DECENT PICNIC AT AHAURA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 80

DECENT PICNIC AT AHAURA.

' Dear Dot,— Quite unexpectedly Queer Eel- • lew arrived en (ha West Coast. Ko one had expected him, and you can guees, iicrsv pleased. ■ we all were to huveour Otago "cojnrade, especially as he is the first D.L.F. to visit us- from v Dunedin. Wheu it was known he was among' ■ us, a picnic -was organised somewhat hur- • , nodly, and all arrangements were made to celebrate his vjpjt by a D.L.F. picnic on Thursday, April 5. All the D.L.F. around were . notified of (he picnic, but tluouslx the huinei

*_Eet-tip of. the" affair the letters did -not reach ■c -their" destinations HIT it was too-late "for them " : to ,atiend. *- Wa were", fully- prepared for » - zcalrgood,day'slouting, and all--w.e wanted to & complete tour- expectations of gke wa9 a fine -'<lky?S Wednesday was veiy wet and miserable, - but-, when, Thursday came, and with it a - gloriously fine day, our spirits ran high in a lever of joy and expectation, -We left home at 10 a.m., end walked to Ahaura-, arriving thexe at 2 p.m., to -find- the picnic in fuU swing. As we walked along the load, wo talked and chatted merrily all the way, and •wondered' who would be thsre and who would not, or if the Ahaura D.L.F. would think we •were 'going to disappoint them. We were Iravelling- in Nature's avenue, for ~ *he zoad between Upper Moonlight and Ahaura - is through a' very dense forest. The birds ■ sang" sweetly from the tree tops, the ferns -and flowers, covered in dewdrops, sparkled in/ the golden light of the morning sunoeams. -- 'With-the wild woodland singers on every side, " -the beauties of Nature all around, and, best -, of all, hapr>y hearts within our breasts, we ----thoroughly enjoyed our walk, even though, it did extend 12 long lonely miles. "When we arrived on the picnic ground we ' -were greeted right heartily by our Ahaura comrades and Queer Fellow, who all had con- ■ eluded we were not coming. And such a weicr.me, too — long will the- impression linger in our-memories- of the first DL.F. picnic that --we. were privileged. to attend,. for the Ahaura, - 3XLVF:> treated us with the kindest of hoapi- - - tility, and- we beg to' -think- onkTand' all for*' -- their,- many "kindnesses Jk> us during our stay -j amangithein^ . „ - , '- - -- •* -- ._- - ;* 'Soon ,after\ arriving- the" kettle' was -ooiled, • ~~»BdVe'were invited to partake of .'a delicious - - 'cup'of tea, -arid after- aoing'more -than justice - _ "tHe*good jhings^proviSedj we felt in good: trim.fo^ 'fiin," and; soon, -joined' with the others j their merry "games. ■ \ '- "■ • -~ -- There -were -.present 'at .the picnic— Queer, _- Fellow," Country Maid, Teannie Dear, Paparoa, Rambler, Little 'Nell, Magnolia, 3iddy O'Toole,"' Dolly, Gray, Mete.- Hose,' ' Paday^O'Mailey,' Hard? Gas©. Slim Jim, Joan B'Arc, EMncre, Hazel Nut, Bonnie Prince, liittie Elf, Molly Dawn/Buster' Brown, Tim Dooley,,_and Bill Bailey.- -"And,-. now, comrades; if -we 'have unintentionally omitted ~fco _ mention anyone," TpleasV'forgive us, and remember it is only 'the result of a faulty memory and the * neglect to .take notes. - r " - Venetia . Corona- .was riot present, -owing to an -unavoidable mistake ,in posting the "letter ' informing -her of the picnic. Better luck next time,- chum. ,S.-B."-H.C. could not get away" from 'dulyr&nd sent an apology for' not coming^. Sorry,- comrade; we mißsed you greatly, ■ ,«nd sincerely hope to see you at the next. Bramble hurt her ankle and" was not able to ~~ come, and. Black Diamond would not come' •without her. I hope, comrades, you are better now. „:i)ainty Maid came on te scene of action . -iust "before the picnic'broke up. Poor Lavender was fcu'sy'aU day,, and could not get,away to come. She .seemed rather downhearted, and^no }wonder, either, with a D.L.F. picnic „ near, and 1 , could not attend. It was exceedingly . Iririd^of a few young ladies who came to our picnic^ even" though they wfere not D.L.F., and T»e the liberty of thanking them right - heartily" on behalf of afl who were ,£here. We havealßO to extend our. sincere thanks to 1 * those* petsons'Cwholflb generously. provided the. s- -xtfresmerits fof; the picnic, ji S' . • y.-- The houfs'glidedmerrily on — in fact, iar too ' ' qu'icklyf.iof- us. all.* aqd^ the peals of. -' laughter* .that -rang through", the air told;of tho ■ - enjoyment of "the games played^ A swing was; -'- "erected ;6n the ground, and' many a. happy -form ewuns;to:arid fro under the hanging branches/ _; of aHree. which, grew nearMbe "swing. (Jueer Fellow jin^-the. best of humour, < and "-Are all tried to "inak"e the "picnic as effjoyable'"as * V, pc-ssiWe", •and- "inJpreas'-ori" our Otago comrade - ~;thbMoyalty.~of the Wjest -Coast D.L.F. to Dot ' arid : _her page. At 5.30 the billy was again }>oil©d,aud tea made, and after -each had satis- - fied'"ihe in^er man ' we began to pack our baskets and retrace our steps - ; to the town. "When, we _ arrived at" the lop "of -the little eminence on which Ahaurais built we halted, and the Ahaura D.L.F. called for three hearty -. cheers* for Queer Fellow, which were given ,* in a jigli* good style. Three cheers were also given for Paparoa and Mountain Rambler, and for the Ahaura D.L.F., which were answered - fey a laugh and cheer for ua all. Indeed, we ;- ±tk'o felt highly honoured to»be" thus so kindly ■ treated.. At 6 p.m. we boarded the train for Grrej-mouth^ Queer JTellow accompanying us to the station, and as^the train steamed on its ■wayj we waved a fond adieu to -our Ahaura • "comrades. We felt very tired, but awfully - happy,- 'and glad we attended the picnic. Farewell,. Dot and L.F., and accept our fondest love -and sincere good wishes for your future - srbsperity. — Yours truly, PAPAROA AND MOUNTAIN ." , v - RAMBLER.