PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XXVI, 23 December 1899, Page 1169

PICTON.

Bear Bee, December 11. The election is over and done with, and our old member, Mr Mills, has won by the largest majority ever gained at a Marlborough election. The election campaign was carried on all through in a perfectly fair and friendly spirit, and when speaking to the electors after the state of the poll was recognised to be in his favour, Mr Mills warmly complimented his opponent, Mr Clifford, on his electioneering tactics. Both sides fully recognise Mr Clifford's abilities, and wish there was another constituency, outside of Mr Mills' domain, where he might exercise his undoilbted powers in assisting the government of the country. No one would ever imagine that an election was being fought out on Wednesday. People went to the polling booth and registered their votes, both sides recognising the rights and privileges of a free country. Even at night ladies mixed with male voters at the post office to look at the numbers without any fear, or thought of any rudeness whatever, which goes to show that our sex have improved matters at election time, if at no other, by having the franchise. The Misses Greensill were at home to their friends on Wednesday for TEA AND TENNIS, and a most enjoyable afternoon was spent. Being election day. sides were taken up for Clifford and Mills, and so some friendly barracking made things lively, and none the less interesting. that the sides who invariably won were for Mr Mills. Miss Greensill wore a pretty pink muslin frock, with sailor hat; Miss Ethel Greensill, navy skirt and white blouse; Miss Nina. Greensill, nary blue summer serge costume; Mrs (Captain) Baillie, black dress, laoe cape, and bonnet, with heliotrope; Mrs Allen, black brvehe, and bonnet with shaded yellow flowers and ribbon; Mrs Riddell, green skirt and white mnslin blonse. trimmed with insert’on and lace, white sailor hat; Mrs Thompson, mty skirt -and white muslin blouse. white sailor hat; Miss Harris, black lustre coat and skirt, pink shirt, and black toque, with roses; Miss Philpotts.

brown Holland costume, end white sailor hut; Miss Allen, green eoat and skirt, yellow shirt, and hat with yellow; Miss Hattie Harris, pale blue dress and white hat; Miss Nora Allen, black s! irt, and ]>ale blue blouse; .Miss Grace Allen, navy skirt, and blue cheeked blouse; Miss Hay, a pretty costume of pale blue striped sateen, trimmed with cream fancy brtjid, ■white hat; M iss Hallett, pink costume, trimmed with lace, and white sailor hat; Miss Howard, black lustre skirt, and fancy inuslin blouse, white sailor hat. A most delicious tea was served out on the tennis lawn. Only a fewmen were present, Mr Greensill and others Iteing occupied with the affairs of State, but. Captain Baillie, Mr Riddell, and Captain Harris did duty for the absent ones. On Thursday the steam launch Phoenix, carrying the mail to Te A watte, in Tory Channel, carried also a large party of picnickers—as many as the Customs authorities would a Howto go—who enjoyed a glorious day’s outing near the entrance. Another smaller .party were towed to Karaka Bay, where they also enjoyed themselves, gathering wild flowers, and otherwise spending a long day. The latter party were Mrs and Miss Fell, Mrs Stow, Misses Western (2), Hallett, Millington, and Johnston. On Wednesday next, the fire brigade are having a concert to help pay for uniforms in which to suitably receive the Conference, which meets in Marlborough this year, having two days in Blenheim and two in Picton. Mr Cheek. Blenheim, is also sending out. invitations for a concert, on Friday, which he and his pupils are giving. Mr Cheek has a large number of pupils in the Picton district, with w horn he has been very successful. Two ocean “ tramps ” have been at our wharf this week, the Kini for produce, and the Mamari for frozen meat. This is in addition to the daily boat from Wellington, and almost daily from Nelson, besides coal boats from the Coast, so that we i—progressing.

JEAN.