A SCHOOL TRIP TO LAWRENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 9

A SCHOOL TRIP TO LAWRENCE.

Over 100 members of the Horticultural Society of the High Street School journeyed to Lawrence on Saturday to view the daffodils growing there. Miss Anderson (the matron of the school) had made the necessary arrangements, both with Mr H. Hart and the railway authorities, and the result was a perfectly successful outing. Special carriages were reserved for the children and members of the school staff, and as these were added to the other train* at Milton there was no need; to worry about transferring from one train to another. Shortly after the arrival at Lawrence the party set out for the flower grounds at Wetherstones, which were reached after a much appreciated walk of about two miles. There the visitors were met by Messrs Simpson, Hart, senior and junior, and Miss Hart, who had gone to no end of trouibj* for the benefit of all. Benches and seats had' been placed on the green sward, and tea and milk were provided in overflowing quantities. Needless to say, after so long a journey the meal that followed was greatly enjoyed, and then there was plenty of time to view the beautiful flowers, which were growing on the bank just above the picnic ground. Thousands of bulbs had bee* planted, and the result was a nodding and swaying mass of millions of blossoms, as pure and beautiful as Nature can produce them. While the children filled their eyes with delight at this novel and beautiful sight, Mr H. Hart took the adults round, and interested them with the names and descriptions of many of the varieties oJ daffodils growing there. Time passed only too quickly, and it was necessary to return. Mr Smith (the headmaster of the school) briefly thanked Messrs. Simpson and Hart and Miss Hart for the great hospitality in. providing them with refreshments, but more especialjy for affording them the opportunity of witnessing the unique sight of so many beautiful flowers growing so naturally on the rising slope before them. Mt Simpson replied, and stated that he was very" glad to see the children there, and complimented them oil their appearance and behaviour. After three cheers - most of the party made their way to the sluicing claim of Mr Smythe, and were.able to as© and appreciate the nature and difficulty of winning gold from the virgin soil. Others made their way straight to Lawrence,, where they had the, great pleasure 'of/viewing the private collection of Mr H. Hart, which, as all lovers of daffodils here know, is second to none. Indeed, his passionate love for flowers seems to have given an impetus to the growth of ' this particular kind in the community, for daffodils, were' seen displaying their beauties in the Domain, and in numbers of private gardens. Surely if Lawrence has lost to some extent its prestige as a gold centre, it may, with a great deal of truth, be conceded that it is fast becoming the "city of the daffodil." During the afternoon the weather, which had been none too good at the start, became wintry, and the visitors had the uncommon experience of walking back in a. read, but not very heavy, snow storm. This served to make the cutin all the more enjoyable, for there were those there who had not seen the real article before. The return journey was made quite safely and happily, the children vieinig with each other in helping with song and-recita-tion to make the time pass quickly, and when the train arrived at Dunedin it was" a merrv and hu<rely. delighted party that sought various homes.