NEW YEAR'S DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1637, 2 January 1883, Page 2

NEW YEAR'S DAY.

The departure of the old year and the incoming of the new were duly celebrated in Waikato. There were no church services, but; at Cambridge the bells of S." Andrew's Church rang out a merry chime at midnight. In Hamilton the band turned out, and marched through the town playing inspiriting tunes. The larrikin element were in high glee, and enjoyed themselves to the utmost, but we are happy to say that no damage to property was done. Yesterday the Cambridge races were well attended, and the usual school picnics took place with great success. Below we give the details of two of these picnics : —

Church of England Picnic, Cambridge. The annual picnic in connection with S. Andrew's Anglican Church, Cambridge, came off yesterday, and was, as on former occasions, a success in every sense. The children, with their guardians and Sunday-school teachers, assembled about 10 o'clock in the morning at the church, where a number of vehicles were waiting to convey them to the scene of the day's recreation and amusement, The place chosen for the gathering was Mr Buckland's beautiful grounds, where swings had been erected for the use of the children. It may be said that uo better place could be chosen for a day's outing of this kind than the grounds kindly put at the disposal of the picnicers by Mr Buckland, there being every convenience, botli as regards situation, water, and shelter, the latter of a nature not to be surpassed. There were over 200 children on the ground, and the number of parents and friends present made the gathering an unusually large one. The usual programme of sports were gone through, under the supervision of a committee of gentlemen, of whom we might particularise Messrs F. Sanders and Peek, junr. The refreshments were both abundant and of a. refreshing and acceptable quality. The committee, indeed the picnicers generally, wish to convey their warmest thanks to Mr Buckland for his very acceptable contribution of fruit, wood, water, and labour. In the evening all returned to their homes highly satisfied and delighted, having made an excellent day of it, and which should long be remembered.

Cambridge Wcsleyan Church Picnic. , The annual picnic in connection with the Wesleyan Church, Cambridge, was held yesterday in a paddock on the property of Mr Richard Reynolds, Pukeriniu, and was as usual a success, both in point of attendance, weather, and amusement. The children of the Sundayschool, numbering about 60, with their friends, assembled at the church about nine o'clock in the morning, and were driven to the picnic grounds in a number of conveyances kindly put at their disposal by a few friends. An excellent programme of sports was gone through, the various events being well contested, and the prizes were of a somewhat inducing nature. Prizes were also given for songs and recitations by tiie children, and our readers will have no difficulty in believing that this was not the least entertaining feature in the day's proceedings. Of course there was the usual abundance of refreshments : there were sundry family j^cnics, together with the general picnic, all constituting one harmonious re-union. The programme- of the day was carried out under the general supervision of the Rev T. G. \Jarr, and a committee of gentlemen, who, it is needless to say, exerted themselves strenuously to entertain those under their charge. The party returned to town in the evening, apparently well satisfied with their days' amusement.