EPIDEMIC WORKERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16397, 17 December 1918, Page 7

EPIDEMIC WORKERS.

YESTERDAY'S PICNIC.

Those who worked so Lard to rolievo local conditions during tho recent epidomic were invited to attend a monster picnic inaugurated by the Canterbury Automobilo Association at the Selwyn Huts yesterday. A meeting to arrange details was held on Saturday, up to noon on which day, intending patrons of the picnic were requested to send m their names. At that meeting, it was reported that some 564 poople .had sent in their name,; as desirous of attending I the picnic, and, consequently, the Automobile Association made provision tor that number and more. However, when the crowd commenced to assemble in txie Square yesterday morning it was found that a great number of those who had acted voluntary workers during the lato epidemic had looked upon the outing as a huge picnic, and had brought tho wliolo °> their families, while certain of those who owned motor-cars had brought up their cars practically laden with thenown families, leaving no room for anybody else. The result was a congestion in the Square, and although some seventy-three cars jnade tho initial trip out, there were still several hundred people who were loft standing in. the (Square. The secretary, Mr C. W. Hervey, "vvlio, on the whole, managed things for the outing in the very beet style, asked various members of tho Association to take parties out to tho Selwyn Huts and return for more, ana amongst those who responded to lus verv dubious invitation were ■ Messrs Dexter and Crozier, Hichard Allen, li. "VV Lochhead, C. J. Jones, S. G. Holland, and J. S. Hawkes. - As a matter of fact. Mr Hawkes, the president ot the Automobile Association, made tour trips altogether, counting in the out and the home trips. It was soon found, however, tuat aithough the members of the Automobile Association had responded well to the call, there were still a very large number of the public who could not be conveved to the liuts, and the Association immediately decided to disappoint nobody and arranged for practically all the' taxicabs in Christchurch to tpke out fares, a move which should cost at least. £100, and a matter for which tho Automobile Association has decided to foot the bill. The Tide out to the huts was as enjoyable an outing as could bo conceived. The weather was first-class, and the roads were in grand order. Once the paTty got to the huts a most pleasant afternoon was spent, ior which every praise is due to the secretary, Mr C. W. Hervey. Tho owners of the fishing huts showed tho utmost generosity—taking the hundreds of visitors up tho river in their motorboats, while the tennis courts and general recreation ground wore thrown open to the visitors. Mr J. S. Mayne, tno Acclimatisation Society's ranger, contributed greatly to the success of the outing. The children also were well looked after, and there was for them anv amount of fruit, cakes, and lollios. iTor tho general public a good sports programme was provided, and the following were the results of the various events: —

Cigarette Race (Messrs Adams's prize): W. Buck and Mrs Chaffey 1. 400 Yards Open (Mr P. S. Nicholls's prize): A. Wood 1, C. Grant 2. ■Boy Scouts' Race (Mr J. S. Hawkes's prize): W. Swaney 1. Throad-tlie-neecile Race, for motorcyclists (Mr H. S. Alpe's prize): W. Bush and Mrs Chaff ey 1. Single Women's Race (Mr E. Neate's prize): Miss Gladys Seymour 1. Married Women's Race (Mr R. B. Walker's prize): Mrs King 1. 100 Yards Race, for motor-cyclists (Mr W. Yates's prize): A. R. Allardyce 1. Egg-and Spoon Race £Mr Alpe's prize): Mrs King 1. The party started for home about 4 p.m., and again it was found necessary for various cars to make more than one trip, and it was after 8 o'clock before the last of the passengers arrived home.

Yesterday the Richmond Depot helpers, seeing that there was little likelihood of their whole party being able to find seats in the cars bound for the Selwyn huts, decided upon a separate picnic at Sumner. At the end of a very happy day, throa ringing cheers were given for Mr Gelling and Mr X. Ba?sett, who generously provided a special car for tho party, and in many other ways helped to make the outing thoroughly cnjoyablo.