SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19232, 22 January 1926, Page 5

SOCIAL NEWS.

Miss Mathias, of Christchurch, is- tho guest of Mrs. Gahvey, Green Lane, Remuera. Mrs. C. J. Owen, Courtville, has returned from a visit to Christchurch and Wellington. • Mrs. Warwick Wilson and her family, who have been spending the holidays at Waiheke, have returned to town. Major and Mrs. Haviland have taken up their residence in ISlrs. F. H. Chisholm's residence, Victoria Avenue. Her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson and a party .from Government House have returned from a short stay at tho Barrier.

Miss Orr-Ewing, who has been the guest of Their Excellencies at Government House, is sailing by the Marama for Sydney, to-day en route for England.

Miss Nell Joske, who recently returned from Europe, lias announced her engagement to Mr. S. Howard Ellis, of -Suva, Fiji, and New Zealand. Miss Joske is the daughter of Mrs. Alex Joske, of Warwick ' Flats, Edgecliffe, -and the wedding is expected to take place early in March. *

Embroidered leather for trimming chiffon and georgette frocks is now sold in the big shops and stores. The leather, which is brightly coloured and touched with gold, is made into flower designs and usually sewn on tho edges of a, velvet neck and cuff ribbon.

Princess Marie Louise may be found at museums, pencil in hand, both at home and abroad, writes an exchange correspondent. She is tremendously interested, you see, in old embroideries, and gets her ideas for work from ancient historic pieces. And she is very generous. One adorable Queen Anne quilt she owns she lends to enthusiasts to copy.

Do yon ever wonder when yon go sightseeing* around Buckingham Palace what hours they keep there? asks a writer in an exchange. Our home-loving Queen — and the King too —has a nine o'clock breakfast, orders luncheon for half-past one, has a sit down tea at five, followed by a very light dinner at eight. Early to bed is the rule, ono that keeps the Queen in perfect health.

Royal novelists and authors aro now quite" common, but so far we have only one Royal playwright, Prince William of Sweden, who.often comfis quietly to England to see new plays, and has sent his own play, " Kinangezi," to. the International Theatre Society for production, writes an exchange correspondent. I am told that, while it is not at all likely that the Prince of Wales will write his own account of his journeys, ho has several times lately said he would like to write a play.

Lieutenant-Commander F. Lumb. R.N., who succeeds Paymaster-Commander V. Webster as naval intelligenpo officer, New Zealand station, brings his wife with him. Mrs. Lumb (nee Cynthia Mary R S. Bidwell) is the only daughter of Mr. L.'Shelford Bidwell, A.MLC.E., and Mrs. Bidwell, of Thames, New Zealand, late of Eaton Square, London, and of Newlands, Wimbledon Common, England. Mrs. Lumb came to New Zealand with her parents 12 years ago when she was nino and only left to return to England for education three years ago. The two years since her marriage she has spent at Malta, where her husband was second in command.' She is a very- fine rider, and rodo her own ponies in the races at Malta. She was a well-known figure on " Nell " mustering with her brothers at her father's late station, Cook's Bay, Mercury Bay, New Zealand. Mrs. Lumb is also an excellent shot. She was one of the beauties of her year in London, and at Malta was a favourite toast, ' The Pearl of Malta.".

I have never seen Princess Mary look prettier than she did yesterday aftornoon in the riding, school of the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace at the Christmas party given by tho Not-forgotten Association, remarks an exchange correspondent. She looked about seventeen in her slim, black clothes, holding a bouquet of roses and lilies of the valley. She was, too, very animated, 'and laughed gaily when a photographer, in a commanding voice, said, just before tho flashlight photofraph was taken! " Pleaiso hold your head own, Your Royal Highness. Just like that —toward the cake. Quite still." The huge riding school was gay with coloured flags and balloons. Nearly eight hundred still-disabled men from nineteen hospitals were having tea, each with a coloured paper-cap on his head. They seemed all ages. One young seaman looked barely twenty even now. They laughed and talked with incessant cheeriness. It was impossible to believe that they wore still incapacitated. They sang with gusto, " Show Me the Way to Go Home." They waved rattles, hailed old comrades and really had a marvellous time, while the orchestra banged out all the old favourites and many now ones.