HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY BAND. Annual Picnic.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1340, 1 February 1881, Page 2

HAMILTON LIGHT INFANTRY BAND. Annual Picnic.

Tim annual picnic in connection with the Hamilton Light Infantry Band oame off this year on Saturday. The steamer Delta had been chartered for the occasion, and the place selected wa-, the site of the Blucnoie Camp, on the firm of Mr Stone, on the Waipa lliver. The steamer was advertised to leave Hamilton at half-past nine, but at that hour fchei c wore very few excursionists on board, and a delay of hali-an-hour was made. Even then, when tlie boat cast off her moorings, there could not have been more than fifty p issensrers, the majority of vhom belonged to the vsofter sex. This was in marked contrast to the last year's picnic, by which theßand netted a handsome sum of mouey. However, despite this unfavourable condition of things, those who did go enjoyed themselves tlioioughly. The Band mustered in force, and played some very choice selections of music down the liver, the calm water .uid the brilliant sunshine making the trip one of tho pleasantest aquatic excursions wo have had in W\iikato. At Ngaruawahia- a stoppage of half-an-hour took place, after which, having taken ono oxtra passenger on boaid, the steamer pioceoded up the Waipa to her destination. The country all round pieicntcd «i charging and even romantic appearance, tvlnch Avas heightened by tlio bight of seveial well-manned native canoes at different points of the river. The natural beauty of the .stream is gioatly enhanced by the tall growth of willows, which for the most part fringe its banks, casting their deep green shadows across the still water, and pioviding secret places for the various wator-fuwl. Owin"to an accident -which happened to one of her cylinders the previous day, tho Delta proceeded up the ri\ er slowly, so that it was noarJy % o'clock beforo tho flat, open meadows, known as the Ijluenose Camp, weie leached. Here the p.irly speedily disembarked, and proceeded at once in bem ch of peaches, which, though soaicely lipc, wee plentiful enough. Alternating this pleasant pastime with oeea-sioml indulgences afc cricket, swinging, and all tho othar games to whioh youth and high bpirits are lieiiff, the afternoon passed away pleabautly enough. At 5 o'clock, the warning notes of the steamer's whistle re-called the revellers, and all having got safely on board, a start was made for homo. A delay was occasioned at Ngaruawahia through the steamer haying to take some cargo on boaid, and it was half-past six befoie the prow was turned up stream for Hamilton, which, owing to the cause above referred to, was not reached till half-paafc nine, or about four hours after time. During the homeward trip dancing was engaged in on deck, to the lively strains of theßand, this species of amusement, being in requisition almost to Hamilton. On nearmg the wharf, however, the Baud played first, "Home, Sweet Hgme, " ending with a few bai-3 of the ''National Anthem." The arrangements on board the steamer were all that could be desired, and too much cannot be said of the quality of the viands and refreshments supplied by the obliging steward of the Delta, Mr Sutoliffb. A large number of people greeted the boat on her arrival, the larrikin portion clamouring loudly for peaches, which, however, they did not get, the picnicers having apparently respected Mr Stone's injunction to eat as much as they liked, but not to pocket any.

A cokbespondent of the Gardener's Chronicle states that cut flowers last longer in green glaases than in white. The total area of land engaged in growing tobacco ia Germany in 1879 was about 44,530 acres, Of watch-glasses 50,000 gross— 7,200,000 glasses, — are sold annually in the United States. Most of these are imported f poin :E]ngJand, , ' Mb Gs,i,gv%s estimates the. oapital in vested in sugar refining in the United Kingdom at £2,100,000 fixed and one million, two .hundred and fifty thousand #9atiing-»togese'r rowing a gra^d %<&s 9f £3,|sG,, OQQ. ' . I. ' J , T^Eii'w/iwwvferyentlyhopesthatlreland will, "be " preserved from the demon of assassination,'* but it prints the harangue of the man Redpafch. in reference to. 'the lato Jjgrd a speeq]} by 'Michael I)avitfc In ifew IFdric, qifche tisujfl i onaraQt^r, jj*<i a se^itigus letter' from, (^Dowiovan'Ro'ssf. '' , • > v ' r