MARLBOROUGH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 48, 28 November 1891, Page 635

MARLBOROUGH.

Dear Bee, November 12. It seems ages ago since the skating-rink mania spread all over the colony like some infectious disease. Though I am not a skater myself, 1 can imagine its being an entrancing amusement to those engaged in it; but to those looking on, the noise of the roller skates in a wooden building is nothing short of brain-splitting misery. Still, that did not prevent the Carnival of Havelock from being a success. Anything that brings the little ones forward is bound to be made a success of by the parents, who heroically endure untold of misery to witness the triumphs of their little ones. There were prizes distributed, too, for the best fancy dresses, as well as for excellence in skating. Amongst the little Misses Ivy Twiddle was a Cay Poppy ; Grace Wakelin, a Flower Girl ;A. Forrest, Scotch Lassie; May Scott, Ivy; Margie Mills, a Jockie ; Jessie Davis, a Waitress; Eva Wells, White Hose : M. Linton, Blanche Mills, and Ida Price, Flowei Girls ; Olive Mills, Fisher Girl ; Edith Scott, Patchwork (pretty and original) ; I. Smith, Summer Showers ; E. Davis, Fishwife ; C. Wells, a Bride ; B. Blackball, Housemaid ; Ella Pickering, a pretty little Fairy, in white wings and silver shoes; E. Vennimore, Battledore and Shuttlecock ; and Ethel Toothill looked charming as Powder and Patches ; Nigger costumes were the favourite characters in which the young gentlemen elected to display their charms, so there was little difficulty in awarding the prize, which fell to Bertie Pickering for his pretty Jockey dress.

St. Clair appears to be the favourite resort for surprise parties. Yet another one journeyed out to surprise Mrs Hanna, and spend a very pleasant evening with her. Mesdames Griffiths, Lucas, Snodgrass, Robinson, and Mclntosh chaperoned the party. There were also the Misses Laishley, Maud Carey, Farmer, Dodson, Pitt (Nelson), Reece, Powell (2), Horton (2), Harley (Nelson), and several others, with a large contingent of gentlemen. The party left Market Square in drags. For several reasons I was much disappointed at not being able to attend the bachelors’ ball at Cullensville, but so many events were crowded into one small week that it was 2 uite impossible for anyone not made of iron toattend them all. ’m afraid, too, that the bachelors were disappointed in many of their Picton guests, who had intended to make up a party, but found that circumstances—in the shape of home duties—were too strong for them. The ball, however, was a great success, and the hall, I hear crowded. Upwards of one hundred couples were present, who all enjoyed themselves immensely. The Theatre Royal was beautifully decorated with ferns, palms, flowers, and flags, and the bachelors worked wonders in changing the appearance of the room, and attending to the wants of their guests. The following are a few of the prettiest dresses :—Miss Bowater, Folly; Miss Laery, Moonlight; Miss V. Laery, Spanish Flower Girl; Miss Law, Highland Lassie; Miss Diamante, Malvolio’s Colours ; Miss Oliver, Granny ; Miss Thomson, Evening ; Miss McLaren, Nurse ; Miss McMillan, Summer ; Mr Harding was a Chinese Juggler ; Mr J. Fuller, Gentleman of the Tenth Century ; Mr Pink and Mr Clancy were rival JClowns, Mr F. Card, a Nigger ; Mr Higham, Highlander ; Mr F. Mclntyre, Man-o’-War’s-Man; Mr Oliver, Burglar ; and Mr Johnston, a Turkish Brigand, gorgeous and formidable-looking. The names of the rest in fancy dresses could not be obtained by my informant, and of course a great many were in evening dress. The Friendly Societies’ picnic to Para was marred by the inclemency of the weather. The bright sunshine of the morning induced quite a large number of residents to sally forth in the train, but almost as soon as they arrived at Para the rain began to fall in torrents, and almost everybody got wretchedly wet, and it was quite pitiful to see the firls, with their pretty summer dresses all spoilt with the orrid rain. Mr Christophers, the district manager, seeing the state of affairs, immediately put on a train to convey the disappointed excursionists back to Blenheim. In the evening there was a large social held in the Drill shed, and many made up for their miserable outing, by enjoying the dance. The shed was prettily decorated with the banners and devices ot the orders, intermingled with ferns and flowers and moral texts, and the supper tables were laden with all manner of good things. The Picton Excelsior Society hired the steam-yacht Torea and went for a picnic to the Bay-of many-Coves. They were more fortunate than the Blenheim people in the weather, the rain only reaching Picton in one slight shower. The young folks in the care of the borough school teachers, enjoyed their exploring expedition amazingly, and returned sunburnt, but happy. The young ladies had arranged a concert and dance in aid of the Picton Rowing Club, and as classical music is at a discount here, they determined to court popularity by having popular items on the programme and as much outside talent as possible. Miss Linton undertook to arrange the concert, and Miss Allen the dance programme. The hall was prettily decorated by the Misses Allen, Seymour, and Philpotts, whilst Mrs H. C Seymour and Mrs Allen arranged the supper table. Most of the musical people contributed a share to the success of the affair, the Misses Greensill by playing the overture and some of the accompaniments. Miss Mary Seymour’s song, ‘ Dear Heart,’ was considered quite the gem of the evening, and was loudly applauded. Another favourite was ‘The Brook,’sung by Miss Linton, though one scarcely knew which to admire the most, the realistic gurgling of the water-like accompaniment, played beautifully by Miss Greensill, or the song itself, as sung by Miss Linton. Mrs Atkinson sang ‘ Queen of the Earth,’ and also a duet, ‘ The Wind and the Harp,’with Miss L. Falconer. Mrs Litchfield’s song, ‘ Never More,’ was enthusiastically encored, as were also the items rendered by her sister, Sirs Atkinson, and Miss L. Falconer’s singing of ‘ Take Me Back to Switzerland,' and Mr Gudgeon’s ‘Jack Ashore.’ Several other young ladies sang. Miss Speed, ‘ Homeward Bound ;’ Miss M. Farmer (Blenheim), ‘ In Old Madrid :’ Miss Duncan, ‘ Who is Sylvia?’ Miss Allen, • Love's Dreamland ;’ Miss M. Philpotts ‘ River of Years.’ The gods were propitiated by a few comic songs notably, * Killaloo,’ by Mr Cox, of f'ullensville, and ‘The Bald-headed Swell,’ by Mr T. Hood. Mr L. Redwood (Blenheim) sang a song, but I could not hear the name, and Mr Philpotts, • True to the Last,’ and ‘The Arab’s Farewell to his Steed,’both loudly encored. But the song which literally brought down the house was a Maori song composed by two telegraphists, late of

lilenheim, and sung by Mr Barlow, of the Blenheim Office. Miss Allen played the accompaniment, and Mr Barlow narrowly escaped having to return foi the third time to sing his funny song, which, together with his deep, lich bass voice, fairly took the audience by storm. We are loyal jieople here, and all stood, and most joined in singing ‘ God Save the Queen ’at the end of the programme. After that the seats were cleared away and dancing began, Mrs Litchfield, Mrs McNab, and the Misses Speed, Seymour, Falconer, Farmer, and Allen playing the dance music till 2 a.m. The young ladies were proud of having ten |>oumis clear of all expenses to hand over to the Secretary of the Rowing Club next day. In the hall I saw Mrs Younger, Mrs Beauchamp, .Mrs Dunean, Mrs Philpotts, Mrs Fell, Mis Andrews, in white muslin and pink roses ; Mrs Waddy, in black lace over red ; Mrs Rutherford, in heliotrope silk, and white plush opera cloak ; Mrs Falconer, Mis Gudgeon, and the Misses E. and M. Linton, Falconer, Mellish, Scott, Card, L. Philpotts, Robertson (Blenheiml, Waddy, Redwood (Blenheim), White, Hay, Gilbert, Webster, Lloyd, Fuller, N. Allen, Western (2), and Beauchamp (2). Miss Linton woie a white dress, and black sash ami ribbons ; Miss Allen, cream muslin and pale blue, the Rowing Club’s colours ; Miss Greensill, pale blue; Miss S. Greensill, cream and pale blue ; Miss L. Falconer, a verypretty pale blue frock. Indeed, most of the ladies, in compliment to the club, wore the colours, mixed with roses. The supper table was also plentifully decorated with loses. The gentlemen who assisted the ladies were Messrs W. Carey, Gerald Allen, Will Baillie, and D. Wright. Several Blenheim gentlemen came down to the dance and concert, amongst others Mr McNab, Mr Richmond, Mr Kennedy, Mr Dunn, Mr John Conolly, Mr S. Hodson, Mi Fulton, anil Mr Griffiths. The Picton gentlemen were Messrs Haslett, Baillie (3), Anderson, Andrews, Rutherford, Greensill (2), and several others, in addition to those I mentioned before, so that the young ladies had quite a lovely time of it. During the day—Prince of Wales’ Birthday—a cricket match was played on Nelson Square between Cullensville and Picton, resulting in an immense victory for Picton, who are now to play a Blenheim team. The Penguin also brought over from Wellington nearly three hundred excursionists, who made the town look as it ought always to look for a few hours.

The Havelock people also took advantage of the holiday, and initiated a garden party in the interests of the church. A Christmas tree was a great attraction, in addition to the stalls and the tea provided by St. Peter’s Church Ladies’ Guild. Mesdames Mills, Toothill, Pickering, Vennimore and many others whose names I do not know, assisted by quite a large number of young people, are working very earnestly to clear the church from debt. The Rev. Harold Enson, of Kaikoura, was present, and was heartily welcomed back to his old parish.

JEAN.