GARDEN FETE AT LEPPERTON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 57, 23 March 1900, Page 2

GARDEN FETE AT LEPPERTON.

A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. The Lepperton people are to be congratulated upon the success which attended the garden fete held on Thursday in aid of the Patriotic Fund, and for providing an outing which, for enjoyableness, it would be hard to excel, j The fete was held in the beautiful grounds of Mrs. Ellis-McTaggarr, whose! kindness in throwing them open to the public is worthy of the highest praise. The day being perfect in respect to weather, large numbers of people from Inglewood, Waitara, and New Plymouth were present, and the attendance was considerable. The sceno on entering the grounds was very picturesque, crowds being assembled on the lawn, under the shady trees, and on the grandstand of the racecourse. The Town Band, under Mr. Garry, ; were on the lawn, and during the day played many fine selections in their I well-known style. Tea was dispensed during the whole of the afternoon, the tables being laid in the avenue, the trees on either side providing shelter from the sun's rays. An innovation much appreciated was the placing of small tables in various parts of the avenue, thus allowing two or four persons, as the case might be, to partake of tea without being subjected to the crush usually experienced at long tables. The supply of provisions, including 1 ; delicacies of all sorts, was a revelation, as, though the demands were enormous, there was no lack of the good things.: The ladies who provided have reason to feel proud of their efforts, and also for the manner in which they attended to the. wants of those present. A fruit stall in charge of several ladies was also in evidence, at which fruit, lollies, and other luxuries could be obtained. Fortune-telling was also in full swing. The racing was entered into with great spirit, and' , large fields were the order of the day. j The weighing of the riders was primi-1 tive, but, nevertheless, satisfactory, the horsemen being suspended from . steel-yards. A feature of the pro-' gramme was a Kescue Race between! members of the Hawera Mounted) Rifles. The modus operandi was as follows:—Eight men on foot took up a! position some one hundred yards distant j from an equal number of mounted! men, and commenced firiug. On the j 1 sound of the first shot the mounted men galloped up to them, and each took \ one of the dismounted on behind him on the horse and galloped with the; double burden for the winning post. I The movement was splendidly carried out, and was loudly applauded. AJ sprint race took place between Mr. L.! Sarten and Mr. G. Clarke, the latter I conceding his agile opponent thirty j yards in a hundred. Mr. Sarten was rather at a disadvantage by reason of; ao injury to one of his legs, but other- i wise seemed extremely fit. The race! was looked forwaid to with interest, 1 but, unfortunately, when the pistol »ounded Mr. Clarke f ,iled to get away, ».nd Mr. Sarten, getting off quickly, lud an easy win. During the day, 5 Lieutenant Matthews, Captain Hood, ; and Messrs. McTaggart and W. E. i Spencer raked in about .£6 by the sale' \f a gums roc star, which wrs sold ar.d resold times innumerable, the highest bid boing £l. Lieutenant Matthews »ct£d as auctioneer, and expatiated on' he quality o : the bird to such in ■xt-r,t that purchasers wera made to -.•e!i=ve they were securing a treasure. The auc'ioresr, however, seemed undecided as to tin bird's breeding. The tcce hhould result in a substantial hHp 'o the Fund, and Mr. and Mrs McTaggart and others who took the affair in land are deserving of public thanks ■'or having plarned an outing which ,«'as enjoyed by everyone present,