Te Awamutu and Ōhaupō school children appeared to initially be excluded from a school excursion to Auckland by train to see the Exhibition. The school committee believed a cash guarantee would be required and were not being willing to become guarantor. Two townsmen wired to the District Manager of Railways, informing him they would provide the necessary guarantee. A reply was received that no cash guarantee was required, and the Te Awamutu and Ōhaupō districts were now included in the excursion.
The train would leave Cambridge at 7am, arriving in Auckland at noon and anyone interested could attend. Due to prolonged harvesting operations many settlers had been unable to spare the time to make an extended trip to visit the Exhibition, and who were glad of the opportunity now to see it.
It was predicted the train would be one of the best patronised to leave Waikato and as there was sure to be a large number of adults as passengers, there would be a large and merry crowd.
Te Awamutu school 1899
When open air services by the Salvation Army were held fortnightly at Kihikihi audiences were fairly large but, with the exception of an occasional contribution when a collection was made, they seemed purely curious spectators, and showed no desire to join in the musical portion of the services. More successful was a meeting held by the Army in the old Wesleyan Church. Mrs Captain McCallum gave an earnest and stirring address, illustrating in a graphic manner the work being done in their different Rescue Homes, chiefly among fallen women. Some of the incidents related were those of her own experience.
Mrs McCallum concluded her address which was, with the exception of a few trifling interruptions, listened to with great interest, by appealing for funds for rescue work. She reminded those present that even those who did not quite agree with the general work of the Salvation Army, they must at heart sympathise with them in this branch of their work.
Paterangi’s annual picnic was held in perfect weather, a shower the previous evening having laid the dust and cooled the air. As many as 300 people were present, some from adjoining districts. After luncheon, the Chairman of the School Committee presented each child attending with a book. Foot races for children caused great excitement among the little ones, and each one came in for a prize. Swinging, rounders, French tigue and other games were indulged in by the young men and maidens, while the elders spent a pleasant afternoon chatting over old times, being grouped in the shade around the grounds.
