BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XIV, 2 April 1898, Page 421

BLENHEIM.

Dear Bee, March 21. ST. PATRICK’S DAY was ushered in with high wind and lowering sky, and was not by any means as cheerful as should befit the Patron Saint of such a light-hearted raee as the Irish. This national characteristic, however, enabled those who hailed from the Emerald Isle to endure the discomforts of the weather with equanimity and cheerfulness, and not with the grumbling of less happily constituted mortals. Fortunately, although there were several showers to the forenoon, they were so light and lasted so short a time, that the grass at the Show Grounds, where the Hibernian Sports were held, did not become really wet. However, in other parts not far distant, the squalls of rain were very heavy. The attendance at the sports was good, and great interest was taken in the bicycle races, of which there were three—one mile, two miles, and three miles. The two first were won by H. F. Redwood and the last by Ernest Freeth. St. Patrick’s Grand Handicap was won by Cyril Carey, and the mile and halfmile races by John Wells, of Havelock. A great proportion of the spectators were country people, and among them were few that I recognised. The Hibernian Band discoursed lively and pleasing music, and the punctuality with which the different events were got off was worthy of notice. As the afternoon was chilly, those who provided tea —the Sisters of .Mary and J. Rothwell—were

kept busily employed in attending to the many who sought that cheering refreshment. To properly conclude the day, there was a GRAND NATIONAL CONCERT in Ewart Hall in the evening, which was so largely attended that the hall could hold no more. Limelight views were exhibited by Father Goggan, which served to illustrate some of the songs. Miss A. Morrison sang ‘Erin, My Country’ very sweetly; Miss M. Mullen was equally successful in ‘Kathleen Aroon’; and in singing ‘Dublin Bay’ Mrs Shaw was in tine voice; Mr Orr’s song was an extract from the ‘Lily of Killarney’—‘Eily Mavourneen’ —which he sang very tastefully; ‘Barney O’Hea,’ sung by Mrs Lucas, was encored, as, indeed, were all that partook of a comic nature. Though Mrs Mclntosh was not quite steady in the first verse of ‘Killarney’ her voice was beautifully clear in the last, and Miss Simson sang the ‘Kerry Dance’ very pleasingly. Mr S. Connolly sang ‘I Did It,’ and in response to an encore, ‘Why Can’t Paddy be a Gentleman’; the latter is a poor song with a commonplace tune, and why such a question should be asked I am sure I do not know, for according to my experience Paddy always is a gentleman. Mr Gerald was most successful in his song ‘The Waiter,* though he taxed the resources of his accompanist, Mr Mervyn Horton, to the utmost, as, after a bit of a dialogue, he would always start in a fresh key. Mr Pascoe’s dramatic recital of the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ fell flat, as only comic things pleased those in the baek seats, and as they talked, it spoiled the enjoyment of those who appreciated. The treatment accorded to Miss E. Ball when singing ‘Steer My Bark to Erin’s Isle’ was anything but polite. It was the last song on the programme, and received the respect usually given to the National Anthem by the audience marching out. The same evening a CHARMING LITTLE DANCE was given by Mrs Arthur Green at the Bank of New Zealand. The floor was in fine order and the music inspiriting. The supper was daintily set out in the dining-room, the decorations being very artistic. Mrs Green received her guests in a handsome black satin, the corsage brightened w.ith red flowers; Miss Reid (Wellington) wore white mervilleux skirt and sleeves, bodice of Trilby silk, finished with chiffon and green ribbon; Mrs W. E. Clouston, black skirt, black and white blouse, trimmed with black;' Mrs Black, heliotrope, veiled with black; Mrs Anderson, white silk dress, trimmed with silver; Mrs Lucas, black dress, transparent rucked sleeves; Miss M. Seymour, bright heliotrope silk, chiffon trimmings; Miss Beatrice Horton, black velvet, white lace fichu; Mrs Mclntosh, black; Mrs Howard, fawn velvet; Mrs J. Conolly, black; Miss Waddy, white silk, and tinselled gauze; Miss Ethel Carey, yellow silk; Miss Mabin, pale blue, white lace trimmings; Mrs McCallum, pale green dress, prettily trimmed. Among the gentlemen were Messrs Green, P. Douslin, Black, Dyinock, Mirams, Stow, Jefferies, Stubbs, Mclntosh, Pulliene, Conolly, McCallum, Bourne, Hamish, Baillie, Mabin, G. Seymour. Many persons hurried to the MARLBOROUGH TENNIS COURTS to witness the formal presentation of the racquet given by Miss A. Johnston for competition to Miss E. Bull last Saturday, and when there found that it w’as postponed to next Saturday, when the President's trophy—a racquet—will be presented to Mr Mabin. Mrs Mclntosh gave the tea. and was assisted by her young daughters. Violet and Mabel, who. as the afternoon was chilly, were kept busy supplying the demand for hot tea. accompanied by delicious cakes.

FRIDA.