ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN AUCKLAND—THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL PIC-NIC.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 49, 4 April 1874, Page 9

ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN AUCKLAND— THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL PIC-NIC.

The annual pic-nic of the children attending the various Catholic schools in and around Auckland, took place in the Domain on the 17th March — the anniversary of Ireland's patron saint. Of tho many holiday events and demonstrations got up to celebrate the day, tho children's treat was decidedly the moat attraciive and imposing. The weather was romaik.ib'y fine, and whether it was the genial sunshine, the contagiousti •ss of holiday-making, or a sympathy for loll'oa aud buns I know not, but certain it is tint tho children mustered in great force. The place of rendezvous for the various school* was a vacant piece of ground in Hobson Street, near St. Patrick's Cithedral, kindly lent by ftlr Diguan for the occision. From an o irly hour in the morning tho schools began to assemble. St. Mary's Orphuiage and Select School arrived, headed by the excellent band of tb.3 Hob3on Company of Volunteers, and under the superintendence of the Ray. F-itlicr Walter McDonald. Ihen came tho Newton schools; Pitt street school ; the Infant school ; St. Joseph's, and Select school of Wyndham street ; Mr P unket's selecc school ; the Parnell schools under the charge of the Rev. Father Fynes ; and the Onehunga schools in charge of tho Rev. Father Paul. Tho Onehunga children, arrived in Auckland by a special train, a-id marched in procession, headed by the Otahu fife and drum band, to Ilobscm street, tho placo of muster. There were now at leist 2003 children present, neatly dres3ed, — fie girls in white, and all wearing green ribbons and rosi ttes. The general processiou began to move off, an I it certiinly presented a most i n posing appearance as, with banners flying and bands playing Irish n tiorial tv ics, it proceeded through fie to.vn towards the Domain. Uiiving arrived at ihe Dornaiu they were plentifully regaled with sjndwiehes, cako«, lollies, fruit and tei, after which tho usual round of amusements, including swings, footba'l, cricket, rac?, &o commenced, and weie eutered intt> heartily and kept up with untiring zeal till evening. One of t! c most amu-ung features of the day's amusement was school auc ion of pr z )s and toys for tie pupils attending the Onefa aiij.a Boys' school. The currency wis the gooJ marks awarde.l to thschlliei duiing the 3 ear for proficiency in their studies. Tho R:v. Eather Foynes acted as auctioneer, provoking cocsilerable m rriment by the humorous manner in which he desaanhd on tho various ai tides put up for sale, and the yonthful competitors iv the'r eagerness to possess some coveted toy or prize advxnccd h inJreds of po nls at ea> h bid. It was a common thing to hear such bids as 200, 30 ), 503, an 170 J follow in quick succession. Several s mgs wero sung by tlie ciuldren in good style, which showed that they hid received c uefal training in that branch of cduca ion ; and tlie bands at inte i> val3 during the day discourse 1 sweet music. At four o'clock the Onehunga scho )ls, preceded by their bands, marched off to t'lo railway station, where, by appointment, they were to me t a sp?ciil train to tike them ho no. And short ly atter the various other schools were m .stered and mirched to the place whence they started, an 1 then d. suited. The whole demonstration passed of most satisfacsto -lly, for all the arrangem nt 8 wore made and carrud out 111 a system itic manner And lam sure vhat St. Patrick's Day, '7 h will bo a rol letter diy in tlu irea of tlie Catholic children of Auckland.