PICTON

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

PICTON

Dear Bee, February 8. THE FORESTERS’ PICNIC was the gathering of the season. The s.s. Torea, in charge of Captain Fred Fisk, conveyed the Foresters and their friends to Watamonga. Everybody who could possibly get away joined the party, and the Torea had to make three trips, besides towing boats full of people to that favoured spot, where they were joined by Mr and Mrs McCormick and family. Everybody enjoyed themselves, and the Foresters may congratulate themselves on the success of their picnic. A few who could not get away in time for the Torea’s trips were determined to have an outing too. and went out in the Phoenix for an hour or two’s FISHING at Powerful Bay, one of the beauty spots near Picton. Some good fish were caught, and some beautiful ferns collected by enthusiasts in that line. Afternoon tea under the cedars and karakas. and then home. If people only knew how delicious fish are when cleaned immediately on being caught in the salt water, fishermen would never hawk round uneleaned fish, because nobody would buy them. MISS GREENSILL’S AFTERNOON was pleasantly spent playing tennis, though of course there were very few present, owing to the marine excursions being on the same day. On Friday the Misses Philpotts had TEA AND TENNIS on their lawn. Among those present were the Misses Harris (2), Western (2), E. Fell, Reed (Wellington), Greensill (2), Mesdames Stowe, H. Howard, Philpotts, Messrs Harris, Bourne, Fell, and Poynter. Our BUSH FIRES, which we congratulated ourselves upon being extinguished by a morning’s rain, started afresh on Saturday and once again enveloped Picton in smoke, though fortunately not so badly as before. The range of hills between Picton and Waikawa was all alight, and the fire came dangerously near to Mrs Dart’s garden and orchard. keeping' them on the alert all Saturday night. The beautiful bits of bush in two gullies have been destroyed, and the fire on Sunday night had reached the Hospital Gully when fortunately rain set in and extinguished it again. THE DIRECT STEAMER Maori came into port on Sunday. The freezing hulk Edwin Fox having broken down—one boiler on Friday afternoon and another at midnight—it was fortunate for the Freezing Company that- the Maori happened to be in Wellington, otherwise they would have sustained a heavy loss. As it is, it will take some time to overhaul the old hulk, and at least three weeks before the music of the engines is heard again. Messrs C. Fredericks, A. Smith, D. McCormick, and F. Seymour are chosen to represent the Picton R.C. in the senior fours at the CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA next month. There is much dissatisfaction expressed at the selection of F. Seymour, who has only lately joined the club, to the exclusion of A. Western and Clemmens, both of whom are considered quite equal to Seymour as regards rowing, and more than equal as regards consistent practice and long-continued support- of the club. A. Western was one of the crew who won the Ladies' Plate race last year in the Wellington Regatta. Fredericks and Smith, last year’s champions in the pair-oar contest, are to contest the same race this year, with every chance, their friends think, of retaining the honour. D. McCormick is a sturdy son of the Sounds with plenty of pluck and go in him. He practised for some time to take his brother's place in the single sculls, but seems to have given up the idea of late. He and F. Seymour are to have a try for the double sculls this year. JEAN. Mrs Hughlings Jackson returns to Wanganui next week, after a long visit to her mother. She also spent a pleasant fortnight at Mnungakawa with her sister, Mrs Thornton.