Drapers' Picnic.

Observer, Volume XIV, Issue 795, 24 March 1894, Page 17

Drapers' Picnic.

' Thr beat picnic tip to date ' seems to be the opinion of ' the trade ' concerning the annual outing which eventuated last week at St. Heliet's Bay. It was certainly a very jolly affair. The Eagle made two trips, and conveyed, altogether, some 700 or 800 people to the festive scene. The sports, as usnal, proved the most attractive feature of the proceedings, although a good many couples seemed to prefer a scramble over the rooks or a quiet stroll on the sands, with a view to ascertaining what the wild waves were saying. The sports were thoroughly well contested The drapers don't do things by halves. When they have a picnic they enjoy themselves. And the ' bosses ' seemed just as full of fun and enthusiasm as the ' hands ' The Employers' Bace, 100 yards handicap, brought out a field of four. Mr McCullagh (who ran like a ' pro ') pulled this off with ease, Mr Todd being second. In the married men's race, 100 yards, Mr Chappell won, but it was a close shave ; Mr Kitching second. The ladies' races caused much fun. Miss Hogan won the 50 yards' handicap for girls, Miss Chappell second. The ladies' 75 yards' handicap was appropriated by Miss Pegler, Miss Eiley second. The steeplechase, one mile, resulted in a win for Mr Hanson, Mr Atkins second. Court Bros.' team again won the tug-of-war. But we haven't the spaoe to deal with half the sports, which lasted all the afternoon. Much of the success of this most en j oyable outing wbb undoubtedly due to the thorough way in whioh the committee, consisting of Messrs Atkin, Hopkins, Hall, Kitching, Page, Chappell, G. Port, Orr, F. "Wilson, C. Morgan, (sec), and Chappell (treasurer) worked it up beforehand, their efforts on, the day being most ably seconded by the judges and other officials. Messrs Hopkins, PosteJ, and Nicholls acted as the judges, the starter was Mr Geo. Court, the recorder Mr E. Hall and the call steward Mr Masher Pyke, who was as usual, much in request with the girls. The ' Eagle ' returned to town shortly before eight. If the drapers do as well next year, they will have reason to feel satisfied.

Mr Edward Wayte, the well-known general agent, has a business announcement in advertising columns.

Fee Mr &. H. Jones' announcement in this issue. Mr Jones' establishment (City Market) always attracts the notice of passers-by. His show of song: .birds, talking birds, poultry and beautiful flowers is very striking.

1 Robson's ' exists no longer. This popular Queen-street restaurant has passed into the hands of Mr Waters, the wellknown restaurateur, who has re-christened the establishment 'The Auckland Coffee Palace.' Under the Waters regime the restaurant has been much improved. A number of new bed-rooms have been added while the whole place has been redecorated. Thanks to these improvements, a good table, and the generally brighter and more attractive appearance of the place, it is rapidly growing in favonr, its accommodation, ample as it is, being constantly taxed to the uttermost.

•Peddy Davis, the ventriloquist, tells a story about an elephant worth hearing. Teddy was a passenger from 'Frisco to Auckland once. A small circus was aboard, bound for the Sandwich Islands. It included a young elephant, which became such friends with the ventriloquist that it would roar whenever it caught sight of him. At Honolulu Mr Davis decided to give a one-night show. He went ashore to make arrangements, and returning to the ship found a crowd of natives gathered around the elephant. It screamed with pleasure, as usual, directly it saw him. The natives were astonished. They were still more astonished when the elephant said to the ventriloquist : ' Where have you been all the morning? 1 'Getting ready for to-night,' replied Teddy. ' Shall we have a good house ?' demanded the elephant. ' I think so,' replied Teddy. 'Glad of that,' growled the elephant. 'What are you going to do for us to-night ?' asked Davis. * Ob, tell fortunes and sing a song,' said the elephant. The house was a bumper' that night. Everybody was full of the 'talking elephant.' But it talked no more, and the cirous man meeting Teddy in Auckland later on told him he could have done splendidly with the elephant in the Islands if he had had anybody to 'make it talk.' But the natives lost all interest in it as soon as it lost its voice.

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