PENINSULA SCHOOLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 23

PENINSULA SCHOOLS.

COMBINED PICNIC AND SPORTS.

The public schools on the Otago Peninsula held a combined picnic on Saturday in tne pretty glen above Ross Point. There was a large attendance. The weather was delightfully pleasant, not a breath of the chilly wind which rippled the surface of the harbour finding its way into the warm retreat. The big trees surrounding the picnic ground obscured the direct sunlight from numerous motor cars, and provided dainty nooks for pleased motorists. This sunny glen seems to be popular with week-enders, for numerous little bungalows are dotted round about.

The idea of holding a combined schools* picnic for all the schools on the Peninsula, from Highcliff to Otakou, first suggested itself to Mr W. J. Bennett, headmaster of the Portobello School. In the form of a suggestion he placed it before his school committee, which was so favourably impressed that the other school committees were consulted, with the result that each committee appointed two delegates to a conference. The delegates, after discussing all the details, decided to hold a combined picnic, which would supersede the previous holding of individual school picnics, and the residents of the Peninsula County approved. The committees of one or two of the smaller schools could not see their way to join in, at least, in the first year, but they were not antagonistic. In fact, some of tbe pupils of those schools attended the picnic on Saturday and their parents were also present. The schools which combined to hold the outing were Otakou, Portobello, Broad Bay, North-East Harbour. Highcliff. Sandymount, and Hooper’s Inlet.

The picnic was well organised and was carried out very successfully. The various schools did not lose their individuality by combining. The picnic was organised to avoid that. In the forenoon each school held its own sports on the picnic ground, and in the afternoon the winners competed in the combined schools’ championships. The plan worked out very well. These inter-school competitions formed a good introduction to the Otago schools’ championships to be held at Logan Park on the 21st inst* Every small child received a gift, and the committee also provided a liberal supply of fruit. The usual supply of hot water, milk, etc., was available. The committee expressed its indebtedness to the donor (Mr J. J. Nyhon) of two valuable prizes. Indebtedness was also freely expressed to Mr B. Harris, who placed the picnic ground at the disposal of the committee free of charge, and also rendered valuable personal service in the successful carrying out of the picnic. It was principally a children’s sports gathering, but the adults were not left uncatered for in that respect. In the afternoon a big sports programme for adults brought in entries so freely that several events were ••. ided in heats. Mr J. J. Nyhon, an ex-aihlete, was judge of various field events, and a group of teachers from the city, including Messrs L. Forrester, G. Palmer, A. P. Roydhouse, A. Woods. H. Hawkins, and D. Forsyth took charge of the track fixtures.

The committee had organised the picnic in such a way that everything went off without a hitch, and it was successful beyond the expectations of the organisers.