SUNDAY SCHOOL FESTIVAL AT TE AWAMUTU,

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1943, 18 December 1884, Page 2

SUNDAY SCHOOL FESTIVAL AT TE AWAMUTU,

On Monday morninj, last, as the gloiious sun unsealed the eye.s of the youthful portion of the inhabitants, not only of Te Awamutu, but also of Alexandia, R.uigiaohia, Kihikihi, &c, there was in many a household the sparkling eye, flushed cheek, and prattling talk of joyous anticipation, experienced by the little Sunday-school folk, who were to assemble in the paisonage grounds to participate in the annual festival provided them by their pastor, Sunday-school teachers, and all other*, who, forgetting not their own erstwhile juvenility, did all in their power to make the children enjoy the day set apart for their special benefit. The weather, as if ashamed of previous conduct, cleared its sullen tear-begrimed face, and smiled on the scene in summer splendour. The programme of sports was as varied as it was generously compiled. The rao.es were conducted, by handicapp iug, in suoh a manner as to give to cacti event a large field of performers. It was indeed a pleasant sight to see the little ones concentrate all their energies, and with determined countenances, mn as if each individual of them was sure of winning one of the numerous prizes offered for competition. When the girls in their gaily decorated, starched summer dresses left the post at the word to go, their start resembled the sound made by a flock of pigeons rising simultaneously from the ground. The sack race was the funniest of the day, for, before the antics of the imprisoned competitors the spectator's smile soon swelled into tear-provoking laughter The ladies' egg and spoon race created great mirth, and I feel sare future meriment will always be revived by thinking of its ludicrousness. The hurdle race was a good one, and was pluckily won from scratch, by Robert Cunningham, who ran a grand raoe. The event of the day was " the tug of war" between the girls of Te Awamutu and Rangiaohia. Dming three attempts, wherein the girls pulled with all their might and main, the Rangiaohia lassies twice took their opponents in tow, and fairly walked away with them. Lollies were scrambled for, a cricket match played, swings erected 'neath the shade of spreading treeß, numerous and handsome prizes given to successful competitors, as well as a sumptuous tea. There was tea in cups, tea in saucers, tea in teapots, tea in jugs, tea in cans, tea in buckets, tea everywhere, good, bad and indifferent. Theio were cakes, tarts, sandwiches, eggs, .butter, bread, biscuits and all the other requisites for a famous tea, which the little lassies did full justice to, only giving up when ! Hushed cheeks and tired eyes their satiety proclaimed. After tea all adjourned to the church, whore Bishop Qowie gave an excellent address adapted to tho understandings of the little guests, and then the children dispersed, giving at the word of their minister " hip, hip, hurras for the friends who had prominently come forward to make the day, the enjoyable one it was. Ere the Alexandra mottoed blue banner was carried from the scene, the bishop called for cheers, ooupled with Miss Hunter's name, which were enthusiastically given not only by the children, but by all the adults assembled there to say good<bye to the, Alexandra

ipupilaj'who, closely packed in two waggons, started on their way homo singing a juvenile song of thankful happiness, i As for naming the kind people who as'ainted to make the children happy, I can only do so in the following comprehensive manrter : The Snnday-Hchool children's jrreafc festival was a national work of the district— (A Correspondent. )