LADY CORRESPONDENTS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9860, 9 March 1896, Page 2

LADY CORRESPONDENTS.

"Weekly Press and Referee." (Mar. sth.) CHRISTCHURCH. DKAn Jo,—Quite a flutter of excitement lias been experienced during tlie past ten days, whilst the Squadron remained our visitors; we expected some sort of entertainment on the occasion, but never in our Wildest moments did we foster ideas of tho gay time given us. Everything has worked smoothly, and with beautiful weather it is almost needless to add that we have enjoyed ourselves immensely, with nothing to lament but the fact that it all too soon came to an end I Numerous tennis parties, luncheons, picnics, and dinners were given for the strangers ; it ia really, now I come to it, a difficult task to know where to begin to tell you of all the pleasure of the week ; however, one of the most enjoyable functions was Mrs Cowlishaw's garden party last Tuesday. A great many guests were present, with a large contingent of officers from the different warships. It was a refreshing sight to .see so many new faces amongst us. Tennis and croquet were played vigorously by their devotees, while refreshments of every variety were dispensed in the shadeMrs Cowlishaw, whom every one was delighted to see amongst her friends again, wore a handsome black costume Miss Cowlishaw, black crcpon skirt, pink blouse and sailor hat; Miss Grace Cowlishaw, black skirt and pretty pale green bodice; Mrs J. Hall wore a becoming fawn costume, the upper portion of the bodice being composed of pink silk and cream lace ; Mrs Alister Clark a dainty gown of glace silk Bhot with heliotrope and green, bodice strapped with green velvet, tiny toque with coloured flowers to match; Miss VVynnWilliams, black costume and deep cream lace collar, black lace hat with a profusion of pink rosea ; Miss Campbell, dark blue coat and skirt, white blouse ; Miss Turrell, grey; Mrs Arthur Rhodes, black crcpon skirt and beautiful cape of shot green and r ed silk ; Mrs Wason, fawn coat and skirt, vest of striped petunia silk ; Miss Turn-bull, sage green gown; Miss Murray-Aynsley, black frock, bodice relieved with bands of green and cream lace ; her sister in grey and pink; Mrs Pitman, handsome grey silk and silver trimming composing the bodice. Messrs Turrell, Hall, Rolleston, Perry, Lane, Cowlishaw, Wilding, Collins, and many naval officers were present. The event of the week was the ball given by some members of the Christchurch Club. For brilliancy and completeness in every detail, one and all agree that never has such a ball been given in Christchurch. A special ball-room was built looking on to Latimer Square. Tho decorations with mirrors, flowers and flags (the latter being most effectively arranged) were truly artistic, set off, of course, by the handsome dresses and naval uniforms. Every room of that sanctum, the Club, was desecrated (?) and formed exquisite bowers, quantitiesof lycopodiumbeing used. The library had draperies of yellow arranged with this trailing fern hanging the whole length of the curtains, and endless nooks. Tho smoking room, too, was beautifully transformed with lovely screens, shades and brocades. My pen is much too incapable to attempt to describe the supper, the wonders of culinary art and science being much in evidence and suffice it to say, that never had such perfection been placed on a supper table before. The whole room (the dining hall) was filled with small tables beautifully arranged, and the faultless wait? ing of the attendants, conspicuous in the club uniform of black and crimson waistcoats, left nothing to be desired. Fleming's band Erovided the rrfusic, which with the excellent oor dancing was indeed a pleasure. Of the dresses Mrs C. Dalgety was conspicuous in a beautiful white satin, the front widths of which were sprinkled with pearls and crystals, the bodice finished with lovely lace and ostrich feathers, the latter also trimming the tfainj Mrs Cunningham, a handsome Sale blue silk, brocaded with a darker shade, iamond ornaments and lace trimming the bodice; Miss Cunningham, becoming black satin, profusely trimmed with jet; Mrs A. Rhodes, peart grey satin the bodice composed of the finest cream lace, large satin sleeves caught up with pink rosea and diamond ornaments ; Mrs Pitman, Eile shade of green shot satin and cream cc studded with pearls, green velvet bows at the neck and sleeves ; Mrs G. Gould, blush pink satin, flowered with bunches of pink roses, pink chiffon finishing the skirt and lace falling from shoulders to waist on the bodice; Mrs R. Heaton Rhodes, a becoming geranium satin, trimmed with clusters of flowers, diamond necklace and stars in her hair ; Mrs Alister Clark, a very pretty blue silk brocaded with pink, the bodioe trimmed with lace and pink roses, she also wore diamonds; Mrs Parker, grey Bengaline silk, slightly trained pink silk, folded on the bodice, and diamond stars; Miss Gray, (Rangiora), pale blue satin and Eink rosea; Misses K. Wilson, N. Todunter; A. Harley and L. Mathi&s were debutantes* all wearing pretty white frocks; Mrs Anson, electric grey watered silk, MrsH. Buchanan,orange silk and chiffon, the sleeves made very full and caught up with flowers; Mrs P. Campbell, dull shade of sage green satin, sleeves of cream chiffon caught down with worked bands ; Mrs Otterson, pink ond white striped silk, lace trimming the bodice ; Mrs Wason, a handsome white satin gown, slightly trained, and pearl trimming finish, ing the square bodice; Mrs Wilder, blue and cream silk; Mrs Boyle, grey silk relieved \ with black; Mrs J. Barker, white satin bodice of black, with long bretelles falling to the feet; Mrs Laing-Meason, cream silk gown; Mrs Smithson (Timaru) forget-me-not blue silk with floral design in pink; Miss Cowlishaw, pale blue satin, bodice of cream lace: her sister wore a very pretty rose coloured silk; Miss Courage, white satin, wreath of pink roses in her hair ; Miss Tabart, a white frock with sash of cherry silk; her sister in cream with bodice of pale pink; Miss Wynn-Williams, pale green silk; her sister in black, with pink . bodice; Miss Malet, pale blue satin, the bodice trimmed with Maltese lace and bouquets of violets; Miss Gerard, <electric grey bengaline; Miss Beswick t orange satin, and wreath of lilac furnishing the square corsage; Miss Gould, yellow brocade with a deep flounce of white lace ; Miss Neill (Dunedin), a pretty cream silk frock ; Miss Campbell, pale blue silk ; Mrs Denniston, coral pink ondine silk, trimmed with black lace and jet: Mrs G. Rhodes (Timaru), cream satin ; Miss Reeves, white satin and pink roses forming straps across the shoulder; Mrs Lascelles, black, with bodice of gold Indian work ; Miss E. Helmore, grey and pink satin; Miss Graham looked well in white and sea green silk. Space prevents mc from enumerating other gowns worn, but, every frock worn looked pretty and fresh; others also rsent were Mesdames Lomax-Smith, Harmon, Symes, CotteriU, Archer, W. H. Lane, Rolleston, &c, Ac. Admiral Bridge, Captain Anson, Captain Browne, Captain Meryon, Mr and Mrs John Studholme, Misses Beswick (2), Rolleston (2) and Archer, Mrs Baber, Mr and Mrs Common, Mr and Mrs Wanklyn, Messrs Wason, Otterson, Rhodes, Rolleston (2), Gould, Buchanan, Beswick, Murray, Cox, Pring, Gretorix, Swan, Harris, Wynn-Williams, Hon. C. Hay, Hon. E. Parker, R. McDonald, B. McDonald, Whitmarsh, Darley, Hopkins, Duff, Lane, Archer, Judge Denniston.

A large garden party was given on Friday by Mrs Denniston at her residence, Fendalton, about 200 guests were present. Fortunately the day was beautifully fine, though the wind somewhat interfered with one's hats and furbelows. Tea, fruit, &c, were served on the verandah under shelter. Garden golf, tennis and croquet were all keenly indulged in during the afternoon. Mrs Denniston wore a block skirt and glace silk bodice in white and blue stripes, small blnck bonnet. Amongst many were Mrs and Miss Cunningham, the latter in black with apricot silk blouse, and accordion chiffon ; Mrs C. Clark, "Misses Cowlishaw, Buckley, Sanders, Mrs Meares in sage green silk costume trimmed with cream lace; Miss Meares, a pretty cream frock, with swathe collar of green ; Mrs Wilding in block with panels of white silk and black lace ; Mrs and Miss Graham, Misses Henry, Guy, Latter, Courage, Nedwill, Turnbull; Mrs "H. Wood white frock, and yellow floral picture hat, •pray at her throat of yellow; Miss M.

Tabart. heliotrope and white gown ; Mrs YV. Ollivier. Mrs Secretsn, Mrs Colterill, Mrs Marsh, Miss Harley, crushed strawberry costume trimmed with brocade ; Miss Mickle (Melbourne) almond coloured crcpon, relieved with pink silk, large sailor hat. Many naval officers were also present. I hear a lar_o number of onlookers visited the polo ground, where the Misses Beswick gave tea. Unfortunately H.M.S. Orlando took her departure the same afternoon, and a great number of us ivent into Lyttelton to pay our last farewell*. Of course there was much waving of handkerchief* —a- sad sight, is it not ? accentuated by listening to the Ktiains of "The Oiil I Left Behind Mc," played by the band on board the Orlando as she steamed away. Other entertainments were also given by Miss Guv last Tuesday and a small dance on Saturday by Mr:- Malet, but space and time force mc" to withhold details till next week. Cexja.