SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 235, 27 June 1908, Page 11

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

,A most enjoyable rlanco, Riven by the Collogo Old Girls' Hockey Club, took place on Thursday night, in St. Peter's schoolroom. Though the night was uninviting, a large number of guests were present, undeterred by tho st-ormy elements. Tlio schoolroom was most charmingly decorated with ferns and flags, tho hockey emblems being given a prominent place. ' The supper table was very prettily arranged, streamers of yellow ribbon, attached to baskets of flowers, bcin" hung some distance abovo the table, with charming offect. Tho Mesrlames M'Kldownoyl Johnston, ITarknoss, Dinnie, and Jacob, wore tho chaperons. Among 'others present wcro the Misses L. Thompson, 'Woodman, A. Hally, J. Ilarkness, C. Stewart, Meek (2), Moys (2), Warburtou, Zobrab, Veitch, A. Smith, Voster, and Alexander, and Messrs. Hacon, Blow, Hymns, Butt, Everard, Grace, Harton, Csrtwright, and throe of tho British footballers, Messrs. Aldham, Dawn, and Green. Mrs. Palmer,. of Featherston, and her sister, Mrs. Boyd, are spending a few days in town. Mrs. M. Meredith, of Masterton, is staying in Wellington. Mrs. Watson, of Invercnrgill, is at present staying with her mother, Mrs Mcnzies. Sir William Steward and Lady Steward have coino to town for the session, and have taken a house in Hill Street.

The-.social side of University life was emphasised by the Victoria College students on Thursday, asil has perhaps never been before in New Zealand. . The proceedings began with a luncheon given for the graduates, old and new, at Godbcr's Rooms in Cuba Street. This was a very simple informal affair, and was much enjoyed by all who were able to bo present. It was the first luncheon of the kind given here, and the graduates hops that a similar function will tako place every year. There were no speeches, and indeed there was littlo time for thorn, as the new graduates had to have their photographs taken belore they assembled at tho Town Hall :at 3 o'clock. Tho evening entertainment provided by the students for themselves and their friends was exceedingly good, and it was characterised by a, politeness remarkable on such an occasion. Thero is nothing wearyingly. academic about tho Victoria Collego student when he wants to play. Ho evidently reads his newspaper, and he goes to local politics for his points and personalities, in which ho is after all only following tho examplo of somo of those great classical writers whom ho has to study in his serious moments. No doubt the presence of so many girl students has a very restraining influenco on the fun of the evening, but whatever it may lose in hilarity is compensated for by tlio decorativo effect of so, many bright pretty, faces and dainty frocks, massed between the dingier ranks ot tho men. The gown and hood hung on tho unaccustomed shoulders of the men have a J loolc more than picturesque, but add greatly to' the charm of a pretty frock. Most of tho girl'graduates were in white or very light coloured frocks, so that tho gj-acc-•ful academic gowns and coloured hoods had their full (/fleet. At tho closo of the students' carnival, the. guests streamed downstairs to tho big hall, whore supper was Jaid on three long tables. A very jolly hour and a half followed. Nearly all tho students wero there, and among thorri were a surprising number of quite young girls, who still wear their hair down, but whoso,, heads, no doubt, are filled with all kinds of lore and learning. Various toasts . were proposed, some by very' waggish youths, oiid, these wero duly responded, to, in most r cases With, more dignity. Some time after midnight this pleasant assemblage broke up, and dancing began in the Concert Room. Among tho ladies present during some part of the evening wore Mesdames Easterfield, Salmoud, Ranldnc-Brown, P.cken, Richmond, Gray, Fell, Do la Mare, Von Haast, Thornton, Gibbs, Drs. Agnes Bennett and Elizabeth Gunn, Misses Myers, Richmond, and Wilson.

During Kubelik's visit to England two vpars -Mr. John Prouso iccoinpuuiccl iiim and sang at all his concerts. A reception in honour of tho great musician and_lus wife, Madame Kubclik, is to bo given by Mr. and Mrs. Prouse.on Monday afternoon.

On Wednesday afternoon Mrs. O'Connor gave a delightful littlo informal tea at her home on the Terrace, when her rooms wero charmingly decorated with flowers sent down from tho-. Wairarapa. There.were crystal bowls filled with brilliantly coloured anemones, and silver vases with yellow narcissi, a pleasure to the eyes of gardenless Wellington." Mrs. O'Connor wore a gown of black crepe do chine, with elbow sleeves of cream lace. Miss O'Connor'was in pale lilac silk, trimmed with bands of black velvet. Among tho guests wero Mrs. Grace, Miss Johnston, Mrs. Goring Johnston, Mrs. Moorhouso, Mrs! W. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Tuckey, Mrs. Cecil Kebbell, and Miss Duncan.

In St. Mark's Church, Carterton, on Wednesday afternoon, Emma Mary Johnson, third daughter of Mr. A. Johnson, of Parkvalo, was married to Mr. H. F.'Rink,'fifth son of Mr. J. G. Rink, of Carterton. Tho Eev. R. Young officiated. Tho bride's sisters, Misses Clara and Maiy Johnson, were her bridosmaids. Mr. R. Teal attended the bridegroom. In the evening, over 200 guests from all parts of tho district wero entertained by tho bride's parent in the Parkvalo Hall. ■

Mrs. Grover Cleveland, who is one of tho most popular women in the United States, married the late Mr. Cleveland'twenty-two years ' ago, and their marriage has always been recognised as an ideally happy one. Mrs Cleveland was one of the earliest students at tho beautiful Wellcsloy Collego, Massachusetts, where she graduated, and sho still retains tho keenest interest in its welfare. She has for many years been one of tho trustees of tho college.

The Wellington Highland Rifles held their seventh annual ball yesterday evening at the Town Hall. The large hall was gaily decorated with red, white, and blue. Long festoons of red, white, and blue hung from tho central chandelier .to tho sides of the gallery, the same colours were twined round tho pillars and all around the gallery, and masses of pot-plants and palm's from Government Houso wero arranged in front of, and on, tho stage. Supper was served m tho Concert Room. Tho ball began with a grand march past and waltz, and during the evening there was a pauso in tho. dancing, when Mr. AY. ;E. Boyd, M.C., and Mr. Jaffray, secretary to tho committee, danced, a Highland fiing, and Mr. Boyd gave a sword dance. Mr. Jatfray danced the historic seantrews, and a reel was danced by Mossrs. Boyd, Jaffray, Scott, and Frost. Among tho visitors wero a party of Palmerston Volunteers, who arrived by tho evening, train. Tho uniforms of the men and tho pretty j frocks of the ladies made a charmingly gay soeno. Mrs. M'Diarmid woro a frock of palo . blue taffetas; Mrs. Anderson, wine-coloured silk-with gold braid and tassels; Mrs. Pago, heliotrope silk trimmed with purple velvet; Mrs. Hislop, black velvet with wliito lace; Jlrs. Gilbert, white satin; Mrs. Mackintosh, black silk; Mrs. Shelley, black velvet; Mr' 3. Harton, pale blue silk; Mrs. Simeon, silver spangled-net; Miss Seargeaiit, palo pink silk; Miss°Smith, palo green silk; Mrs. Tomlinson, yellow satin; Miss Neilson, white silk; Mrs. Correlli, pink silk; Mrs. Gritt, palo pink silk; Miss Leathern, green glaco silk; Miss Y. Routham, pink silk.

As soon as tho baby daughter of a Gorman farmer can inn alone, sho is provided with a stout linen bag, marked with her name. It is intended as tho receptacle of all tho feathers sho can pick up, and tho sooner tho bag is filled the moro praise she receives from her elders. When tho hag is quite full it is emptied into a large ow| hanging in tho garret, and the feathers collected "there are made into pillow-beds, quilts, etc.