STEWART ISLAND NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 22157, 27 October 1933, Page 12

STEWART ISLAND NEWS

PERSONAL. (From Our Correspondent.) Mr W. A. McCaw, of Invercargill, arrived on Saturday to spend a few days on the island. He is a guest at Ferndale House. Miss M. Lush, Invercargill, is a guest at Woodslea House. The Rev. R. C. Boyd, V/aikaia, is spending a few days with his daughter, Mrs W. Oswald. The Rev. J. T. and Mrs Bate, of Australia, have arrived to relieve the Rev. J. N. Goodman, Vicar of St. Andrew’s Church. Mr Goodman has been granted two months’ leave. Mrs W. A. Stout and her daughters, Mrs H. Mitchell and Miss M. Stout, arrived on Saturday to spend a fortnight at the Island. Guests at Ferndale House over Labour Day week-end included: Miss Edgar (Tapanui), Miss Service (2, Invercargill), Miss Percy (2, Seward Downs), Miss Wallace (Queenstown), Miss Gregory (Invercargill), Messrs Taylor (Invercargill), Allen (Invercargill), Pollock (3, Invercargill), Chaytor (Dunedin), McCaw (Invercargill), Willett (Invercargill) and Bricknell. Mr R. Barnsdale, Invercargill, spent the week-end at the Island. Mr William Todd, Invercargill, was a passenger for the Island on Saturday. He returned to town on Monday. Mrs G. Gregg, Halfmoon Bay, was a passenger for the mainland on Monday. Mr C. Jamieson, Invercargill, is spending a few days on the Island. He is a guest at Oban House. Mrs J. R. Hamilton, Bluff, spent the week-end at the Island. She was a guest at Oban House. Fellowship Class. Under ideal weather conditions the Fellowship Class held its annual picnic on Labour Day. It proved to be the most successful outing since the inception of the class and great credit is due to the special committee consisting of Messrs Norman Jensen, Jack Hamilton, William Dawson jun., Russell Smith and Thor Nilson for undertaking the complete arrangements for the day.

At 10 a.m. the launch Valmai left Halfmoon Bay wharf with about 30 members and friends bound for Port William which was reached shortly after eleven o’clock. While the billies were being boiled a number of the picnickers explored the little waterfall on the beach and also some of the relics (tripots, etc.) of the whaling days some 50 years ago when Port William was used as a whaling base. This early settlement became totally uninhabited until a year or so ago when a gold prospector camped there in search of gold.

After lunch the whole party was ably conducted through the bush to Sawyer’s Bay where an enjoyable and thrilling few minutes were spent scrambling over the rocks in order to reach a miniature cave. On returning to Port William sports events were held on the beach, the following being the prize-winners:—100 Yards Sprint (men): J. T. Gardiner 1, G. Mcßemey (Invercargill) 2, G. F. Brown 3. 50 Yards Sprint (ladies): Miss Nellie Hamilton 1, Miss Ethel Hicks 2. Potato Race (men): G. Mcßerney 1, J. T. Gardiner 2. Blindfold Race: W. Robertson jun. 1. Egg and Spoon Race (ladies): Miss Beryl Harrison 1, Miss Sybil Smith 2. Sack Race (men): Q. Hamilton 1, J. T. Gardiner 2. Sack Race (ladies): Miss Ethel Hicks 1, Miss Beryl Harrison 2. Wheelbarrow Race (men): W. Robertson jun. and W. Hamilton (dead heat) 1. Matrimonial Race: W. Robertson jun. and Miss Roma Smith 1. Threelegged Race: Russell Smith and W. Robertson jun. 1. At the conclusion of the sports afternoon tea was served and at a suitable interval, Mr J. T. Gardiner paid a tribute to the committee members for carrying out the day’s programme in a most efficient and capable manner. He also extended a welcome to the Rev. R. C. Boyd, of Waikaia, and late of Stewart Island, as well as other visitors from the mainland. Mr Jack Hamilton replied on behalf of the committee, and Mr Boyd and Mr Burnett (Otautau) expressed pleasure for the opportunity of being present. Both speakers endorsed Mr Gardiner’s remarks concerning the excellent arrangements made by the committee. When a start was made for home eleven of the party set out for Maori Beach under the guidance of Mr Brown (schoolmaster at Maori Beach) and after traversing the 31 miles of beautiful bush track, the majority joined the waiting launch. Five of the more energetic members carried on and walked to Halfmoon Bay, covering a total distance of about 11 miles, and arrived a few minutes ahead of the launch. On disembarking three cheers were given for the crew of the Valmai. Labour Day Week-end.

Although the weather last Saturday was somewhat wintry, nevertheless, a fair number of people made the trip to the island. In common with many parts of Southland, there were light snowshowers during the morning and it was feared that this would deter many people from leaving their homes. However, as the afternoon wore on conditions rapidly improved and the visitors were rewarded by a fine week-end. Owing to the death of Mr John Bragg, a well-known and respected resident, conditions in the township were not normal and one or two fixtures were postponed, including a concert by an Invercargill party which had been arranged for by the local Presbyterian Church committee. The services in the Presbyterian Church on Sunday were taken by the Rev. R. C. Boyd, of Waikaia, a former resident minister on Stewart Island, and in the Church of England the services were taken by the Rev. J. T. Bate, of Australia.