PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 16 June 1900, Page 1143

PICTON.

Dear Bee. May 25. MAFEKING DAY CELEBRATION was continued on Monday: indeed, it seemed as if people could never sufficiently express their joy and gladness at the relief. There was a PROCESSION of school children from the Borough school to the town Hall in Higt-st., where they were regaled with luncheon, ami afterwards with tea, but between they were kept amused with the merry-go-round, donated by the proprietor. Mr Johnson; an exhibition of diving by Mr Stitt, who went down to recover the body of President Kruger, who had committed suicide from the jibboom of the freezing hulk that morning. The diver succeeded in recovering the body, and an inquest was immediately held on it, the jury's verdict being “Serves him right.” Immediately after that occurrence heavy firing was heard from Bob's Bay, and presently a strangelooking. foreign-rigged ship appeared in the offing, endeavouring to escape from a BRITISH CRUISER, which was soon seen to be chasing the stranger. A report was circulated to the effect that President Kruger (who appeared to be possessed of the proverbial nine lives of the cat), with President Steyn, were on board, and immediately the gun on the Esplanade opened fire. The foreign-looking craft was now between two fires, and the crew took to the boat, and left the two Presidents to their fate. A welldirected shot entered the magazine, and with a loud report the ill-fated craft flew into the air, and something Mke the motor-car, bits of it, and bita of Kruger, and Steyn, were all that was left of the show. ANOTHER PROCESSION took place in the evening, after the iruunner of Saturday’s performance, our only ambulance nurse going out with the khaki girls. The enthueiasin was vented in songs, eheera, and the sound of aU sorts and conditions of musical

instruments. After the procession the guns were drawn up on the Elsplanade, and the khaki girls each fired off a cannon for the very first time in their lives. A SOCIAL watt held during the evening, at which a great crowd assembled. The fire brigade, khaki girls, and our ambulance nurse. Miss Howard, attended in their uniforms. Others present were: Mrs Hardy, in a beautiful ballgown of white silk, the skirt finished off with three narrow frills headed with pink satin ribbon, and the bodice to match, with transparent sleeves of lace; Mrs G. Scott also wore a very handsome gown of yellow silk prettily finished off with lace; Mrs Riddell, white silk and lace with pearl embroidery; Mrs Allen, black broche with white lace fichu; Miss E. Greensill, salmon pink silk, which was very pretty; the Misses Fell (2) were dressed alike in very handsome gowns of pale blue silk, trimmed with pretty lace; Miss Morna Fell, dark skirt, and evening blouse; Miss — Fell (Nelson), •cardinal frock; Mis's Fuller, white muslin and lace; Misses Lloyd (2), in white muslin; Miss Philpotts, pretty yellow silk; and her sister in white: Miss Hay, black, with pale blue chiffon; Miss Grace Allen, white muslin skirt, and pink silk evening blouse: Miss McGuire, pale blue frock, with white lace on the skirt, and bodice; Miss — McGuire, dark skirt, and pink silk evening bodice; Misses Miles (2), in white muslin; Miss France in pale blue; Miss Thompson, dark skirt, and shot silk blouse; Miss Fredericks, pink frock trimmed with white lace; Misses Dart (2), GreensiU (3), Love (2), Y’oung (2), Mesdames Wilkins, Staples (Wellington), Robertshaw, Roskruge, Beauchamp, and a host of people on the stage in walking costume. Mr J. Green.sill wore his khaki uniform. Other men present were: — Messrs Drake. Clinch. Riddell, Fell (2), McGuire (2), Hardy, Scott, Stitt, -Allen, Price. Bathgate, Sergeant, Bartlett. Fredericks. Perano (2), Smith. France (2), etc. On Tuesday evening Father Ainsworth entertained over twenty young men at a MUSICAL SUPPER. held at the Terminus Hotel. A most enjoyable evening was spent, and the young men intend to return the Rev. Father's kindness by inviting him to spend an evening- with them in about a week’s time. TEMPESTUOUS WEATHER has been responsible for delayts in the mail service. Two steamers left here for Wellington on Wednesday morning, but after a try at the Straits returned. The Takapuna also had to put in for shelter, and for medical assistance for a passenger who had broken his arm. Two steaißiers expected from the Coast have been delayed, as well as the usual mail boat. Officers and passengers alike say that in all their experience they xuever saw such mountainous waves as on Wednesday. On Thursday morning the three boats tackled the course again, going out by the north entrance, and as the gale had considerably abated they arrived safely in Wellington. June 8. Mrs Greensill had a “wee" party at the Schoolhouse. Waikawa, for her

little granddaughter on Friday. The little ones walked down together, and stayed all night, walking home again next day. Among them were Misses GreensiH, Owen, Love, Master T. Greensill, and several of the Maori children from the pah. The Rotorua celebrated the taking of Johannesburg and other good Dews, by sending up rockets as she lay at the wharf on Friday evening. Her officers thought it was better to be late than never, and as the boat was out on her travels when the celebrations were held elsewhere, they expressed their delight, and delighted us. by a display of rockets and blue lights. Mr A. P. Seymour and two of his sons, who were surveying down at Titerangu. met with a rather unpleasant experience during last Friday’s gale. They were travelling in Mr J. B. Richardson’s yacht, the “Zeripha,” when the gale commenced, and they decided to land. After leaving the yacht securely anchored, they went off for the shore in a small boat, but a willy-waugh caught them and capsized the boat. They succeeded in getting ashore just in time to see the boat lifted up like a feather and dashed to pieces on the beach. They were hospitably entertained at Mr Neave’s homestead, but next morning, when they went out to look for the yacht, she. too. had disappeared. The s.s. Tekapo. which trades between Havelock and Wellington. picked up the party and brought them on to Pieton on Sunday. Mr Seymour was considerably bruised. A party of twenty—all of the sex who think no harm, but the reverse, in a Sunday excursion—hired the s.s. Neptune and went down to Dieffenbaeh. They reckoned the fish they actually caught by the ton. but the fish they nearly caught capped all. On Tuesday evening a public meeting was held in the Foresters' Hall to elect a committee to properly carry out the celebrations when peace is declared. Mr A. P. Seymour, the Mayor, was voted into the chair, aud by his enthusiasm quite made up for the lack of loyalty displayed by other City Fathers, all of whom were conspicuous by their absence. .Judging by the enthusiastic manner in which people are meeting the expenses committee. Picton is likely to take a forward place in the demonstration. The new volunteer corps were to have been sworn iu on Wednesday evening, but owing to some informality there was no J.P. present to make the swearing process legal, so the men were measured instead. Ser-geant-Major Healey, of Nelson, was sent down by the Government to instruct the new volunteers in their duties.

JEAN.