Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 256, 27 May 1905, Page 8

Social Gossip

By Christabel.

SYDNEY-STREET HaJI was crowded on Tuesday evening last, whem the Star Boating Club meinbets gave a very pleasant conversazione m conjunction with the presentation of prizes. Cheat applause greeted the winners, especially th©*> who won the Champion Fours. Mrs. Biss presented the prizes, which formed a splendid collection. The musical programme was much enjoyed especially Miss Pulsf aid's songs, and Mis* Newton and Messrs. A. W. Newton, Dykes, Jacobs, and W. N. Newwere very successful m their contributions. Messrs. W. Moßeth and Reuben Watts were exceedingly clever in their lightning sketches, the picture* being much in demand afterwards. The conjuring of Mr. W. Brown was wonderfully 61 ever and mysterious. His "lace ' work was particularly admired. * * * During the evening supper Ava,s handed round to the guests. I noticed' Mrs Biss, wearing a or earn crepe-de-chine blouse, and black skurt. Miss Pulsford, in cream silk, with aooordeon-pleated flounces and silver passementerie ; Mrs,. and Miss Fulton, Mrs. Bendall Mrs. Bucholz, the Misses Ehott, the Mi/sises Wheeleir, the Misses Ewan, Miss Warren, Miss Christine Smith, Miss Seed, the Misse- Henry the Misncx Putnam, and Mis^ Gore. * * * Mrs. and Miss Somerville have been spending a week or two in Mastertoin. Miss Coates has also been up there foi a few days-. The Heretaunga Mounted Rifles' bazaar is to be opened at 8 p.m. on Monda~ June sth, by the Right Han the Premier (Minister for Defence), and will remain open for the following week. The Drillshed is being spJendidlv arr.mgpd and decorated ' n.nd the «-ti'k will be la-den with useful and prett-\ articles, all of which will be marked at

motet leasoiidble prices. An attractive t,tcill will be devoted to dolls of every description, and another to quauit and pietty liberty goodb and pottery. Aunt Sally," aide-show^, and fun of uveiy kind die promised, whilst each night there- will be a piogramme of dancing — Maypole, etc — tree of charge to the patron*. On the opening night several dances will be performed by pupilt> of Mist* Este'lle Beere, and a b.ind t.v l l l attend each evening. * • « The employees of Messrs. George and George held a most successful bail at the Druids' Hall on Tuesday last week. Daiuomg w<u» continued xuital a late houir, the music (Mifaw Hawthorne), floor, a.ud supper being excellent. Some of tho.se pieseint were Muss OBrien, in cream voile, and touches of mandarin , Miss Robertson, in cream net over glace , Mass Liddle, pretty coral-pink Mlk , Miss B. Laddie, white muslin diess ; Musis. Hutchmgs, eau-dle-nd silk , Mifes Walsh, cream voile, and turquoise belt Miss Bony, white muslin, pale green belt Miss Smolaii , white net and sati ; n ribbon Miss Cornelius, black chiffon. Many other pretty dresses were worn by ladies unknown to the writer. * * The members of the Newtown Lawn Tennis Club held thear annual ''At Home" at "Handi\ orth , " Wooloombestreet, on Friday, the 29th instant when Mr. and Mrs. Grad'y, with oomtinued 1 kindness, again placed their home at the service of the. club The evening, whidh was a most enjoyable one, began with a concert, a choice little programme being contributed to by Mrs. F. P. Wilson, Misses 1 Leonore PuKford and Wardrop and Mehsi-s. J. F Oa,rr, Haslam, E "H Parkes .T H ,vnd F. W. Rowley, J. W. Jack F. F. Giady McFarlaaie, and M F Mark.*, Mn=s Grady tastefully playiiiio r the <icoompanimente. • » m Mr. W. H. P. Barber, M H.E, presid'etit of the club, presenited the trophies won during thie season, and voaced the thanks of members and their frieaid,s to their hostess and to those who hiad renfd^red items during the concert. A very dainty supper was prepared by the ladies of the committee, the tables being beautifully decorated with lovely chrysianthiemum blooms sent by the president. After tfun^er diancine commenced, andl was carried on with screat spirit until one o'clock. Mrs. Grad'y was the recaipie<n(t of an artistic shower bouquet, tied with ribbon of the club's colours.

Mit>. and Mists' Brown, who have been visiting Auckland and Rotorua, nave returned to Wellington. * * * Did you notice in the account of Mi&& Orob^ley's wedding that Nam Long, the- Convent-trained singer of our city, was one of the picked choir of ladkes who sang an that pleasant occasion. Miss Long's friends — aed their wune it> legion— are delighted to hea<r that this quiet, gentle, and talented little lady is, making good progress m her pofessaon,. * * • Invitations have been issued for a dajnce to be given at Sydney-Street Hall on Thursday, June Bth. The hostesses will be the Misises M. and I. Finch M Simpson, J. Macintosh, Tolhurst, ' E and A. Rawson, E. Stuart, E MacTkviwh, F. Stafford, G. Reid 1 , and I. Nekon. It is being looked' forward to with much pleasure, and there us some talk of a bachelors' ball, to b© given a little later m the season. * * « A very enjoyable evening was spent at Sydney -street school room on Thursday last week, when the committee and lady stall-holders of the late Catholic bazaar tendered a complimentary danoe to their assistants anidl friends. The ohaperones were Mesdames J. J. Devine, E. L. Burnes, L. Dwan J Gallagher, W. S. Ridler, and H. Sullivan. A number of very puetty dresses were worn, many wearing the fancy costumes worn at the bazaar. There were over three hundred, present, and, to the jot and great reh«f of the fan victors, there were about thartv .gentlemen over, a rather uniusuaJl state of affairs at our dances. Excellent music was supplied by Mr. Fleming's orchestra, and the catering was dlone by Mr Mawson. • * * Each a,nd every one voted it one of the most enjoyable danoe® they had been to, and, as proof of this a long programme of dances had to be extended, the last dance nnishanig up just about 2 a.m. The d!amoe proved a very happy re-union of all those who had worked! so hard to make the bazaar the great success it was, and the gentlemen' came to enjoy the pileaisant company of the fair assistants witihout beano; assailed Tvith "Won't you take a ticket Mi this loveily cushion ? Only sixpence a ticket!" etc. The arrangements in connection ,wit)h the d'anee were in the hands of the honorary secretary, Mr. Fred W. Crombie. * * * Mrs- Higeinjson, who has been visiting friends in the "Wairarapa, has returned to Wellington.

The engagement is announced of Mr. Walter Raphael, of Ghritstdhurch, so well-known in football circles 1 , to Miss Ga^isie Stephenson, second daughter of Mr. H. Stephenson, of Ashburton. * ♦ • Considerable interest was taken in a novel and most becoming theatre coat worn by a graceful girl during the NeJhei Stewart season. It was simply a Japanese coat or dark satin, richly embroideiied, and with pagoda sleeves. I thought it most appropriate and useful. In Sydney these kimona-like coats have quite, taken the place of the ordinary theatre coat, and are very comfortable and light to wear. * * * Mr. John Fuller's ratherJate-iiirtihd-day, but good, suggestion re Hospital Sunday bring© within tine range of interest the following account of "how it is done" in Sydney. Hospital Saturday is an annual fixtuiie there, and society gurls, nurses, and others vie with each other, at street corners and anywhere, in gathering m the nimble coin by means of bewitching glances, smiles, and constant rattling of tho money-boxes. * * * Mrs. and the Misses Bartleman (Dunedin) arrived this week to join the Gothic, en route for England. * * •*■ Mrs. Gower Burns has returned to Ohn&tchurch. * « ♦ Miss Macdonnell has returned from her visit to Wanganui. * * * •Punch" says . — "Hospital Saturday! What a fearful day! And yet young girls, old girls, and middle-aged girls stuck to their posts bravely, the result being, despite the rain, an amount coileoted' only £25 short of last year, which was considerably over £4000. This seems really wonderful but is- partially explained by the fact that, wretched as was the weather, many thousands were in the city in order to be present at the University Commemoration who would otherwise have been under the shelter of their homes. * * * "And, of course, when they were in town there wa9 no getting away from those rattling boxes. Last year all the young girls vied with each other as to who should wear the prettiest oosbumes. and, indeed, many of them looked passing beautiful • but this time there was little attraction in tShe bedraggled trains, unbeautiful mackintoshes, and dripning umbrellas. It speaks volumes

for om sex that they all stuck to then po>ts m -.pite of everything, and 1 it is to be binceielv hoped that we shall not he<tr of any jll consequence^ of a da\ spent in the pouring rain."

The wholesale stationeiy and paper branch ot the business of Grabham, Ltd , ha& been acquired by Messih Littlebun, and Co., and will be earned on m the old premises in Wilhs>-stieet. Mi. Littlebury, the principal of the new him, has been m charge of this particular bra.nch since its establishment in Wellington. He hats had long Home and colonial experience, and is well and favourably knowxii to the trade th,i oughout New Zealand. • • * The Railway Department sets out elsewhere in tlu^ issue a schedule of excursion trains to be ran for the convenience of the public on Prince of Wales' Birthday, June 3rd. Meson* East and East, the real estate agents, whose place of business is in the Exchange Buildings, Lambton QuaA r make a special line of seeing and knowing the properties they have m hand foi sale. Their business is not confined to local properties, and they undertake the sale of estates wherever they may be situated. As the firm puts it, "It is our business to make your business other people's business — when it's out business." The Easts are real hustlers.