PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 4, 28 January 1893, Page 92

PICTON.

{Delayed.} Dear Bee, I believe I could fill the Graphic myself this week, but out of consideration for my sister pen wielders 1 refrain, and coniine myself within the prescribed limits. The Messrs George, Arthur, and Walter Seymour—home for their holidays—took the Public Hall for three evenings from eight tid twelve, for small dances, which have been greatly enjoyed this holiday time. Miss A. P. Seymour acting for her brothers, made a charming hostess, As it was quite an informal affair, people dressed as they thought proper, many being in walking costume, though the dancers generally preferred evening dress on account of the heat. All the usual Picton people were invited as also were the visitors to the town. Miss Seymour the first evening wore gold silk under green lace, trimmed with gold ribbons, and pretty sprays of buttercups. On the following evenings she wore black lace, Mrs Howard also looked well in black lace. There were also present Mesdames Stafford, Molyneux, and Gibson (Wellington), Waddy, Linton, Fell, Duncan, Sealy, Rutherford, H. C. Seymour, Welford, Williams. Falconer, Mclntosh, Macshane, Fitzgerald, and Allen, also the Misses (H. C.) Seymour (three). Waddy (two), Fell. Scott, Allen. Carey. Speed (two), Falconer (two), Mellish, White, Howard. Greensill (tw’o). Eyes, Williams, Crossbie, Linton, MacGregor, Gibson, and the Messrs Seymour (four), Greensill (two), Howard, H. Howard, Mellish (two). Fox White, Burns, Arthur, Jarvis, Rev. Aitkens, Baillie (two), Scott, Captain Burton, Fitzgerald, Fell (two), Swappe, Cupar, Carey, Waddy, Rutherford, Conolly <t wl, and Markman. Dancing was kept up till twelve, and the third evening we all joined hands in a monster ring and danced round the room to the chorus of ‘ Auld Lang Syne,’ ending with three cheers for the Messrs and MLs Seymour. THE REGATTA BALL was not so largely attended as the custom was in years gone by when everybody went, but there were enough people to cover up the floor in ‘squares,’ and make it a work of art to avoid collisions in the round dances. Of the arrangements, the least said the better. The committee altogether were non est, and the folks generally had to enjoy themselves picnic fashion—the regatta, delay of excursion trains, and other business, being responsible for the non-attendance of the ball committee ; but one would hardly think that was sufficient excuse for the little interest displayed by the members of the rowing club in a matter from which they should derive a considerable yearly income. The Club seemed to have exhausted their energies in providing elaborate programmes and every thing else was left to its own devices, the visitors having to provide music, and even lay out’the refreshments. Miss (A. P.) Seymour, Miss M. Speed, Miss Nora Allen, and Mr C. White generously giving up their pleasure to provide the music. The most striking dress in(the room'was worn by Miss (Walter) Johnston, being black, with broad bands of gold and jewelled embroidery covering the front, the trained back was of plain black silk, a bow with long narrow streamers of harlequin ribbons fell down one side of the skirt, the bodice was cut square, with high puffed sleeves. Miss Johnston carried a posy of flowers to match, and a tan with long bows of pale gold ribbon; Miss Gibson looked well in a lemon tinted frock with long trails of red flowers and foliage on skirt and bodice; Miss Johnston (Hutt) also looked well in flowered delaine; Miss MacGregor wore a heliotrope gown with lace yoke and trimmings; Mrs Richardson (Meadow B-»nk) wore black silk with terra-cotta surah silk puffed sleeves, vest, and long sash bands finished off with pearl embroidery; Mrs Howard wore her wedding dress, which was much admired, for the first time at a Picton dance, with sprays of bright flowers; Mrs Welford looked pretty in black tulle wit h cream chiffon ; Mrs Mclntosh : Mrs Laery, black with blue sash and ribbons ; Mrs Molyneux ; Mrs Rutherford, in pink ; Mrs 11. Seymour ; Mrs Waddy, in black and gold ; Mrs Stafford, Mrs Duncan, Mrs Andrews, Mrs Beauchamp, Mrs Kenny and Mrs Allen; the Misses Beauchamp in white with lovely flowers of old gold hollyhock; N. Beauchamp, in pale blue; (A.P.) Seymour, navy blue velvet with vandyked lace; Allport, black satin, yellow ribbons and chiffon; Scott, cream tulle; M. Seymour, white silk; K. Seymour, lemon Bengaline; I. Seymour, white ; M. Linton, pink; A. Falconer yellow ; L. Falconer, pretty pink tulle with white chiffon and bows of white ribbon ; Duncan, cream veiling and chiffon ; Mathieson, such a pretty dress of terracotta silk with t rained Watteau back ; Laery, u-de-nil ; Carey, white with Empire sash of yellow’ silk ; Speed’, white with green sash; Williams, black velvet; A. Williams, yellow ; Waddy. cream veiling: Greensill. Mclntyre. Allen. Hamilton, white; N. and C. Kenny, both in white, looking very nice: Mellish. in black. There were several others in the room, and sitting on t he stage whose names I did not know. Amongst the gentlemen were Messrs Richmond, Andrews. Seymour (two), Rutherford. Arrowsmith, Kenny, Anderson. Duncan. Cupar, Fox, S Hodson. Mellish (two). Parsons. Gamble. Swappe. Nichols, Fell, Greensill (two). Markman. White. Reynolds. Captain Burton, and others. The floor was almost as much admired as the ladies’ dancing, and, in spite of shortcomings, the ball was kept up till 3 The Christmas party par evrellence of the season was that given by Mr ami Mrs M use field at their hospitable homestead at Manama, Pelorus Sound. The guests, twenty in number, were invited for a week, and into that week all sorts of Christmas festivities were rolled picnics, fishing, bonfires, round games, charades, riddles, music, singing, dancing till the wee sma’ hours, and as

everybody had a hand in the stirring of the plum pudding it was extra good, and good things came out of it besides the usual goodies. On Christmas Eve Father Christmas arrived, a weatherbeaten old traveller with locks made hoary with time. The children were brought in to see the old man and the good things for their stockings. He sat himself down in the ingle nook and discoursed on teriel flights, other countries, and stockings of goodly dimensions which it was his duty to fill in all parts of the world, and then he glided through the open door and away out into the world to make some ot her little ones happy. Christmas Day was a regular feast day. with a blazing pudding to cap everything, and on Tuesday one of the brightest and merriest parties ever gathered together in New Zealand, took leave of Mr and Mrs Masefield and returned to their homes, but the time will remain in their memory for ever. Amongst the guests were—from the Sounds—Miss Crosslie, Mrs. Miss, and Mr Maud, Mrs and vir Bond, Mr W. Bond. Mr Wade. Mr Kenny, Mr Greenwood. Mr Raphael, Messrs W. A. and J. Tosswill, and Mr Wynn-Williams, from Spring Creek, Mr Gregory, and from Picton, Miss A. P. Seymour. Miss M. Speed, Miss Waddy, Miss K. Seymour, and Miss Nora Allen. The 2nd of January, which was kept as New Year’s Day, was a still larger edition of Boxing Day. In addition to the excursion steamers from Wellington with another 1,600 souls, there were 1.500 excursionists from Blenheim and along the line by train, besides horse and carriage people, and boat loads of people from all parts of the Sounds, to see the regatta, which is our annual New Year’s Day/efe. Money was plentiful and the Picton folks reaped a goodly harvest of pounds, shil ings. and pence. At the Presbyterian bazaar, held in the Goods-shed, kindly lent by Mr Christopher, the folks streamed in one way and out another, all day long to the refreshment tables, and £23 were taken at the ever-popular bran-pie, so that altogether that industrial little community should have gathered in a goodly sum for their new church. . New Year’s Day was ushered in with the usual bell-nngmg, rocket-throwing, blue light and cracker-bursting display. Otherwise—possibly because it was Sunday morning - matters were very dull, and people generally retired to the fastnesses of their homes at quite an early hour, having first seen to the security of their gates and other removable properties. The larrikin element, however, was not very prominent at the mystic time ’twixt 1892 and 1893. and pater familias arose in the morning and smiled benevolently on the dewy atmosphere, having no gates to hunt for and re-hang. . The Excelsior Society gave a farewell social to Miss Gilbert after a presentation, and all the grown-ups were invited to stay to that function. The large room was very prettily decorated with pictures, flags, and greenery, worked into appropriate legends and devices. On one side of the door was Miss Gilbert’s present monogram, and on the other side her future one. with her husband’s intertwined with a true lover’s knot, and surrounded with the legend ‘ Kia Koa, Korua. ake ake’ (may you both bp happy for ever and ever). At the far end of the room hung the school banner, worked by Miss Gilbert, when she first joined the school, and underneath ‘Ave vale.’ Miss Gilbert was the recipient of many little tokens of friendship from hei friends here, amongst others a little gem of a picture by Mr White, in which her future life is predicted, ‘ The ship of matrimony on an ocean of peace.’

Jean.