MARLBOROUGH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 4, 23 January 1892, Page 87

MARLBOROUGH.

Dear Bee,

January 8.

• Christmas comes but once a year. But when it comes it brings good cheer.

This maxim was exemplified in the peisons of two gigantic sailors and a wee middy belonging to the ship Langstone, now in port, the other day. Said the big sailor in the middle, who was propped up by his two friendly mates, ‘ They’re a-playin’ racquet up there,’ pointing to our public lawn tennis court. ‘ Lawn tennis, you mean,’ said the midshipmite, with a he-doesn’t-know-any-better kind of air. ‘ When I says racquet I means racquet, an’ that’s w'hat they’re a-playin’ on, so there,’ said giant No. 1. • Lawks-a-mussy-me,’ said giant No. 2, with a horrified wave of his right hand, ‘ why, that ere’s the game as the Prince o’ Wales has bin’auled over the coals for.’ I was passing at the time, but I did not smile audibly till I was some distance away from the three innocents.

Mr Fox, relieving officer in the railway department, has taken Mr Christopher’s place for three months, as Manager at Picton. Mr Fox acted as manager for ten months some time back, and made himself so popular as an official, and also entered so heartily into all social matters, that his return amongst us has been heartily approved of by all. There is one subject of regret whilst on the railway- Our much-esteemed and well-appreciated railway-guard, Mr Peek, has resigned, owing to being over worked. He has been on the train ever since the railway here was made, and has gained everybody’s confidence and esteem. He has been the most careful and obliging of officials, and his resignation is generally deplored Four of Mr Redwood’s valuable horses were accidentally killed, and the Mounted Rifles, through whose carelessness the accident happened, got up a concert in aid of a fund to pay for the horses. The Choral Society gave their assistance, and rendered several choruses which were much appreciated. Mrs Snodgrass sang * The Broken Pitcher,’ and was loudly applanded : Mrs Mclntosh, ‘The Merry Zingara,’ Mrs Hiley, ‘ In the North Countree,’ and Mrs Kerr delighted the audience with 1 The Children’s Kingdom,’ for which she received a most vociferous encore. Mr ami Mrs Lucas were also encored for ‘ Flow t lently Diva,’ which they sang in their usual good style. Messrs Green, Rowe, Griffiths, and Carter also sang, and the whole affair was a great success. The • Messiah ’ was performed by the Choral Society in Wesley Hall, and though the committee kindly sent me tickets, I was unable to be present, but I hear it was one of the best concerts ever given in Blenheim, and Mr Lucas, the conductor, is greatly pleased at the result of his excellent training. Christmas weather was very uncertain with heavy storms of wind and rain, and on Boxing Day it was almost too tantalising, but in spite of all innumerable small picnic parties set out, and camp fires were burning at Laughing Bob's Bay, Queen Mali’s Bay, Mint Bay, The Fisheries, and many other nooks and crannies along the shore. Mabel Island

was quite a pretty feature in the scene witli a small fleet of amateur fishing boats surrounding it, and several Hob Roy canoes practising tor the regatta. 1 saw Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald out in one of those tiny crafts, which looked like an important nautilus out on its travels. One picnic party had ventured into Shakespeaie Ray, and were caught there by the gale, which came on about six p.m. with drenching rain. The ladies had to walk home through it all in their pretty summer dresses. I can feel for them, having had the same experienceonceor twice myself. Mr Litchfield,of Blenheim, hired the Torea, and gave his employes an outing. It was intended to explore both sounds, but adverse wind and weather prevented their going further than Endeavour Inlet, where they were fortunately able to get the manager's house to picnic in. They had a dance in the schoolroom, and otherwise enjoyed themselves, and made the best of everything. A pretty wedding was celebrated in Holy Trinity < hurch, Picton, the bride being Miss Lucy Philpotts, and the bridegroom Captain Cracroft, of the ship Hurunui. The bride wore a cream crepe gown with train, bridal veil and wreath, and carried a bouquet of white flowers. There were six bridesmaids, the principal one being Miss Philpotts, in a pretty flowered delaine. The others wore cream dresses, and all carried bouquets of flowers and fern. The bridegroom was ably supported by Mr John Duncan, of the Grove. The church was crowded, and some young lady friends of the bride made a handsome arch over the church gate with lycopodium and flowers. Amongst the guests for afternoon tea were Colonel and Mrs Baillie, Mrs Western, Mrs J. White, Mrs Ballard, Mr and Mrs Baillie, Mrs Duncan, Mrs Smith, and Mr and Mrs H. C. Seymour. In the evening the young people were invited to a dance, which was kept up till the arrival of the steamer from Nelson, in which Captain and Mrs Cracroft took their departure to join the Hurunui at Port Chalmers, ami from thence sail to England. The wharf must have presented quite a lively scene, as all the guests were down to say farewell and bon voyage to their old playmate and friend. The young people who were at the dance were the Misses Seymour (3), Allen (2), Scott (2), Duncan, I .inton, Western (2), Greensill (2), White, and the Messrs Hazlett, Seymour, Welford, Scott, Fordham, Anderson, Duncan, and Fox. Mrs Cracroft received many handsome presents, amongst others a very handsome ostrich feather from Captain Davis. On New Year’s Day everybody set out to enjoy themselves, and many did so, though from nine a.m. till midday the rain came down in torrents. But ‘ 111 blows the wind that profits nobody.’ The wind ami the rain drove hundreds of excursionists into the railway goods shed, where they fell an easy prey to the numberless attractions set forth in a bazaar for the benefit of the Church of England. I saw Mrs Dalton, of Koromiko, presiding over a fancy stall ; Mrs G. Richardson dispensing a bran-pie, which realized thirty pounds ; Mrs A. P. Seymour, Mrs Scott, Mrs Baillie (Para), Mrs Aitkens, and the Misses (A. P.) Seymour, Linton, Western, Baillie, and others doing well at the refreshment and other stalls. I'nfortunately, as the weather cleared up in the afternoon, one train-load of excursionists never left the train at all, but went back to Blenheim. The regatta was a great attraction, as there were several outsiders competing in tlie various races—crews from the three ships now in port as well as Wellington and Blenheim. Picton, however, takes the place of honour, coming in first with ease in both junior and senior races, the Wellington crew, unfortunately, breaking an oar at starting. They (the Wellington men) think Marlborough should certainly send the Picton crews to compete at the Nelson Jubilee Regatta. An excursion steamer came from Wellington, bringing some hundreds of excursionists, so you may imagine the lively state our usually quiet little town was in for a few hours. I forgot to say how lively we were on New Year’s eve, or rather, how noisy we were when the New Year was ushered in with a display of rockets and blue lights, and a comglomeration of noises too hideous to bear with equanimity for any length of time ; amongst them the firing of big guns, blowing fog-horns, beating gongs, ringing bells, and crackers going oil all over the town, but especially in the near neighbourhood of the wharf. After that a few jovial souls amused themselves by lifting all the gates of! their hinges and letting the horses and cattle into people’s gardens. In the evening of New Year’s day there was, as usual, a public dance in the hall, which was largely attended, and very successful. These Picton dances are always enjoyable, and well managed, and generally got up for some special benefit or public institution. I saw Mrs Allen, Mrs Masefield, Mrs Richardson (Meadow Bank), Mrs Kenny, Mrs De Castro (Blenheim), Mrs Beauchamp, Mrs Rutherford, Mrs Fell, Mrs McNab, Mrs Mclntosh, and several ladies whose names I could not find out, and also the Misses (11. C.) Seymour (3), (A. P.) Seymour, Mellish, Allen (2), Laishley, Robertson, Beauchamp, Falconer (2), Scott (2), Philpotts (3), Dyer, Speed (3), Kenny (2), Dobson, Duncan, Greensil, Carey, Western and others. Ml H. <’. Seymour was M.C., and the young ladies took it in turns to play the dance music. The supper was provided by some of the members of the public lawn tennis club, and the proceeds of the dance will be handed over for the benefit of that institution. Mrs Waddy was unable to be present, owing to the serious illness of her sister, Mrs Charles Redwood, of Riverlands, of whose speedy recovery we all hope to hear. The gentlemen were largely to the fore, ami the young ladies had a real lovely time, and could pick and choose to their heart’s content, though with one or two exceptions they failed to avail themselves of the privilege bestowed upon them by the M.C. of choosing their partners for one dance in the beginning of leap year. Amongst the gentlemen were the Messrs Baillie, Richmond, Seymour, Fox, Haslett, Anderson, Walker, Forder, Beauchamp, Rutherford, Fell, Carey, Clark, Griffiths, De Castro, Parsons, Fraser, Greensill, Scott, Howard, Robinson, Gamble, Mouat, Welford, Perry, Douslin, Matheison, Wilkinson, and of course so many more that the whole list would be too long for publication. The floor was in splendid condition, and the strangers were delighted with it, and many promises were made to partners for the New Year yet to come.

Jean.