Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 948, 12 September 1918, Page 19

Social Gossip

(Continued from po.ge 18.)

The drabness and dreariness of the daily round were relieved on Tuesday night by an interesting ceremony which took place at Government House. There, in the presence of many military and naval officers, Cabinet Ministers and other public men, His Excellency the Governor-General decorated the men and women upon whom, recently, His Majesty the King has been pleased to bestow great honour in recognition of their public service. The rooms at Government House were well filled with friends of those who were to be decorated, for their Excellencies had most kindly remembered that the occasion was one of infinite interest to a large circle.

Cars and carriages rolled up to the door as in tlie good old days, and the brightly lighted rooms were made yet more brilliant by the uniforms of many of the men and the ribbons of their Orders. Even among the youthful officers there were some who wore the Military Cross which had been bestowed in the early days of war, at Buckingham Palace by the King, after distinguished service. The dresses of the ladies were noticeably quiet. Nevertheless the spectacle was a brilliant one, and not soon to be forgotten by those who were privileged to see it. At a time when the established order of all stable things is being so rudely disturbed the dignity of, these proceedings brings reassurance and great comfort to many people who live in this distant outpost of the Empire, and who love the old ways and customs, and know that His Excellency represents the King we love, honour and obey.

The guests passed from the drawingroom into the ball-room, where upon the dais were chairs, remindful of the throne. The.procession which soon entered was quite an imposing one, Naval and Military officers in uniform and His Excellency' very resplendent. Her Excellency Lady Liverpool looked unusually well in a very beautiful black gown over which she wore the Order of Dame Commander of the British Empire—-recently bestowed.

After tlie Hon. Sir William Fraser and the Hon. Sir John Sinclair had. received the Letters Patent of Knighthood, His Excellency presented the badges of the Order of the British Empire, and pinned them on. Each person was called by name, and a great stillness prevailed, officials looking gravely on, and giving the impression that the occasion was regarded as an important one. At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Excellency bowed, and taking Her Excellency's hand, proceeded into another room, where, later, all present were received.

Very few of the guests had ever seen decorations bestowed upon women, and there was a very natural interest taken in the way it was done. Onlookers resisted a natural inclination to applaud the charming dignity of all concerned, and Wellington people were very proud

of the people in whom they were particularly interested. Afterwards, the proud possessors of these much-prized honours were surrounded by friends who congratulated them, and hoped they would long live to enjoy them. Mrs. Massey and Mrs. Luke received the Third Class of the Order, the sign of which is particularly beautiful. Many were the friends who rejoiced at the honour conferred upon Mrs. Alec Crawford, Hon. Sec. of the Countess of Liverpool Fund, who received the Fourth Class of the same Order.Mrs. Pomare and Mrs. Ngata were absent through illness, and their badges were handed to their deputies, Miss Pomare and Miss Halbert.

The recipients of honours were: Sir William Fraser and Sir John Robert Sinclair (knighted), Mrs. Massey, Mrs. J. P. Luke, Colonel R. W. Tate (C.8.E.), Lady Carroll, Gisborne, Miss L. Goates, Wellington, Mr. D. W. Duthie, Wellington, Mrs. Lowry, Hastings, Lieut.-Colonel A. F. Roberts, Mrs. Pomare (0.8. E.), Mrs. Burgess, New Plymouth, Mrs. Coradine, Masterton, Mrs. Crawford, Wellington, Mr. Hope Gibbons, Wanganui, Lieut.-Colonel W. H. S. Moorhouse, Wellington, Mrs. Ngata, Mrs. Nash, Palmerston North, Mrs. Sherratt, Gisborne, Mrs. Simpson, Hunterville, Mr. W. W. Snodgrass, Nelson, Mr. A. Vainey, Wellington, Miss G. Webster, Heretaunga (M.8.E.).

All things having been done decently and in order, supper was served and enjoyed by the guests, among whom were wives and daughters of Cabinet Ministers and of Military and Naval officers, and of those who that night were honoured, various members of the Countess of Liverpool and Ued Cross Committees, and individual friends, and several country people, including Mr. and Mrs. J. Studholme, Mrs. W. Barton, Mr. T. H. Lowry, and others.

On Wednesday afternoon, in the presence of her many friends, Myra, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Shirteliffe, one of the most popular girls in "Wellington, was married to Captain J. G-. Crawford, M.C., son of Mr. Alexander Crawford of Timaru. Bishop Sprott performed the ceremony, and was assisted by the Rev. A. M. Johnson. The bride was given away by her father, and wore a beautiful wedding gown of white satin covered with georgette and Brussels lace, on which the rich, pearl trimming looked particularly effective. The hand-embroidered veil was most becoming, and the bouquet, a very French-looking one of the shower variety, tied with blue lovers' knots and baby ribbon, was carried daintily. The bride's mother, who is the proud possessor of many daughters, by whom she was surrounded on this happy day, was a picturesque figure in her beautiful dress. The only two unmarried daughters, the Misses Jean and-Ruth Shirtciiffe, were bridesmaids. They wore frocks of pale blue georgette, trimmed with silver lace. Their hats were of black tulle and they carried posies of" primroses tied with blue knots and black lace, very new and effective. Major E. Harston was best man, and Major Abbott, M.C., groomsman.

On Wednesday of last week, in St. Paul's pro-Cathedral, Miss Dorothy Hursthouse was very quietly married to Mr. Bannister (Wanganui College). On the evening before the wedding there was a great gathering of the RieTim ond-Hursthouse-Atkinson elan at Kelburn, where Miss Hursthouse since her return from England has made her home with her sister, Mrs. Arnold Atkinson.

The annual dance of the Customs and Marine Department took place in the Alexandra Sail last Saturday night. The invitations were issued in plenty of time, and many were the. acceptances, for the dance is always well run and very much enjoyed. The money raised by the sale of tickets is devoted to comforts for the great number of Departmental officers who are on active service. In Mr. McAloon the dance committee have a very capable secretary, to whose kindness and courtesy the guests are indebted for much of their enjoyment. Committee members were all most hospitable, and Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, who chaperoned the party, took an individual interest in the guests. The hall was somewhat crowded, but the music, floor, supper, decorations and partners were " tophole," as an enthusiast expressed it. "3€* "9c ■Jfc- # ■- A very pretty mode is noticeable among the young girls—that of wearing pale tulle scarves and frocks covered with the same fragile material — than which nothing is more becoming to a youthful face. Mabel.

The celebration of King George and Queen Mary's silver wedding on July 6 was marked by studied simplicity in the Old Country. Their Majesties visited London to take part in " a thanksgiving service in St, Paul's Cathedral and to reeeive a presentation from the City Corporation at the Guild-, hall. There was no attempt to decorate the streets, beyond the display of Sags whaeh fluttered from countless ■flagstafis and protruded from many a window along the line of route; and the orderly crowds which lined, the footpaths on either side gave the Bang and Queen a very cordial reception. ; The service at St. Paul's was timed for 11.15, the same hour at which the

weddifig was celebrated in the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, 25 years, ago. At the Guildhall there was the presentation of a cheque for £53,000 for distribution" among charities and a piece of silver offered by the citizens of London as a personal expression of their loyal and dutiful regard. This was a tankard made in London in 1677 and inscribed with the Arms of England between the initials- "C.H." It was given by Charles 11. in 1678 to a distinguished citizen for "faithful service rendered." It is now inscribed: —

"In token of their loyalty, homage, and affectation this silver tankard formerly belonging to King Charles 11. was presented by the citizens of London to Their Majesties, King Geprgo "Y. and Queen Mary on the twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage."

The King's reply was worthy of the occasion. Here are two short passages from it. The first refers to the Bominions and India : ' 'Here in the presence of the distinguished representatives of the Dominions and Colonies and the Empire of India, I warmly acclaim the noble and self-sacrificing spirit in which our. brothers across the seas have given their best in our united defence of liberty and right. Through four long years of unceasing conflict the ancient qualities of /the British race have shown themselves ih innumerable heroic deeds and. in a . dogged endurance which have baffled the purpose of; the enemy."

*.. * * The second reference is to the people" ait large and then to - the RoyaX children:—

"We may checrish, I-. believe, wellfounded hopes that in the furnace of war new links of understanding and sympathy are being forged between, man and man, between class and class, and that we are coining ~to recognise, as never before,,. that. we ax© g.ll members of one community, and that the! welfare of each is dependent -upon arid inseparable from the welfare of all."

"We thank you for your kind references to the Prince of Wales, whose knowledge of our fellow-countrymen has been increased in- the comradeship of war, and to our dear daughter. It has been a source of gratification to the Queen and myself that our children have been able to bear some part in the great task to which the country has been called."

All over England and Wales the King and Queen's silver wedding was celebrated s in a simple arid charming manner. The Lord Mayors and Mayors in the various cities and towns received gifts of silver and gold for the British Bed Cross Society, in commemoration: of the occasion, as' no personal gift can he made to Their Majesties. A pathetic tribute was that of an old age pensioner who brought his Maundy Thursdaysilver in a little bag, with the explanation that he had nothing else he could contribute. "An old maid's donation, 20s, in 1918 silver," was another repressive gift. * »■ ifMr. and lis. Aufrere Fenwick, of Dunedin, arei just now visiting Syaney. They are staying at the Ritz at Cremorne Point, a. very fine' establishment situated in lovely grounds. ■ •& «• ■& Another wedding is to take place at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral, Wellington, to-day (Thursday). It is that of Mr. Robert Mason, of Levin and Co.'s, to Miss Ina Brandon, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Brandon, of Lyall Bay, Wellington. The Rev. "A. M. Johnson is to solemnise the and Mr. Norman Nelson, of Dalgety and Co.'s, ie to be the best man.