HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXV, Issue 2140, 31 July 1908, Page 3

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

(By Penelope.)

A GAY WEEK.

, No one would ever imagine butter was 1/5 a pound to read the list of entertainment* given this'past week Ten large At Homes in four days is surely a record, and involves not only considerable expense and exertion, but much ingenuity in lilting in the various engagements. It was a ques tion, for some people who go everywhere, of three teas in one afternoon, and unfortunately, motors are th

property of a favoured lew. It ifl quaint to chat with a friend at one house, meet her over a cup of tea—or chocolate, that is our latest beverage —at the next, and brush past her going out as you go in to the third < But besides this plethora; of teas, there have been dinner and theatre parties, races, and a dance every night for those who care for such' gaieties. All this dissipation is partly due to the presence of many country people in town, arrived lor th races. The largest of the luncheon parties was given by Mrs Williams—nee Miss Stephenson, oi Dunedhi—a the Empire Hotel a most elaborat ahair, purely feminine, und noted lo

its effective decorations. Strandß wide satin ribbon were stretched a cross the dainasli, each band of different colour, and each terminatin in a llat bow. Un these were s vases of llowers to match the tints the ribbons, mingled with Autum foliage. The whole arrangement crude as it sounds, was most euectiv and artistic. .blowers are always notable feature in our Wellington AS Homes. At two teas, given by Mrs O'Connor and Mis Tweed, the dali'o diis, got Ironi the Wairarapa, wer glorious. There must have been thousands of blossoms at the former house, and all one kind, the golden polyanthus with the orange Heart. At Mrs Bell's, too, the llowers were beautiful and arranged in the tw tea-rooms in white china bowls, upheld by exquisite iigures of girls and children in white china. Mrs lau Duncan had her rooms decorated wit tree-lucerne and dowering primulas

pots, and at Mrs Hall-J ones' tea the table was centred with a splendid as paragus fern, whose trailing tendrils, to which rose camellias were fixed, reached to the corners of the cloth. At this last tea there was very delightful music, Miss Aileen Ward being among those who sang.

THE BACE BALL. Never has there been seen here such wonderful decorations and such exi quisite frocks as at this particular dance. Silver and gold embroideries figure so largely in the latest bala gowns that the effect was most daza ling. One frock was one mass silver sequins over silver tissue, moving gleam and glitter. Several were sprayed with crystal, pearl and silver, from waist to hem, and many were lace or chiffon made over gold tissue. Mrs Tonisson's was this last, a violet chiffon, hemmed with gold tissue, and made up over gold tissue—an extraordinary and fascinating eifect being gamed as the wearer moved, and the gleam appeared and disappeared with the upper folds. Mr i Ken Duncan's lovely tulle irock was! scattered with silver sequins, and hi.d a wide band of overlapping silver on the hem. Indeed, every tenth froc had in its composition silver or gold or jewelled embroidery in some iorin or other. Lady Plunkiet wore a simple but becoming frock of black ehvffcn with much jet and some white tulle on the bodice. The Hon. &.athi>een wore an Empire gown of dull bi'ue silk with silver. Airs Tyler, wife ot the captain of H.AI.S. Encounter wore white lace and silver braid and tassels. One of the handsomest frocks was that of Lady Wards, an Empire gown of white chiffon over deep ros silk, the foot of the chiffon hemmed with a double fold of old rose velve 1, headed by giupure appliques. Tn e high-waisted belt was rose velvet, ant 1 from the shoulders fell lovely pearl and opal embroideries. Mrs J, Studholme looked charming in soft grey chiffon velvet, with grey chiffon sleeves and touches of pale blue on her bodice and in her hair, in which she wore a pearl tia.ra. Aliss Gertie Eeid, one of the handsomest of Wellington's many pretty girls, was in chiffon shaded from geranium red to pale blush, with a bertha of lovely lace, headed by gold embroideries, and centred by h great rose with green leaves. The place was a blaze ot electric light of many colours, festooned along the galleries and across the ceiling, and peering from the thicket of foliage of flowers that hid the stage and the orchestra. A fountain played in the centre of the greenery, and was many c olours in the lights. Every division under the galleries was transformed into a luxurious drawing-room, and huge lookingglasses, framed in foliage-, extended along one side. The stairway was an avenue of palms and fern s, and in the supper room string musi-c played. It was extremely well done, and a dance that will be long remembered.

MAOEI AND PAKEHA., Awarua House—the resic lence of the Premier—was the scene of a most interesting gathering last i.veck, when the visiting Maoris, with a number of other people, were invited to an At Home. Hill street, which leads to the avenue of Awarua H ouse, was quite a sight as the Maoris climbed up to the entertainment, and by the time all were gathered, there must have been hundreds present. After tea and refreshments were served, a

little impromptu concert was given, Miss Ward, Mrs Donne, Mrs Ben Wilson, and Mrs Te Tau singing, and Mrs Malcolm Boss and Mrs Baume reciting. Later on, all were photographed on the steps, Sir Joseph, w*ho was in great spirits, keeping up the spirits of the crowd by starting Mao ri songs, which were quickly taken up. It was with some difficulty such a large _ gathering could be got within the limit of the 1 ens, but by dint a f perseverance and persuasion, it wais managed. Just as the shutter was going- to work, Sir Eobert Stout's stately form was seen coming up the avenue. A slight rearrangement got him into the gr< mp, and the camera man was just'g oing to take it, when Sir Joseph calle d out, "Wait a bit ! Here's another aaaa I" And round ' ihe curve of tiwi rfjjva appeared a|

parcel-laden grocer's man, very red and embaraased. There was a great laugh as he hurried between the group and the camera. The Maoris themselves furnished part of the programme, for they gave a haka led by Wikitoria Kemp with tremendous vigour, and some members of the Botorua choir, and Miss Stirling and a. friend, sang sweetly. Set out for the occasion were the Premier's presentations in a \olvet-lined cabinet. The handsomest was the gold casket in which he received the freedom of the city of London—a globe with crouching lions on either side.

SAVAGES AND WAHINES. There is much talent in our local Savage Club, and its annual Ladies' evening is an entertainment much looked forward to. Indeed the sale of the tickets has to be stopped, so great is the demand, and the rule that no man except a visitor to town or a Savage can be admitted has to be strictly adhered to. It was a brilliant performance, with every item fil interest or amusement. The Premier himself contributed a song—a topical one, with a rollicking chorus by Savages—ana as an encore gave the good old ditty "There's bound to be a row," while Lady Ward sat and smiled sweetly at the recital of his martial misery. Mr Von Jtlaast sang a song oi his own composition apropos oi the "'squaws at the Savage ivorero," and was tremendously applauded. It was the drollest of entertainments, and linished oil with supper in the big hall—where the brilliant decorations for the iiace Ball were Still on view—and with a dance till a little before midnight.