OPUNAKE EN FETE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 January 1929, Page 4

OPUNAKE EN FETE.

, A RECORD CROAVD. b 1 DAY AT THE SEASIDE. ■ Opunake presented a holiday appearance yesterday when people from all parts- of South Taranaki wended their ’ way to the beach to take full ad- ' vantage of the fine summer day. There were over 2000 people on the sands , during the day, and the large number .of motor cans coming and going throughout the day suggested a real holiday spirit. Bathers and picnic .parties had a most glorious day on the sands, and as the facilities for obtaining hot water and other refreshments at the beach were under excellent supervision, particularly at the pavilion, where Airs Jenkin and her large staff dispensed an appetising luncheon and afternoon tea, hundreds of excursionists taking full advantage of the service rendered by this branch of the day’s outing. The annual picnic of the combined railway staffs of South Taranaki was held at the beach, and fully 600 people, comprising . railway men with their families and friends, left Hawera by train at 9.30 a.m., and as the long( train drew out from the wayside stations en route to Opunake the number of excursionists bent on a day’s outing at the seaside was greatly augmented. A comprehensive list of sports and athletic events were contested during the afternoon and many exciting races and competitions were the result.. The railway men did their job well, and from large marquees erected on the beach dispensed hospitality and refreshments to all and sundry, the large throng of visitors joining in the sport, which kept up merrily until 5.30 p.m. The committee responsible' for the organisation of the picnic was Alessrs L. Toy (chairman), J. Dykes (secretary), J. Bolton (assistant secretary), T. Peach. R. McNeill, D. Barr, AV. Peters, AV. Vowless, H. Barrett, L. j Cooke, T. ' Smith, AV. A. Turnbull, T. C. Sloan, and E. AlcKenna. The officials who controlled the special train Guard A. Zellman. Assistant Guard E. Robson, Driver R. Jones, Fireman Nathan, Alessrs T. Beaton, stationmaster at Normanby, and H. Barrett, porter in charge at To Roti, gave their services free in connection with the running of the train. The sports officials were: Alarshal, Air. Tom Peach; liandicappers, Alessrs T Sloan and \A r . Turnbull; judges, Alessrs L. Cooke and D. Barr; starter, Mr. Toy; assistant starter, Mr. R. AlcNeill; line stewards, Alessrs C. Webber and S. Eden; result steward, Air. John Bolton

The details of the .sports are: Girls under 7. —Glory Sloan and Reley Toy (dead heat) 1, Ngaere Walker 3.

Boys under 7. —J. O’Brien 1, M Eden 2.

Girls under 9.—Mavis Barnes 1, Joan Myers 2. Boys under 9. —Ronald Cliisnall 1, Gordon Eden 2.

Girls under 12. —Amy Sorensen 1, Patricia Loader 2.'

Boys under i2. —A. Martis 1, L. Toy 2. Girls under 16. —Lily O’Connor 1, D. Barrett 2.

Boys under 16.—E. Loader 1, R. Jones 2.

1 Combined wheel-barrow race under 16.—Master and Miss Toy 1. Single ladies’ race. —Miss Toy 1, Miss Grierson 2. Married ladies’ race. —Mrs. Webber 1, Mrs. Sheehan 2. Married men’s race.—W. Murphy 1, B-. Martis 2.

Departmental relay race (four men). —Officers’ Institute team (McDonald, Smith, Warren, Telfer) 1, Loco No. 2 (Peters, Tomieri, Keenan, Lovell) 2. ' Dual relay race. —Aliss Toy and Air. Smith and Miss Connor and Air. Morris dead heat.

Combined wheelbarrow race (adults). —Miss Toy and Mr. Teller 1. Girls’ three-legged race.—Misses Toy. Boys’ three-legged race. —G. Eden and L. Northcot-e 1. Boys’ lemonade race. —M. Cook 1. L. Toy 2. Girls’ lemonade race.—Miss Toy 1, Miss O’Connor 2. All-comers’ combined wheel-barrow race. —Miss Toy and Warren and Miss Leonard and McDonald dead heat.

“Loco” race.—S. Eden 1, P. O’Connor 2.

“Traffic” race.—E. T. Gazzard 1, E. C. Warren 2.