RAILWAY PICNIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1188, 7 December 1894, Page 38

RAILWAY PICNIC.

Thu employees of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company lipid their seventh annual picnic on Nov. 22, the spot selected being a very pleasant piece of grotmd at Waikanae, kindly placed at their disposal by Mr Wi Parata. The approach to the Wellington Railway Station was very prettily decorated, cabbage trees being placed on both sides, and a large bannor bearing the word " welcome ” was placed at the entrance to the approach. The station itself was adorned with ferns, flags and foliage, as were also most of the stations along the line, and even the engines which drew the train-loads of picnickers were gaily decked out with flowers, ferns, &c. The morning was fine and fully 5000 people from. Wellington and Palmerston and places along the line took advantage of the opportunity to spend a day in the country. All along the banks of the river and in the shady nooks in the bush parties of picnickers were to be found intent on enjoying themselves to the top of their bent, while roundabouts, swings, performing bears, and shooting galleries attracted large, numbers of others. The. Garrison Band and the drum aiid fife band from 11.M.5. -Royalist played . selections ' of popular music at intervals. A refreshment tent under the charge of Mr T. Fairhurst of Palmerston North, who also catered in good style for the committee, attracted a large number of patrons, and the committee had thovightfully provided a plentiful supply of hot water, which was served out to picnickers in unlimited quantities from an immense boiler erected in the grounds. In fact, the committee had left nothing undone to ensure the comfort of visitors, and the thanks of the publics' .are due to them for the energy and fore-

thought they displayed in the making of i arrangements. |

The committee consisted of Messrs T. Mullan, D. Mouton, J. Taylor and A Jaclca, the stewards being:—Messrs D. Skinner, J. McSwiney, A. Cassie, C. E. Fawcott, A. Wallis, F. Wallis, J. Francis, W. G. Wilson, W. Bell, T. Jordan, J. Alpin, W. Perry, C. Barg-h, W. F. McLood and W. Trueman. Mr A. W. Mouat was the hon secrotary, and discharged his onerous duties in a most energetic and capable manner. The success of the gathering, however, was impaired by the very unpleasant weather which prevailed during the latter portion of the day. Towards midday the sky became overcast, and about 2 o'clock a steady rain began to fall, and continued until the last train had left the scene of the picnic. Immediately it commenced tlioro was a rush for the station, where the carriages were waiting, but long before the holiday-makers could reach their friendly shelter the light summer costumes of the women and the airy apparel of the men had become wet and besmeared with mud, and a general sense of depression prevailed. Dospito the downpour, liowover, the sports, which had already been commenced, wore gono on with, as it was pointed out there would be no further opportunity to continue them. Luckily a number of races for children had boon held earlier in the day. The result was that the fields were small, and but little interest was taken in the events. Messrs T. Mullan find C. Bargh acted as judges, and Mr IX Mouton as starter, while Mr Geo. Watson handicapped for thq open, event. G. Smith won the Railway Handicap with 14 points, Glover being second with 10 points. The following are the results of the various events —

100yds Maiden. Prizes, .£.l and 10s —

F. Cording, 1 ; G. Smith, 2; G. Webley 3.

250yds Shop Handicap, run in ordinary clothes. Prizes, .£l, 10s and 5s —F. Glover, 18yds, 1; P. Broderick, 7yds, 2; D. Love, 16yds, 3. Won easily. 440yds Handicap (open). Prizes, £2 and 4/1 —F. Clark, 10yds, 1; Flanagan, scr, 2 ; Pike, 6yds, 3. Clark, who ran in good style, won by a few inches on the tape after an exciting race. 250yds Maintenance Handicap, run in ordinary clothes. Prizes, £l, 10s and 5s —W. Mulhane, scr, 1; T. Sargent, 10yds, 2 ; T. Wilson, 7yds, 3. Won easily. One-mile Handicap. Prizes, £l, 10s and 5s —W. Mulhane, sox’, 1; F. Cording, 75yds, 2 ; D. Love, 50yds, 3. Mulhane got through his xnen before half the distance had been covered, and won by three yards. The time taken was smin. Tug of War —An exciting contest between teams representing the Maintenance and Traffic branches of the service resulted in a victoi-y for the Maintenance men, who were captained by Mr J. Aplin. Mr E. Auld captained the losers. Blue Jackets Race, 300yds. Prizes, £l, 15s and ss—R. Harris, 1; J. Joj>e, 2; G. Townsend, 3. 250yds Traffic Handicap, run in ordinai'y cloches. Prizes, £1 and 10s —R. Harding, scr, 1; R. McFarlane, 12yds, 2. 250yds Locomotive Handicap, run in ordinai'y clothes. Prizes, <£l, 10s and 5s — J. Mason, Byds, 1; J. Barr, Byds, 2; A Akop, scr, 3. One -mile Walk Handicap. Prizes, £1 10s, 15s and 7s 6d—L. O’Brien, 50yds, 1 ; W. Marshall, scr, 2 ; T. Sargeant, 50yds, 3. 100yds Three-Legged Race. Prizes, £1 and 10s —Alsop and Barr, 1 ; Broderick and Glover, 2.

Railway Handicap, of three distances. First prize, £3 and Evening Post trophy; second, £2 ; third, £l.—First event 100yds —W. Smith, 7yds, 1; F. Cording, Byds, 2 ;

G. Webley, Byds, 3. Won by six inches. Second event, 220yds—F. Glover, 15yds, 1; W. Smith, 12yds, 2; F. Cording, 15yds, 3. Third event, 440yds Glover, 22yds, 1; Smith, 18yds, 2 ; Cording, 22yds, 3. In consequence of the rain a start for homo was made rather earlier than was at first intended, and the last trainful of picnickers reached Wellington shortly before 7 p.m.