NELSON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 5, 30 January 1892, Page 111

NELSON.

Dear Bee, January 15. Let us hope as I go on my good genius will enlighten me, for at present I have not the least idea what to write about. Everything here is more than usually quiet just now, and all one hears from morning to night is Jubilee talk until one gets decidedly full up of Jubilee. If all the gaieties take place which are at present spoken of we may all look forward to a lovely time. Why, Bee, after Jubilee week I am sure people will say our pretty little town ill deserves the soubriquet applied to it of ‘ Sleepy Hollow.’ Why, our festivities are to last a week, and even the Empire City’s only lasted three days ! Are you not astonished at our energy, Bee ’ People are beginning to return now after the Christmas holidays, and very glad we are to welcome back all strollers, for so many empty houses make a town look dismal. Among those who have come to visit ns this Christmas I noticed Mrs H. Glasgow, who is staying here with her aunt, Mrs Pitt. She is looking so well. All her girl friends are very pleased to again see her in their midst. What a pity it is that the banks move their officers about so. We are losing this week Mr Brooke-Smith, who is a general favourite here, although his stay has been for so short a time, hardly more than a month. Auckland is to be the gainer this time, Bee, for it is there that he has been moved. He is in the Bank of New South Wales. There have been one or two very jolly picnics lately got up by the gentlemen, most of them visitors to our town ; in fact, there were three altogether, one to Cable Bay, one to Wairoa Gorge, and one to Mackay’s Bluff, but to the latter place we only went about four in the afternoon, and just took our tea. Among those who have been to these picnics were Mesdames Levien, Pitt, and Preshaw, and Misses Levien, Richmond (2), Pitt, Catley, Watson (2), Broad, Sealy, Meason, Preshaw, and Messrs Brooke-Smith (2), Glascodine, Kirkby, Dnncan, Fuller, Symons and Norris. Oh, Bee, we had such a jolly dance, given, I believe, by Mr Glascodine. Mrs Levien and Mrs Preshaw were tbe chaperones, and there were about twenty there altogether. It was a dreadful night, pouring with rain, and thundering and lightening so much that one felt quite dizzy, but notwithstanding the stormy night we all went, and were well repaid for our soaking, for we did have fun. Mrs Levien was wearing grey and black ; Mrs Preshaw, a steel grey satin made high ; Miss Pitt, who looked very well, wore green net; Miss Levien, a pretty robe of red surah silk and chiffon, red feather fan; Miss F. Sealy, red nun’s veiling; Miss Meeson. pink nun’s veiling; Miss Watson, pink fisherman's net; Miss G. Watson, ecru net; Miss Catley, apricot silk robe braided with silver ; Miss Broad, black silk and net ; Miss Preshaw, pale green silk and chiffon. There were also present, Messrs Glascodine, McLean, Kirkby, Duncan, Brooke-Smith (2), Fuller, Atkinson, Richmond, and Symons. Our tennis courts were very gay on tbe occasion of the return match, Brook Club versus Nelson Club. Play began shortly after 2.30 p.m., and lasted until after 7 p.m., the result being a draw. Nelson won three singles, and Brook Club won one single and two doubles. The Nelson representatives were : Messi's Jones, Broad, Fernie, and Kirkby, the Brook Club were: Messrs Green, Levien, Mabin (2). Some of the sets were most exciting, but the most interesting one was a single played by Messrs Broad and Levien, the former winning after a hard struggle. There were more onlookers theie than I have seen present at tennis for some time. Mrs Preshaw was wearing a grey costume, with black and yellow bonnet ; Mrs Levien, a sweet grey flowered muslin, black bonnet; Mrs J. Sharp looked deliciously cool in a blue zephyr, with white hat and blue cornflowers ; Mrs R. Kingdon, dark green with Swiss belt of velvet ; Mrs Pitt, fawn embroidered robe ; Mrs H. Glasgow-, pretty flowered delaine with dark green velvet trimmings, pretty white straw hat ; Mrs Bunny, black skirt, white blouse, large black straw hat ; Mrs L. Adams, grey zephyr, black sailor hat; Mrs Williams, cream cashmere, large cream hat; Miss Preshaw, cool looking white robe, small sailor hat ; Miss Jones, pale green trimmed with a darker shade of velvet ; her sister, black robe, pretty white aerophane hat with pink flowers ; Miss Broad, cream flowered muslin, small sailor hat; Miss Levien, thin blue serge skirt and jacket, white silk blouse ; Miss Pitt, her tennis costume of red nun’s veiling. But I have forgotten

to tell you that tea was dispensed by Mrs Levien, and we all were very grateful for it, for it was one of Nelson’s very hot and close days without any breeze. Let us hope none of the other eampingout parties will experience what one party did who were camping at Torrent Bay, some miles from Nelson. They all went out boating early in the morning, and when they came back to camp, they found nearly all their tents burnt to the ground, in fact, there was only one and some of the provision tent left. A small tire which they had left in the morning must have been fanned by the wind into a blaze, and so done the damage. Their loss was considerable, for besides clothes some of them lost money, and even jewellery. A dreadful ending to a pleasant holiday, was it- not, Bee

Phyllis.