PLIMMERTON-PRINCE OF WALES BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 19

PLIMMERTON-PRINCE OF WALES BIRTHDAY.

" N iigiri Hills" sends us the following : The weather looked cloudy and threatening for rain as vrs wended our way to the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Station on the Prince cdf Wales* fiirthday to take the 9\55 a.m. train to Plimmertolh The train was soon crowded with passengeirsy and my party, with' others, though holding first-class tickets, had to ensconce themselves in the brakevan, no other accommodation being available. This -was hardly the correct thing-. The station master, guard, and other employees of the railway, however,- wenre polite and attentive, and did all they'could to make us as comfortable as possible. The weather cleared up and becam'e simply perfect by the time we passed Crof ton, and the gullies and hills, golden with yellow flowers, and with sparkling, ripplingstreams at foot, looked delightfully refreshing and pretty. We arrived at Plimmerton after a pleasant trip about 11 o'clock, and the excursionists soon scattered themselves along the beach, in the shady bush and on the grassy plots, so abundant at Plimmerton. Cricket and other games, bathing, billy boilifigi cloth Hying, &c, became the order of the day, and everyone seemed to be happy and contented, and fully enjoying him or herself. The day was warm and glorious, the shade grateful and luxttrioug, and the air as clear as crystal. The hills of the South Island, with Mana i Island and the sea between, seemed to be not further away than 10 miles, although, of course, they were much further. We had an excellent dinner and tea at Plimmerton House. The viands were first-rate and abundant, and cooked to a turn, the service good, and house and furnishings, lawns and grounds as clean and corn for tablo as hands could make them, and, moreover, tho charges were most reasonable. We left Plimmerton at 9.20 p.m., and in due course arrived back again at Wellington, thoroughly satisfied with our day's outing, my party especially a lady from the North —unanimously agreeing that Plimmerton was the nicest place in the neighbourhood of Wellington at which to spend a fine holiday. At least 2000 people must have spent the holiday there on Monday.!