PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue XVI, 15 October 1898, Page 507

PICTON.

Dear Bee. — October 5. Though H.M.s. Torch was in the harbour for four or five days, it made no difference to Picton socially. True, the cricketers got up a match for them on Thursday, and only a very few people assembled to look on. The arrival of a man-of-war does not seem to be such an important event as it seemed to be in days of yore. The match was won easily by the local team, and was of course the OPENING OF THE SEASON. and a good practice, besides giving the sailors a day on shore. Captain Preddie invited a few friends on board to .n TERNOON TEA on Thursday, among them being the Mayor of Picton (Mr T. Philpotts), Mrs and Misses Philpotts (2), Misses Dobbie (2), Mr and Mrs Robertshaw, ->irs and Miss Nora Allen, and Miss Hallet. Mrs Harvey and Miss Mason were also on board as guests of Dr. Turner. The ship left for Wellington on Friday morning. There was quite a little stir on Wednesday evening when the firebell rang, and people saw a blaze up the elevation end of the town. Everybody’ goes to a fire here, and this fire was no exception to the general rule. It is quite funny to see the way people dress up for the occasion. Some people have no hats on, some try to run in old slippers that will fall off, some have one garment behind them and some another, and very few’ wait to dress completely, for fires happen—here at least- -more frequently by night than by day, just when people are enjoying their beauty sleep. There were dozens of bicycles on the scene, and of course the cycnsts were there first. The fire was a cottage belonging to Mr H. C. Seymour, of ‘Tyntesfield,’ and was occupied by Mr John England Heaver. Unfortunately’, his partner, who is now in Wellington, lost quantities of chemicals and valuable negatives. He was ;a ’ photographer, and people are ajl sorry for him.

JEAN.