LADIES' COLUMN.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 13, 15 July 1905, Page 15

LADIES' COLUMN.

Girls' Gossip. [Contributions to this column addressed "Priscilla" will be welcomed. They should be concise, and must be signed with the writer's full nuine and address, not for publication, but as a guarantee of authenticity, j Mi Dear Kezia— This has been a week of many At Homes and one danee — the Jockey Club Ball, a roost sumptuous function, the fir§t of its kind held in the Town Hall. On Satuiday last Lady Stout gave a reception in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Woo Hey. A large number of those interested in the temperance cause wero invited. The. pretty rooms and laden teatables were decorated effectively with holly. The hostess wore a silver-grey and black brocade, trimmed with lace. A farewell At Home for Mrs. T. Young, who left with Mr. Young ou Tuesday on a trip Home, was given by j Mrs. ToHmrst last Monday. Beautiful chrysanthemums and anemones were set about the picturesque rooms that the firelight made so cosy, in contaast with the wintry day without.. The Den. was an especially delightful resort. A band i played in the hall, and delicious refreshments were served in the dining-room. ■ Mrs. Tolhurst wore a handsome black, silk with lace, and Miss Tolhurst's graceful gown was of black voile, the bodice opening over a lace yoke and vest, a soft fichu outlining tlte shoulders. Mrs. T. Young was in turquoise "blue cloth with lace ' yoke and Ve3t and lace bands on tho -shoulder- cape. A charming \ white 69rge,' with trim Eton coat and pleated skirt, was worn by the wife of a North- ' era member. A dark gir 1 in a grey | tailor-made wtt'h white furs looked well, j , and-» tall guest, in a brown cloth frock, ' wore a most becoming heliotrope toque ; with cream roses at the side. A pretty ! . pale-bftte gown, worn by a Palmerston North visitor, was effective, and another charming dress of the same colour,-com-pleted by a white beaver hat, with, a long white feather, was worn by an Auckland girl. Very smart was a plumy blue frock with fuchsia-tinted velvet on cuffs and collar, and an amethyst doth .with much Oriental embroidery was niudh admired. Some of those who were invited were obliged to place duty before pleasure and be at the Bazaar — reluctantly, for Mrs. Tolhurst's entertainments are always most enjoyable. ' The Bazaar has come to a triumphant /conclusion, and its success has" exceeded the most sanguine expectations. The sweetly demure Quakeress and her dei lightful little attendant received the prize •—most worthily, according to veiy many, but really the choice was a difficult one, for each of the poster girls, had her special 'charm. Every one in connection with t'he Bazaar deserves congratulation, and Mrs. Pollen's tact and energy won " even masculine praise — never liberal where fcazaars are in question. 3?or a time Wellington deserves a rest from bazaars. Mrs. Wallis's annual teas at the time of the Synod are always enjoyable, and this year's was pleasanter than, usual, for 'the concert-hall in the Town Hall is a more commodious room, and its gallery an excellent vantage-point to view the scene below — f^ir women and brave men. The Bishop and Mrs. Wallis received at tha entrance, the hostess wearing a soft block dress with embroidery and lace upon the bodice. She carried an exquisite bouquet. A very large number of guests were present, and enjoyed the delightful music that threaded the conversation and the very excellent and ' "vrelkserved refreshments. Of course, the i dark richness of winter gowna never looks so gay as summer chiffons, hut here and there some charming pasteliinted frocks were seen, notably a delicate blue, trimmed with silk braid passementerie. A very effective hat had its crown made of overlapping rose-leaves, and its brim of massed pink roses, bor- . dered with a plait of soft green tulle, and having a lovely cluster of roses and leaves at the side. Lady Plunket has been seen twice in the Speaker's gallery recently, and with her on the second night came the Hon. Kathleen Plunket, and Mrs. Arthur Rhodes, who, with Mr. Rhodes, is a guest at Government House during the race week. The Viceregal party, which included Mr. Waterfield, Captain Braithwaite, Captain Bingham, and Mr. Artthur Rhodes', ivere taken to tea by Mr. Heaton Rhode? in the Leader of the Opposition's room during the supper ad- ■■ journment, Mr. Massey and Miss Massey being invited. Mra. Stringer, from Christchurch, has been staying -in Wellington this week, and has visited" the • House. Miss Warburton, from Palmerston North, has been a guest of Mrs. Stafford, and Miss Boyle, from Christchurch, is staying with Mrs. Babington. Th» coming fancy dress charity ball is a topic of much interest) though as yet, in these early days, arrangements are chaotic. But it promises to be a very charming function, and I hear that old-fashion-ed dances are to be practised tand performed — the best "set" to gain a prize. If this idea, does nothing more 'than vary the tiresome monotony of the ordinary programme, it will do much." But it ought to add immensely to the attractions of the ball. ■ The Town Hall,' decorated splendidly by the Racing Club, was a brilliant- scene on Thursday list." Soft lights, luxurious furniture, masses of ferns and- palms, studded with electric ..fireflies, pictures, and rich red draperies, made up a charming interior, and the arrangements for sitting out were so good that an expert in that sort of thing must have been on the committee. As for the supper, it was worthy of the decorations, and the small concert-room was unrecognisable with its little tables set for four, its daintily-gar-nished dishes, djaperies of flag 3, and great silver cups that decorated the table for the Governor and his party. One charming idea wos the soft music that blended with the gay chatter and clatter of .the supper room. All the arrangements were excellent, and carried out in every detail. Even the rosettes of the committee — one of which/ was proudly worn by the model of th& horse that faced the entrance — were actistic. Red was the prevailing note in the heavy curtains, the ljghts, the rich carpets, and the trails and knots of ribbon on the supper tables. The only trampled rose-leaf was the floor, which was not very good. It is feared it never will be first-rate — over which dancing folk make much moan — for concrete foundations make heavy work for nimble toes — but no end of trouble had been,taken with it, and it may improve with use. Of course, with so much space to dia- . play fine feathers, there was no dearth of Kmart frocks. Lady Plunket's graceful black chiffon velvet was trimmed with jet, snd had folds of white tulle outlining the low bodice, and frills of the same compckS- • ing the pretty sleeves. Mrs. Arthur Rhodes's gown was an exquisitely-cut rich white satin, the bodice 3wathed and outtined with cherry velvet, while the plain skirt hod a front panel of sequin embroidery. ' The Hon. Kathleen I'lunket wore pale bine silk, the sleeves and berthe of accordeon-tpleated chiffon. A Christchurch girl with lovely Titian hair was in soft white tulle, banded with satin ribbon edged with silver sequins, spangled white wings being worn in the hair. ■ .An. exquisite blue silk, made in the old .Victorian style, the pointed bodice open,-

ing over fine wliite lace, became admirably its fair-haired stately wearer, and a Paris frock of pale- blue, with rose and gold medallions or the lace overskirt, was much admired. The engagement is announced of Miss Tattie Fraser— wlio made co many friends here when she was staying with Lady Ward— to Mr. Reginald Back, who has recently been 'transferred from Christchurch to Invercargill. Judge, Mrs., and Miss Williams have been staying at the Empire this week. Miss .Zoe Thome George is 1 a guest of Mrs. Hislop, and Miss Foote has been visiting Mrs. Rankine Brown. — I am, yours, "> ' PRISCILLA.