PICNICS AND SPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12600, 2 March 1903, Page 7

PICNICS AND SPORTS.

The employees of Messrs J. "Wilkie and Co., with their friends, to the number of about 100, journeyed to Waitati on Saturday to celebrate their seventh annual picnic, the spot chosen being Mr Colehan's paddock. The morning, though somewhat raw and windy, had by noon developed into a perfect picnic day, and the company, old and young, availed themselves > of it to the fullest extent for tho piirposo of having a thoroughly good day's enjoyment. The usual round of picnic prunes and pastimes ■ wero indulged in, and 1 a short programme of i sporfs was gone through; and a cricket ' Married v. Single, was also played, with the ] result that the Benedicts'snccceded in pulling off the victory by a respectable majority cf ] runs. The various items on tho programme i were woll contested, and J. 'Wilkie's Handicap was a splendid race, with a close finish. The I item 9 " Cutting -Turk's Head Off " 'were pro- ■ ductive of much amusement, more especially the ladies' event. An improvised brass band of some dozen players from amongst the employees discoursed some capital music at intervals duting the day, which was much appreciated. Jlx P. Clark, a member of the firm, in presenting the prizes <o the successful competitors, expressed the pleasure the firm had in meeting their employees at their annual picnic, and assuredUhem that it would always ! fae the firm's aim and desire to promote the best interests of iheir workers, and he felt ' sure that they (tho employees) in turn wero actuated by a desire to honestly cam (he wages they received, nnd generally to act for the good of their employers. Hearty cheers were given for the committee, and then a start wa? made foT home, which was reached about 8 o'clock—all doubtless having pleasant memories of the day's outing. The following is the'prize 1 list:— Cricket Match, Married v. Single.—Married ; 49, Single-39 ' ' Boys' Race (under 16), 120yds.—H. Thomp- 1 son. 1, 'W. Hollamby 2. Girls' Hace (under 17), 100yds.—Miss Eeid 1, ' Miss R. Braik 2. ' i Toung Ladies' Race, 100yds.—Miss Leslie 1, i Miss Sutherland 1. ' J. Wilkie's Handicap, 200 yds.—A. Gardener i 1, G-. Hickey 2. i Three-legged Eace (boys tinder 16), 100 yds.— W. Hollamby and H. Thompson. i . Cutting Turk's Head Off (bandsmen).—G. I Hickey 1, T. Lindsay 2. ; Cutting Turk's Head Off (ladies).—Miss i Leslie 1, Miss Douglas 2. ( Thread-the-S'eedle Race (ladies to run).— | Miss Sutherland and Mr A. Gardener 1, Miss J Beid and Mr C. Campbell 2. , The Tahora aunuai'school picnic and dance £ wero held at Hindon on the afternoon of tho . 25th February. The weather, which has been j very agreeable in the locality lately, seemed to . excel itself. Unfortunately the majority of tho ( school children wero prevented from attend- j irig by sickness. Nevertheless a very large t number of the residents and visitors frdm tho t adjacent districts were present, some of the latter having travelled 20 miles. l Refreshments were qnickly provided, and then games of every conceivable nature were indulged in until dusk, ! when nearly all adjourned to the schoolroom 1 to trip the light -fantastic. Songs in the open I air were contributed previous to the dance by ! Mr Kennedy (a neighbouring school teacher), ' Mr Nicholson (the local minister), and Mrs | Garrett; between the intervals of dancing by ' Misses Margaret Harrison and Gridgeman, Mrs ' Edwards, and Messrs Berryman and Thomp- " son. Eecitations were given by Mrs Dolierty, 4 Misses Reid and Booth. Judging by the t enthusiastic plaudits, all the items were very well appreciated. Music was supplied for (ho li dance by Messrs Berryman (accordion), Perry d

and M'Donald (fiddle), and Murray (bagpipes). Mr J. Campbell acted as M.C., and. acquitted himself in a very creditable manner..' Dancing was kopt up till 3 in the morning, and after a vote of thanks was accorded to the musicians and M.C., a very enjoyable entertainment terminated by the singing of "Auld lang syne."