BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue V, 29 January 1898, Page 134

BLENHEIM.

Dear Bee, January 17. Though Blenheim is miles distant from the bush tires that are laying bare the hills that bound the Wai ran Plain, the smoke in town is both seen ami teit. and those who travelled in the train on Saturday night say that it was very dense in the Waitohi Valley. Mrs \\. ( louston. her children, ami her sister. Miss Lilian Horne, are encamped tor a few days in the Onamalutu \ alley, and it is to be hoped that the fire will not travel in their direction, it must be an anxious time for the farmers, who are busy harvesting. for the high wind is driving the tire closer and closer. Last Wednesday the mail coach from Nelson to Blenheim could not- get further than the Rai Valley, the fire there preventing any progress, so it returned to Nelson, from which it started again 1 hursday. This time it was successful. though there was some excitement when passing along a part of the road which was bordered by flaming bush. Th driver had to urge his horses into a gallop to avoid a burning tree which fell across the road immediately behind the coach. It was a narrow escape. Mr and Mrs Moore. Miss Moore, ami several friends are camping in Ship Cove, Queen Charlotte’s Sound. No clearing tires will be lighted there, as it is a Government reserve, and I sincerely hoj>e that those in other parts will not extern! so far. and destroy what we shall soon have little enough of—beautiful native bush. The Misses McCallum. Linton, and Fulton (2). who recently walked to and from Nelson, were fortunate in starting when they did. otherwise the fires in the Rai would have prevented their carrying out their intention. On the return journey they chose the road by Mahakipawa and Waikakaho, from Havelock, instead of the Kaituna road, by which they went. TENNIS.

On Sat unlay there was an unusually large attendance at the Marlborough Tennis Courts. Blenheim, and there were some very good men’s sets, in which Messrs P. Trolove (Woodbank). M trams. Harris, and Bunting took part. The Misses Horton and Bertha Farmar provided and dispensed afternoon tea. A little excitement was caused by the savage onslaught on each other of two dogs on the court on which a game was lieing played. The players had to desist, am! with difficulty succeeded in separating the contestants. who. however, started again in front of the pavilion, causing a flutter amongst the ladies. After being separated again, one of the offenders had to be shut up to secure peace. The dry grass on the road immediately i>ehiml the pavilion caught tire in some inexplicable manner last Wednesday, and. spreading into the tennis ground, scorched one of the trees that shade the courts, and burnt the grass at the side. Fortunately, help was at hand, and it was promptly put out: therefore, there was no need for the Fire Brigade, to whom petitions for assistance had l>een sent. Those present were: Mesdames Bull. Anderson. B. (’louston. Carey. Griffith*. Cleghorn. Wei ford (Shannon), 81-tck. the Misses Browning (Dunedin). Pulliene (Victoria), Millie Ilog-

ers, Ethel Goulter. Viva Robinson, Ethel Carey, Rees, Broadbent (Carterton). (2), Horton, Farmar, Edythe Horne, Scott (Picton), and Messrs Bunting. Stubbs. Rees (Wellington), Pulliene, Minuns, Harris, Greenfield, G. Rogers, Trolove. etc. A pleasant little dinner party was given by Mrs ,1. Mowat on Friday evening, and those present were: Mr and Mrs Booth, who are paying Blenheim a flying visit; Mr and Mrs Rogers. Mr and Mrs Griffiths. Mr and Mrs J. Conolly, and Mr Mowat. A cool haven of refuge was Mrs Griffiths" drawing-room on her "at home" day last week, and amongst those who sought it were: Mrs Hubbard. Mrs Greenfield. Mrs G. Robinson. Mrs B. Houston. Mrs Carey. Miss Pulliene (Victoria). Miss E. Carey. Miss M. Rogers, Miss Broadbent (Carterton). Miss Ada Broadbent, ete.

FRIDA.