PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue II, 11 January 1896, Page 39

PICTON.

Dear Bee, December 31. The first of our Christmas festivities was a CKAND SOCIAL given by the Masons to celebrate the installation of the W.M., MrC C. Howard. The whole affair was a great success, thanks to the energy and generalship of the Masons' wives and daughters, whose arrangements for the comfort and pleasure of the guests were perfect and complete. Several soloists new to a Picton audience gave much pleasure to the guests, among them being Mrs McNaughton, whose fine voice was much appreciated, and Mr Gillespie, a new arrival from Home, who sang a Scotch song with much feeling. Miss Allen. Miss Howaid, and others also sang exceedingly well. Altogether there was a good deal of music between the dances, and the evening being very sultry, even the most indefatigable dancers were glad of those pleasant interludes. The supper tables were arranged on th-i stage in a most artistic; manner with arches of greenery and white lilies, and opread with all the deli caeies of the season. The decorations were also unique, the hall being pannelied in white, and adorned with Masonic emblems and proverbs. Among so many well dressed people it would hardly be fair to mention a few. and to describe all the dresses would take up too much room. Among the Masons Mr Trevor lock the palm for jewellery, though he only wore a smali port.on of his belong ings in that way. Mr Griffiths also wore a handsome collection, and both gentlemen were objects of interest to the guests. Among those present were Mr Reed. Mr and the Misses McCormick (three). Mr and Mrs Weedon. Mrs and Mies rd. Mr E. Kenny, Misses Kenny (two). Mr G. Kenny, Mr and Mrs Miles, Mr J. G. Riddell. Mrs See y. Mis-es Dart (two). Mr C. Cribb. Mr F. Fisk. Mr J. France. Dr. and Mrs Millington, Miss Millington. Misses Greensill (two). Mr and Mrs Morris. Mr and Mrs H. Godfrey. Mr and Mrs Cragg. Misses Western (three). Mrs and Misses H. C Seymour (three), Mi?s Johnston. Mr Andersen, Mrs and Misses Allen (two), Mr and Mrs Stowe. Dr. and Mrs i-cott. Miss Scott. Mr and Mrs Herbert Dobson, the Misses Fuller (two). Mr J. Greensill. Miss B. Greensill. Mr and Mrs Younger, Mr Gregory. Mr and Misses E. Neal. Mrs and Misses Fell (two), Mr and Mrs Marshall, Mrs Duncan. Mrs Smith. Miss Biddle. Captain Fisk. Misses Fisk (two), Mr Hawker. Mr and Mrs H. Howard, Miss Conolly (Auckland). Mr and Misses Webster (two). Mr and Mrs McManus. Miss Price. Mr R. Price. Mr Kane. Miss Jeffries. Messrs Jeffries (two). Mr and Mrs Parfitt, Mrs and Miss Gard. Miss Thomas, Mr Harper, Mr Lewis. Mr H. Fuller. Mr D. Campbell. Mr and Mrs I. Fisk. Miss Hay. Miss Thompson, Mr and Mrs R. Cragg, Miss Murphy, Mr and Mrs F. Godfrey. Mr and Mrs Young, Mrs and Miss M. Speed, Mr H. Thompson. Mr W. Coleman. Mr Meehan, Mr Henderson. Mr Fulton. Mr Tovey. Mr Barker. Mr and Mrs Houghton. Mr and Mrs Oliver, Mr and Mrs Weedon. Mr J. P. Campbell. Mr and Miss McMillan, Mr Law. Mr Foot. Mr H. Thompson. Misses Williams (two). Miss Rackley, Mr and Mrs Jhompson. Miss Dalton, Mr Wilson, Mr G. Philips. Mr and Mrs Philpot s. Misses Philpous (three), Mr and Mrs C. C. Howard. Miss Howard. Mrs C. Godfrey. Mr and Mrs Lloyd. Misses L’oyd (three). Mr and Mis Solvander. Mr Palmer. Miss Hastilow. Mr A. T. Card. Mr and Mrs Bart ett. Misses Bartlett (two). Miss Barasail, Mr and Mrs Peek, Miss Peek. Mr and Mrs Oxley, Mr Murray. Mr Ross. Mr Fuller. Mr Draper. Mr Collin?, Mr and Mrs McNaughton. Mr Gillespie. Mr Trevor. Mr Thompson, Mr Brown, Mr Griffiths. Mr R. V. Lloyd. Mr Ryan. Mr and Miss Cawte. Mr Taylor, Mr and Miss Simmonds. Miss Fredericks. Miss Jarvis. Miss Taylor, Mr and Mrs James. Mr James was Hon. Sec., and Mrs James played the dance music and many of the accompaniments in her usual able manner. It was broad daylight ere the proceedings terminated. CHRISTMAS DAY was rather quiet this year. Much interest was taken in the church decorations, and tn consequence they were more beautiful than usual, and on Boxing day a great crowd of excursionists filled the town to overflowing. The ‘ Maiaroa ' brought 1.5C0 from Wellington, and the train brought in its quota from Blenheim and the country districts. Picnic parties were dotted all over the town, cricket and rounders being played merrily in spite of the heat. The Misses Speed gave a charming little AFTERNOON TEA on Friday, those present being Mrs Allen, Mrs Howard (Blenheim). Mrs H. Howard (Tua Marina). Conolly (Auckland). Miss Allen and Miss Nellie Allen. Miss Greensill, Miss M. Seymour and Miss K. Seymour. Miss Marion Speed entertained her guests with music, and Miss Nettie Speed, who has lately returned from a trip to Western Australia, had plenty to say in regard to her experiences in that famous country. Among the CHRISTMAS VISITORS are Mr and Mrs John Conolly (Blenheim), who are staying at ‘ Rougemont ‘ with Mr and Mrs Gard. Mr and Mrs Menteith and family are staying with Mrs McNab in Broadway. Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald and family are staying at the Tei minus Hotel. Captain and Mrs Allman and family are also here. Mrs (Captain) Holm is chaperone to a party of about twenty Wellington young ladies, who are camping out at Endeavour Inlet in Queen Charlotte Sound. The Waikawa Maoris held a haka performance on Monday evening in the Picton Public Hall. Judging by The applause it must have been a success. Compliments of the season to the Graphic staff. Jean. (Happy New Year to you. Many thank also for ven pretty card.—Bee.]