PICTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue II, 14 July 1900, Page 87

PICTON.

Dear Bee, June <>. Though matters are socially dull here business is going ahead’ with great strides, so that it came rather like a blow to hear that Marlborough was left out in the cold when the apportioning’ of the various railways was under consideration by the powers that be. There is no doubt that a railway from Pieton—as the terminus of the South Island—to Christchurch is urgently required. Farming on the land lately purchased by the Government is out of the question till the. railway communication is complete, and it is simply entailing a life of isolation and poverty on those who have taken up small farms. There is no outlet for their produce and no association for them with the outside world. The small—comparatively, 1 mean—steamers now on the run between Wellington and Pieton do the trip under five hours from wharf to wharf, and several times lately it has been done in four hours and a quarter. The important freezing operations now being started in Pieton must eventually force our town into prominence; and so it behoves our legislature to consider our requirements, and if they are to borrow at all borrow enough to make Marlborough in particular and New Zealand in general a real wide-awake place to live in.

The Misses Greensill, of “Brooklyn,” had a very successful AFTERNOON on Wednesday. Miss Greensill waa wearing a green costume with a pr*Uy silk front; Miss Ethel Greensill was in navy blue; Mrs Allen, in black; Mrs Riddeld, in tailor-made purple cloth costume, with cream vest and brown hat trimmed with yellow silk and purple and yellow pansies; Miss Pell, tailor-made brown costume with yellow vest and pretty toque to mateh; Miss Nora Allen, navy blue poplin eostunie and brown hat; Miss Holin (Wellington), fawn costume, trimmed with rows of narrow velvet: Miss Mildred Fell, navy blue costume with toque en suite; Miss Hallett, black costume, sailor hat; Miss Nellie Allen, dark blue tailor-mad 1 ' cloth costume, eream silk vest with lace cravat, and sailor hat; Miss Grace Allen, royal blue costume, red silk tie and belt. A very merry afternoon was spent telling funny anecdotes and relating travelling experiences by sea and land. There is always a good deal to say about the weather. One never knows how to take it. Walking parties and fishing expeditions have to be postponed from week to week, or adjourned sine die on account of its vagaries. Yet we live in hopes. The “Peace” Celebration Committee hold regular meetings and report progress. Private letters From New Zealanders in South Afriea sax that th<« end must soon come now, that the Hoers are becoming demoralised, and are surrendering on all sides. The horrors of the Chinese rebellion and the famine in India seem almost to have superseded tlie great interest ta’ ’ the South African war.

JEAN.