BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue VIII, 19 February 1898, Page 230

BLENHEIM.

Dear Bee, February 7. Last Saturday, on the occasion of a series of matches being played by the WAIRAU AND MARLBOROUGH TENNIS CLUBS on the courts of the last-named club, there was a goodly assemblage of visitors. All the lady members of the Marlborough Club contributed towards the afternoon tea, as Miss Chaytor. to whose turn it had fallen, had gone, or was going, to Nelson. Among those present I noticed Mrs Corry, and her sister, Mrs Wickens. Mrs Shaw, Mrs F. Dodson, Mrs Hawley, Mrs Thompson, Mrs B. Clouston, Mrs Griffiths, Mrs Orr, Mrs Carey, Miss L. Nosworthy, who wore a pretty hailstone muslin dress; Miss B. Smth, pink zephyr dress; Miss Johnston, cornflower-blue dress, and white pique fichu; Miss K. Smith, heliotrope blouse, dark skirt; Miss J. Horton, white dress, Nil green ribbons; Miss M. Ewart, pretty white dress and hat; Miss Bull wore a becoming dress of white nainsook, and Valenciennes lace; Miss B. Horton, dark blue cotton dress with narrow white stripe; Miss Easson (Greymouth) was daintily attired in white cashmere, hat, gloves, and shoes to match; Miss M. Douslin, blouse and skirt; Miss Garrard wore a pretty pale green dress, with bolero jacket of cream lace; Miss Austin (Christchurch), Miss Clouston (Nelson). Miss E. Bull. Miss Ida Green, the Misses Purser (2). the Misses Draper (2). Miss May Nosworthy, Miss Rees, the. Misses Farmar (2), MissF. Nosworthy. and Messrs Hawley, Orr, W. Ewart. H. Burden, Mirams, Bull, Dymock, F. Bull, Stubbs, H. Horton. Harris, Mabin, and many others. The railway station was crowded last Monday afternoon, as there were many passengers for the steamers leaving Pieton that night — one for Nelson, the other for Wellington—and by the latter there was an excited contingent of boys for the Wellington College, and their still more excited guardians, who feared that their charges might miss the train. I have been told that on board that steamer that night there were forty boys from tile West Coast, forty from Nelson, and thirty from Marlborough, all bound for the College. The steamer was so crowded that further sale of tickets was prohibited, and some intending travellers were left behind in Pieton. As I write, I hear the unwonted but welcome sound of ram. It is most refreshing, and though we have had several plenteous showers, appearances indicate that the rain will not last long. If it lasted for several days an inundation might be feared, as the ground is too hard to be absorbent. and the water rushes off and swells the creeks and rivers suddenly. A fire occurred up the Wairau Valley last week which did great damage on the Uillersden run indeed, when the wind suddenly changed the homestead itself was in danger, but fortunately a ploughed field intervened. The fire swept through several of the plantations. which were destroyed, and a cottage near the flax mill was burnt.

FRIDA.