BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue V, 30 July 1898, Page 152

BLENHEIM.

Dear Bee, July 18. Last Tuesday evening a SURPRISE PARTY visited Mrs F. Greenfield, and the large drawing-room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up merrily till the ‘wee sma’ hours ayont the twal.’ Most of the dance music was played by Miss Greenfield, of Nelson, who is a visitor in the house, and Miss Ferguson, Miss Leslie (Motueka) and Miss Farmar also assisted. The dance was enjoyed immensely, and Mr and Mrs Greenfield accorded their guests a warm welcome, and sought to make their visit a very pleasant one. The floor was in capital order, and as the music was lively and in the best of time everything that was needed for enjoyment was there. The supper was set forth in the dining-room and the table was charmingly decorated with variegated leaves and pale green silk. Mrs Greenfield was charming in white silk finished with white satin; Miss Greenfield wore black velvet with touches of red; Miss Leslie looked well in heliotrope erepon trimmed with chiffon; Mrs Griffiths, black satin skirt and bodice of fawn silk; Mrs A. 7'. Green looked handsome in rich black satin; Miss Farmar wore pink silk, finished with ehiffon; Miss Bertha Farmar, pale pink silk with pale green trimmings; Miss Rees, blouse of silk patterned with yellow flowers and handsomely trimmed with white lace and ribbon to match; Miss Mildred Rees, black skirt, bright pink velvet blouse, black lace trimmings; Miss Ferguson, yellow satin skirt and bodice trimmed with guipure insertion; Miss Johnston, black erepon skirt, blouse of rich blue silk, frills of white chiffon on the shoulders; Miss Waddy, black lustre skirt, black silver spangled gauze bodice; Miss Essie Waddy was pretty in pink erepon; Miss Ethel Carey, old gold silk trimmed with black tulle; Miss Bull, yellow dress with white trimmings; Miss Ella Bull, pale green dress ; Miss Lilian, red dress and ribbons; Miss Maclaine, dark skirt, pink blouse, fin-

ished with black; Miss Annie Horton, pretty pale dress and white chiffon. There were also Messrs Greenfield, Park, W. Jefferies, Wilson (Hokitika), L. Griffiths, Stow, A. Mac Shane, Stubbs, Mabin, Mirams.C. Holt, F. Bull, Horton, etc. A great deal of interest was taken in the bicycle road race which came off last Wednesday afternoon. The start was made from the crossing by the post office, and the course was to Renwick and back, a distance of about sixteen miles, which necessitated the crossing of the Omaka river bed and stream, which the competitors had to wade through, carrying their bicycles, as the foot-bridge is narrow and shaky. The men were started at intervals, according to their handicaps, and those who were started last came in last. The winner was Mr W. Botham, of Tua Marina, who rode the distance in fifty minutes seven seconds. W. Tait came second and W. Drummond third. The first prize was a gold medal valued at three guineas, presented by Mr E. Healey, and the second a trophy presented by Mr R. F. Priddle.

A man of the name of James Cain has been missing- for several days, and as he was last seen going- in the direction of the Wairau River, it is supposed that he has committed suicide, and the police have been dragging the river near where he was last noticed, but so far nothing has been found. What reason there is for supposing that the man committed suicide I do not know, but as I understand that he was fined recently for wilfully destroying property, and also that another charge was likely to be made against him, it seems more probable that he has quietly decamped.

FRIDA.