CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 3, 10 May 1889, Page 23

CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

Oil account of New Year's Day being in this diocese made into a strict holiday, and other circumstances preventing the Society's annual picnic from taking place on Boxing day, the excursion was deferred until Easter Monday last. The weather in tbe morning was rather rainy and unpromising. But about half-past eight tbe sun broke through the heavy overhanging clouds and the day soon became sunny and pleasant. About 9 a.m ., members and their friends, a party of from two to three hundred persona — more would undoubtedly have attended had the weather been f iirer — started from Cathedral

Square in five drags and in a machine which may be considered a carriage, an omnibus, and a drag rolled up into one vehicle. The Society's brass band, led by Mr. Mohr, occupied the first drag. Mr. Murphy, vice president, with two other gentlemen. brught up the rear in a dog-cart. The drive occupied about two and a half hours. The place chosen for the picnic was Mr. Green's plantation at Tai Tapu, a place 16 miles from Obnstchurch. The plantation is situated in a sort of valley or flat betwtea two spurs, ana is a-

bout half a mile wide, and extends back into the hills about the earn

distance. The valley is very level, and is by a road longitudinally divided into two portions. One part, on which is the homestead, forms part of Mr Morton's extensive estate, known as " Ready Station." The other portion is a part of Mr. Green's property, and consists of about ten acres, which are subdivided into six small paddocks, and whicb Mr. Green kindly placed at the Society's disposition. One paddock is mainly planted with blue gums, which are large. Therj are also pines, willows, and poplars in the plantation. The trees are in rowß, and form long avenues, which were most convenient for the races and other sports organised by the society. The road, which for miles skirts the hillsides, extends past the valley. On the plains opposite there is a swamp of a thousand or more acres in extent, and a large expanse of stagnant water called Heady 's lagoon. A splendid view is obtain ible of the plains, of Lake Ell°smere and of the Southern Alps from the summit of a small hill behind the plantation. Tuese mountains now present a sombre aspect. On their , summits vestiges remain only of what at other times is a vast and ' deep snow carpet. Over thj plains numerous clumps of trees mark • the various homesteads. Aurots the lake, which is nineteen f miles broad, Leeston and Southbridge with their surroundings can be • seen. Tai Tapu is a very pretty place and the land there is generally L most excellent. Originally it was very rough, and its present ? attract '.^appearance is the result of much industry. But some of f the laHHr from its low simatio > and its nearness to the hills, i* ; evidently occasionally flooded by continued rains. Everywhere well-

trimmed fences, beautiful paddocks, corn stacks, whole fields green with potatoes and other root crops, also cattle, sheep, and pigs, are noticeable. The melodious strains of the Society's band seemed not to charm much the latter animals, as they usually scampered away as we rode past. In a paddock near the plantation two tents were erected by the caterer, Mr. Hichmott, who provided an abundance and a variety of refresh meats. Much praise is due likewise to the members of the band, to Mr. W. Courtney and to Mr. J. Joyce, the Society's able and indefatigable secretary. About an hour after the arrival of the main party, the Rev. Fathers Marnane and Halbwachs came. Early in the afternoon, the Most Rev. Dr. Grimes, according to his promise, honoured the picnic with his presence. His Lordship, who was accompanied by the Rev. Father Le MenantdesCnesnaisand others, remained for several hours and was attended to by the priests present, to the number of nine, also by the President, Mr. H. H. Loaghnan, and by Messrs R. Lonargan, Chase and W, O'Shaughnessy. Among those who came some distance was the Rev. Father Chervier from Shand's Track. Father Binsfeld was also there, but Father O'Donnell from some cause or other, was not present. Mr. W. Holly, accompanied by Misses M. and E. Holly, also visited the picnic from Leeston. Shortly before returning home, nearly all present were grouped and sketched by Mr. White, a photographist. The Key. Father Halbwachs, and " Basto," to whose nose and ears the tainted ground and the noise of bis master's gun seem agreeble were with the rest immortalised. The pines on one side of the plantation formed an excellent photographic background. The portrait will be an interesting souvenir of the Society's visit to Mr. Green's estate amid the quiet hills at Tai Tapu. There was also at the plantation on the same day another party misnamed the " Bachelor's picnic." This party consisted of thirty persons, all of whom were young, and most of them were ladies. The party arrived in a drag tastesully decorated with ferns, and drawn by four horses. Two or three of the drags in coneeotion with the Literary Society were somewhat overcrowded, and, as the distance was long, in some cases the want of more horsa power was experienced. When returning home the " carriage " which bad been left a long way behind — Deil tak.' the hindmost — became twice planted on a newly gravelled portion of the road near the Magdelene Asylum. Matters were, however, finally set right, and with theetception of this delay, whicb has occasioned not a little mirth, the excursion was a great success, and waa much enjoyed.