MARLBOROUGH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 51, 19 December 1891, Page 706

MARLBOROUGH.

Dear Bee, December 4. Garden parties and picnics are so numerous nowadays that one would require a pair of seven-leagued boots, not to mention other fairy like appliances, to go to them all, and ‘ Going down the river ’ is quite an ordinary everyday occurrence. The river parties are generally got up by members of the Rowing Club, who use tbe pleasure-boats belonging to the Club. A garden party at ‘ Kegworth,’ the residence of Mrs Rose, was one of tbe best of tbe season. A continuous stream of carriages rolled into the grounds from all parts of the district, town and country alike. During the afternoon, tea and games kept everytxidy employed and amused, and after that the visitors enjoyed a musical evening, Mrs Kerr, the Misses Annie and Agnes Rose, the Misses Bull, Stratford, Ball, and Wetnyss, Mr Rose, and Mr W. Penny taking part in it. The Agricultural Show was considered to be the best ever held in Marlborough possibly because the ladies took a greater interest in the snow, as a whole, than they ever did before, and have carried off prizes other than those offered for bread, butter, and jam. Amongst the prize takers were Mrs Dillon, Mrs Hanna, Mrs Griffiths, Mrs Wheeler, Mrs C. Goulter, Mrs Trolove, and the Misses Ahern, Dirveen, and Storey. In the domestic-dnty-line, Miss Olive Redwood took first prize for home-made bread, Mrs Wheeler for butter, and Miss Millington for jams. Miss C. Red-

wood. Miss C. Lange, Mrs Bax, Miss R. Dalziel, Mrs and Miss Neal, Mrs John McKenzie, Mrs Hammond, Miss A. •Gifiord, and Miss M. Books were also fortunate in prizes. A dinner at the Club hotel for the male sex only, wound up the day, and there all interested in agriculture met and dined, and drank everybody else’s and their own health in champagne cup. Congratulations were liberally indulged in, and old battles refought, and the company dispersed at 10 o'clock. That sounds as if everybody is turning over a new leaf, and no longer sing, ‘ We won’t go home till morning.’ I forgot to tell you before that I had paid a visit to Waikakaho, the new El Dorado that is to be, or ought to be, if the Kavenscliffe gold reef turns out as well as the Company expects it to do. There was quite a small party of us—only three ladies and one guardian angel, who undertook to give ns timely notice of any unusually deep holes in the road, where the wheels on one side of our conveyance would be in a gully, and on the other up on a hill. The works there are on a very large scale. The sluice pi)>es are a mile and a-half long, and I don’t know the length of the aerial tramway, but I know it goes from the Waikakaho valley to the top of the range above Cnllensville, and takes 10 tons of wire rope to comjrlete it. Mr Logan, the manager, offered me a trip either up or down when it is finished, but though I am rather ventnresome, I should think twice before placing myself in the position of Mahomet’s cottin. We had lunch in Mr Logan’s bachelor establishment, and enjoyed it amazingly, and were afterwards shown over the battery, which they soon hope to have finished. The drive up the valley is a most beautiful one, and will, I think, be a favourite for excursionists during the summer. Coming home we tried to -count how many times we crossed the stream, but our flax gave out when we had fifty knots—one for each crossing—in it, and then we gave up. An interesting cricket match was played on Nelson Square, Picton, Blenheim sending out the best team in Marlborough, and winning the match. It rained in torrents during the morning, but the team travelled down, determined to have an outing if nothing else, and were duly rewarded for their pluck, though the match was not begun till the afternoon. Amongst the ladies looking on were Mesdames Rutherford, Smith, Morris, Beauchamp, Allen, McNab, Aitkins, and all the young ladies of the place. Miss Howard, in a very prettily braided navy blue costume ; Miss (A. P.) Seymour, in fawn dress and cloak ; and Miss Speed, looking very nice in grey dress, navy blue cloth jacket, and Tommy (the favourite headdress for everybody, it appears, whether it suits them or not).

A fire-fiend of the most diabolical order is at large in our midst. A most determined attempt was made the other night to burn down the Pier Hotel, holes having been bored into the storeroom where the spirits are kept at the back of the hotel. Rags soaked in kerosene were pushed through and set fire to, and the spirits casks were actually charred when the alarm was given. A few more minutes and the whole place would have been in flames. To make matters worse, the hose at the Fire-brigade Station had been cut so as to render it useless ; but, fortunately, Mr Oxley had just bought a small hose of his own, which he was able to use, and thus defeat the incendiary. Very few people doubt but that the Ship Hotel was also purposely set on fire by the same person. We are all sorry that Bishop Suter has bad to resign on account of his health. He was greatly liked and respected in Marlborough, and in losing him the church must feel it has lost one of its strongest pillars, and that it ‘could have better spared a better man.' The ladies of his late diocese would rather he had worn his mantle to the end, even if he were not able to do the work which the mantle entails upon the wearer.

The Public Lawn Tennis Court in Picton has been newly asphalted and inproved, and though the public at large do not seem to appreciate their privileges and play on the court, a few lovers of the game are indefatigable, and play regularly every tine day. Mr Rutherford presented the club with a net. and Mr H. C. Seymour is a most earnest anil hard-working secretary, and in time the club should work up to a very excellent one. I have to chronicle a very quiet little wedding which took place here—that of Miss A. M. Jenkins to Mr J. C. Mathison, of Dunedin. The Rev. Mr Alsworth, Presbyterian minister, performed the ceremony. The bride wore a grey travelling dress, with hat to match, and the happy pair left Picton the same evening by the steamer for the south. There was a social gathering in the Public Hall to say farewell to Mr Hamilton Baillie, of the Bank of New Zealand, who has received orders to proceed to Wellington, his real destination being unknown. His departure will leave a void, which will be filled with difficulty if at all, in athletic and social circles. His brother, Mr Will Baillie, joined the Bank in Blenheim only last week, so that the loss to all of us is really a double one. Unfortunately, the rain came down in torrents the previous day, which prevented friends from the Waitohi and other parts attending the social, which in spite of the weather was so far successful that about seventy people braved the rain and the mud, and the puddles, or rather the waterholes which guard the approach to the hall, and make it an almost impossibility for anybody to get in dry foot. The floor had been scrubbed, and was in splendid order, some of the gentlemen having expended some superfluous energy in dragging each other round the room on a sack so as to rub the candle grease, which they find is best for the floor, well in. In addition to the guest of the evening (Mr H. Baillie), there were present Lieutenant and Mis Baillie, and Mr T. Baillie, Mrs Allen, Mr H. C. Seymour and the Misses Seymour i 3), Dr. and Mrs Scott, Mr and Mrs Waddy, Mr and Mrs Fell, Mr and Mrs Rutherford. Mrs Rutherford wore a handsome black merveilleux with handsome bugle trimming ; Miss Kitty Seymour wore a very pretty white net frock ; and Miss Nora Allen, a cream muslin, and a bunch of purple orchids. These were the only new dresses. Mrs and the Misses Falconer, Miss Duncan, Miss Greensill, and the Misses Philpotts (2), the Misses Scott (2), were also thert, and all looking nice. A few songs were sung. Miss L. Falconer sang ‘Killarney’ better than I have ever heard her sing before. Miss Mary Seymour sang • For Pity’s Sake,’ and Miss Allen, ‘ The Gates of the West,’ better than they usually sing to a larger audience. Miss Allen was accompanied by Miss A. White on the piano and Master C. White on the violin. Miss Mirrie Phil|>otts sang ‘ The Bend of the River,' Mr Howard, ‘ The Porter of the Muddle-Puddle Junction,’ and

Miss A. White and Master C. White played a violin duet so well as to astonish many of their friends. These two young people are born musicians, and in a larger place would be made much of. The Flower Show is to come off, so I hope to give you something interesting in my next.

Jean.