "noble," and this thoy did. The first thing to whioh the numerous visitors directed themselves was refreshment In a massive tent Hoßt Hodder of the Victoria Hotel, had prepared a substantial dinner of turkeys, fowl, and ham, of all kinds' of vegetables, of pudding and .pastries, for we don't know how many hundred people, but this army could not, as it wanted to do, all go in at once, but as many as could went straight for the marquee, At the head of the table, was Mr AshfljfjLthe kindly district manager, sup^rteao^r. Hutchison, the genial M. , H.R:,; l i but. formal allotment of places was out of the question,, people were too' hungry and everybody wanted to be served .at' once. The waiters rushed about the narrow spaces trying to perform miracles in the way of supplying all demands, but distinguishing themselves chiefly by cannoning against each other in their excitement. One jewel of a waiter, however, retained his presence of mind. He was a young man with wavy auburn hair, a Dundreary moustache and bright blue eyes. He wore a flower in his button-hole and had • white napkin thrown rakishly over his right shoulder. Abandoning the futile task of waiting upon half a dozen people at once he beamed sweetly on the hungry faces turned towards him and oried, " Help yourselves gentlemen; pray help yourselves I" and contented himself with waving his napkin, aa a signal for hit charges to fall to. Host Hodder must be , complimented on his very liberal catering •■; on this occasion, Everybody was made - as comfortable as possible, and if they did not enjoy themselves it was their own fault. Ontside the marquee amuaements proceeded in all directions, : Swings were placed in almost every convenient tree. Avery nice platform for daneing was well patronised, and the Wellington City Rifle Brass Band played waltz musla with so muoh taste and skill that it was a wonder that grandpapas and grandmamas did not oatch the terpsichorean infection and cirole round with the young ones, The sports proper for the occasion, went off well, Mr Park, the energetic Secretary of the Committee going heart and soul into this undertaking. They commenced with throwing the hammer:—T. Wren Ist, Patriok 2nd. In the long jump T. Wren was again first and Eickson second In the hurdle raoe Olapoott was first and Wren second. The next event, drawing, a pig (blindfolded) on a black board with a piece of chalk, created some amusement, and was won by Shearer, In the sack race G. Senas was victor. Mr Bright carried off the high jump, The Stranger's race was won by J, Ewart, The prizes, which consisted of useful and fancy articles contributed by Messrs Maxwell, Aahcroft, Levin, Werry, Jenness, Hislop, Dwan, Aldous, LittlejohUj Ritohen, Gear, Ljive and others, were gracefully pre. S* ■ented on the ground to the successful competitors by Mrs Aahcroft.. The Coin, mittea spared no pains to make everyone comfortable, and- their' thoughtfulriess inoluded even the little children, for whom a hogshead of new milk was placed on the ground together with a liberal supply of buns, A little before six hampers were packed and the two thousand.picnicera moved down to the railway line, and ™ embarked into the two long trains whioh were to take them home. From first to last nothing occurred to mar the pleasuro of the visitors, and the railway picnio of 1882 will be remembered with gratification by all who had the privilege of being present,