PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XX, 15 May 1897, Page 616

PICTON.

Dear Bee, April 25. On the Taexlay following Easter Monday Miss Howard gave a girls’ AFTERNOON TEA for the Misses Seymour, who were all present, as well as the Misses Allen (two). Greensill (two), Seott, B. Greensill, Conolly, etc., etc. On Wednesday the Misses Greensill gave AFTERNOON TEA on the tennis lawn. Though it is getting rather late for tennis on the grass lawn, a few very enjoyable sets were played, and the tea and nice cakes were greatly appreciated. In the evening a valedictory GRAND BALL was given to Mr, Mrs, and the Misses H. C. Seymour. Invitations bad been sent out far and wide to all old friends and many new ones of the Seymour family, and those who could not be there in person sent best wishes, and were there in spirit. That the ball was a success goes without saying. Each one of the hundred present helped to make it that. The decorations were light and pretty —of flax, lycopodium, and pampas, with drapes of coloured flags, and a large fem tree stood on either side of the stage, which was arranged as a drawingroom with carpets, easy chairs, and tables. The corners of the hall were also comfortably arranged with easy chairs for the married ladies. The supper was laid out at the back of the stage, and was voted excellent, the table decorations being chrysanthemums and coemos. During the evening Mr Howard made a valedictory speech referring to the loss Picton would sustain by the departure of the family, to which Mr Seymour replied in feeling terms on behalf of himself and family. Some musical items were on the programme, which consisted of a piece played by Mr and Mrs Dobie, the Misses Dobie (two), Master Dobie, and Miss Gilfillan on the piano, first and second violins, the viola, French horn, and oboe ; • Queen of May,’ sung very sweetly by Miss Slildred Fell, a new Picton vocalist ; ‘ The Old House,’ sung by Miss Howard in her usual good style ; and • Ben Bolt,’ by Miss Speed. Mrs H. C. Seymour was in black laee with yellow velvet sleeves and trimming ; Miss Mary Seymour, heliotrope silk, with heliotrope and white cosmos ; Miss K. Seymour, pink silk with white lace sleeves ; Miss Isabel Seymour, black velvet and yellow silk ; Miss Ethel Seymour, white silk ; and Miss Jeannie Seymour, in cream crepon; Miss Robertson (Dumgree), a handsome gown of apple green silk with white lace frills ; Miss C. Western, black skirt with pink silk bodice ; Miss N. Beauchamp, blaek velvet with white silk bodice ; Miss Chaytor (Marshlands), figured willow green silk ; Miss Kenny, black lace, with black lace frills : Miss F. Western, pretty white crepon frock with white ribbon and laee ; Miss Fell,

black velvet skirt, yellow silk bodice with black velvet on the sleeves ; Miss Mildred Fell, black velvet skirt, white satin bodice trimmed with black velvet ; Miss Watkins, pale pink silk ; Miss Lankeeter, white trimmed with green ; Miss Speed, cardinal satin gown with white lace ; Mrs Howard (Blenheim), shaded brown velvet with white chiffon fichu ; Miss B Greensill, pink veiling with white lace ; Miss Greensill, white silk and lace ; Mrs H. Howard, white, with pink velvet sleeves and trimming ; Mrs Rutherford, black skirt, handsome yellow silk bodice ; Miss Turner, black skirt, pink bodice with white lace; Miss Masefield, in white ; Miss H. Harris, pale bine; Mies Conolly, pale bine and white; Miss H. Beauchamp, pink; Miss Farmer (Blenheim), pale blue : Miss Scott, handsome pink silk frock ; Mrs Andrews, black lace, with handsome Maltese lace on corsage ; Mrs Millington, black ; Misses Philpotts (two), in yellow silk. Others present were Mrs Allen, Mrs Duncan, Mrs Sedgwick, Mrs Stowe, Miss Gilfillan. Mrs Dobie, Mrs Seott, Mrs Fell. Mrs A. Beauchamp, Mrs C. Beauchamp, Miss E. Carey, Mrs Philpotts, Mrs Cummings, Miss Harris, and the Messrs H. C. Seymour, Mirams, Stubbs, Waddy, Rutherford (two), Maclaine, Greensill (two), Andrews, Kenny (two), Dymock, Philpotts, Hodson, Palmer, Wei ford, Scott, Stowe (two), Engliss, Cummings, Broughton, Beauchamp (three), Radcliffe, Chaytor. Western (three), Riddell, Mabin, and Harris (two). Dancing was kept up till after 3 a.tn., when * Auld Lang Syne’ was snng, and three hearty cheers given for the guests of the evening. Mrs Price discoursed splendid music. On Friday Mr and Mrs Dobie invited the H. C. Seymour family to spend A MUSICAL EVENING at their old home, ‘ Cam House.’ All who

could go went and had a good time, songs and mutical items making the time seem very short. On Monday afternoon the Pieton publie gave an ‘at home’ to the Seymour family in the Public Hall, which affair was an unqualified eucceee from beginning to end. A presentation of silver cake basket, travelling bag, and china fruit dish was made during the afternoon by the Rev. A. H. Sedgwick, who, in a witty little speech, referred to the great loss all Pieton would sustain in the departure of the Seymours, who had always assisted in everything for the good of the place. Mr Seymour feelingly replied on behalf of himself and family, and hoped that after all their stay at the station would not be for long, as they all looked forward to return to Picton and the best friends they had in the world in the near future. The hall was arranged as a drawing room with small tables, ehairs, and vases of flowers, and afternoon tea was laid out on a long table at the end of the hall, whence willing hands passed the delicious viands provided by everybody round the room. Songs and musical items were rendered by Mrs Millington, Misses Howard, Fell, Speed, Linton, Greensill, Rutherford, Robertson, and Messrs Riddell and Radcliffe. Among those present were Mr, Mrs, and the Misses H. C. Seymour (five), Miss (A. P.) Seymour, Mrs and the Misses Allen (three), Mr and Mrs Rutherford, Misses Rutherford (two), Lieut, and Mrs Baillie. Mr and Miss Greensill, Miss Robertson, Rev. A. H. and Mrs Sedgwick, Mr and Mrs Oxley, Mrs and Misses Seely (two), Dr. and Mrs Scott, Miss Scott, Mr and Mrs Wei ford, Mr R Scott, Mrs and the Misses Fell (three), Mr and Mrs Bowden, Misses Dart (two), Mrs Andrews, Mrs Dunean, Mrs Haslett, Mr and Mias Harris, Miss Davidson, Mrs Kenny, Mr and Miss Kenny, Mr Riddell, Mr Radcliffe, Misses Western (three), Mrs and Miss Cummings, Miss McKinnon, Mrs and Miss James Greensill, Mrs and Miss Howard, Mias Lankeeter, Miss Hay, Dr. and Mrs Millington, Mrs Conolly (Auckland) and Mias Conolly, Mrs and Misses Philpotts (three). Misses Linton (two), Miss Cawte, Miss Millington, Mrs and Misses Speed (two), Miss Jackson, Mr E. Kenny, Mr Ji. Kenny, and Mrs Watkins. On Monday evening Mr and Mr Andrews had a few friends—Mr and Mrs Seymour, Miss M. Seymour, Mrs Allen and Messrs Rutherfold and Riddell, who all voted the evening a most delightful one. An epicurean little feast was the supper. Evidently Mr and Mrs Andrews are au fait in the art of entertaining.

Jean.