PIGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 30, 29 July 1893, Page 42

PIGTON.

Dear Bee, July 18 . „ The Kennedy Company played ‘ Our Bovs’ and the Colleen Bawn m Picton last week. They are so pleased with the reception they met with that they intend giving the Picton folks another treat when they return from a tour in Blenheim and Havelock. The Pelorus Sound is becoming famous. Friendliness and hospitality amongst the settlers make life not only endurable, but passing pleasant in those out-of-the-way coves in that truly wonderful region. Two of our Picton ladies, Mrs Beauchamp and Mrs Allen, spent a pleasant—in spite of the rain—week with Mrs Masefield at Manaro, and have returned full of descriptive enthusiasm about the people and the place. SURPRISE PARTIES, in lieu of more attractive dissipations, have been once more initiated with a modification. Notice is given that a party intend to visit you on a stated occasion, and you make what preparation you think proper, but you generally try to surprise the surprisers. On Wednesday last Mrs Allen received a friendly intimation that a dance was absolutely necessary for the well-being of the young people of Picton, and made arrangements accordingly to have her house turned out of windows. When the belligerents arrived everything was plain sailing, the lights, the rooms and the piano open, as well as the doors, but no one to receive them. After a careful search, however, the occupants were unearthed from a corner of a dark room, and the fun began. Ninepins, kitchen lancers, charades and a little of everything, not forgetting supper, which was of excellent quality and supplied by the visitors, and the ‘ wee sma’ hours ’ crept upon us unexpectedly. On Monday, having given due notice, we invaded Mrs H. C. Seymour's dominions. How we crept silently around the back way and eluded the watch set for us in the front avenue—all the occupants of the house being perched up in the fir trees, ready to repel us—is a matter for congratulation, but we did so, and took the fort by storm, when another very enjoyable evening was spent. Miss Mary Seymour, who acted hostess in her mother’s absence, looked well in a fawn tweed frock ; Miss (A. P.) Seymour looked distingue in black velvet, as also did Miss M elfish in dark skirt, and ruby velvet blouse: Miss M. Speed, in dove-coloured surah silk, figured in white; Miss Western, in black with white vest; Miss Flo Western, Mrs and Miss Nora Allen, the Misses Greensill (two), Linton. Waddy, Philpotts (two). Falconer (two) White, Carey (looking nice in dark skirt, cream blouse, with cardinal cults, collar and belt), Beauchamp, Mclntyre, and K., I. and K. Seymour. The gentlemen supporters of the two parties ’were Messrs Seymour, Waddy, White (Manaroa), Greensill, Baillie (two). Western, Philpotts, and Fell. They were not many, but in these days of dearth and famine we are thankful for small mercies. Mr H. Howard, who has served his pupil tcachership in the Picton borough schools under his father, Mr C. C. Howard and passed his matriculation and other examinations with distinction, has obtained a good position in the Wanganui educational district. Marlborough’s loss is Wanganui’s gain, and Mr Howard’s many Picton friends, who are all proud of him, will regret his departure.

Jean.