PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 16, 22 April 1893, Page 379

PICTON.

Dear Bee, April 14. One of the pleasantest of our Easter social functions came off on Monday last when we all joined in A PICNIC ON BOARD THE WAIPA. It was something in the nature of a ‘ surprise.’ which yet was not a surprise, though the ladies took their supper and their mugslike children going to tea-parties—in suggestive-looking baskets. Our hosts were prepared for us, and the poop was covered in with canvas, and flags, and lit up with many-coloured lanterns, which shed a dim religious light over the pretty scene. As the Waipa people are musical and clever a delightfully entertaining evening was spent. The flrst officer, Mr Thompkins, gave five or six such realistic recitations, that the general opinion was, that he had quite mistaken his vocation. Instead of being a sailor, he should travel as an elocutionist, and charm the great world, as he charmed the little one of Picton. Amongst the items he gave were ‘ Pa’s Letter,” Charge of the Light Brigade,’ ‘The Inventor's Wife,’ and ‘Comic Snatches.’ The middies, one and all sang songs and played the banjo, and the ship’s band from the fo’c’s’le played the dance music beautifully. The supper was prettily laid out in the large saloon, and the captain and officers’ sanctums were thrown open, and were inspected by the visitors. Some pretty frames made by Captain Siiba were greatly admired, and also some wonderfully gilded horseshoes, which resembled ‘the real Simon Pure’ so much that one might be easily led to believe they were made of that precious golden metal which opens all locks. The ladies of the party were Mrs Waddy, Mrs H. C. Seymour, Mrs Speed, Mrs Montgomery (Wanganui), Mrs White, Mrs Allen, and the Misses Speed, Mellish, Pitt (Nelson), Dobson (Blenheim), Mclntyre, Allen, Seymour (two), Philpotts (two), Waddy (iwoi, Linton', Beauchamp, White, Falconer, Hay, and Messrs Siiba, Linton, Baill.e, Acton, Lyon, Thompkins, Dobson, Maxwell, Grubb, Hutton, Hardie, White, Hoskins, etc. At midnight ‘ Auld Lang Syne ’ was sung, and we all wished the old Waipa and her crew bon voyage and a safe return. On Tuesday evening THE WAIPA BAND SERENADED PICTON and nearly all the townsfolk were to be seen in the vicinity of the wharf listening to the sweet discourse of music mingling with the ripple of the tide. On Wednesday evening another crowd assembled to witness the departure when the Wainui arrived to tow them out. Though the ship has been here so short a time, the officers anil middies have been well received, and left the port very sorrowfully, promising faithfully ever to keep a soft place in their hearts for Picton.

Jean.