NELSON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XXII, 20 November 1897, Page 694

NELSON.

Dear Bee, November 9th. Great was our disappointment when Wednesday, the day fixed for the FLORAL FETE, dawned dull and doubtful. Towards noon, however, it looked liner, and our spirits rose, but only to l>e drowned later on in torrents of rain. In spite of the downpour, we all wended our way as J>est we could to Trafalgar Park, where a large crowd of umbrellas anti mackintoshes were to l>e seen, but little else. The management decided to hold the fete, so shortly after three p. in. amidst pouring rain, was witnessed, what in favourable weather would have been one of the prettiest sights ever seen in Nelson. As it was, one could only feel sorry for those taking part, as their pretty dresses were visibly getting s|>oilt. The small but convenient-covered stand, which has lately l>een erected was, of course, quickly filled with spectators, whilst others who were not so lucky, had to content themselves with the hopes that they were seeing more, though knowing all the time they were getting dreadfully wet. Now I must try and describe some of the exhibits, but, owing to the rain and crowd (including umbrellas), it was impossible to see everything. The decorated bicycles w ere of course the chief feature, and very lieautiful they looked. The judges must have had a difficult task to decide upon the prize winners. Miss Huddleston’s bicycle took the first prize; it was charmingly decorated with lilies of the valley and white azaleas, and ridden by Miss Elsie Booth, who was much admired in a pretty white frock, lavishly trimmed with lilies of the valley and green ribbons, large white hat to match. The second prize was won by Miss Madge Mackay, whose bicycle looked lovely, l>eing a bower of pansies. She rode it herself in an exceedingly pretty dress of heliotrope muslin, with hat, gloves, shoes, ami stockings to match exactly. Miss Gibson's bicycle gained third prize. Here again white and green were the colours chosen, white azaleas and arum lilies being the Howers. A dear little mite (Miss Daisy Peacock) rode this bicycle; she looked sweet in a dainty white frock with green ribbons, and small cap of green silk. Miss Rayner’s bicycle was so much admired that it has since won a special prize ; it was decorated with buttercups and daisies, which were most effective. Miss Rayner wore a pretty gown of buttercup muslin with hat to match. Miss Bunny s bicycle looked very pretty with wistaria and white azaleas. She rode in a white muslin dress with heliotrope ribbons, sailor hat. Two oicycles looked very effectively decorated with deep pink roses, they were ridden by Miss L. Ledger and Miss R. Fell, the latter wearing a white Grill dress and sailor hat; the former a dark skirt and muslin blouse. Mrs Melhuish also chose pink roses of a lighter shade with a cleverly carried out design of a bell ; she wore white drill, sailor hat. Miss Perrin decorated her bicycle with buttercups and daisies ; she wore a pretty cream dress, sailor hat with green band. Miss G. Perrin’s bicycle looked artistic with white stock, she wore a dress to match. < >ther pretty exhibits were those of Miss P. Fell (red gladiolias), Mrs Topliss (white and red butterfly design), Mrs Mercer (Dick Whittington and his eat), Miss Gannaway (effective with white flowers), Miss Baltrop (white and red), Miss Ivy Moore, Miss Stewart Forbes (white ami heliotrope). There were only three entries for the men’s decorated bicycles. Mr E. Mackay’s bicycle decorated with lovely roses gained the first award, though it was expressed by many that Nlr<’. Bedford’s bicycle, splendidly and elalxiratelv dressed as a yacht (in outline) was the liest exhibit. The judges, however, thought otherwise, and gave this one the second place. Mr A. S. Arrowsmith's bicycle was also nicely decorated. The exhibition of go-carts containing mere infants and drawn by children, had to l>e hurried through as quickly as possible on account of the rain ; that decorated by Miss ('amplteli gained the first prize, the occupant l»eing little Miss Kempthorne, who was drawn by her sister a few years older; the cart was most artisticly decorated with yellow and white, the children looked very pretty in white with yellow ribbons. Miss Poole gained second prize, but am sorry to say I did not see this exhibit. Only three of five entered for the liest decorated vehicle put in an

appearance, and the judges awarded Miss Louisson’s handsomely decorated rustic cart first, and Mr T. F. Dee second. Both vehicles were much admired as also was the third exhibit, Mr H. Dunean’s sulky decorated with arum lilies. After the judging was concluded efforts were held, but here again the weather interfered greatly with the enjoyment. It must have l>een hard work for those taking part, and the ladies are to be especially congratulated upon the way in which they went through with their events in spite of rain amt wind. Miss K. Fell won the highest numlier of points for the different events and Mrs Toplisseame second. Other ladies who took part were the Misses Perrin, Gannaway, Ledgerand Baltrop. Amongstthespectators I noticed Mesdames Booth, Webb-Bowen, Robinson, Trask, Mackay, Campbell, Danbaney (Sydney), Fell, Bain, Batchelor (Dunedin), Richardson, Spaul, Burnes, Kempthorne, the Misses Fell (3), Ledger (2), Edwards (3), Watt, Catley (2), Sealv (2), Griblien, Webb-Bowen (2), Richmond, Batchelor (2), Lightfoot, Gibson, Melhuish, Huddleston, Hayter, Campbell, Tomlinson, Leggatt, Anderson, Filluel, Harris, Browning, Hunter-Brown, Mackay, Pearce, Heaps, Atkinson, Moore, and many others whose names I do not remember. The judges for the decorative events were Mesdames Robinson, Trask, Topliss, Lucas, Miss Gascoigne. Referee, Miss Bell. THE BOATING SEASON was opened on Saturday afternoon, when the weather was hardly as favourable as it might have Iteen, there being a fresh southwest wind blowing with occasional squalls of rain. There was the usual procession of rowing boats, headed by the Naval Brigade’s ‘ Aurora,’ but very few of the Rowing Club’s boats put in an appearance, owing, no doubt, to the sea lieing rather lunipy. There was a capital muster of sailing 1 siats, however, and very pretty they looked with their snow-white sails. Mrs and the Misses Fell kindly dispensed afternoon tea in the Yacht Club’s shed, but the attendance was not nearly so large as usual. Mrs Fell wore a brown and fawn costume ; Miss Fell, blue and white striped blouse, black skirt, white sailor hat ; Miss K. Fell, pink and white blouse, black skirt, sailor hat : Mrs Daulianey (Sydney) looked well in black, with large hat to match ; Miss Atkinson, blaek ; Miss Huddleston, yellow blouse, dark skirt; Mrs Pitt, Hack, bonnet trimmed with heliotrope ; Miss Broad (England), stylish mode grey costume, large black hat with pink Howers ; Mrs Webb-Bowen; Miss Webb-Bowen, blaek coat and skirt, blaek hat with petunia trimmings ; Miss Heaps, blue cloth costume ; Miss Sealy, navy serge, sailor hat ; Mrs Mules ; Miss Mules, brown, white chip hat with forget-me-nots : Miss Gribben ; Miss Pearce, grey costume ; Miss Lightfoot, light blouse, black skirt, sailor hat ; Miss Perrin, blaek coat and skirt, pink silk vest, sailor hat ; Miss Evans, smart costume of grass cloth over green, hat en suite ; Miss Jackson, bright electric blue, black hat.

PHYLLIS.