PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue VII, 16 February 1895, Page 163

PICTON.

Dear Bee February 5. On Tuesday last AN ADVENTUROUS PARTY set out to spend the day with Mr Duncan and Mr and Mrs Andrews at the Grove. In one boat were Mrs and the Misses H. C. Seymour (five). Miss Scott, and Messrs Riddle, and Seale, and in the other boat were Mrs and the Misses Allen (three). Mrs Welford, Mrs Mcßeth, and Miss Nina Greensill. The party left Picton at 7 a.m., and breakfasted at Longbeach, half-way to the Grove. Needless to say that a good appetite was the result of the four miles pull. They reached the Grove about 10 a.m., feeling ready and willing to discuss luncheon, and glad to rest under the shade of some handsome willows which surround the house. After lunch Mr Duncan harnessed up a big cart-horse to a bigger dray, ten of the party got in, and started off for Cullensville, whilst two young ladies—Miss Nora Allen and Miss Isabel Seymour—rode ‘ on horseback after-we.’ We visited KING SOLOMON’S MINES. and invested in oilskins and sou’-westers, went down some 75 feet of a perpendicular ladder in a shaft. At the bottom lighted candles were given to us, and, preceded by our guide, the popular manager of King Solomon’s mines, Mr Wearne. we proceeded to explore the ‘drive,’ which is now some 750 feet in length. The drive is nearly all under the riverbed, and the water simply pours down into the tunnel, so that oilskins, etc., are worn continually by the men, and the pump, which is worked by a water-wheel, is kept going. The tunnel resounded with merriment and laughter, and the girls—l forgot to say that our male protectors (?) fought shy of the dark shaft, and remained up above—sang chants and choruses, intermixed with bursts of laughter as a monster drop of water would extinguish the candles as they marched along. The men were delighted, and thought us the j oiliest party they had ever entertained ‘ down below.’ Mr Wearne and his men went to no end of trouble to show us everything and explain all the different processes of obtaining gold. The procession up the ladder was the funniest part of the whole affair, each girl crying out. ‘ Home was never like this.’ when they reached the top. where they were greeted by those of the immaculate cuffs and collars with ironical laughter. We gave three hearty cheers for Mr Wearne and King Solomon’s Mines, and returned to the Grove, where the rest of the party praised us for our pluck, and laughed too at our be-dragg)ed condition, smeared as we were with the blue mud out of the mine. At dusk we returned to the boats and pulled back to Picton, after cheering for Mr and Mrs Andrews and Mr Duncan. To say that we had had enough when we reached home at 11 p.m. is to say very little. The Grove is eight miles from Picton, and Cullensville is six miles from the Grove, not to mention the descent and ascent of the mine. We sang as we pulled all the way home, notwithstanding which we missed some gentlemen friends who came out to help us pull home. They proceeded to the Grove, where they spent the night and we got safely home. On Friday afternoon some more

ROWING CLUB RACES were pulled off, Messrs Fox, Western, Seale, and Nixon being the victors. The same afternoon the children attending Holy Trinity Sunday-school marched in procession with banners and flags to Eason’s Valley, where the annual *6te was held. The affair was an immense success, which it was bound to be under the management of Mr and Mrs Sedgwick. On Friday evening there was a CONCERT AND DANCE under the auspices of the Rowing Club. The hall was well filled by a good-humoured audience, who seemed quite to appreciate the efforts of the performers. The first part was miscellaneous items contributed by Mias Mary Seymour, Miss Philpotts, and Messrs Philpotts, Davis, Riddle, Gilchrist, Jones, and Dr. Wright. The second part was nigger minstrels contributed by the officers and crew of the Highland Forest, assisted by a little local talent. Mr J. Fisk as Mr Johnson was immense, and that the audience appreciated the good nature of our nautical visitors was shown by the bouquets which they were presented with. Among the audience were Mesdame* Scott. Seely. Rutherford, Allen. Oxley, Welford. Barr, Godfrey, etc., and the Misses Speed. Millington, Scott, Linton. Allen, Seymour, Divens, Smith, Philpotts, Hay, Thompson, Mcßeth, etc., etc. VARIOUS ITEMS. Dr. Scott has been re-appointed surgeon for the Picton Hospital. with Mr and Mrs Bowden as warder and matron. That the old order of things is still existent is a matter for congratulation to Picton folk. ...Mrs H. C. Seymour has gone to Westport to visit her cousin, Mrs Moynihan, who has lately lost her husband by accident. Mrs Moynihan is an old Picton girl, and all our sympathies are extended to her in her trouble. Still another change in the Railway Department. Mr White, the traffic manager, is to be transferred to Temuka. Mr Garstin is to undertake Mr White’s work as well as Mr Fox’s. JBAN.