WELLINGTON. January 20.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9322, 24 January 1896, Page 6

WELLINGTON. January 20.

An unique picnic was held at Pigeon Bush on Saturday in celebration of the settlement of the Waii*a*rapa Lake difficulty between the Natives and Europeans, which has now been going on for over thirty years. The New Zealand Times gives a pleasing account of it. The Natives of the district were the hosts, and amongst the guests were the Premier, Mrs Seddon, the Misses Seddon, the Hon. Mr Carroll, Dr. Newman, and Messrs Carnell and Fraser, M.H.R.'s. Mr and Mrs G. B. Davy, Dr. and Mrs Fitchett and others from town, besides a number of the settlers in the Wairarapa district. The picnic was held on ground kindly lent by Mr Tringham. Tamahu Mahupuku delivered the speech of welcome, couched in the usual poetical language of the Natives. In this I he referred to the friendly feeling which had always existed between the Natives and Europeans, notwithstanding the differences which they had had. Later on Mr I Buchanan, M.H.R., also referred to this fact, and said this was the only district in the North Island where blood had not been shed. The Premier then made a long speech, in the course of which he said the right of fishing in the Wairarapa Lake must always be held by the natives as it was a right given to them by the Treaty of Waitangi. For this purpose a right-of-way to the Lake, must be reserved, also a piece of land on which the natives can camp when they come for one of their prolonged fishing expeditions. Amongst the chiefs present was Kingi Ngatuere who weighs twentynine stone. Mr Seddon, remarking this gentleman, said he thought the eels of the Wairarapa Lake must possess some especial fatte_i_g* pfbperty and in time to come it wonld possibly be considered a sanatorium. He said it was continually remarked that there was never abanquetwithout the Premier in the midst of it,"but he thought Kingi must have been to more banquets, as he felt quite a skeleton beside him. At the conclusion of this speech, some native youths and maidens went through the poi exercises and haka

after which photographs were taken. During the performance of the haka Mrs Arite Mahupuku and her daughter Miniwa Heremaia placed handsome Maori mats around the shoulders of the Premier and Mrs Seddon. The Premier's mat was interwoven with feathers, amongst which the peacock's f learned brightly. Mr Carroll and Mrs >avy also received mats.

The usual gale of wind greeted the circus upon its arrival here, but it was not sufficiently high to necessitate the postponement of the initial performances. However, the wind steadily rose and the canvas shook in an alarming manner and some of the poles were lifted from the ground, presently there was a snap and one pole went, to De followed shortly after by another, a splinter of which inflicted a scalp wound upon one of the audience. Most of the Eeople were now thoroughly alarmed and egan to rush from the tent, their departure being of a Shakespearian nature, in that they stood not upon the order of their going but went at once. Ladies were to be scon wriggling out under the tent in a manner that at another time would have been considered mirth provoking, but then, taken as a matter of course. To those who went through the recognised exit, tickets were given for the next performance. I wonder that circus proprietors over stop here so badly does the wind invariably treat them. There is now a very high wind blowing, so I am afraid their performance will have to be again postponed.

The performance of "Princess Ida" by the Amateur Operatic Society* did not result in the financial success which usually crowns the efforts of this society. Although it was admirably staged and played it did not take with the public as some of their other works have done, but then, I think, the time was ill chosen, following so closely upon the long seasons given by the Brough and Boucicault and Bland Holt companies. Amateurs, as such, are frequently admirable, but they require to give professionals a wide berth.

Amongst those who have recently arrived from England are Mr and Mrs Strang, of Foxton. Mr E. Pearce and Miss Pearce leave for a trip to England in about two months' time. Mrs Levin and family leave next month. Mr George Hutchison sailed last week for Sydney en route to England. At Melbourne he will meet Mrs Hutchison and family who left Wellington before him. Miss Elliott was married beneath a smiling sun, which warmly shone on Wednesday afternoon when the bride entered the church on the arm of her father, Mr J. Huntley Elliott. The bride looked extremely pretty in a dress of creamy merveilleux, made with the fashionable full sleeves and prettily trimmed with lace, which was ai'ranged from the bodice down the skirt. Her veil, which fell only at the back, was arranged in front with pretty sprays of orange blossoms. The bridesmaids, who numbered five, were the Misses Elliott, Murison and McKellar. They all wore pretty white cream dresses arranged with fichus, and sleeve 3of crinkled gauze. Their charming hats were of drawn white chiffon trimmed with pink blossoms and tied with strings. They carried pretty bouquets of pink geranium. The service was performed by the Rev. Mr Tuckey, and the bridegroom, Mr Murison, was accompanied by Mr G. Elliott as best man. The mother of the bride was handsomely dressed in brown shot silk, with front and trimmings of pinky heliotrope surah. Her bonnet was of brown, and she carried a large bouquet. Mrs George Elliott wore a black dress and pretty heliotrope blouse, over which came straps' of black ; her hat was also of black and heliotrope; Mrs Kennedy wore a handsome grey silk dress, with full satin sleeves; Mrs C. Ilickson was in golden brown silk with beaded trimming to match ; Mrs Pye-Smith was in a black dress with yellow gauze blouse trimmed with black, black and yellow hat • Miss Murison wore blue ; Mrs H. Rose was in a grey silk dress; Miss Stuart wore a pale fawn dress and jacket, and a hat much trimmed with deep pink ribbon; Miss K. Johnston wore a white dress figured with black, large white hat and heliotrope coloured bouquet; Miss Simpson was in white with puffings of chiffon upon the bodice, small white toque. Afternoon tea was afterwards given at the residence of the bride's parents in ! Hill street, when Mr D. Stuart proposed the i health of the bride and bridegroom. During ' the afternoon some photographs were taken. : Mr and Mrs Murison afterwards left for j their honeymoon in the south, the bride wearing a pretty fawn coloured tweed coat and skirt, with yellow silk front and small | hat to match. Amongst the trousseau I dresses is one of blue grey with trimming of '■ whito chiffon, another is of black crepon, j and a third is of black grenadine over green.

Mr Cooke-Daniels, of Denver, United States, who was for about a year resident in Wellington, during which time he was a member of the Golf Club, has just sent out a splendid silver cup, to be competed for by members of the club. Mr Tripp, the secretary, has forwarded to Mr Daniels the conditions under which it is proposed to play for the cup, and he now awaits his approval of these. Mr Cooke-Daniels is at present in England. lolanthe.