OTAGO DAILY TIMES AND WITNESS PICNIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 44

OTAGO DAILY TIMES AND WITNESS PICNIC.

A perfect day, an admirable camping-ground, and a considerable attendance of linotype operators, compositors, machinists, apprentices, and members of the commercial department of the Times and Witness Company, and such a representation of the literary staff as the present time of activity in Dunedin would allow, all intent, with their wives and families, upon putting their outing to the best possible use, combined to make the above annual picnic a most successful event cm Saturday. The gathering was held at Waitati, whither the party proceeded by special train shortly after 9 a.m., and where they assembled in Coiehan's paddock for the sports and other games which are usual on such an occasion. Before any pastimes were entered upon, however, the very serious biisiness of refreshing the inner man had to be undertaken. Regulation dinner hours are not to be observed on holidays, and sandwiches and the inevitable cup of tea proved to be quite as appetising in the green fields and the pure country air at 11 o'clock, as the everyday meal is when the man of the house arrives in a hurry home at midday, perspiring and dusty, 'and perhaps irritable also because perspiring and dusty. Indeed, they proved no be so acceptable that picnickers were tempted to have rashly frequent repetitions of them during the day, at intervals between different kinds of games. • Rounders, as a game in which the two sexes could unite, was in favour, and other round games found numorous devotees, while the men betook themselves to cricket and quoits. Ferning expeditions were also made up, and a ramble along the banks of the delightful little trout stream creeping noiselessly over its gravelly bottom in the shade of the overhanging treea, or a stroll into the bush had attractions that it was difficult to resist, whiie there were few who returned home without arms' full of the dog-daisies which grow in wild profusion in the fields on both sides of the roads. The sports programme consisted of eight eventa, besides which there were numerous races for children, the winners receiving toys a3 prizes, and there was also a general distribution of toys and sweets to the little ones. The party returned to town from Waitati by train at 6.30 p.m., after having thoroughly enjoyed the day in the cotintry.