MARLBOROUGH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 18, 2 May 1891, Page 12

MARLBOROUGH.

Dear Bee, April 17. Over one hundred volunteers left here en route for Palmerston North to join in the Easter Encampment, Two ladies went with them—Mrs Rogers, wife of Captain Rogers, and Miss Horton. Mrs Rogers is a great favourite with her husband's corps, and au fait as a chaperone at picnics and camping-out expeditions. Almost all Blenheim were at the railway station to see them off, and a few of us, on pleasure bent, accompanied our gallant brothers to Picton, where we burnt the midnight kerosene waiting for the arrival of the Hinemoa to convey them to Wellington. Amongst other expedients to keep ourselves awake we read all the advertisements in the Pietou Press, and found the following in a list of events to come off at a regatta at Portage Bay on Easter Monday : —‘ A second class sailing race not io exceed seventeen feet, and ‘a whaleboat race if they arrive. - There was also a ‘ ladies' race ' advertised, so we thought it would be a good way of putting in the time to go and see the regatta. We went to Torea in a steam launch, and from thence walked round a track, which gradually led us to the top of the low saddle dividing Queen Charlotte from the Pelorus Sound. The track wound through a lovely piece of bush, with here and there a group of tree ferns, some nikau palms and quantities of the scarlet rata blossom. At the bottom of the track on the other side we came to Gallery's homestead, and found a place to camp under some trees near the beach. There we boiled our billy and ate our lunch, and watched all the Pelorus Sound residents arrive, all in holiday attire. Then the Torea arrived with a party of Blenheim gentlemen who had chattel ed her for a fishing excursion, and the Pelorus arrived from Havelock full of gay pleasure seekers : then over the hill came another collection of picnic parties from Pieton, till it seemed as if all the world and his wife must have exodus'd from the three centres of Marlborough to Portage Bay. The member for Pic ton-W aimea, Mr C. H. Mills, was there with his family, and I noticed Mrs Allen, Mrs Mclntire, Mrs H. C. Seymour, Mrs Beauchamp, Mrs Masefield, and other ladies picnicing with their families under the trees, dispensing hospitalities, and seemingly much interested in all the proceedings, but especially in the ladies’ race, which came off' amidst the plaudits of the spectators. I’nfortnnatelv, the horrid little boys who steered for the ladies were one and all bent upon running into the buoys they had to round in the race, and three of the boats fouled in consequence, and during the entanglement the fourth boat, which was all behind like the tortoise at first, crept sleepily on and won the race. I don't think I could have seen the seventeen feet race, though it may possibly have come off after we left for Picton " There was a dance in the evening, got up by a few young gentlemen who were burning to distinguish themselves and but-do even the Picton ladies in that line. Their efforts were crowned with success, and all those of their friends who were not ‘ camping out,' or otherwise disposed of, enjoyed a danee and a tastefully arranged supper.

Jean.