EXCURSION FROM PALMERSTON NORTH TO WANGANUI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 1, 3 May 1895, Page 15

EXCURSION FROM PALMERSTON NORTH TO WANGANUI.

The excursion to Wangaoui, organised by the Rev Father Pat terson for his children, took place oi Wednesday, April 24th, and was largely patronised by adults and children. The excursionists thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and retured home in the evening satisfied with the day's amußements. There are fully 1500 passengers^ and the excursion was the largest ever held along this line. Every credit is due to the Rev Father Pattereon, and Messrs J. Oarmody* Aisher and L. Hanlon for the excellent character of the arrange, mentp, the day's programme being carried out without a hitch and with eatiefac ion to all, One of the attractions at Wanganui was an organ recital in the Catholic Ohurch by the Rev Father Patterson, assisted by his choir from Palmerston North, consisting of Misses Rodgers (2), Butler, Stephenson, Brophy Driscoll, Messrs Rodgersand Brophy taking the tenor and bass solos, which was greatly appreciated by the many who were present. During the trip the young people were treated to buns and lollies, and nothing was left undone which would add to their enjoyment. In reference to the excumin, the Feilding Star had the following : — The train which tock the members of the Roman Catholic Ohurch from Palmerston and Feildiag was well patronisad, but owing to a stupid piece of red tapeism on the part of the railway authorities hundreds of people and their children were deprive! of the pleasure of the outing. On previous occasions when these train? have been run no discrimination was made, so that all and sundry took advantage of them. No doubt a number of adults went who could not properly claim tha privilege in a strictly leg*l sense, but io roost cases they went jait for the pleasure of being wiih tbeic frienis an 1 their children. la consequence of that— we conjecture— , an order was issued by the head of the Department to stationmasters to tbe effect that only children attending a private school, with • their guardians or parents, should have tickets issued to them. This waa made public yesterday, and a large number of people who intended to go this morning gave up the idea. Still there was a goodly assemblage on the Btation platform of those who thought there might be a mistake, or some lucky chance would enable them to obtain seats. No tickets were issued unless the conditions were complied witb, but when the train arrived at the platform it waa discovered that Father Patterson, and several of the gentlemen connected with his Church, had provided themselves with an ample supply, There wan a rush for these and everyone who so desired was supplied . We hardly like to comment on the huge blunder that was committed by the Department. If these excursion trips are to be made to pay they must be made popular with the people for whose benefit they were established, and sectarianism or denomi. nationalism, or any other objecdonab'e feature rigidly excluded.