FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' PICNIC.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14353, 27 January 1911, Page 5

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' PICNIC.

—♦ VISIT TO ABHfIPBTOM. 'l*hii whole night thrwugji U* drops hod pattei'«d pw«iM«J»y honnM/opo, and wton morning top#* yoal«rday Timaru *u being oMttolMa by a ruxtouuuii of lionvy siicwem. It wjui a dull outlook for tfi# i'ricndly So* ciot'OK 1 Annual Picnio. Back to til* nuiiieo, and as far us one ooukl wo up td the Kangitata tho laudcoap® W** ob« »;uiod in a grey mantle, and it wn» difficult to perceive any prowpeot of t iluui'ing. Hound for Abhburtou tM liiot picnio train wot, to loavo lit ualfpast eight, but the streets and 111® I'tntioi; wro practically dmorted wtisu tiio hour struck. It wu a oloae JhJIU. day, yet the feetiv# nierry-raakem »w» not making an onrly appearanoe. TU» advanoo guard of the pianiokow pr«sngod no linnvy holidav risk, and the tmin »u only boarded by about two hundred, and nil of tbom well.ol*d in something liko winter woar, but undaunted by the downpour ncyeytlioloss. As tho carriago« aped on their journey, iim« pnesed very quietly, tbo pamngerg sympathised with each otuar ill the oommon mWortuo. but with A»hburton in view everybody wan ready to put tlie boflt foot forward end ipaod tlio day as pleasantly an poosibte. Tho Second train, which loft Timaru at 0,8 n.m., carried lons than 200 passengers, and arrived about fift<>en minutes after tlio first. 'On tlio (station tlio visitor* wore niot by n number of prominent Ashburton people, among them tlio Mayor, Mr Davis, who roio ed a hearty weloomo, regretted exeondingly the unfavourable weather conditions and, aa it wan at ill rninini?,, plaood at tlw picnicker?)' disposal, room* oentrally situated, wlwro they cmild amuse tnenusolves. After All it wmi not bucli a bad day. People In Ashburton are hospitable, and tli« nUniotiona of Ashburton ar® juM> <i« ovidont under a clouded feky an uudor a smiling sun. trtinch timo oamo along, and tlio rain had settled down to a drizzle, and then till drizzle gave way to a pleasant calm. Tho afternoon slipped by surprisingly. In tho Domain the flower-bordflred walks, the little winding stream, and the charming rustic seats, willowshaded, were all captivating In their cleanliness and beauty. Damp uttdfii'foot though it was, tho cloudj had a silver lining-—"it was so rofroßhing after the rain," and the optimists wcro in tho majority. Tliuv smiled lmppilv, reckoned they were glad they hnd some, admired Ashburton immensoly, and said that anyway they oould tee Timaru any oUior day in tne year. A day elsewhere in the rain would not kill them, and people that wore afraid of it oould stay at home. Mention lias already Wn mad# of the kindness of tho resident* of AnMiurton. The Committee wutli to fftank the Mayor Mr Davis, for tlie trouble be took to arrango for a place for holding the sports, eto., the JJomnin being unifuttnble owing to tho wet weatnM' i also Messrs Matson and Co. for placing At the disposal o( the committee their commodious bazaar, and Mr Christian for the use of liift ofAces.

Though the picnic was not a fitianoial success, tlie arrangement# permitted no hitch in the proceedings. The committee worked admirably, Mr L. Junae was an excellent secretary, and the outing to those who made the trip tu nil enjoyable one. The gports wore ot nu interesting nature, ana competition was keen on acoopnt of the substantial prizes generously given by local tradesmen.

Results wore:100 Yards (Open).—J. Suit]) 1, W. Hams 2, H. Clarke 8. 76 Yards (Open). —J. Smith 1, S. William# 8, W. Harris 3. Married L adieu' Bum.—Mrs Mullally 1, Mrs Gibaoa 2, Mi* LeiiHe 8. Men's Kfico, 60 YbjxU, over 40 year*. —Mr Hathaway X, Mr Baker 2. Single Ludies' Race. —Mise F, Fittsimmons 1, Miss Murphy 2. Mist Leopold 8. 160 Yards Flat. —J. Smith 1, E. Brown 2, A. Cokor 3. 76 Yards Sack R»oe.— S. Williams 1. D. Doyle 2, R. Rodger* 8. Extra, Race, lrt prise only. ,60 Yards, Single Ladiee. —Mi* Walker. Committee Raoe. —L. Jonas 1, J. I • Stewart 2, J. MoKeague 8. Children's Race, bovs under 6 years.—C. Leopold 1, E. Rei'd 2. M. Sherry 3. Boys, Under 8.- R. Stechnian 1, 8. Coppin 2, W. Gracie 3. Boys,- under Baker 1, B. Rannay 2, A. Leopold 8. Boys, under 12. —A. Leopold 1, S. Ooppin 2, (3. Tait 8. Sack llaoo. —W. Oracle 1, R. Braasil 2, C. Patching 8. Girls, under 6.—C. Grncie 1, W. Dote* 2. Givls, undM 10. —L. flrahaßi 1, W. Leopold 2, L. Boswarick 2. Girls, under IS. —I. Gibson 1. 15. McDonald 2, M. Cnohrane 3. Girls, dripping, under 12.—L. Pstenwn 1, I. Gibson 2, M. Cochrane 8. Girls, skipping, under 15. T. Gibson 1, R. Sutton 2, E. McDonald 8. Tlte longest Skipper.—K. Tomlin 1, M. Sogar 2, TC. McDonald 8.