PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue V, 24 July 1897, Page 149

PICTON.

Dear Bee, July 13. Mrs Allen had a very pleasant AFTERNOON TEA last week for Mrs H. C. Seymour, who is staying with her for a change. Among those present were Mrs Baillie, in black ; Mrs Millington, black skirt, Englishmade blouse of cardinal silk, small black toque trimmed with white velvet; Mrs Harvey, black ; Mrs Andrews, black skirt, cloth mantle, pretty hat with shaded flowers ; Mrs Fell, black dress, black mantle trimmed with fur, black bonnet with pink flowers ; Mrs Seely, black costume, bonnet with pink roses ; Mrs Sedgwick, dark tweed costume, black bonnet with red velvet; Mrs Western, black dress, mantle, and bonnet with white flowers; Miss (A. P.) Seymour, handsome fawn lustre dress with Trilby silk sleeves and front, large hat with ostrich plumes ; Miss Gard, black skirt and jacket, with heliotrope blouse ; Miss Chapple, cardinal cashmere costume; Miss S. Gard, black costume and fur cape; Miss Greensill, green tweed costume; Miss Howard, tweed costume ; Miss E. Western, navy skirt, red blouse, black sailor hat. The Misses Allen (three) assisted their mother in entertaining. On Thursday a party left Picton by boat for the Grove to attend a GRAND PARTY given by Mrs Gregg, of Mahakipawa, at her beautiful residence. Several others had been invited from Picton, but were deterred from going by the croakings of a would-be weather prophet, who declared that we would not get round the Wedge on account of the north-west gale blowing down the Sound. Nine ladies and one gentleman started to pull the eight miles. All down the Picton Harbour there was no wind to speak of, but at the Wedge it really was blowing—a head wind too, but the party were enthusiastic, and faced it like heroines. People would hardly believe that we did the distance to the Grove in two and a-half hours. Mrs John Duncan took us in till the brake came along to convey us the rest of the distance—about four miles, when we received a warm and hearty welcome from Mr and Mrs Gregg. High tea was awaiting us in the dining-room, and all the leading residents of the Grove and Mahakipawa were in the drawing-room. A sumptuous repast was done full justice to, and the party adjourned to the drawing-room tor progressive euchre, which was played till II p.m. Mrs Allen and Mr Granville Beauchamp won the first prizes, Mi«s Eve Western and Mr Wilmont the boobies. A lovely supper, consisting of every imaginable delicacy, was laid out in an anteroom, and was duly appreciated by the residents as well as we travellers from a distance. In the meantime the dining-room had been cleared for dancing, and the young people spent a real good time at their favourite amusement. Cosy corners had been improvised in the halls upstairs and down. Music and singing were kept going in the drawing-room, and altogether the whole affair was

more like an English country-house party than anything we have as yet experienced in Marlborough. Miss Laura Beauchamp, Mrs Gregg, Mr John Duncan, and Mr Wilmot each sang several songs. Mrs Gregg was wearing a very handsome black merveilleux trimmed with jet, a white lace fichu; Mrs Allen, black; Mrs Beauchamp, black satin with white chiffon frills ; Mrs H. C. Seymour silver-grey spotted lustre with chiffon frills; Mrs John Duncan, electric blue shot silk, the bodice covered with white lace; Mrs T. Cawte, black silk skirt, white silk evening blouse ; Mrs Brace, handsome black silk and jet ; Miss Nettie Beauchamp,'dark skirt, shot velvet blouse; Miss H. Beauchamp, pink figured silk ; Miss Laura Beauchamp, white Indian muslin frock ; Miss Hyde, handsome black silk and lace; Miss Allen, black silk and yellow chiffon frills ; Miss B, Greensill, dark skirt, heliotrope blouse with heliotrope ribbons; Miss Nora Allen, white crepon frock; Miss Ensor (Havelock), fawn frock ; Miss Nellie Allen, dark skirt, yellow crepon blouse ; Miss Toothill (Havelock), dark skirt and flowered muslin blouse. The gentlemen were Messrs Gregg, John Duncan, Beauchamp (four), Western, Wilmot, Greensill (two), Hodson, and Stafford. At 3 a.m. everybody retired to get a few hours’ sleep before returning to Picton. The brake came for us at nine, and after a delicious breakfast we said good-bye to our genial host and hostess, with many congratulations on the success of their party. We pulled back to Picton in perfect weather in two hours, and we are not likely to forget our delightful outing in a hurry.

Jean.