Social Gossip.

Free Lance, Volume VIII, Issue 398, 15 February 1908, Page 8

Social Gossip.

By Christabel.

THEIR Excellencies, accompanied by the Hon. Kathleen Plunket, Captain Gaythorne Hardy, A.D.0., and the private secretary, Mr. Waterfield, left Onehunga on Monday by the Tutanekai, for a month's cruise round the many ports of New Zealand. Before leaving. Lard and Lady Plunket entertained the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) and Lady WaTd at dinner, and also gave a delightful little luncheon party to Commodore Buchard and Flag-Lieutenant Mazare, A.D.C., of the French warship Oatinet. Madame Buchard and Monsieur Boenfa (French Consul) were also present. • • • Miss Jenness, of the Lower Hutt, and her sister, Mrs. Ballantyne, have come back from New Guinea, where Mr. and Mrs. Ballantyne are engaged m their novel missionary work. • • • The many friends of Mr. Percy Buller will be glad to hear lie is better, and is considered to have quite turned the corner. His sister arrives next month, and it will be good news to find the invalid 1 at any rate fairly convalescent. • • • Miss Lingard's studio is quite a sight now. The most important work in hand, and just alxrat finished, is an excellent photograph of Mr. T. W. Hislop. The artist has just caught a very natural and pleasing _ expression, and the painting is lifelike. When finished! it will probably be on view in McGregor Wrights window. Undoubtedly the genius for portrait painting snows in it. Miss Lingard is having a special sketching class, and many should seize the golden opportunity* and learn the method and style with much facility and originality.

On Saturday afternoon the beautiful gardens at Mr. and Mrs. Bristowe's home, at Karon, were a delight. The bungalow verandah was closed in as a tea-room. Mrs. Bristowe's children and little friends had got up a little bazaar, fete, and tea for the Children's Cottage Home, Kaiori. Everything passed of! splendidly, and the wee ones must be congi atulated on the gieat success. A stung band played all the latest music during the afternoon. • • • Mis Bristowe had on a dainty white fioek, and black and whit© hat; Miss Bristowe, cream muslin and lace ; Mrs J B MacEwan. white Indian muslm, maplo shade of waist-band, and la cloche hat in maple leaves and deep red roses , Mrs. Finch, handsome black and white costume black picture hat Mrs. Gunn, in pale lavender muslin, and pretty shade of heliotrope hat and large Neapolitan violets ; Miss Coates, plum-tinted taffetas, and large hat in the same tones. • • • Mrs L Blundell, elegant sapphire frock, and black hat ; Mrs John Blundell, black costume, and old Maltese lace scarf ; Mrs. Riley, pale heliotrope frock in kimona style; Miss Riley, pretty pink taffetas, with dainty shoulder straps of cream silk ; Mrs. F. Garcia Webster, wedgewood blue linen, 50ft white lace blouse, and hyacinth hat • Miss Webster, whit© muslin, and light summer hat ; Mrs. Arthur Hume, black and white spotted mulins, white lace yoke, and black hat with black plumes; Mrs. Holmwood, black marquisette, and handsome black hat. • • «* Mis. Ballance wore a _ black and white silk poplm, and white hat with drooping black feathers , Mrs Donald Robertson, pale grey louisienne, and dainty heliotrope belt and black hat ; Mrs. Moss, a pastel grey muslin, over grey silk, and becoming picture hat; Mrs A. Young, white Indian muslin, and large black hat; Miss Ward, smart white frock, and floral hat. The Rev. Dr Gibb, of St. John's Church, gave his farewell address on Sunday. He leaves for a ninemonths' trip to ngland going first by the Warrimoo on Friday, and joining the Grouse Kurfurst in Sydney. Dr. Gibb celebrated his twenty-fifth anniversary in the ministry on 9th February. Many friends congratulated him, and bade him bon v-oyage and a safe return at the same time.

Mrs. Maynard, wife of the Rev. Mr. Maynard, rector of St. Albans, London, is at present on a visit to Woodville. • • • Mr. and Mrs. A. Lindsay leave by the Aiawa on March 26th. m older to pay a visit to England and the Continent. • * » Mrs. J. E Dyason and the Misses Emily and Amy Dyason, of Bendigo, Victoria, left Wellington on Monday morning for Wanganui. They will visit Auckland and Rotoraa befo,re returning to Austialia • » • Miss Whitson, daughter of Mr. Whitson of the Union Company, Dunedm, left for England bv the Waima+e on Tuesday. • • • During last week Mrs. J. H. Ross gave an enjoyable and rathei unique "At Home," at her residence, Harbour View,, Northland. Her many guests had the pleasure of seeing numerous medals and trophies won" by Captain Ross for his marksmanship. Music and fortune-telling filled 1 in a charming afternoon • • • Miss Flora Brandon leaves shortly for a trip to England. • • * Mrs Robert Brough is the guest of Mrs Prouse, at "Cricklewood." • » • Mr. and Mrs. Chatfield, of Island Bay, have gone for a delightful change to the Southern lakes. • • • The marriage of Miss M. Moss-Davis to Mr. Reginald Tuck, R.N., will take place during the year Mr Tuck will come out soon from England by the Tndian route • • • Dr Agnes Bennett has been given the appointment of medical officer to St. Helen's Hospital, Newtown, in succession to Dr. Perkins, who was medical officer since the beginning of the institution. • • • The Hon C. J. Johnston and Mrs. Johnston will give a garden party on Saturday, at their beautiful place at Karori, in aid of St. Mary's Anglican Church at Karori. It is sure to be a great success. Karor. has such .deal spots that townspeople are only too glad to go there and get a touch of nature and revel in the rural scenes.

The engagement is announced of Miss Hazel Brindley, daughter of Mr. J. W. Brindley, to Mr. CyrU MacKellar, of the Bank of New South Wales. • • • Nuise Sims has been, appointed mation of the Hokitika Hospital and leaves during the week to take up her new duties. • • • To-morrow (Saturday) afternoon the Haeramai Branch of the Girls' Realm Guild of Service are holding a Japanese fair, in Mrs Hislop's grounds, at Salamanca-road. Our Mayoress takes a great interest in the workings of the Guild, and although she is away from Wellington on a holiday just now, she has arranged for an. able substitute in the person of her daughter Mrs. I>r. Shand. to entertain the guests of the Haeiamai Branch A good attendance is anticipated, as the objects of the Guild are well' and favourably known. V • • "Brewster's. Millions" has been running to big houses at the Opera House. On Saturday night there was a packed and fashion'ablv-attired audience. Mrs. Brough was given a good reception, and looked very elegant in her various gowns, the black chiffon over white silk be-in 2 particularly admired The two frocks of Miss Trby Marshall (Trixie Clavton^ and Miss Nellie Calvin (Peggy) were very effective the rose-pink Howing with life, and_ the vivH cornflower of the other being a dashing contrast • • • Among many present I noticed • Mrs. Ocil .Tones, in black chiffon over black sMk with cream lace finishings: Miss Mary Jones in pastel pink taffetas, with cream lace trimming; Mrs. John Bin n dell in black surah and' cream lace scarf- Mrs. Freebairn. in black paillette silk and French touches of emerald green with black baby ribbon medallions. • • • Mrs. Walter Nathan wore a becoming black silk and glittering sequin trimming; Miss Nathan, in cream silV Miss G Nathan, in paforjink eolienne, with cre-am lace finishings; Mrs. F Garcia We.hster, in black, with Parisian medallions of peacock blue and white lace; Mts. Isaacs, in plegant black frock Also Mesdames Miller. Rolleston. Lew and Messrs. .Trmpq, Freebairn. W. Nathan Fj. C. Mills. Bridson L Jones. Bin n dell, Fulton, and Sim.

Miss Pajne, Matron of the Welling ton Hospital, has not been at all well. Mis Giumly and Miss Grundy also returned on Wednesday, having travelled In the Oiontes to S%dnev, and to Wellington bv the Marama • • • Mi J B Haicomt and Mi^s Haicouit, who lea\e ioi England in xUaich, .ue to be entei tamed at a farewell luncheon at the ra-cecourse on Satmda% 29th inst Mi and Mrs Balcombe Blown lm c letnrncd to town aftei an enicnable \isvt to the Upper Hutt, wheie they had a small cottage • • * Mis Loii,an, widow of the late Di Logan, of Wellington, letmned on Wednesday bv the Marama. 4.11 extend much sympathy to the berea\ed lady who so sadly lost her brilliant and young husband lecently in London • * * Mr J F MilU and Dr Platts-Mills returned to Wellington by the Marama on Wednesday, after a glorious tour of the world, embracing China, Japan, America the Buti«=h Isles, and the Continent. • • * Mi Vincent Ward, the Premiers second son, left Sydney bv the Doi-et last week for England • • • Messrs. W. H. George and A. J. George, of Wellington, letmned train an enjoyable tup to England on Wednesday. , , Captain T MacDonald, assistant ad-jutant-general left for Hobart on Thursday by the Mamma, having been granted "six weeks' leave of absence He proposes to enquire into educational and military matters in Tasmania, Melbourne, and Sydney. • * Miss Eileen Ward has gone on a visit to Chnstchwch foi about a month. m m Mrs. Ogilvie-Grant has leturued fxom a ver> delightful visit to Uhnstohurch. Her husband, the Horn. Trevor Grant, had a pressing invitation to join his brother, the Earl at Seaheld, in the big family reunion. One of the happiest functions for some time was a dinner given in London to the heir and all the clan Grant, lhe muster was a large one, and old legends and stories of New Zealand life were discussed with vim, the present earl having been brought up im New Zealand. ... The latest engrossing topics at afternoon teas are two, the usual seivant question and the four lovely mansions that are for sale in tie coming months. All are speculating as to possible buyers, and, as all tour houses are m beautiful parts of the city and within walking distance or the town, it is a wonder and a source of curiosity who will become their fortunate owners. A couple of lady tourists, hearing the servant-giTl discussion, sat back and wondered wnat it was all about. Our English sisters have not the same hardships over ""maids," and so cannot follow our heated discussions. • • • Mr. and Mrs. Stead, of Kereru, Hawke's Bay, are leaving by the Connthic on the. 27th mst , for a trip to England and the Continent • • • Last week, states the "Bulletin," Mr. Charles Nathan, of Auckland <Maonland), was married to-J Muss Gladys Cohen, a daughter of the Neville Cohens, of Elizabeth Bay hereabouts. The bride's gown had been on view at David Jones', and while the sight stayed (on a dummy) on the Jones premises the empooum of Jones was one of the pleasant places of New South Wales, as the Tourist Department says. • • > • Miss Cohen is a little, slight party, but her lack of inches didn't curtail the length of the tail of her weddung garment. There's a sameness in the bride's conventional wedding garment, be it fashioned for a royal princess or a rich Australienne. Ivy d-uchesse satin, Venetian point, embroideries of silk and pearls, chiffon, and_ orange blossoms — all these entered into, the gown worn by the Elizabeth Bay girl at the Synagogue ceremony. On Thursday Mrs. Peddie gave a delightful musical evening at her residence, "Inohkeith" Hobson^street. Mrs. Bush, Miss Kate Peddie, and Messrs. Leslie Hill, Parkes, Widdop, Kenny, Hoolon (Auckland), Bluestein, and Bush gave enjoyable songs, and Mrs. Fraser and Miss Remington instrumental pieces. Mrs. Peddie had on a beautiful black silk gown, with a cream lace vest. Miss Peddie wore a dainty white muslin, and Miss Katie Peddie was in a pink silk, with pretty white over-dress.

Mr. Horace Mann, of Dunedin, is on a Msit to his lelatives, Mr. and Mis W. B. Fisher of Wellington. • • * Mi Roland Robertson and Miss Ida Nelson, who are to be married m Maicli, ha\e taken Mi Haybittle's house, in Woolcombe-stieet, foi a \eai, chii ing the lattor's trip to England. On dit Miss Nelson's tiousseau is of the daintiest desciiption Mr , Mrs., and the Misses Cart-wnght-Ashe of Pott's Point Sydney, .ue ovrr foi a toui of Nmi Zealand Lord and Lady Plunket will not be back in Auckland till the middle of March They noie the guests of the Hon E Mitchelson, at his oounitry residence, Motutar-a On Monday next Loid Plunket lea\ os for Hokianga, Kawhia, New Plymouth and Mailboiough Sounds Vften that His Excellency -mil keep engagements in the south of the South Island, and' so mil not leach Auckland for some time » • fc Mi A Wilson, letning edito'i of the "New Zealand Times " was piesented bv the liteiary staff with a token of regard The sub-editor made the piesentation which took the form of a beautifully-designed silver ink-stand and a gieenstone paper-cutter. Mr Wilson was wished all sorts of good things, and an movable t-np to the Old Country Mr Wilson made, a feeling little speech, appreciative of the thought that prompited the bestowal of the sift and heartily thanked the staff for their good wishes • Mrs John Blundell and daughter have gone for a pleasant trip to Rotorua and district

Everybody his own theologian seems to be a reasonable suggestion if the Lord Mayor of London can popularise his standard of religion. "There is a great deal of talk about the New Theology," said the Lord Mayor recently at a Forest Gate matinee in aid of the Cripples' Fund, "but there is only one religion — 'Be good and do good.' " The nervous strain of household care wears out even the strongest women. Take Steams' Wine, the peerless tonio, which builds up the body and makes the weak strong. Pleasant to the taste. — Advt.

It us the talk ot the town! WhatP Why ISAAC'S great concession . One dozen beautifullly-htiished Cabiaet Photographs and an .Enlargement for Seventeen and Six. Don't forget the only addres* — J N Isa<ics, Mannersstreet. — Advt-