BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XXV, 19 December 1896, Page 208

BLENHEIM.

Dear Bee, November 30. Though some very beautiful flowers were exhibited at the SPRING SHOW OF THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY last Wednesday, it certainly did not equal previous shows here. No doubt this is to be attributed to the weather, which has been very variable and cold, and also that the preparations for it were in rather a backward state, very few schedules being available in sufficient time to enable people to compete. Doubtless there was some reason for this that was unavoidable. Messrs Chinn and Daines exhibited some remarkably fine and beautiful pot plants, one, a greenhouse creeper, was exquisite with its jessamine-like flowers and waxen buds, and a magnificent white pelargonium attracted special attention; so, too, did a fine fuchsia. A fine cactus was shown by the Rev. Father Goggan, and a euphorbia jacquiniflora by Mrs Snodgrass, which took first prize among the ‘ superior plantain flower.’ A plant for exhibition only was shown by Miss Draper, which was described as a specimen of the cotton plant (olearia insignis}, but to me, who am entirely ignorant of botany, it appeared to be the mountain daisy. Perhaps both names are applied to the one plant. There were few floral devices, but the first prize fell to Miss Bertha Norgrove, who made a couple of buckets on a yoke.

Why is a prize offered for design bouquets ? They may be ingenious, but they are certainly hideous. Does fashion decree that bouquets shall be of such immense size? The bouquets of wild flowers were of sueh size that they could not have been carried in one hand. There were only three exhibits in this class, and Miss Belle Allen and Miss Emily Philpotts, both from Picton, took first and second prizes in the order named. Miss Mary Seymour (Picton) took two firsts in pansies, Miss Dart (Picton) taking second in one case, Mrs Griffiths second in the other. The bridal bouquet that took first prize was really beautiful, and most tastefully made by Miss Ethel Furness, and the bridesmaid’s bouquet by Miss Bertha Norgrove, which was made of delicately tinted flowers was quite worthy of the first prize it obtained. Out of three competitors for wall decoration Miss Ruth Bull was the winner of the first prize. Miss May Ewart, second. There was a decided innovation with regard to the judging of the table decorations, which was done by the votes of those who visiteo the show. There were four entries in this, and Mrs Jas. Hutcheson took first prize with a charming arrangement of sweet peas and grasses, ete. Mrs Snodgrass second. The judges for pot plants and cut flowers were Messrs Hale and J. Frazer; for fruit and vegetables, Messrs J. E. Hodson and G. E. Brown ; and for bouquets, floral devices, and special exhibits, Mrs Kellas and Miss Seymonr (Picton). Among the special exhibits were some splendid home-made bread, in which Mrs Wills took first and second prizes, and a most praiseworthy collection of sweets, the first prize for which fell to Miss Mary Jackson (Picton), the second to Miss Jean Rutherford (Picton). Under this heading there was a competition in cake making for those who had attended Mrs Miller’s cookery class, and Miss Viva Robinson took first prize with watermelon cake. Among those who were presen t were Mesdames A lien, (Picton), Bright, Bull, T. Carter, A. Carter, Carey, Clouston, Dodson, Empson, Baillie (Para), Griffiths, Girdwood, Furness, Hubbard, Jackson, Fred. Dodson, Kellas, Muller, Mclntire, Mclntosh, F. N. Robinson G. Robinson, Jenkins, Rutherford (Picton), Rogers, Howard, H. Seymour (Pieton), Snodgrass, Orr, G. Watts, Moore, Draper, Stoney, and the Misses Allen (two). Bull, Clouston, Robinson, Jenkins, Rutherford (Picton), Rogers, Seymour (three), Moore, Hanger, Draper, Adams, Ewart, M. Jackson (Picton), Jean Rutherford (Picton), Masefield (Manaroa), and many others. The Orchestral Society played some charming selections during the evening. Mr Gillespie, as secretary, was most assiduous and obliging in the discharge of his duties.

After the concert in Ewart’s Hall followed a farce. ‘ The Coming Woman,’ in which Mrs Johnston was Her Honour Judge Wigfall; Miss Wolverine Griffin was represented by Miss M. Smith ; Mrs Barbara Badger by Miss Neville; Victorine Wigfall by Miss Simeon; Mr Thomas Carberry by Mr F Bull; and Mr Wigfall, the unfortunate busband of the Judge, by Mr L. Griffiths. The Judge was very handsome and impressive, and sustained the dignity of the law by wearing wig and gown in private life. The other ladies were excellent in their several parts, and when Victorine sang * Come into the Garden, George ’ she was encored, and bad several bouquets thrown to her. Mies Smith made the most of the proposal scene, and excited much applanse and laughter. Mr L. Griffiths’ by-play with the baby also caused great amusement. The first scene was a railway waiting-room, and the second and third the drawing-room at Judge Wigfall’s house, and very pretty and dainty it looked, as the Misses Smith, Simson, and Neville bad devoted the greater part of the afternoon to collect and arrange furniture, pictures, easels, and flowers to make the scene effective, which it certainly was. Mr Stnrrock was stage manager, and bestowed great pains in bringing out the points of the piece.

Frida.