SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 11

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

A Golden Wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fowler, ol Wellington, celebrated thei- golden wedding yesterday. They wore married at Christcliurch, Marylebone, London, on the 27th May, 1860. Shortly after this they removed to New Zealand, arriving at Lyttelton in the ship Huntress, in April, 1563. After residing in the Canterbury district a number of years, where Mr. Fowler followed the occupation of builder, they went in. 1880 to New Plymouth, and eventually settled in 1 Wellington in 1886. They have a family of nine sons and four daughters. There are twenty-two grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler have received many messages of congratulation on the occasion.

Fire Brigade Dance. The dance given by the Wellington Firo Brigade is one that is always looked forward to with pleasurable anticipation and their dance last night was an even greater success than that of last year. Supper was served in the engine-room downstairs, and the regiment of engines—eight of them, shining, excitable things, brilliant with scarlet, eminently fitted to adorn a ballroom, were turned out of doors for the occasion, and pastured in the commodious back yard, while their place was

taken by long lines of supper-tables beautifully decorated with chrysanthemums, yollow autumn foliage, silver candelabra and broad yellow streamers. All round the halls were hung with flags and van-coloured lights were shining across the ceiling while palms had been set about in the doorway and around the walls. Upstairs in the recreation room the billiard table had been removed to make way for the dancers, tho prettily-tinted walls were overhung with flags, and seats were placed all round the room for the guests who chose to look on.

Mr. O'Brien and his wife acted as the host and hostees of the evening, Mrs. P'Brien wearing a very pretty frock of pale bluo charmeuse with pearl trimming. Among others present were Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Luke, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Ballinger, Mr. and v Mrs. Carmiehael, Mr. Palmer, Mri Wilford. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle, Mr. and Mrs. O'Sbea, Mr. and Mrs. Trevor, Mr. and Mrs. F. Cohen,,Mr. Fletcher. Mrs. Luke wore a frock of prune-coloured silk; Mrs. Morton, mauve charmeuse; Mrs. Carmichael, white with bands of black velvet ; Miss. Ballinger, white; Miss Clara Duncan (Melbourne), pink chiffon with malteso lace; Mrs. Cohen, purple silk; Mrs. Doyle, black silk, Miss. Usher, black silk; Mrs. Tait, . black with touches of cerise. The trim dark uniform of the men made an effective contrast to the pretty frocks of their partners. A New Zealand Singer. Madame Sorel, who m visiting Wellington with her daughter, Mdlls. Bel Sorel, says that the engagement of Mdlle. D'Argol (Miss Nora Long) for a winter season at the Lyons Opera is one of which the young' New Zealander has every reason to be proud. The Opera House at Lyons ranks next to that of Paris in importance in France. Next to it comes. Bordeaux and fourth Marseilles. The Opera House is very finely appointed and is twice tho size of our Wellington one. Lyons is visiled by many well-known singers, and tho audience is extremely critical. As a rule they prefer to have their own French artistes, and the engagement of a singer from New Zealand may be regarded as a great compliment to her art.

Girls' Realm Cullcl. On Thursday evening last, at tho Tory Street Mission Hall, a successful entertainment was given by members of tho Lady Plunket Centre of tho Girls' Realm Guild. The following contributed items to the programme: Misses Ella Hurley, Ada Baker, G. Malcolm, Violet Mueller, and Miss M. Hurley played tho accompaniments; they were assisted by Messrs. Tassie and Smith. There was a good attendance, and a hearty voto of thanks was accorded the performers at {ho conclusion.

Dance in Coring Street. A most enjoyable little dance was given last niyiii m the Goring Street liali by a committee consisting uf .Uissos U'illiamson, Uull, .U'Coll, ~l'Eldowuoy, and Ross , and Messrs. Turubull, Vilson, ATEldownoy, Ross, and Williamson. The chaperones were: Mesdames J. A. Thouisou, M'Coll, J. 1). Sievwright, and J. M'Eldowney. The hall, which lias recently been done up and rejuvenated, was decorated with greenery, and strings of gaiiy-coloured Chinese lanterns. Supper was served in tlie ante-room, where the tables were effectively decorated with large yellow ferns. Mrs. Thomson wore a dress of black silk and turquoise vel--vet; Mrs. M'Coll, black lace dress, with bertha of Maltese lace; Mrs. Sievwrigiit, black chiffon taffetas and crimson roses; Mrs. M'Eldownoy, black frock; Miss Ross, heliotrope uinon, with crystal trimming; Miss Williamson, white satin, with overdress of jewelled net; Miss M'Coll, cream chiffon taffetas; Miss Bull, cream silk; Miss M'Eldowney, cream frock; Miss W. Anderson, white silk; Miss It. -M'Coll, white muslin; Miss E. Passoau, pale grecin; Miss Bowdcn, cream silk; Miss Turnbull, white satin Empire frock; Mrs. Bastin, black velvet, with real lace; Miss Hardy, pale blue; Miss Stewart, white net over blue; Miss Gooder, blue striped ninon; Miss Hen]y, white; Mrs. Bull, brown silk.

Tuesday ol next week is_ to be considered a club day at the Pioneer Club, instead of Thursday as usual. Mdlle. Bel Sorel and Miss Amy Castles have accepted the invitations of the committee to be present. Signorina. Pampari is playing that evening in "La Bohemme," so it is feared she will not be able to bo the club's guest that afternoon.

The Wellington branch of the Theosophical Society is giving a social this afternoon in the lodge room, Ballanoo Street. . Dr. and Mrs. Harty havo relumed to Wellington. TheMaranui Tennis Club is giving a dance on Thursday, June 2. Mrs. Twist, wife of Mr. F. Twist, secretary to the Commissioner of the Cook Islands, returned to Rarotonga by tlie Mokoia yesterday after a brief holiday in the Dominion.