PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XIX, 8 May 1897, Page 583

PICTON.

Dear Bee, April 20. Once more the Championship Regatta has eventuated in Pieton, and this year there conld be no complaints made, even of the weather, by outsiders. The residents make the plaint now that, owing to the rowdyism of a select few of the rowers, it will be impossible to get up any entertainment at future gatherings, no matter how deserving the cause may be. THE ROWING CLUB’S BALL on Easter Monday was certainly one of the successes of the season, and the young members of the club who managed the affair so successfully deserve all the kudos they got for it. Of course some lady friends came to the fore with assistance, but the anxiety and trouble fell to the share of the Messrs Western (two), Hoare, Williams, and a few others. The supper was contributed by well-wishers of the club, and, as usual, was excellent. There was no time in the hurry and rush of the regatta and training to attempt decorations, but no one noticed the omission in admiration of the pretty dresses. Amongst the prettiest frocks I noticed Miss M. Seymour, in a bright shade of heliotrope silk, with soft waistband, pleated frilled sleeves, the corsage finished with folds of Trilby silk, and a frill of heliotrope chiffon with heading of sequins down the left side of skirt; Miss K. Sevmour wore a pretty frock of heliotrope-pink silk brocade with soft waistband and folds of silk ; Miss Farm ar (Blenheim) looked very nice in pale blue crepon, and her sister, Miss B Farmar, in pale pink ; Miss Scott wore a very handsome frock of pink silk with frills of white chiffon ; Miss Masefield (Manaroa), white muslin and lace; Miss Johnston (Blenheim), pink silk with white frills : Mies A. P. Seymour, black velvet; Miss Hay, white-flowered black lace over cardinal silk, the corsage finished with the lace ; Miss Isabel Seymour, black velvet skirt and bodice, with sleeves and corsage folds of yellow silk; Miss E. Seymour, white silk; Miss Munro (Wairau), pink crepon with pink ribbons and white chiffon ; Miss F. Western, white muslin ; Miss E. Western, dark green velvet with white chiffon ; Miss Watkins (Nelson) pink figured silk ; Miss Waddy (Blenheim), frosted chiffon over white silk ; Miss Millington, white muslin ; Miss Robertson (Dumgree), black velvet with heliotrope Brocaded velvet bodice ; Miss Beauchamp, white silk, with green velvet bows and trimmings ; Miss N. Allen, cream crepon ; Misses Fell (two) were dressed alike in blue satin skirts, with yellow silk bodices trimmed with blue satin ; Miss M. Philpotts, yellow silk ; Miss Divens, black with pink ribbons ; Miss Fuller, silvery grey frock ; Miss Fisk, white with pink ribbons; Miss L. Fuller, pale blue ; Miss Forrest (Rai Valley) wore a cardinal velvet frock with yellow silk sleeves; Miss E. Carey (Blenheim), old gold silk and white chiffon ; Miss Bart.

lett, pink muslin ; Miss Jackson, black velvet frock with green silk sleeves ; Miss Beanchamp, pink figured silk ; Miss Clare Kenify, white mnslin. There was another pretty dress, bnt I failed to get the name—black velvet with yellow silk frilled corsage and sleeves ; Mrs Hiley looked well, as usual, in pink brocade. There were also present Mesdames Allen, Atack (Christ chnrcb), H. C. Seymour, Rutherford, Richardson, Renwick, Misses Riddle, Henderson, Williams, Thompson, Atkinson (Christchurch). There were several strangers whose name I could not get. and Messrs Western (three), Rutherford (two), Palmer. Seymour (three), Munro, Atkinson, Temple. Cowlishaw, Fell, Hodson, Waddy, Kenny, Card, Fisk, Williams, Wilson, Philpotts, Mabin, Bart lett, Clemens, Riddell, Beauchamp (three), Hoare, Anderson, Oxley, Henderson (two), McMahon (two), France, and hosts of others. The music was supplied by Mrs Price, Messrs Henderson and McMahon, of Kenepnru, giving some capital extras with the violin and piano. After very threatening weather, and a touch of the bad weather prevalent elsewhere, Easter Monday burst out into a perfect day for the event of the year, the Championship Regatta. The trains came in from Blenheim laden with excursionists, and brakes, traps, and bicycles brought tbeir contingent to add to the crowd. The Reserve and Zigzag were well patronised all day, the ferry boats doing a roaring trade, and adding to the beauty of the scene. There was entire absence of drunkenness, and no disturbance whatever marred the day. The races were rowed in perfect good-humour, every man going in to win. A bazaar in the railway goods shed, under the auspices of the Catholics of the district, did a roaring trade witli refreshments, bran pies, reifies, and a sale of goods. Picnic parties were dotted about everywhere on the beach and under the trees, and so for the first time the Championship Regatta was a success from start to finish of the day. The ‘Te Anau ’ from Wellington brought a small number of excursionists, about 300 only. The frightful weather experienced on the coast and in the Straits frightened manv from coming.

Jean.