RIVERSDALE NOTES.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1132, 6 January 1903, Page 3

RIVERSDALE NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.). Christmas and New Year, like everything elee, have come and gone. We ÜBhered in 1903 by the ringing of the church bell, and the juveniles firing some miniature bombs at the mystic hour. Altogether the holidays were marked with good humor, lacking' those silly practical jokes sometimes indulged in on such occasions.

On New Year's day the annu'al public picnic was held in a paddock kindly placed at the committee's disposal by Mr D. Manson. The field is finely wooded, so that although the day was very windy, the picknickers were not inconvenienced. The attendance was not quite so large as at previous gatherings, owing to so many counter-attractions. However, a most pleasant afternoon was spent in games, events for-young and old, and ibe interchange of seasonable compliments. The committee were untiring in their efforts to please the numerous visitors, and they succeeded beyond their most ardent hopes. The following is the prize-list:— Boys race, under 7—Gillies, O'Connor, MeAuliffe.

Girls' lace, under 7—Cunningham, McClennan, Cluttorbuck.

Boys, race, under 9—Hodge, Campbell, Low.

Girls' race, under 9—Windle, Dacre, 'l'ait. Boys'race, under 11-Holland, McKay, McClennan.

Girls' race, undea, 11—Ferris, Cunningham, O'Connor. Boys' race, under 13— Seattle; Clarke, Dacre.

Girls' race, under 13—McCuld'on, Cunningham, McClennan.

Young women's race, 80yds —Hodge, Mears, Mears.

Wheelbarrow race—Collins and Collins, Walker and Low, McDonald and McCiennan. Skipping for girls—Murdock, Mears, McCaldron.

Married ladies driving Gin nails (prize given by Messrs J. E. Watson and Co.)— Mrs E. Kennedy 1, Mrs Smaill 2, Mas Win. McKay 3.

Unmarried ladies driving nails Miss Christie 1, MiSs Cunningham 2, Miss Dunn High jump, under 15—Marshall 1, Earle and Collins (equal) 2. High jump, over ll!—Kyan 1, Bush and Earle (equalj 2. girls' race—Ferris and Brown 1, Low and McCaldon 2, Windle and O'Connor 3.

Three-legged boys' race—McLennan and Low 1, Shepherd and Shepherd 2, Windle and O'Connor 3.

100 yds scratch race—D. Bush 1, D. Shea 2, W. Collins 3.

100 yds handicap—W. Collins 1, D. Shea 2, T. lioss 3.

Married men's race for prize given by Mr B. Slocombe—M. O'Connor 1,1. Maslin 2. Sack Race—Collins 1, McDonald 2, McLennan 3.

The committee desire to thank Messrs J. E. Watson and Co., J. Smaill, D. Manson, R. Slocombe, and J. Reid for kindly giving prizes. The officials were : Handieapper, Mr J. Smaill; starter, Mr Smi'h ; judges, Messrs Clearwater, Beaton, and McLennan. It seeins to take a lot o( amusement to satiate us, as tiie River::dale Presbyterian Church Sunday school goes to Waimea House on the 14ih for tbeir annual outing, and next tbe Plains tchools excursion to the Lakes on the 21st.

Our military men leave us on the 7th, going into camp at Makarewa for ten days ; but as we do not anticipate an invasion by any hostile power, things, I think, will be all safe till their return.

The weather is splendid for the growth of weeds, but very backward for the completion of shearing and the getting in of the turnip crop; so much so that the general ciy agriculturally is " nae neeps in yet." The season, generally speaking, has bten extremely backward for tilling the soil.