THE ANNIVERSAKY FETE AT WAKEFIELD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 50, 1 March 1867, Page 2

THE ANNIVERSAKY FETE AT WAKEFIELD.

The inhabitants of Waimea South, yesterday, commemorated the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Settlement of the Province, iu a manner which was in. every respect worthy of the occasion. The weather was most propitious, and it would, we imagine, be difficult to find a more lovely spot than that which was selected for the scene of action. The procession, which started from the school at Lower Wakeiiekl, about half-past ten o'clock, extended quite half-a-mile in length, aud as it wended its way to Mr. Baigent's paddock, with the usual accompaniments of music and banners, presented a very lively and picturesque appearance, which was still further increased by the accession to its numbers of a large body of persons on horseback, and seated in every imaginable species of vehicle. It was easj to perceive, on arriving on the ground, that the committee had exerted themselves to the utmost to secure the enjoyment of those who had assembled to do honor to the occasion.

A large rotunda had been erected near the 1 eautiful line of forest trees which form the background of the paddock, and here the school children, who had joined in the procession, were immediately regaled, and from a buffet in its centre,

refreshments of a very substantial character, both edibles and potables, were dispensed with a most liberal hand, to all comers, throughout the day. Games of all descriptions, foot-racing, swings, hurling, jumping, &c, not to mention a ladies' cricket match, in which the fair competitors evinced considerable skill, occupied the party during the early part of the day, and these were followed by a lottery, with no blanks ; with the performance of the " Empire Minstrels." which appeared to afford unqualified delight, and also of the stringed German Band ? from Nelson, which discoursed very excellent music, and whose services contributed most materially to. the enjoyment of the ball which coucluded the : f'ete. In fact, the. Wakefield anniversary only required the bright

uniforms of our local military, and, of course, a larger audience, to render it a very formidable competitor with the recent Nelson fete. As it was, there could not have been less than fourteen hundred individuals present, including persons not only from all the adjacent districts, but also from Nelson, the Central Committee being duly represented by their indefatigable chairman, Mr. W. M. Stauton, aud several other geutlemen who accompanied him.

We should not do justice to the Wakefield people, if we did not bear especial testimony to the geuial hospitality which they showed on tins occasion to all strangers who were present ; to the general sense of thorough enjoyment which pervaded the whole assemblage, and to the abseuce of any feature which could tend to make the most censorious moralist regret the occurrence of such a scene. The amusemeuts were kept up throughout the day with unflagging spirit aud in every possible variety, concluding with a ball in the rotunda, which was kept up with great spirit, till a late hour. The unequivocal success of the whole affair must, unquestionably be attributed to the uu wearied exertions of the Committee of Management; and amongst them we may single out as objects of especial praise, Mr. E. Eaigent (the ohairmanj, Mr. White, aud Mr. Tunnicliffe. who each seemed to be endowed with übiquitous powers — backed by the gratuitous and willing aid of very many of the residents, who had assisted con amore in making the requisite preparation for the fete.

We understand ihat £100 had been coilected in tho District to supplement the grant of £50 made by the Provincial Council, but it is very certain that even this sum would have been insufficient to carry out the various details proposed by the committee, and which afforded such general satisfaction to those present yesterday, had not individual and unpaid exertion been nvide available for the purpose, a fact which is most creditable to the inhabitants of Wakefield. We believe that no accidents occurred which could in auy wise throw a gloom over a festival which will long be remembered with pleasure and satisfaction by all who were assembled on the occasion.