The Sounds Trip 1954

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THE SOUNDS TRIP 1954. The Club trip to the sounds for 1954 started with the arrival of all personnel at the Queen's Wharf Gates in time to board the "Tamahine" for Picton. There were general introductions to the Masterton People and a reintroduction to Ted who had assumed the name of a female to board the steamer. There was the usual pandemonium on boarding the "Tamahine". Along with hundreds of other people we crowded onto the ship and went in search for a place for the night.After an uneventful trip across to Picton we all left the ship feeling in need of sleep and a meal. The meal was obtained at one of the hotels in Picton from which we walked back to the launch landing. The trip on the launch to Onehaua Bay was made in brilliant sunshine and with stops at other bays en-route we had a delightful trip. Then the walk over the track to our launch waiting at Te Mahia and around to Broughton Bay and from there to the cottage. On arrival at the cottage those on cook duty produced lunch after which the party split into several groups, some swam; some pitched horseshoes and others just sat. Friday Evening was spent very quietly with the card players and book readers following the people who were in bed at an early hour. Saturday dawned bright and clear and the party was away to an early start for the day's fishing. An hour and a halfs run from Broughton Bay brought us to our first fishing ground. All lines were eagerly cast over but the fish were only biting on a few so we moved off to another ground. This went on for most of the morning with great jubilation from the people who caught their first fish. We disembarked for lunch at a small bay. The food was apportioned and a queue formed so that each person received his or her ration. The odd pieces of bread and jam left were placed on a rock near the waters edge where those who were still hungry raced for them. Back on board the launch we worked our way homewards occasionally fishing as we went. Some were getting a "lion's share" of the fish while others were catching few. Among the few was Johnny who had put in a hard day's fishing for no reward. Great was her,delight when pulling her line in after having had it untangled from the other side of the launch, to find a fish dangling on the end. Poor Johnny! How her delight changed to dismay when she discovered that her fish had been dead for some hours. Russ beat a rather hasty retreat in preference to a swim. Fishing was called off for the day following this episode and we settled down for the trip back. Those in the cabin enjoying peace and quietness were soon disturbed. In a matter of moments there were squeezed into a small cabin which had been peacefully holding about fifteen people, the whole party of twenty-seven. There were times in the general melee when no one quite new whose leg or arm belonged to whom. Thus the time passed and once more we were back at the cottage where for dinner a fish entree was served. Saturday Evening was spent in various feats of strength and agility. Table Traversing was first tried and although most of the men present could traverse the table athwartships none could traverse from stem to stern. When this sport began to bore us we were treated with the spectacle of Bill turning himself into a knot around a. broomhandle. This had to be seen to be believed. Several had a try but none was as adept as Bill until Betty showed how simple it was. A competition was then begun with Bill carrying the honours but later he had to admit defeat by Betty. While all this was going on outside we had Audrey practising picking up a cigarette paper with her lips from the floor, Why she did this I can't imagine but eventually she appeared and showed us how it was done. My only reaction was one of regret at having left my catapult at home. This. sport of the evening came to a close with the game of reaching for the matchbox following which we had supper and while some retired to bed others carried on in another room. Sunday Morning saw Dave organising a party for Schnapper Point. They set off at an early hour leaving the rest to amuse themselves. Some of the people went for walks and the others just sat. Sunday Afternoon meant cricket for those left except for the Leader, Diana and Russell, who paid a welcome (to them) social call on Mrs. Greenshill. A very pleasant afternoon was spent with a most enjoyable afternoon tea. Dave's party arrived back at a late hour with a fantastic tale of a schnapper they had caught. I've never known a fish grow so rapidly in so short a space of time. Sunday Evening started off rather tamely until Diana and Mary decided to play ghosts. Their suspicious movements aroused the attention of some of the boys who investigated. The first attack was repulsed with Bill having "Fuller's Earth" thrown in his eye. Our casualty was treated and a more concentrated attack followed resulting in the door to the girls' room being forced and everyone charging in. By the light of numerous flashlights Horri was seen with a sheet draped over his head and shoulders looking for insects on the wall. On turning to the crowd his face was seen to be covered in "Fuller's Earth" which some thought an improvement. Diana and Mary were thoroughly disgusted at their attempted ghost turn falling flat.and the writer has never quite been forgiven for the part he played. After this anti-climax the evening proceeded rather leisurely with a crail percentage retiring to bed right after supper. Monday was another good day with the party, leaving the house clean and tidy, departing for home at 11-30 a.m. The trip back to Picton was a repitition of Friday Mornings trip. In Picton we had tea and boarded the "Tamahine" for home. Several of the passengers on the ship cast longing eyes at Hugh sitting in the middle of a hatch with the party around him dispensing bread and peanut butter. Thus the time passed and we were soon in Wellington and home.