PICNIC AT TUCKURIMBA
Richmond River Herald July 2, 1897.
The picnic and bonfire arranged at Tuckurimba to celebrate the record reign of her Majesty the Queen was a most successful affair. An early start was made in the forenoon with a picnic given to the children and the first part of the program was a march three times round the public school ground led by Mr McKenzie, piper to the Richmond River Caledonian Society playing the “Campbells are Coming” while elder sisters and brothers, parents and friends looked on with smiling faces. The children seemed to be mesmerized by the wild notes of the pipes, but acted their parts well. The march broke the ice and the amusements for the day started with a joyous shout and what with foot racing for prizes, rounders and all the other innocent amusements so dear to children time soon skipped merrily by. Young men and women danced on the green to pipe music or played Jolly Miller and other games while a number of bachelors in search of wives had to exert every muscle in their body in the chase, as the lasses they pursued could skip over the ground like gazelles.
At noon the children were called to lunch which was laid out on tables in the school room and there was plenty and to spare of every dainty that could be thought of. While the picnic was going on at the foot of Baxter’s Hill, there was a band of men with willing hearts and hands working like titans on the very crest of it, erecting a huge pile of timber to be set on fire at 7.30 p.m. How these men must have worked, only 15 of them, a few teams of horses and limited time to do the work. As the time to light the fire came, a crowd of enthusiastic people gathered. The pile was kindled to a lively tune on the pipes and as the fire lighted the place, groups of people could be seen in all directions hurrying thither, and by the time the flames was in full blaze, there was a great concourse of people assembled. A surprise now awaited us, as from mysterious place, hampers of good things to eat were brought forward and opened. The Queen’s health was drunk in flowing bumpers of Real McKay with a three times three, and a volley of firearms, then followed toasts, speeches, songs and dances, and all disported themselves to their heart’s content.
Votes of thanks were cordially tended to the workers, viz Messrs Keehn, Milgate Bros, McAughey, Greber, E. McLean, Morris, Piper McKenzie and Baxter – father and son. Mr. Baxter Senior was the life of the whole affair. The Messrs Milgate and Baxter Senior sang several good songs during the evening, while Mr Morris performed wonders on that complicated musical brass instrument the trombone and his rendering of the National Anthem was a treat.
The day’s celebrations on the whole were a huge success, from the starting of the picnic in the morning until the finish at 11p.m. Around the monster bonfire, and not one single hitch occurred to mar the festivities of the day, and all present will remember it as long as they live.
May peace and plenty be their lot
And trouble ne’er be seen,
By those who marked on Baxter’s Hill,
The long reign of our Queen.
A Holiday Trip. DOWN THE RIVER TO BALLINA. (By a Passenger)
Northern Star 10 February 1908
The shrill preliminary whistle of the steamer had aroused many to be ready, and punctually at 3 a.m. the word was given, and the Captain Tom Fenwick started on the holiday excursion to Ballina on Anniversary Day. I do not like such early hours of the morning, but the attractions of a trip down the river with a good sports meeting to follow were too much to resist, so I found myself on board when the boat left Lismore. Prominent among the passengers was a detachment of about 20 members of the Scottish Rifles with Sergeant Kirk in command on their way to take part in Ballina Caledonian gathering, where they afterwards acquitted themselves with considerable credit. We also had on board the Lismore Scottish giant Drum-Major Atkins and the pipes band under Pipe-Major Robinson, who not only seemed to thoroughly understand what to play at the different stops, but what is required to make such a trip pleasant and enjoyable, for he brought with him a huge hamper.
To say that the good things contained in the hamper were appreciated would be to put it very mildly, for the early start and the sharp morning air developed appetites. The genial pipe major supplied cups of tea to all on board, and thankful they were that he had thought to make provision, the ladies especially appreciating the cup “that cheers.” During the early part of the trip the attack upon the good things he had provided was kept up by the military with great vigour, and, if in warfare they were as well backed up by the civilians and ladies, they would prove far harder to dispose of than they found the provisions.
There was a merry party of about two score on board that left Lismore, and though it was some time before there was enough light for any of the scenery to be observed, there was plenty of amusement on board, and the band provided music. Civilians and military were away for a holiday and a good time they had, and they had it though a few of the party went to sleep. In connection with the latter there is a tale of someone who won a pair of gloves, but, as Rudyard Kipling would say, that is another story, and I must not tell tales out of school.
The trip was a pleasant one, and as the sun came out the beauties of the green sloping river banks with their foliage of trees were greatly admired. The skipper (Commodore Jack Woods), the Engineer and members of the crew all laid themselves out to make the trip as enjoyable to the passengers as possible. On the way down the skipper and Engineer (T. Wilson) had a chance to display some of their skill when a sunken log got foul of the propeller and rudder. Two men on one wharf which the boat had passed were to be taken on board but sang out as the boat was being backed to take them on that they would jump. The engines were stopped and they got safely on board but when an effort was made to move the boat it was found that she had touched the mud and the end of a sunken log (the presence of which was unknown), had got in between the propeller and rudder. By a little skilful manoeuvring the boat was soon freed and the journey continued.
At practically every wharf along the river fresh passengers were picked up until on arrival at Wardell there must have been nearly 500 on board. Here the boat was boarded by a police officer, who requested the skipper not “to be overdoing it,” with the result that, greatly to their annoyance and disappointment, persons waiting at wharves further down the river could not be taken on board after the caution. The passengers generally were inclined to think there was no need for any interference, as in the smooth waters of the river, there was no great danger in a little overloading and it would have saved a lot of disappointment to holiday-makers. The arrival was finally made at Ballina in good time, and the 500 happy excursionists unloaded for their day’s enjoyment.
Particulars of the day’s outing have already been given, and it will suffice to say that all had a good time, the return journey being commenced at 6 p.m. with an even larger number on board than were taken down. The trip up the river was enlivened by singing and music by violinists and the band. Some of the dancers who were on board also gave some very good exhibitions of fancy dancing.
The way in which the boat was handled and the passengers safely landed in the dark at the different wharves reflected the greatest credit on the skipper and crew, and showed that the former thoroughly understands the navigation of the river. In fact one gentleman on board said he thought the skipper knew the bottom of the river as well as he did the top and banks. Everything to make the trip enjoyable and plenty of hot water for tea-making was provided on board, and on return to Lismore all the excursionists were satisfied that they had spent a thoroughly enjoyable day.
