Social Cossip

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 309, 2 June 1906, Page 8

Social Cossip

THE members of the Star Boating Club entertained a large number of guests at their concert ball on Tuesday evening, whem the prizes won during the year were presented, by Mrs. Buss, wife of tihe captain. The stage was prettily arranged with pot plants, and carpeted. On a table the prizes were displayed, and just below the stage, on a stand draped with the club's colours, were grouped the very handsome challenge trophies, which were much, ad Imired. The guests filled the gallery, .and grouped! themselves in merry little parties round the small supper-tables downstairs, whilst enjoying the very entertaining programme. Songs by Mrs. B. M. Wilson and Mis® Lenore Pulsford were excellent, and both kindly responded to encores. Mr. and Miss Newton were delightful in their musical sketches, giving duetsi from "The Cingalee" and "The Runaway Girl." Mr. Reid! gave a good recitatlion, and Mr. Cooke was encored for his violin solo. • • • Messrs. Terry, Carr, Hockley, Mcc, and W. D. !Lyoni contributed) enjoyable items. "Lightning Sketches" was to have been a duet by Mr. W. Macß'eth and Mr. Reuben Watts, but, owing to the Hatter's absence, Mr. Macßeth gave a solo exhibition of sketdhiner in coloured crayons, executing with much skill and rapid'itv portraits and sonig illustrations. Mr. W. Brown then "Pave, his very clever "oaper and smoke" performance, tearing folded sheets of coloured papei- into the most, attractive designs, and then converting a single

ipLeca of cartridge paper into many different aa-ticles from a fasliianable hat to a bath tub. The "smoke" picture was also very much, enjoyed. Coffee, sandwiches, and sweets weie handed lound to the. guests during a brief interval. Then the men received thtair prizes amid much applause. • • • Mrs. Buss wore black with, beitha of .white chiffon ; Mrs. le.ll, black satin gown; Miss Fell, white bilk dress, long coat; Miss Macintosh silk blouse and black skirt, Miss E. Somerviille, p«ale pink silk frock, avid long theatre coat. Mis. Bucbolz wore a pretty evening blouse, and satm skiit, Miss E. Ehott, rose-coll ouredl blouse of crepe-de-chine, black skirt . Miss Burnett, a pretty brocaded silk cape, over a lace frock ; Miss Ottersom, eau-dei-nil silk and lace , Miss Newdll, pale blue gown, with vest of _ tinted liaoe- Mrs. J. Widdop, black satin, and lace scarf. • • ■* Mis. Bendall wore a black silk voile dress; Mis® Bendall, a very dainty dress of pale blue muslin and! tinted lace; Miss Borlase, white sulk: Miss Roskrus^, floral silk blouse, dark slkirt ; Mrs. Bothamley, black, and a siable cape ; Miss Lukin, wihiite silk ; Mrs. Ga.lbraith, sable cape and pretty silk frock ; Miss R. Young, blue foulard, lace vest; Miss^ Nation;, silk frock and long coat. Miss Robinson wore white; -Miss Oswin, white silk, the Misses Yon Dadelszen, white silk diresses; the Masses Hickson, blue theatre coats, over white frocks; Miss Miles, white silk. • » • The engagement is announced of Miss Winifred Roskruge, eldest daugnter of Mr. L. C. Ruekruge, of the- Audit Department, to Mr. Garnet B. Holmes, eldest son of Mr. John Holmes, of thds city. The little dance given in Mrss Warburton's Hall last Friday for the officers of H.M.S. Encounter, was in every way delightful. The music, floor, supper, and deeoratHome were all splendid, and! the committee who undertook the arrangements, spared themselves no trouble The ballroom was gay with large mirrors and quantities of large red, white, and blue chrysanthemums, made of roaper by clever fingers. These, wrtfh trails of Ivcopodium, ma die an effective deieoration. A large mar-

quee was erected in the garden, and draped with bunting. • • • Tin© officers were of great assibtanoe, and kindly lent some splendid flags, conspicuous amongst them being the Japanese and Sdamese< ensigns, the former representing, of course, the rising sun, and! the Tatter a large whit© elephant with gay trappings. These draped! the walls of the supperroom. The tables were arranged crosswise, and the pretty decorations hera were also of red, whate, and blue. The stage in the hall was carpeted, and funrushed most comfortably with sofas andl card-tables for the chaperones. The musio was provided by Mr. Fleming, and extras were played! by Misses Macdlonald, Zo'hi-ab, and ; Wilkinson. At the ooniclusion of the dance programme cheers were given for Miss Warburton and the committee, namely : Mousses Dorset, Peters, Wilton, Hayes, Warburton, Zohrab, and Messrs. Wax, Wilkie, and Mair, Mr. Wilkie being the secretary. Each of the committee wore as a badge a silver military star with tassell. • # m Amongst the many present were: Mi's. Dorset, who wore black satin, with evening coat of biscuit clotli and violets; Mrs. Warburton, black lace gowm over glaoe, relieved with lace; Mrs. Mason, pretty cream salk blouse, and black satin skart; Mrs^ Peter, black chiffon gown ; Mrs. Wilton black satin ; Mrs. Zobrab, black, relieved with white. Mass Dorset ware oream net, and pale blue silk ; Miss T. Dorset, white silk, and! scarlet flowers; Miss Hayes, white embroidered muslin, Miss Peter, cream net, and touches of rose silk. Miss Greldidos wore a pretty dress of rose-col ouried silk, w.th soft fichu of lace. Miss Wiltomfs igown was of cream silk. Miss Zohrab wore whate silk with autumn leaves. Miss Warburton's dlainty frock was of rosewcolouredi net over silk, beautifully embroidered with chiffon flowers. • • • Miss Tatham (Masterton) wore cream aocondeon-pleated chiffon; Miss Candy (Melbourne), pretty pale blue glace gown; Mise Kane, black satin andlnet, and' ibandsome, steel passementerie odllar; Miss Wilkinson, rose-colouired silk, and 1 chiffon bertha; Mass Hall, pale blue silk muslin, and roses; Miss G. Chambers, a very pretty gown of pink mousseline-de-soie ; Miss Putnam,

white muslin frock, with, red) dash, and shoes; Miss Hall, eau-de-nil silk and lace; Miss Roskruge, palest blue silk, and pink roses; Miss Holmes, wMte muslin and! laoe: Miss Macdonakli,. handsome gown or ivory Brussels laoe over glace; Mise Lee, white nuusliin. and blaak velvet; Miss Allport, black, mth lace bertha: Miss Richardson, ivory laoe over glace. • • '• Other guests were : \ lieutenants' Foot, Skinner, Frewin,, Veniring, Fowler, Dyer, Soafe, Dr. McQiffien, Dr. Jones, and Messrs! Wix, -Wilkie, Holmes, Fulton, Cooke, ' Jjjkxo., Wills, Withefordi, ,and Laing. ■ '_' • •' ' • Mrs. Babington, who. leaves for England! in June, entertained! a great many guests at an "At Home" on Tues-, day afternoon. The rooms looked bright and' pretty with flowers, ankl* silk shades softened, the electric lights. ■ Mrs. Babington received her guests* and was wearing a gown of black crepe-de-chine, with lovely Afternoon tea was served in the diningroom, the table being artistically arranged with red' flowers amid! shaded \ lights'. Some of the guests were: Mesdames Oace, lan Duncan, Rawson, Quick, Oh'avtor, Tolhuirst, Finch, Fell, Rdohmomdl, Miles, Fitchett, Misses Fell and) Harcourt. • • • Perhaps, the happiest of all dluring the last week ' have been the litiblechildren, as many parties have been givem for their pleasure, and now thiepantomime has come, and at each performance rows and rows of baby faces smiling delightedly .a;reet the performers, and the Opera House rimgs with tikelaughter of childish voices. » • *i N Mr. and Mrs. Burnett have gome to Sydney for a visit. • • • The Masses Somerville (have returned from Hawke's Bay. • • • Mrs. Glover-Eaton has returned from 1 a short visit to Westport and. Nelson. Her singing at the orchestral concent at Weeftport, for which she was specially engaged, was the feature of the .evening and' was greatly enjoyed. • • • Mr. and' Mrs. Bevell have returned from a holiday visit to Nelson. (Continued on page 9.)

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Mies Stafford, who has been on a lengthy visit to Melbourne, has returned. Dr. and Mrs. Fitchett are aiow residing at Canfield House, Sydney-stieet. Mrs. Fitchett's many friends wall be delighted to hear that she almost iecoveredi from her reoent illness. On Thursday of last week a jolly little dance was given by the students .at Victoraa College. Two rooms were used for dancing, and l supper was laid in a third, the tabl© being prettily decorated' by the girl students. This was the first danoe given in the new •College, and that it wall be. followed "by many more equally as enjoyable is the wish of all who were present. • • • The adinmal ball of the Victoria College Footba.ll, Tennis, and Hockey Clubs is, I hear, to come off in June. • • • The engagement has been announced of Miss Ryan, sister of Mrs. Meadows, of Wellington, to Dr. J. Mcßrearty, of Greymoutb. The audiences at Mr. Lemare's organ recitals have been very large, and most «nthusaastric, the Town Hall on each occasion being crowded. Amongst those present I have noticed : Mr. and Mm Deane, Mr. and Mis. Enabling, Mr. and TVlrs. Coleridge, Mrs. and Miss Parsons, Mrs. and Misses Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Oachemaille, Misses Henry, Rawsson, "Watkins, Kennedy, Richmond, Fitzgerald, Parker, Swainson, and Upham. • • * A Sydney wrater says: "There was wild' excitement last Wednesday, when everybody with an hour to spare turned out to welcome the New Zealand Premier. Flags were flying, sirens whistled, small boys shouted!. The Seddons are a very happy family, and when they landed and were greeted Tvith welcomes in the frightful Maori language, they answered with such vigour that the landing-stage shook under our feet. • • ♦ "Mr. Seddon has put u/p a record for filling in time. In four days he has imanaged to lunch with the GovernorGeneral, dine with Sir Harry Rawson, dine with the Admiral, dine with the New Zealanders at the Australia, harbour picnic with Parliament, motor and! motor-launch to everywhere, and pay a vusat to the Hawkesbury Agricultural College and sample the butter, cheese, and! pumpkins , and he is mot -tired yet, so he will stay a few days longer to assist us in honouring the Empire." • • • During the visit to Ansfci alia, a very nice group was photographed, including Mr. and Mrs. Seddon, Mrs. Dyer and her daughter, and Miss May and Master Stuart Seddon. On Thursday, May 24th, a very pretty wedding was celebrated at St. Mary's Church, Levin, the bride being Miss Ada Grace Stansell, second ■daughter of Mr. J. R. Staoisell, of Shannon, a/nd the bridegroom Mr. Her■bert Edward Lodge, eldest son of Mr. S. W. Lodge, of Dunedm. The bride was given away by her father, and wore a very pretty gown of ivory crepoline, with pin-spots of satin, and trimmed with true^-lovers' knots of white satin and lace. A tulle veil was ■worn, over a wreath of orange blossoms, and a lovely shower bouquet of roses and chrysanthemums was carried. • • • Miss May Stansell, as bridesmaid, wore. an. exceedingly becoming gown of French grey voile and sdlik, lace vest, and hat with shaded violets. Her bouquet was also composed of violets. 'The bride's mother wore a handsome gown of black silk voile, with) white satin vest, and bonnet relieved with violets. Mr. Hardie acted as best man, and a large number of friends witnessed the pretty ceremony. • • • Afterwards, the guests assembled at the tea-rooms of Mrs. Milne, where a. dainty breakfast, was enjoyed, and bright speeches were made by Mr. Nation and Mr. Hardie. The former, in. -proposing the health of the bride and "bridegroom, referred to Mr. and Mrs. Stansell's large-heartedness and readiness to assist in every movement for the pleasure of young and old. The toasts were drunk with musical honours and much enthusiasm. • « • Later, Mr. and Mrs. Lodge drove off -to Otaki, followed by the good wishes of their many friends. The bride's travelling gown was of grey tweed, •with pretty hat of claret straw, trimmed with shaded ribbon <and a wing. The list of presents was a long one, and included many handsome gift®, amongst which were a conuplete outfit of table-linen, tea and dinner services, and several cheques. The gifts came from all parts of New Zealand.

Mis. John Blundell has been visiting her daughtei, Mrs. Price, at Greymouth. The annual ball of the Paeikakanki Cricket Club was held in Tilley's Hall, Paekakanki, on Friday last week. Dancing was kept up until two o'clock. The music was supplied by Mr. Cooper. During the evening tongs were eung by Miss Upham (Wellington), who also played several extras. Amonigst the ladies present were Mass Tilley, who wore a pretty black dress, rekeved with cream lace; Miss Irene Tilley, dainty wliite muslin dress, and pale blue sash; Muss Cooper, white and blue delaine blouse, black skirt; Mies Mansan, cream diass; Miss Claphairo, white muslin, scarlet sash ; Mrs. Haggitt, white blouse, black voile skirt, Mrs. Jack Smith, pretty floral voile dress; Miss Wilson, very pretty creiam blouse, black skirt; Miss Futter, black voile dress. » • • Amongst the gentlemen present were- Messrs. Cook, Freeman, Bills, Smith (3), Cooper, Holt, MoVilbery, Kent, Manson, and) Mair. « • • In Australia the Empire diresses are all the rage. In pictuies these gowns look graceful, and all they ought to be, but in real life very few look distinguished or smart. Most of the debutantes at a recent Sydney ball ,had their frocks fashioned thuswisie, but, in the majority of cases, the faulty carriage of the girls prevented 1 the result bean© all that one could desire. Whilst on the subject of frocks, the ball dresses of the season are not being out as low as 1 of late years. The round neck is to be worn, but by no means off the shouldeis. Fancy nets will be very popular, brightened with sequins or coloured jewels. Have you heard of the la*e tiaras? In Paris they are often seen, and are far more becoming than' the Juliet cap, which did not take here. For a tiara you should choose a fragment of delicate lace, preferably vandyked, then, with vari-coloured jewels and tiny spangles, outline the design, and with an invisible wire bend it into the required shape. They are quaintly becominig and dainty. • * • Weddings appear to be in the air just at present, particularly in theatrical circles, writes "Mmetta," nn Melbourne "Punch." The eldest daughter of a lately-deceased veteran of the stage is to be married very shortly to a well-known and somewhat weighty actor-manager. It is rumoured that the two have been much attached to one another for some time, though it is the gentleman's third essay upon thei seas of matrimony. • • • The other theatrical wedding was celebrated in Sydney last week, and 1 proved a great surprise to the friends of the happy bride and 1 bridegroom.

Tli© curiosity of an aristocratic Potts' Point boarding-house bad been aroused by the rather sudden, departure of larue of the gueste, Miss Kenna, on Saturday week last. A few days later the mystery was 6olved by the announcement of her marriage to' Mr. George Willoughby, the well-known actoi , at St. Patriok'6 Church, Sydney. The lady is smart and dashing looking, and has considerable wealth. • • • As we go to press a pretty wedding js about to take place at St. Peter's Church, the happy pair being Miss Hilda May Preston and Mr. Wilfred Skegg.