PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1898, Page 4 (Supplement)

PICTON.

Dear Bee, May 25. The Hatherley-Dampier combination must have been disappointed in Picton by the very small attendance that greeted their appearance last week. Many events had occurred which kept people away, otherwise I am sure they would have lent their assistance to encourage those clever lady artists, on whom devolved the whole onus of entertaining the small audience. Even the local talent asked for was not available on this occasion. THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY was not ushered in with Queen’s weather, and several little outings agreed upon had perforce to be abandoned. THE ‘RIVALS’ Nelson football team arrived on Monday evening and notwithstanding the downpour of rain, and a whole gale of wind, they played the ‘Waitohis’ on the latter’s ground. The Waitohis were quite over matched, though the Rivals had a hard struggle to secure

their points. It was a case of real mud larking, the field being in such a condition that only the most enthusiastic lovers of the game could have endured it. In the evening A SOCIAL was given to entertain the visitors. The bad weather of course was against it, preventing all but the most enthusiastic going. The committee had worked very hard to ensure the success of the affair, and received no end of kudos for their enterprising arrangement. The hall was lined with immense nikau palms, and the Club's colours in yellow and black were quite a feature of the decorations. The Nelson (Rivals) banner, in blue and white, hung over a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen, at the lower end of the hall, surrounded by loyal legends in black on yellow, of ‘God Save the Queen.’ The ladies’ committee had also done their share, and THE SUPPER TABLE was also arrayed in yellow and black, yellow chrysanthemums being the only flowers used. The arrangements were all excellent, and the whole affair was a great success. The committee—ladies and gentlemen—wore the Club’s colours. Songs, etc., were rendered as below: ‘On the Ball,’ Mr H. Wilmott; ‘Queen of the Earth,’ Mr W. Jeffries (Blenheim); ‘Cornin’ Thro’ the Rye,’ Miss McCormick; Marguerite,’ Miss Instone; ‘I wink at the girls on the sly,’ Mr H. Wilmott. There was also a recitation by Mr Ashley, and a speech from Mr Bannehr, manager of the ‘Rivals.’ Several of the Nelson men were to have sung but the mud of the field so affected their vocal chords that they could not sing, and would not croak. Some of those present were: —Mrs Allen, Misses Fuller (3), Webster (2), Lloyd (2), McCormick (2), Biddle (2), Clemmens, Bartlett (3), Sutherland, France (2),Nash, etc., etc., Messrs France (3). Nash (2), Jeffries (Blenheim), Fuller (2), Wilmott, Webster, Bartlett, Jeffries, Gretenteil, McCormick, Captain Maclean, the Nelson footballers, and all together about 150, the ladies being in the minority.

JEAN.