PICTON.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 216, 11 September 1908, Page 5

PICTON.

1 [from our cokkesponz>ent.] Thursday. Spring is upon us once more in all its beauty. The wattle has made a particularly fin© show during the pas u . i:ew weeks, the gum trees also are now out in full bloom, attracting numbers of tuis from the surrounding bush/while the green of the weeping willows and the kowhai give such & bright touch to he landscape that it is Kood'to be alive. The weather has been in keeping with the seasondrenching nor'-wesrfcers have been followed by cloudless skies and brilliant sunshine. We are haying an abundance of violets and spring bulbs. *orty points of rain fell during the past twenty-four hours. , The Picton Brass Band, is to give an open-air concert on London Quay on Saturday evening. . Local bowlers are actively preparing for the coming season. At a committee meeting on Monday evening Messrs G. A. Smith, W. W. Chambers and J. F. Esson were elected a ground committee. The green is in capital order, save for a few weeds, the result of the winter flood. btill it is expected chat with the top-dress-ing that the ground had and the splendid sward of grass now showing, a successful season should be the re-To-night the members of the Presbyterian Church held another of the series of winter socials in Fay s Hall. Songs were contributed by Mrs Niool, Miss Wilkinson (violin obligate; by Mr Bush)," Messrs Engall and J. McIntosh. Recitations were given by Messrs Perry and Quartly. In the competitions, for which handsome silver-plated prizes were" given, the following were the successful competitors :—Ladies' fancy , work, Mrs Kelly Ist, cake basket; Miss Smith 2nd, siiver-mounted purse; plain sewing, Mrs Petrie, hot-water jug; gentlemen's handwork, Mr Petrie, cakestand. Miss A. Todd gained the .prize of a silver-mounted ebony brush and comb for the best essay on "The Young Men's Social," held last month; and file musical selection prize was won by Mr Watson. During the evening a bountiful supper was provided by the ladies. Three bridal couples left by the Penguin to-night. This afternoon .at Holy Trinity Church was celebrated, a wedding of considerable interest to the people of Pioton, when Miss Emily Philpotts, daughter of Mr T. \ Philpotts, was united in the bonds of holy matrimony to Mr Wilkin, of Christchurch. The church was tastefully', decorated for the occasion, and the service, conducted by the Rev. T.J. Smith, was fully choral. The bride was attired in cream silk, with the usual veil and orange blossom. She was supported by Miss M. Philpotts and Miss Western, who wore gowns of white and heliotrope. They all carried handsome shower bouquets. The bridegroom was supported by fMr R. Dawkins and Dr. H. Anderson. The bride's travelling dress was a tailormade costume of green, with, hat to match. The happy couple left the church to the strains of the Wedding March, < played by Miss Fuller in her usual finished style. < The following will represent the Waitohi Rifles at tfie Vernon range on Saturday in the oup competition:—Capt. Robinson, Lieut. Mclnto&h, Sergt. Bowler, Corp. Lane, Pvts. Stemmuller, Lance Godfrey, H. Lane, T. Newton and H. Simmonds.