MINERS' PICNIC

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 43

MINERS' PICNIC

(Fbom Oub Own Cohbespondent.) JiAITANGATA, February 18.

The Kaitangata-Taratu miners held their thirtyrfourth .annual picnic and sports on the Domain ground] on Saturday. The d-ay waa dull, and a chilly breeze prevailed. There - waa a good attendance, and everything went along with business-like swing from start to ■ finish. A " baby show" brought 18 entries, Mr T. S. Cairns (Mayor) and Mrs Robert Lees acting as judges. Many racing and other events were arranged for the benefit of the children and aduUss, 'besides which there was an abundance of sweets. The committee spent X'lß upon toys for gifts to children up to seven years of age, but, as the coming generation of men and women appeared to attend en masse, the supply of gift toys_ did? not fully meet the demand. The committee tried to arrange for the presence of the local brass band, but in this they were unsuccesaful. The bandsmen, with one or two- exceptions, attended the picnic, but without,,instruments or music. The fine protection and shelter provided by the pavilion and hedges waa all that could'be desired. To the president (Mr "William Stephenson), the secretary (Ml William. J. Stephenson), and the treasurer (Mr R. M'Millan) much credit isvdue for their guidance and endeavours, which largely assisted toward the success of the day's sport. The business places of the town were closedi for the- day, a' custom observed ever since the annual picnics of the miners were inaugurated. The following programme of events was gone through:—■ Employees' Handicap.—T. Thomson 1, P., Prescott 2. Sheffield Handicap.—J. Thomson 1, K. Thomson 2. Young Ladies' Race. —Miss Kernohan 1, Miss M'Millan j2v . ' Married Ladies' Race.—Mrs Gilmour 1, Mrs Wilson 2, Mrs Stephenson 3. Returned Soldiers' Race.—W. Gadsby 1, E. Bisset 2, W.'Hughes 3. Boys' Race (12 to 14).—H. Clements 1, T. Penman 2. Race.—W. Stephenson 1, J. Sutton 2. Baby Show^—Mrs Forrester's 1, Mrs Pil-i grim's 2, 3/ Mrs Clarkson's 4. | Business People's Race.—H. Telford 1, L. Penman 2. . • Hewers and Shiftmen's Race. —J. M'Aulay 1, R. Prescott 2, J. Thomson 3. Truckers' Handicap.—W. -Hanson 1, F. Johnston 2, T. Thomson 3. Ladies' Consolation Race.—Mrs Dunn 1, Mrs Prescott 2, Mrs Welsh 8. Obstacle Race—N. Bisset 1, J. Westell 2. Youths' Race (14 to 18).—G. Hanson 1, II Penman 2. jf . Girls' Race (12 to 16), special.—Miss Gribben i; Miss Welsh 2, Miss Bennie 3. Surfacemen's Race. Little 1, T. .Middlemass 2.--Skipping Competition.—Miss Welsh 1, Misa M'Millan 2. .Tug-of-war Kaitangata No. 1 mine,.team (A. E. Chapman, R. Grundy, J. o'Pee,.P. Prescott, R. Prescott, W. Proctor, R, Williarrason, and G. Smith, captain) beat No. 2 mine and Castle Hill mine teams. Committee Race.—W. Clarkson 1, E. Payne 2, A. Stanaway 3, J. Piatt 4, G. Smith 5, A. E. Chapman 6.