ALEXANDRA. Annual Picnic.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2111, 19 January 1886, Page 2

ALEXANDRA. Annual Picnic.

The annual picnic given to tho scholars attending the Alexandra school, cann* otr on Friday last in the grounds of Mr Edward .Jone*, Junction farm, I'uniu, who kindly g.ive per mission. Tho Alexandra band also g.xvo thoir services which greatly enlivened tho atF.vir. Tliore \va> a I.uk« attendance (if children, their parent* nnd friends, and a pleasant day was t>pent. K.ace3 and varion->otlu i r sports wertj numerous and subsUntial prize* u'uto.i warded to the winnei.-, also ki-s •in - tho • rinfr, rounder*, dancing, etc., pfc. Mr Walter Scott, trcwuer, and Mr Mile< were indefatigable m their elforta to amuse ti.e ymuig people, and were eminently succe-sful in so doing. Thn provisions, a most imp nt-mt part of the entertainment, provided l»y the ladies of tho settlement and disused by McsJainos Sage, Lane, HiggiriMiu and others, were abundant and hu.irtilv enjoyed, und hearty cheers wore given o-i leaving, for Mr Jones for the u-o of his grounds and the ladies ami other-i who had giwn them so happy a d.iy's amusement. A ball in the evening, under the nunajement of the members of the Alexandr.i Bi,«s Band, wa* well attended and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Prospscting the King Country. Mr Wilkinson, fc'ie (Jovernment Aqfent, went up to Otorohang.i on Friday last to arrange for tho starting rf tho gold prospecting parties. The only hitch in tho airangemsnts Hkoly to occur is, I am informed, the refusal of tho Ngatimatakoro people at Rungitoto to allow their part of the country to bo open to prospecting. They bay they will turn off anyone they find on their lands, and if they porsi-.t trouble will ensue. Perhaps, however, Mr Wilkinson will overcome this difficulty, as it is said the obstructionists are not tho only owncis interested. For some years past both half-castes and natives have, when visiting Alev.mdi.i, alleged that they knew of gold in various parts of the King country, and showed specimens ontniiiing gold, which thoy stated they had picked up, and that if the country was only open they could obtain plenty of it. Now, however, tint the c mntry is open not one of th"tn up to the present time as come forward to point out the locality to get a cliim to the £'300 reward offered by the Gorem men t. Sume of our townsfolk are sorely disappointed at their having at various times baen soni > what more than hospitable (disinterestedly of course) to the holders of such valuable information.

The Weather. The little rain that hw fallen hero has done httlo eror»d to the crops. If more does not come •soon tiie Native potato ciops will be .a complete failure. —(Own Correspondent, Jan. 18th.)