AUNT HILDA’S LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20233, 17 February 1934, Page 18 (Supplement)

AUNT HILDA’S LETTER.

GAY DOINGS ON PICNIC DAYS.

Two Happy Outings

J)EAR STARLETS I've two picnics to tell you of to-night, one past, one to come. Last Sundav our staff picnic *3'ed over to s Quail Island. Sunday is the only possible day our staff can all meet off duty, as you all want newspapers six days of the week, and some of us work by day and the ethers at night. It was a beautiful day and we all jostled into carriages together; the people who gather the news (like the bees gather honey! I, the people who put it in type on the great linotype machines; the people who make the pictures for our page; the ones who work the great rotary press midi those who tie up and distribute the papers. Even the men who come round to collect your money were there! Quail Island is an ideal picnic place, with a lovely short launch journey after the train journey to Lyttelton. There are trees and baches on the island and a lovely bathing beach. It covers about 300 acres in all, and the beach is sheltered from the east wind. Many years ago a portion of the island was used as a leper station, but to-day it is leased by a Christchurch resident, from whom permission must be obtained to use the island. We had all sorts of sports with lovely prizes; free ice-creams, sweets and drinks and all sorts of fun and happiness. The grown-ups lined up for their bag of sweets just like the children and thought it all the greatest fun. We had promised to leave the island as clean as we found it, and after tea the order went round that all papers and litter were to be gathered by those responsible and brought to the copper-fire. In about five minutes the whole place was clean and everybod}' did their own little bit. That’s a good motto to remember, Starlets. Keep your rubbish and your temper. Nobody wants them. Ha! Ha! Elsewhere on the page you’ll see about the other picnic next Saturday. But our jolly staff picnic remains a delightful memory. And all the people that all the rest of the week seem part of the big machines suddenly seemed very human, and the day was full of pleasantry and happy good fellowship. Nearly 300 of us there were altogether, but there are many more people than that connected with a huge organisation like the “ Star.” So cheerip to you all and keep on working as you are doing. It’s just fine !