INVERCARGILL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 44, 1 March 1895, Page 19

INVERCARGILL.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

February 16, 1895. LAST week the children attending the Catholic schools held their annual picnic, which turned out a very successful affair. The day broke very inauspiciously. Heavy showera fell during the morning) and the weather looked most unfavourable for an outing. However, by eleven o'clock moit of the children had assembled at the railway Btation and were soon epeedißg on to Ocean Beach, the site chosen for the picnic, and with the exception of a slight shower soon after landing there, the rain, though threatening, held off during the remainder of the day. After luncheon the business of the day com" naenced, and the children were constantly engaged racing, jumping, skipping, and scrambling. They entered into the sports with all their youthful enthusiasm and apparently thoroughly enjoyed themselves. But the piece de resistance was the tug-of-war, manio.d ladies v. single. A goodly team of each " toed the mm k," and th ) struggle though not prolonged, wag fierce. Each side put forth its utmott strength, and if a few did fall, v only refl "cted more credit on those who stood up. After a brief struggle the end came ; the superior weight and form of the married ladiei asserted itself and, " tell it not in Gath," the single ladies were pulled over the mark. A loud cheer greeted the victors, who immediately repaired to their luncheon baskets, and, doubtless, made up their spent energy. A facetious onlooker said the struggle reminded him of the lines (somewhat altered) of a famous poet :—: — They pull, they strain, they tug ; Down, down they go, The single above, the married below. It was darkly hinted that the single ladies purposely allowed therop^ to slip to see their opponents measure their length on Mother Earth, but as this was always whispered with bated breath and never in the presence of the victor*?, I leave you to form your own conclusions. The committee are to be congratulated on the successful way they kept the fun going, the children appeared pleased with their prizes, and the whole proceedings passed off without a hifch. A word of praise is also due to th« ladies who undertook the onerous duty of canvassing for subscriptions, and for the success that attended their labours. The Catholic schools reopsned a fortnight ago after midsummer vaction. The Rev Father Verekcr made a strong appeal to parents to do all in their power to m untam their schools. A small measure of justice had been obtained in having our schools examined by Government inspectors. He had no fear of the result if the parents would only do their part. Yet they could uot expect the teachers to do impossibiliiPß, and unlass parents sent their children regularly to school it would be impossible for the pupils to pasa their stindards. The Rev Father told parents that if their children were Dot present a certain number of days during the year they would not be presented for examination, aad he concluded by exhorting all to do tle;r duty in that respect. The annual games of the Irish Athletic Society promise to be this yeai more successful than ever. Nearly £100 is to be given in prizes. The programme includes, besides the bhtffipld handicup of £30 and a trophy, a mile and a quarter-mile race, 100 yds maiden race, Irish dancing, and all kinds of athletic sports. Enquiries have been made concerning the Sheffield handicap from as far North as Rangier.* »Dd Gisborne, and aU our local peds are in training fur the various event*, so that given a fine day everything augurs well (or a very successful meeting.

Persons interested in selecting monuments or other fittings for the graves of their relatives oi friends will do well to visit the yard of Mr Tait, corner of Cdshel and Montreal streets, (Jhristchnrcb. They will find there an extensive aad admirable stock, offered at very low prices.