PIGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XVII, 25 April 1896, Page 483

PIGTON.

H.M.B. ‘Rapid’ arrived in port on Thursday night, and everybody hoped they would stay till after Easter Monday and brighten up our proceedings with their gay uniforms, but like everything else this unfortunate year we were doomed to be disappointed, and though the Mayor (Mr Greensill) called and invited them to remain, they steamed out of the harbour on Saturday morning just before the races began. It rained continously from Tuesday till Saturday, and our hopes sank to zero with every gust of wind, which reminded us of last year. On Saturday, though heavy showers continued, the wind lulled, and several races were pulled off. There were not many ladies among the spectators, and those were in mackintoshes and required umbrellas. Very few excursionists came down by train, the rain being general, and not by any means confined to Picton. Of the races rowed off on Saturday the Picton Club, who have lately been receiving some valuable advice from Mr G. B. Richardson, w’on two. being the Maiden Fours and Junior Fours.

During the evening an entertainment was given by the Picton Dramatic Club in the Public Hal), Dr. and Mrs Millington man aging the dramatic part, and Miss Mary Seymour the first part, which consisted of songs and duets by Mrs Hiley (Spring Creek). Misses M. Seymour, Philpotts. M. Philpotts, and Messrs De Maus, Riddell, H. Howard, and Master J. Ward (cox of the Queen’s Drive crew). The audience, who were disappointed of an encore with Mrs Hiley. whose rendering of ‘ Summer Showers ’ was enthusiastically received, were very noisy, though appreciative, and the performers laboured under great difficulties in performing at all. Miss Greensill played most of the accompaniments, the over ture, and the music for the ‘Waterman’ in her usual brilliant, manner. A skirt dance by Miss Johnston (Blenheim) finished the first part of the programme, then * The Mouse Trap ’ was set. and caused roars of laughter with the absurdity of the situations. Mrs Newman (Miss Lilly Fuller) was quite a modern new woman and Jane (Miss Nora Allen) a model maid till the mouse appeared. The ladies committee for the ‘Suppression of Man ’ threw dignity to the winds with their papers, and scrambled on the chairs and table in wild confusion, whilst Mr Thomas Sparkes (Master C. Sealy) tore his hair in despair. The other ladies were Misses Ethel Greensill. Hay. Moran, and Thompson. Next came

‘The Waterman,’ and the acting in that was better than many a travelling * professional ’ company. Mr Bundle (Mr Wilson) being perfect in his part, as was also Mrs Bundle (Miss R. Williams). Robin (Mr A. Duncan). Honest Tom (Mr Brown), and Wilhelmina (Miss K. Howard) all did their parts to perfection, and the songs ‘Cherry Ripe ’ and ‘ Robin’s so Shy,’ by Miss K. Howard ; ‘The Sailor’s Lament.’ ‘The Anchors Weighed,’ and ‘The Bay of Biscay ’ by Mr Brown, were all perfectly and charmingly sung. Among the audience I noticed (though the lights were rrr/zdim in the body of the hall) Mesdames Rutherford. Howard (Blenheim), Balfour, Richardson (Meadow Bank). Fell. Duncan. Allen. H. Howard (Tua Marina). Sealy. Morris. Griffiths (Blenheim). Carey (Blenheim). Adams (Nelson), McNab. Philpotts, Godfrey, Lloyd, etc., etc.. Misses Conolly, Speed (two 1 , Philpotts (three). Fell (three), Waddy (Blenheim). Allen (two). Greensill (three*, Harris. Seymour (four). Fuller, Williams, Sealy. Mellish (Christchurch), Millington, Lloyd, Smith (two). Turner. Scott, Johnston, etc. The Anglican church was prettily decorated, and large congrega tions attended both services. The choir being largely augmented by visiting friends made the musical portion of the service extremely interesting. Our local sculler, Mr H. McCormick, from whom we expected great things, if not victory, had the misfortune to run his boat into a yacht which lay in the course during practice, and thus rendered it useless. Much sympathy was expressed by all the clubsand everybody, and Mr G. Seymour kindly offered the use of his boat, which is one in which ‘ Samuels’ often rowed to victory. It is hard lines for our champion breaking his boat (a new

one*, but misfortune i* a te«t of friendship, and the sympathy extended has condoled Mr McCormick for his bid luck. Among the visitors to Picton this Easter are Mrs Bunny Nei*on». Mr- Hi ley. Mrs Griffiths. Mr and Mrs C. Etrp. Mr Fenwick. Mr H. Baillie. Miss Allen. Mrs Richardson uiss (A.P.) Seymour, Miss N. Greensill. Mr and Mrs Howard. Mr and Mrs H Howard. Miss Sealy (Nelson*. Mr G Allen. Mr and Mrs Lana ley Adams (Nelson •. and numbers of others. The Championship Regatta of 1896 is over successful y. 1 think, as a financial and social meeting. The Committee seems to be perfectly satisfied, though of course had the weather in the Straits and in Wellington not been rather uncertain the amount voted to the Committee by the Union Compiny of Is per passenger would have totted up to a tidy little sum. As it was only five or six hundred peeple faced the horrors of sea-sickness to see the regatta. The port has been quite a busy one with yachts and steamers, which are coming and going all day long. The principal events of course were the Champion Fours, and people crowded on the flagship ‘Dunblane,' the freezing hulk ‘Prince of Wales.' and all along the embankment and foreshore to get a good view*. The first attempt was a failure, the water being considered too rough, and the boats returned, going out again later on. The race was a splendid one. and might have been anybody’s, according to the gospel of the backers, but at Mabel Island the ‘ Geraldine ’ (Queen’s Drivel forged ahead and kept t he lead tiH the finish amid cheers and yells from the spectators. Blenheim again came second and the other three boats close behind. Most people were sure of Blenheim coming in first, and only a few in ‘the know wore Queen’s Drive colours. The honour of the Champion Sculls this year fell to Wairewa. with our own boy, Hugh McCormick, almost touching, and McGrath, to everybody's astonishment, some distance behind. McGrath has been the favourite all along for this race. We are very proud of the success of our boys this year in the small events, they having won several races They talk of big events next year. McCormick will have to buy a new boat, his own being perfectly useless after the collision with the yacht. The Clinker Fours were pulled off on Tuesday morning, many ladies exerting themselves to get down in time to see the race, which was won by Wellington. Then people began to take their departure by steamer, boat and train, and Picton began very quickly to settle dow n to its normal condition. 'J he ball, like Saturday’s entertainment, was for the benefit of the Institue. and was socially and financially a very great success. The floor was in splendid condition, and voted by visitors to be the very best in New Zealand. The flags, kindly lent by Nelson Brothers, were the only decorations, the ladies for once finding their hands too full to attend to everything. The supper w’as provided by the lady subscribers, and the table was prettily arranged by the ladies’ committee, so that the promoters will have £2O from the ball alone to add to the building fund, and about £ls from Saturday's entertainment. There were so many candidates for the honour of being the belle that it is difficult to say who really was that distinguished individual. Miss Stace (Robin Hood Bayi looked very pretty in a lovely white silk frock, the bodice and ribbons embroidered with white beads and pearls : Miss Balfour also wore a handseme white corded silk, and looked stylish : Miss Ethel Seymour (a debutante) was in white silk with white flowers in her hair; Miss Allen, in black surah silk and jet, wearing white tree anemones; Miss Mary Seymour, yellow silk with pearls and chrysanthemums; Miss Mellish (Christchurch) was handsomely dressed in black silk and jet; Miss Fell looked very nice in black velvet with soft white silk, lace fichu arranged prettily around the square cut bodice; Miss Nora Allen was admired in cream crepon with gauzy lace fluffed round the bodice : Mi-a Waddy looked pretty in cream crepon and lace ; Miss Marion Speed, black silk an d jet; Miss A P. Seymour, bljck velvet and white lace; Mies Horton (Blenheim), pink’erepen with large black lace sleeves; Miss Philpotts, a very pretty shade of pink heliotrope silk w.th lace and gold brown leaves on the bodice: Mi-s Western looked very stylish in white silk, wi-.h lace bodice brightened with pink velvet; Miss Conolly. white silk and lace; Miss E. Greensill, pretty white silk and soft lace : Misses Siphy and Mirrie Philpotts were dressed alike iu yellow silk, and looked very nice : Miss Isabel Seymour, black lace with large yellow sleeves : Miss. K. Howard, pink with jet; Miss Hay.net o.yr pink ; Miss Fuller, fawn silk: Miss Lilly Fuller, pale blue ; Mi<s McCormick, pink ; Miss M. Webster looked pretty in pink ; Miss K. Seymour, salmon pink silk: Miss Moran, white; Miss Scott, black lace with lace epaulettes; Miss Falconer (r’ahiaiua), white; Mi-s M. Fell, black velvet ; Miss Fisk, black velvet: and her sister in white; Miss F. Western, shot silk with yellow velvet sleeves, yoke, and rosettes; Miss Webster looked very nice in a well-fitting cardinal frock : Miss Johnston, P ; nk : Miss Ewart (Blenheim), white ; Miss Kenny, white with pink sash and ribbons; and her sister in white with blue : Miss Millington. fawn and cardinal; Miss Johnston (Blenheim*, white Empire frocK with red sash; Miss M. Jeffries looked pretty in white; Miss Nosworlhy (Blenheim), cardinal, etc., etc. Of the Hurried ladies Mrs Hi’ey (Spring Creek) was much admired in pale pink, with puffings of gold gauze on the bodice : Mrs Rutherford. black silk, with gauze bodice covered with sequins : Mrs A. Duncan a very stylish gown of black broche and lace brigh’ened with cardinal bows on the bodice and in her hair: Mrs Greenfl -Id. black and red ; Mrs Bunny (Nelson), black silk with heliotrope sleeves: Mrs Allen, black velvet, jet, and white lace; Mrs C E*rp (Blenheim*, dark red velvet and silk; Mrs Griffiths (dußheim). black silk with old point lace: Mrs Richardson (Meadow Bink), black silk with pink ribbon bows; Mrs Richmond (Richmond Brook), black lace; Mrs H. C. Seymour, black merveiileux with yellow sleeves; Mrs H. Howard (Tua Marina), cream crepon with pale blue velvet sleeves; Mrs Lucas (Blenheim). black; Mrs Oxley, black ; Mrs Falconer (Pahiatua), black with white lace: Mrs J. Fuller (Blenheim) looked very nice in black lace and gold: Mrs McNab, black: Mrs Fell, black silk gown with gold brocaded sleeves: Mrs W. Harris (Kito Bay), black with point lace front: Mrs Adams (Sei-on), black: etc., etc. Some of the gentlemen were Messrs Rutherford. H. C. Seymour. Arrowsmith. Hodson <t wo*. Richmond. Kenny (two*. Greensill (two* Seymour (four), Maclaine. C. Earp, Hoddinott. Mears, Lloyd. Millington, Cragg. Mating, Scott, Temple. Speed. Richardson. Wilson. Fuller (two). Jeffries, Waddy. Fell. Baillie, Wytchell, Stowe. Lewis. Radcliffe. Duncan, Riddell, Western (three). Kilgour. Harper, Cowlishaw, Wilson, Oxley. Harris (two). Rowell, and many others whose names I cou.d not learn. The dance was a most enjoyable one. and was kep: up till the early hours of the morning, though most people had professed themselves dead tired after the regatta. On Tuesday the entertainment was repeated for the benefit of the Brunnerton relief fund, with some new songs and other items. Unfortunately the larrikin element was in full force and no p ilicemxn present, so that it was utterly impossible to hear either Mr Radcliffe or Mr Powell (Blenheim). Miss Mary Seymour sang ‘Say Au Revoir but not Goodbye' better than she has ever sung before and Miss Green-nils music would haxebeen even more apprc-ciated than it was had not the dreadful noise drowned it. Other committees will do well to place a prohibitive entrance charge on boys. ‘The Mouse Trap’ and The Waterman both went better on Tuesday night, and as a few gentlemen took up their position anongst the boys, peace was in a measure restored for the last portion of the piece. A small dxnee was held afterwards, but most people were really too tired to stay. Amongst those who did were Mrs and Misses Fell (two). Mrs C. Earp. Mrs and Misses H. C. Seymour (three). Misses Philpotts u wo). Misses Kenny (two). Miss Thompson. Mrs Sealy, and Miss Millington, Messrs Seymour, Blakiston. Scott. Lloyd, and Kenny.

I he oazxa rheid in the goods shed kindly lent by the railway authorities was in aid of the English Church. The refreshments were presided overby an energetic band of ladies. The bran pie was ably served out by Mrs H C. Seymour, and a sale of work bv Mrs Sealy realized a nice little sum.