CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 38, 9 January 1885, Page 11

CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY

The Society's annual picnic took place on New Year's day, and on this occasion Heathcote Valley, a place nearer home, was decided upon as a change to our usual place of resort, Governors Bay. Governors Bay is, however, well adapted to satisfy a variety of tastes, as it contains so many attractions and is so full of matters of interest ; • therefore, it is a favourite spot with the members of the Society, and' next year I suppose they will, -their way thither as on former occasions. But the Valley is by no means an uninteresting locality, especially when viewed from the spot where our pirty halted for the day. Here the hills rise abruptly before the beholder to a consider- , able height, and seem as if suddenly thrown up to their present elevation by some mighty volcanic agency in ages long past. In many places their summits are covered with naked rocks, wild and majestic, standing forth in a sort of silent grandeur and beauty, particularly when lit up by the golden rays of the sun, flooding not only them but the whole Valley with its bright beams.

The place of rendezvous previous to starting for the Valley was the' Christchurch railway - station. There all the members of the Society were to assemble by ten o'clock in the forenoon, . and then to proceed to the place selected for the picnic by the first train leaving after that time. But owing to the heavy downfall of rain the day before, and to the unpromising aspect of the morning, only a few were gathered there at this hour, besides the President (Mr. O'Connor^ the Bey. Father Bowers the (spiritual director). However, the day became subsequently fine, aud no great amount of time parsed before the rest of the party followed. The place being arrive! at, in ashore time ayiriety of games were commenced. As some of the parcy had broaght with them cricketing materials, very soon a company was formed, and a fair amount of play ensued. In another part, and with ano'her section a football proved a great source of amusement. Besides these, other modes of passing the time innocently and agreeably were inaugurated, in which not only men, but ladies took part — all of which were kept up with great spirit and interest during most of the time of our entire stay in the Valley, except when it was. necessary to attend to another matter — by no means an unimportant one, after hours of recreation in the " caller air," coming down from off the hills in all its purity, — the matter of refreshment.

At these times all were invited to converge to one point, to make the carpet of green grass with which tbe little paddock was covered, do the duty of chairs ; and though many things were absent

which perhaps a Piccadilly swell or other whose mind is about as romantic as tbe back yard of a brick house, would consider indispensable, as each had brought enough for his own requirements and to spare, there was indeed no lack of the main thing, that is, of all kinds of eatables, both plain as well as others, well calculated to please an apetite most fastidious. Luncheon being over, all ths usual games were resumed. It may be mentioned that in the enclosure there were some high trees, also an unoccupied house, and that the latter proved quite a boon to many of the fair 6ex, as it served as a sort of retreat in which to enter when fatigued with taking part in frames, or wishful to escape the too ardent flame of the sun's rays. Furthermore, several of our men climbed the hills for the purpose of beholding the Regatta, then taking place in Port Lyttelton, and to enjoy tbe magnificent scenery to be witnesssd from their tops. Stretching away as far as the eye could reach, to the east and to the South, the Pacific Ocean met one's view, white with thousands of crested billows, eternally heaving, and all seemingly rolling in rapid succession to tbe shore ; while to the north and west, a consideiable track of the Canterbury plains could be seen covered with clumps o£ trees, and other indications of settlement and cultivation. What a different aspect these plains now present since the time they were first witne^ed from the some place, about 35 years ago by the late Lord Lyttelton, who is said to have remarked at the time, that they never could possibly be settled upon from the mere waut of materials with which to construct fences. His Lordship was not then aware, nor perhaps any other man, how well tha gorse plant will flourish in these paits, and of the extensive use of it yet to bo made in the matter of fences, ami that the early settlers on the plains would succeed, not only in making fences out of the ground itself, but even dwelling houses. After the Rev. Father Bowers had spoken a few words, to the effect that it had given him not a little pleasure to be present at the picnic, and to have observed how well we had enjoyed ourselves, the pirty broke up to return to Christchurch by the 7 o'clock train. Great praise is due to the Rev. Father Bowers for kiudly accompanying us, and for the interest taken by him in the matter generally, also to Mr. O'Connor, our worthy President, likewise to Mr. William Hoban, who was first to suggest the idea of going to the Valley, and to whose exertions the succ-jss of the entire excursion is mainly attributable ; to Mr. Gilmour,;Station-master at the Valley, who kindly lent us the paddock, and furnished us with the key of the empty house, and lastly, but by no means the least amount of our thanks is due to Mr. Holland, our commissionaire.