OUR ILLUSTRATIONS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue IX, 31 August 1901, Page 400

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS

CHILDREN AND FLOWERS.

A number of ladies and gentlemen assembled at the Mount Eden public school grounds, Auckland, on Tuesday of last week, the occasion being the presentation of the champion floral banner won at the last children's flower show. In making the presentation Professor Thomas congratulated the school on the result of their efforts. It was an honour to them that Mount Eden should be the first name to be inscribed on the banner. He trusted that tney would make a fight to retain it, aud he hoped that the fight would be a good one on the part of all the schools. The professor then went on to give the children some hints as to what was essential to success with flowers. The head master (Mr Alfred Hosking) in returning thanks to Professor Thomas said that they were honoured in the presence of the professor on that occasion. and also in that of Mrs Thomas, to whom the foundation of the children's flower show was due. He hoped that they would be able to retain the banner this year also, and he would be delighted if his school should win by a margin of one point. Three cheers for Professor and Mrs Thomas and the head master concluded the proceedings. On leaving Professor Thomas requested that the children should be given a half holiday to commemorate the occasion, and this was agreed to. In addition to the banner, and as a personal memento of the occasion, the Horticultural Society presented each of the prize winners with a silk badge entitling them to free admission to the society's shows throughout the year. AUCKLAND'S FUTURE FIGHTERS. We continue this week our pictures of the Cadet Corps of the Auckland public schools, the corps published being thosfl of Newton West, Richmond Road. Beresford-street, Wellesley street, Napier-street, and Northcote Schools. NORTHCOTE AND BIRKENHEAD. These marine suburbs of Auckland have of late years increased wonderfully in popularity, and indeed for healthiness, beauty and convenience to town they can hold their own against any of the suburban districts of the northern city. A good ferry service brings the residents as near to Queen-street as the dwellers of Epsom or Remuera, and they have an advantage over the latter in the invigorating breezes they have perforce to inhale in the trip across the harbour. No view of the city can surpass that obtained from Birkenhead, when Auckland in all its width and length, from Ponsonby to Remuera. and from the wharf to Mount Eden, lies stretched out before the eye; while Northcote, the Lake, Devonport. Rangitoto, and the headlands and islands of the gulf are all comprised within the magnificent prospect. From their natural position as well as from the fact that in their vicinity the land is. comparatively cheap, these suburbs cannot but share very largely in every measure of prosperity and advancement achieved by Auckland. Our pictures give a series of views of the districts that have not yet appeared. THE MERCER CANOE BUILDERS. A ceremony which excited great interest- amongst the Lower Waikato Maoris took place on Saturday last at Mereer. It was the formal christening of two new canoes, which hare been built for racing purposes on the Waikato, and which will compete for the first time at the Mercer regatta next December. One of the canoes, which is called the "Matiu Hanata," is 72ft. 9in. long, and is constructed of kahikatea. The other is named the “Erueti" (Edwards), and is cut out of a rimu tree: it is 52ft. long. Both canoes were dubbed out in the bush at Pukekawa, on the western bank of the Waikato, and were hauled by large parties of natives to the river, the hauling-out operation taking two or three day*. The construction of

the canoes was supervised by Te Aho-o-te-Kangi and Kima, of Kangirm. u* Saturday the canoes, one manned by a full crew of men. and the other paddled by women, were brought np to the river side at Mereer, where about two hundred Maoris were assembled. Mr J. Thomson, of the Auckland Northern Rowing Union was present, and christened the canoes on behalf of the Union and the Mercer Regatta Association. He made a short speech complimenting the natives on their enterprise in making the canoes, and expressed a hope that the next regatta at Mercer would be a most successful one. Te Morehu responded on behalf of the Maoris. The crews paddled up and down the river during the afternoon and sang some canoe-songs.