SOCIAL GOSSIP.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 988, 11 June 1919, Page 22

SOCIAL GOSSIP.

Bear- Christabel, — 5 FT! IS now the winter of our discon- -®- tent in the shape of chilblains, also the perpetual shortage of coal, and, to add insult to injury, not enough milk to go round. Don't run away with the idea that New Zealand can't produce sufficient coal —not a hit of it. This Dominion is called "God's Own Country," and it should really flow with milk and honey, but it doesn't. Instead, it knocks off work to talk. * * -K- * Last Friday was a perfectly beautiful day—bright and still—and people who crossed the harbour by the 2.30 boat, bound for Day's Bay and the official opening of Croydon School (now a Church of England institution) thought that Wellington's surroundings would be hard to beat. Sunshine on the water, snow-topped hills in the distance, and the harbour hills so green and beautiful. * * . # * * * Miss Sommerville, who founded the school and has run it successfully for many years, recently sold it to the Church of England, and on Friday. Bishop Sprott officially opened it, and introduced the new headmaster (the Her. Mr Hobday) to the parents and friends. Quite a number of people went over, and fell in love with the school and the little boys, and the surroundings, which are ideal. On

the platform with the Bishop and clergy were Mr Mabin and Mr J. Studholme. Owing to the generosity, public .spirit and enterprise of these two gentlemen and of Mr Shirtcliffe and Mr Birch (Marton) the Church has been given the opportunity to acquire this: school which has so ( excellent a name. * * * * Miss Sommerville was unable to be present at the official opening of the school, and her friends* regret to hear that she is not very well. * * * a Their Excellencies the Governor-Gen-eral and Lady Liverpool, have gone for a trip round the South Sea Islands. They left by the s.s. Moana on Friday last", and are to transship to the Tutanekai when they get to Rarotonga. From Itarotonga they go to Mangaia, Mauke. Atiu, Mitiaro, Aitutaki, and Niue, all dependencies of New 'Zealand in the Cook Group. Thence they go to Yavau, Tutuila and Samoa. They may go -to Tongatabu and the Kermadecs. It was at the last-named place that the German Count who escaped from Motuihi was captured. An official reporter and photographer have gone with the vice-regal party, which includes two aides de camp—Lieuts. Garland and Milton Surgeon-Colonel Collins, C.M.S. and M.L.C., and the Hon. Dr. Pomare and Mrs Pomare. The Hon. Dr. Pomare is, of course, the Minister responsible for the Cook Islands administration. * * * » News has 7 reached New Zealand of the death of Lord Plunket's youngest daughter who was born out Tiere. ****** Miss Belle Cable has gone to England with her parents, Mr and Mrs William Cable. They expect to spend some weeks at 'Frisco and Canada en route. * * * . * The Thorn don Croquet Club had a farewell party for its captain (Mra Hiley) on Friday, when a presentation

was made to her and friends said goodbye. * * * * Miss Vera Duthie's wedding was considered to be one of the prettiest which has taken place this year. The wellow and gold so wonderfully suited the colouring of the bride, and the wealth of gold leaves was an original 4nd cha!rming finish. Tlie day was dull, and the lights of the church were all turned on, adding brilliance. The bridegi'oom, best man and. the two groomsmen were all in uniform. * * * * Major Abbott, M.C. is stationed at Trentham, and lie and Mrs: Abbott will live quite close to his work. A novel and pretty touch was given to tlie bridal gown in a beaded vanity bag—a dainty present which the bride carried, and which was lined with old gold. The bridesmaids also carried beaded vanity bags which were presents from the bridegroom. Their beautiful frocks of daffodil ninon and charmeuse were made with hip panniersi caught up with sea-green ribbon and buttercups. Major N. Duthie, D.S.O. was at his sister's wedding. ****** In Edinburgh, a few weeks ago, a young man accepted a curacy in a Church of England parish. He has had a varied career. He graduated as a doctor just before the outbreak of war. He enlisted in the combatant arm of the service and went over to France with a Second-Lieutenant'a commission. He rose to be BrigadierGeneral, and is now demobilised, and with all his experience of men and life should make a pretty capable curate. * * * * Miss Borlase and a committee organised the fancy dress ball which took place in the Town Hall on Wednesday night of last week. ' The hall takes a good deal of decorating and it looked bright and pretty when the dancers took the floor. Prizes were offered for the best dresses, and after a good deal of discuasion the judges decided for Miss P, Ward who wore an early Victorian frock in crinoline style. Miss Joan Tully (Carnival), Miss Hall Thompson, who wore the beautiful costume, of a Tunisian lady, Miss Meadowcroft (Lampshade), Mr King (Pierrot) and Mr Wheeler (Cowboy). * * * 9 A very original dress was that of Eve, the Tatler scribe, whom "Fish" depicts so amusingly. There were many pretty and some remarkable costumes, including a Persian suit made of brocade older than Methusaleh.

Unfortunately the modern dance is :not always so graceful an exhibition as Mr Tresdze and Miss Doris Coulls made of it. They demonstrated the "jazz" —and the verdict was "Graceful", (After seeing itdanced at a night club in London a Wellington man wrote "Disgraceful.") Some of the ' 'younger set dance the fox trot and hesitation waltz mose beautifully. Conservative people who witl« not allow, that any dance can be more graceful than the waltz we all know and love should see the young ■ things "hesitating." To see is to be conquered. It is beautiful, but needs -beautiful dancing. * * * * Mrs Alec Young went to Auckland on Thursday with her mother, Mrs Lennox. From Auckland she left for Honolulu. * * * * The Sydney correspondent of the New Zeajoand Free Lance last week mentioned a suggestion that matrons should sit in the galleries at the Peace Ball and leave the floor to the younc people. This scribe ventures to ask "What constitutes a matron?" Here, ladies of all ages, shapes and conditions are learning the fox fcrot. Presumably, they do not intend to do a freeze in the galleries. And, after all, why should they if there are enough men to go round ? * » ■* % Mrs J. Cornfoot (Greatford) lias been ■staying in Wellington for some weeks. * * * * Mrs Hugh Campbell (Poukawa) was in Wellington for a few days last week on lier way home from Auckland. " . » 7fr At the Presbyterian Church, Kent Terrace,. this week Miss A. C. Westoby (Woodville) was married to Major Aitken, M.C., N.Z.M.C. Both bride and bridegroom have seen a great deal of active service, the bride being a military nurse. * *■ As; we are short of coal, we are of -course hard up for electric power just now, and the Mayor is imploring "liouseh olders to> refrain from using their radiators between 4 and 7 p.m. Karori people, who always have some difficulty in getting borne, so poor is the tram service between here and Karori, are now wondering if they will have to walk in the evenings before the winter is over. •k On dit that an architect, recently returned from abroad, isi contemplating a venture in the shape of huge blocks -of flats, each self-contained. * * * * At her home in Karori last Friday Mrs Davies (widow of the late Mr G. H. Davies passed away. She and her family have lived at Karori for a great

many years and they have many friends in the district.' Mrs Daviea was a Miss Godfrey. She came from a well-known missionary family and married into another, her late husband's mother being a daughter "of Archdeacon Henry Williams, one of the earliest missionaries to New Zealand. This Mrs Davies is still living and is now almost 100 years old. Her home is in Napier. The late Mrs- G. H. Davies has left three sons and three daughters—Captain Leo Davies of the N.Z. Dental Corps and now at Codford, Captain Chris Davies, N,Z,M,C,, now at Christchurch, Mr Godfrey Davies, of Wellington, and the Misses Etheleen, Gwendoline and Edith Davies. The late Mr G. H. Davies was for many years an officer of the- Native Affairs "Department, Wellington. * * * * Two lady clerks made a little slip of £500,000 in the British Army accounts and the Committee of National Accounts ,explaining that each of them used an adding machine, said very happily : "It was not the old story of Eve and the serpent, but quite a new story of Eve and the Adder." * * * * H.M.S. New Zealand is coming in August, but will be in port only once. So we must concentrate on one effort. -7r "St- "H- *3£It is reported that the very latest thing in afternoon dresses is pompadour. chiffon; it is not the ordinary printed chiffon, but is done in pompadour design. Feathers have returned to hats feathers: —citron yellow and jade green, which two shades are very noticeable in the pretty

velvet and ribbon hat bands now so much worn. -jf # ot There has been some coming and going among the boys of the cable service lately. Two of the local staff (Messrs S. Coote and J. Bristed) ha.ve recently been sent abroad. Various farewell parties have been given for them and one or two private dances one at Karoii at the residence of Mrs James Mackenzie and another at Day's Bay. The Day's Bay party was quite a big affair and was given by Mr and Mrs Coulls to Mr J. Bristed, whose father is a leading member of the journalistic profession in New Zealand. Mrs Bristed came up from Christchurch to say good-bye to her boy who left bv the Manuka along with Mr Coote for Sydney en route to the East. Mrs Bristed was at the dance, which was held in the beautiful panelled living-room, in the open grate of which a fire burnt and was much appreciated by the visitors from town The visitors, about twenty couples of them, returned to town at midnight in a motor-busi after a delightful evening. The whole house was thrown open to the guests. Cheery fires in the hearth-places made things pleasant and birch from the bush with chrysanthemums decorated the hospitable rooms. Tlie hostess received in a becoming black frock and her daughter, Miss Doris Cotills, looked charming in cream net. ****** Quite a number of mild dissipations are in view, including a dance for

which the combined banks are fesponeible. The old order is gradually returning and already several pleasant at homes and afternoon teas have been given by people who have had no time or heart for social gatherings during these sad years. * * London "Punch" of April 2nd, publishes two views of the jazz: — Terpsichore, tired of the "trot" And letting the waltz go to pot, In the glorious Jazz Most undoubtedly has Discovered the pick of'the lot There was an exuberant "Coon" W ho invented a horrible tune For a horrible dance Which suggested the prance Of a half-epileptic baboon. Mabel. Mr C. C. Odlin, who has been in indifferent health for the past few months, has left with his wife and daughter, Nola, for a health trip to tlie north of Auckland. * * * * Major De Hamel, who was an active volunteer worker m Wellington when the influenza epidemic was r iguig, returned last week from Rotorua ■where lie lias been recruiting his health. He went on to Sydney by the Manuka 011 Saturday night, on a business trip and intends to return shortlv to Ne\v 'Zealand. * * * * Mr J. R. McKenzie, well known in the fancy goods line,, left last week for Japan with business in his eye.