THE WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9504, 3 May 1911, Page 2

THE WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

(By Mrs Malcolm Ross.) May Ist. THE ELECTIONS. Tlio. Municipal elections have certainly been the event of the week, though probably to the frivolous thoy have been of little importance compared to the Autumn Meeting at Trentham. At the polling booths on Wednesday there was little confusion and no rowdiness, although at times tho crush was so great that one had to wait one's turn. But women now are getting quite expert at the booths, and although there were three separate papers to Jill up, seemed to have no difficulty. Our Mayor, Mr Wilford, is re-elected, to the general satisfaction. Mrs Wilford, who is pretty and petite, is a daughter of Sir George MacLean. The Councillors are pretty well what they were, with threo alterations,, one of-which is John Fuller, jnr., of' cinematograph and theatrical fame—a very cheery, capable, generous man, who has dono much kindness in a quiet way to tho poor of Wellington. Ho and his picturesque wife were quite prominent in tho Ward testimonial scheme. Our half-holiday is still Wednesday, which allows the working man on a Saturday afternoon to go tripping with his wife. As a rule, it is an experience the working man usually shirks, but tho popular idea is that Wednesday is tho best day for an afternoon off. Probably Mr Fletcher was the best pleased man after tho elections, for tho ..votes placed him at the top—by • a. good majority—of both the Harbour Board and the City Council polls. THE RACES. Trentham is such a lovely course that, oven at this dismal season when flowers are few and weather threatening, it looked charming, set in its softly tinted hills and studded with its fine trees. Tho weather on tho previous day had been appalling, thunder and lightning, furious gales, and sheets of torrential rain, and this perhaps accounted for the poor attendance. Another fact that kept away many familiar faces was the very sad and suddon death of Mr Harry Holmes, of Matahiwhi, a.'son-in-law of Mrs Walter Johnston, and a. wellloved and most respected man only fifty years old. Ho had so many relatives and connections here that their absence from the races made a noticeable difference. There were a number of visitors to Wellington. Mrs A'deane and Mrs Lowry wero among the smartest dressed women, tho first in black velvet, the second in ever-attractive bluo serge and a largo, hat with tho übiquitous bows in white lace. Mrs Godley, wife of' our Commandant, has much distinction, and was dressed simply but becomingly in black, with black furs and a black liafc with a largo flat gold and black bow across the front. Mrs Ken. Duncan, one of our prettiest Wellington women, woro a- picturesque frock of black ninon over white with deep yoke of veiled black and gold embroideries, and a very largo hat of paisley silk with upstanding black plumes. Miss Harcourt,_ who'was hostess, her father being president, had on tho plainest of dark bluo tailor-mades, fitting exquisitely, and a blue hat, where again the ribbon bows were seen. A Melbourno visitor spotted huge white silk bows on her black hat with quite a charming result. I only noticed; among tho well-dressed women, one long skirt, All wero short, trim, and narrow, and a few absurdly tight. Wide black feathered or ribboned hats were most common, and I saw few of the silk headache bandages that, for a time, threatened to b.e tho fashionable headgear. TITLES FOR NEW ZEALANDERS., Quito .apart from the certainty of many hero that Dr Findlay will be made Sir John, and tho idea expressed by somo that Sir Joseph will gain a now title, an Auckland girl, Miss Russell, is by this time the Countess of Hardwicke. It is not a, case of birth, impoverished, seeking money to bolster it up, for -Miss Russell is not an heiress, although her father, Mr John Russell—who, years ago, with "Jim" Coates and "Bob" Browning, formed a most attractive trio of bachelors in Auckland—is well off. Tho Earl is not wealthy, and the ancestral acres have boon bought by others, but ho is young, active, has a profession, and is as handsome in his way as his bride is in hers, and it is said in London that seldom has a better-looking pair been seen. Although not a New Zealandor, Miss Ola Humphries is woll-known here, and she has many friends who will bo interested to learn that sho now belongs to tho reigning house of Egypt, and is addressed as "your Royal Highness." She has married a cousin of the Khedive, very wealthy, much thought of among business men, very clever with six languages at his fingers' ends, and an intricate knowledge of tho biggest cotton businos,s in tho world, which is his own, Ho will bo richer later, for his mother has a trifling income of £500,000 a year! Mrs ICnox Gilmer, with whom Her Royal Highness stayed while in Wellington, and who is her great friend, ought to look

forward to a royal time when she, in turn, visits her former guest, TWO WEDDINGS. After Lent there arc generally many marriages lixed, and two took place last week. On Wednesday Miss Barraud, daughter of Mr Sydney Barraud, of tho Butt, married Mr Dixon, of tho Bank of New Zealand. Many familiosi are connected with the Barrauds, tho Mosses, Didsburys, Blundells, Mowbrays, being among tho number. The wodding was notable for tho charming costumes of the bridesmaids, great and small, who were all in white cloth with bands* of fur, and whito velvet hats with fur, > their posies of vivid autumn leaves making effective notes of colour. Miss Vida. Kennedy, tho other bride, who is the only child of Mr W. A. Kennedy, tho popular manager of the Union S.S. Co., had a, really'wretched day, though just for the wedding the weather moderated somewhat. But as the guests waited in church, the building absolutely groaned under the furious gusts of wind. Tlio reception was a. big affair, held in the Attorney-Gencral'6 house, and a number of people had come to town specially for it. Among those were Mr and Mrs ValJance, Mr and Mrs Frank Kennedy, from Napier, on their way to Brisbane, Mrs Jim Wood, from Nelson, and Mrs Huntly Eliott, from Christchurch. The wedding group was a harmony of pink -and white, the bridal gown draped with beautiful Brussels lace and the tulle veil, threaded at the edge with silver, worn over a littlo inlet cap of Brussels lace. Three littlo bridesmaids, mere babies, were to have swelled tho procession, dainty in lace and frocks and bonnets, with borders of tiny rosebuds, but the crowd' proved too overwhelming, and ono refused to go up the aisle, while the other two had to bo awed into comparative -silence by their anxious mothers. Dr. Wilson, of Wanganui, wa6 the bridegroom, and has a charming home and a big practice in that town. By the way, Mr Jim Coates proposed the brido's health, declaring he was her father's, oldest friend and tho bride's earliest lovo when she was a little fair-haired baby. The next big marriage is that of Miss Elgar to Captain Hamilton, whilom A.D.C., but now in the Defence Force. I hear it has been put forward because of his mother's state of health, and that it will take place this month instead of June, a tfip to England to seo his parents taking the place of the bridal tour. The next large wedding will be that of Miss Vera Fulton, daughter of Mr J. E. ; Fulton, the engineer, to Dr. I-lorton, of Cambridge. This comes off in July. ABOUT PEOPLE. Mrs G. Cruickshank, of Masterton; is in Wellington. Her sister, Miss Campbell, has arrived from Sydney,- and Joffc on Monday 'for Masterton. Ml' Hugh Bectham, of Brancepeth, has been -. in' Wellington this last week. Miss Webster; of Dunedin, is a guest of Mrs David Findlay. Mr and 'Mrs E. J. Jellicoe have arrived from England, and have taken Mr Justice Cooper's house. Mr arid Mrs Cooper and their daughters left by the Kent for England last week. '■ Mrs Christie, daughter of Sir William HallJones, returned with her children by thy Rotorua from England, where they have been for nearly eighteen months.. Mrs Bloomfield, wife of the late Dr. Bloomfield, and her sister, Miss Sinclair, have arrived from Dunedin, and arc staying with Mrs Reading. Mr and Mrs R. V. O'Connor are back from TitahiVßay. Major Hughes, their son-in-law, is almost quite recovered from his attack of scarlet fever.