VISIT TO WELLINGTON

Wairarapa Daily Times, 26 September 1933, Page 5

VISIT TO WELLINGTON

BY MASTERTON CHILDREN. A VERY HAPPY DAY. About 170 children together with teachers and parents left at 7.40 a.m. yesterday for a visit to Wellington. The weather was beautiful but quickly changed —rain being experienced all the way down. At Wellington the sun broke through as the children and teachers arrived, and though a cold wind blew only one shower was experienced during their stay, v On arrival rolls were made up and checked. Then all marched _to the wharf where lunch was had in Shed 31. Seats and tarpaulins were provided by the Harbour Board and raspberry drink by the headmaster. The first act on arrival was for two prefects, Una Selby and Ruth Maclcay, to take on board the Australian warship a big bunch of narcissus for the officer commanding. After lunch the party divided into groups and went round the wharves and into town. One laige group went to 2YA and saw the studios —incidentally meeting Aunt Molly in the flesh. Another party made a name for themselves as fishermen. At two o’clock the party was divided into eight groups and each group was given .a guide by the officer commanding. Many of the children became so fascinated that they could not leave the particular thing that atti acted them. It was these lone searchers after truth who learned the truth of Kipling’s “Poseidon’s Law,’’ for the sailors were “splendaciously mendacious’’ with a vengeance. All children were piped off by the boatswain’s whistle used through the microphone and loud speakers. After checking the rolls all children were lined up on the wharf alongside the ship and three cheers were called for, and very heartily given to the officers and another three for the crew. The train arrived home well up to time, where the children were met by a large crowd of parents who perhaps had visions of wet, cold, miserable children. Fortune, however, favours the bold, and no child was wet and certainly none was miserable. Thus ended a very happy day. The party was arranged bv the Masterton Central School staff. Overheard on the ship:—

Child: Why does that sailor have to walk up and down the wharf with a fixed bayonet? Sailor: Oh, that’s in case anyone tries to run away with the blinking ship!