PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XV, 8 October 1898, Page 475

PICTON.

Dear Bee, September 28. THE ASSEMBLY BALL held in the Public Hall was altogether a huge affair, people coming from Blenheim, Spring Creek, Havelock, Collinsville, Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sounds, Port Underwood, and all around the district. The hall was so crowded that there was very Tittle room for dancing. It was supposed that there were two hundred and fifty people present. Mr K. Jeffries and Mr Hugh Fuller acted as M.C.’s, and tlieir management was excellent, there being no confusion, even in the crowded squares. THE SUPPER was laid out in a marquee close by the hall, so that the stage was utilised as a drawing-room for non-dancers, and was excellent—naturally so, being provided by the ladies. Some of those present were Mrs Mathieson (Havelock), in a very handsome peachcoloured broche; Mrs Oxlev looked very well in black; Mrs McMillan (Cullensville), in cream; Miss McMillan. in black velvet; Miss Parfitt, black, relieved with blue: Mrs Parfittblack; Mrs Cragg. black: Mrs Wilkins: Miss Marsh (Spring Creek), pale blue: Miss Sutherland, dark skirt and blouse: Misses Llovd (4), one In black and pink: Miss Campbell: Miss Fuller, a. pretty frock of black and silver: Miss L. Fuller looked very nice in pale blue; Miss Webster also looked well in pale blue: and Miss F. Price, in pink; Miss J. Webster: Miss E. Dart, pretty black frock with tulle frills: Mi ss TT. Dart, heliotrope: Mrs C. C. Howard: Miss F. Greensill. cream relieved with red: Miss Howard, yellow: Miss Hay. red silk and net: Miss Thompson, black: Miss Norton, black and nink. and her sister cream: Miss H. Williams, cream: Mrs Morris, pink: Mrs Buick, cream: Mrs Wai she. Mrs Hndlev. Mrs Fuller. Mrs Young’. Miss Biddle, in salmon pink with poppies tn match: Mrs Lewis, Misses Brncrcr. Nash. Miles. France. Crntrcf. You ng*. Fredericks. McCormick (2). Jackson fn). DiifT: and Messrs Jeffries. Fsson (2). Webster. Fuller (2). Henderson Mathieson. Dayton. McNnucrbtnn. Law. Greensill Wilmot. Badri iffe. Oxley. Hore. Bartlett. France (3). Macnlister Bunt. Jewess. Henderson. MrMahon. Flliott. Walsh**-. Bnirlc, Nash (2), Card (2) Macintosh. Wilson, Ash-

ley. Paul (2). Rod ley. Morris, Priee, Miles. Fredericks, Jackson, Young, Peek. Perano. Fisk. Hilton, Cragg, McCormick (3). Taylor. Clemens, Howard. Lewis, Williams. Harris, Captain McLean, etc., etc. Of course these are not nearly all the names, but it was impossible for my informant to get them, so those who are left out must put the omission down to that. 'They are not left out intentionally. Dancing was kept up to a very late, or rather early, hour, Mrs Price supplying the music. Miss Thompson and Miss McMillan the extras. The floor was in splendid condition and the hall decorated with flags and lycopodium. Everybody enjoyed themselves and everybody wishes the ball could be repeated. On Friday the Excelsior Society gave a very large SOCIAL in the Borough School. There was a very big crowd of school children with their friends and teachers. Games and dancing, with supper, filled up the time till eleven p.m., when the affair ended.

THE WAITOHI DEBATING SOCIETY held their last meeting of the winter session on Friday, when an interesting debate was held on the different papers rend. Mr Perano's paper on Pieton ns a. Naval Station’ was a really clever one. Mr Perano’s knowledge of the Sounds was a lesson to everybody, and it was decided that his paper should be published. Other papers read were ‘Comic Authors,' Mrs Allen: ‘Mosquitoes,’ Mr Stuartand ‘Fish,’ Mr Tavlor.

JEAN.