PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XV, 15 April 1899, Page 497

PICTON.

Dear Bee

April 5

JEAN.

Just because, I suppose, there is no Championship Regatta here, the weather is perfect, real old-fashioned

Easter weather, and we have arrived at the conclusion that the regatta must be the Jonah. The Sounds people have l»een getting rid of their surplus sheep in very large numbers by selling them to a Christchurch buyer. The ‘Charles Edward’ has been chartered by two or three Pelorus Sound settlers to bring on their sheep to Pieton. The vessel made nine trips, bringing seven hundred each trip. Other steam launches and vessels were employed as well, so that Pieton was pretty well full up of sheep for some time. They are now being driven overland to Canterbury. The Nelson and Westland volunteers arrived in Picton 011 (food Friday morning, and had a run about, the town ere proceeding to the encampment in Blenheim. They returned on Monday night and left by the ‘Janet Nicol' early on Tuesday morning. THE REGATTA at Spring Creek was largely attended by Picton people, many of whom went out. by train very early in the morning. and the rest of the population went, at mid-day. leaving the town to the tender mercies of the excursionists who arrived at 11.30 a.m. The regatta was not a bit exciting, but. the meeting of old friends was very delightful. The Seymour family from ‘Tyntesfield,’ the Chaytors from Marshlands, met the Pieton contingent. and a very happy day was spent under the willows by. the bridge. Most of the Blenheim people patronised the amusements nearer home—the volunteer review, and the Renwick Town races—ami comparatively few were at the regatta. On Tuesday. Mrs Speed had a family gathering at her house near Nelson Square, and Mrs Allen had an afternoon for Mrs Westmaeott of New Plymouth. There were present. Mrs Westmaeott in black costume, jet bonnet with heliotrope flowers; Mrs Sedgwick. holland costume, bonnet, with pink silk: Mrs Robertshaw, dark tweed costume, black lace hat: Mrs Welford. plum-coloured figured costume. with pink chiffon, white hat. with feathers, silk, and pink roses; Mrs Andrews, dark skirt, pink silk blouse, and pretty hat; Mrs Haslett, tweed costume; Mrs Seely, brown costume. black bonnet with pink roses; Mrs Hal. Howard (Springlands), pink muslin, white sailor hat; Miss Sealy (Nelson), pretty blue tailor-made costume, white sailor hat; Miss Howard. black costume, black lace hat: Miss Seymour, black frock and hat; the Misses Allen (.'!). Mrs Westmaeott told the young ladies their fortunes according to the laws of palmistry, and it was generally acknowledged that her reading of character was correct. There was also some music, but. palmistry was the great attraction. Miss Seymour leaves Pieton on Frida v to visit friends in Sydney.