SOCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19280, 19 March 1926, Page 7

SOCIAL NEWS.

Ladv Ferguson, of Dunqdin, is on a visit to Auckland.

Mr. C. F. Buddie and Mrs. Buddie have left on a visit to England.

Miss Hunt, of the Girls' College staff. Wellington, is in Auckland.

Mrs. 11. A. Carr leaves for England -via Suez to-day bv the Marama.

Mrs. W. Ross, of Queen's Avenue Hamilton, is visiting Auckland.

Miss T. Clark, of Auckland, has re turned from a visit to Wellington.

Mrs. Douglas MacFarlane, of Auckland has returned from a visit to llotorua.

Mrs. and Miss Louisson are passengers by the Marama to-day en route to England via Capetown.

Miss Joyce Stevenson, of Auckland, is spending a holiday with Mr. and Mrs. J. Todd, of Tokomaru Bay.

Mrs. R. Nathan, Princes Street, and her daughter are passengers to-dav for Sydney en route to England.

Mrs. P. A. Laurie, of Christchurch. is staying in Auckland. She is accompanied by her father, Mr. Robert Allan.

Mrs. John Duthie and Miss Lai Duthie. of Wellington, were passengers for England by the Tainui, which left during the week.

Commander G. 11. Dennistoun, R.N., and 3lrs. Dennistoun. who have been staying in the Dominion, have left Wellington for England.

Mrs. W. Finnis, of Re:auera, is the guest of Sirs. Bridge, Omstchurch. She will visit the Dunedin Exhibition before returning to Auckland,

Sirs. ,T. Strang and Miss Mary Strang, of the Wairarapa, have left for England. They intend visiting the Continent before returning to New Zealand.

Mr. and Mrs. Guy Strait on, o{ Eng land, who are touring the Dominion, in tend leaving for Sydney on April 1 to con nect with the Oronsay for Home.

Mrs. W. Stringer, of Auckland, who was recently staying with her son, Mr. Cyril Stringer, Christchurch. has been spending some time in Wellington.

The vogue of sending little pieces of wedding cake to friends and relations is fast going out of fashion, writes an English correspondent. Queen Alexandra had a collection of small silver boxes containing tho wedding cake of the numerous members of the Royal Family, and as each little box arrived the Queen Mother used to place it in a special bureau where she kept such treasures. Many of theso have been gifted to a museum in London.

Lady Doreen Knatchbull, says a wellknown society correspondent, was wearing one of the now suit-frocks the other day when I saw her walking in the Park. It was made of brown check, like a man's suiting, and finished with a belt and small brown buttons, and with it was worn a long, plain coat made of the same material. Lady Doreen, who is tall, carried the style very well, but I am not sure that I should like check-suiting made up for a shorter woman.

I believe the story of the young.Duke of Norfolk when in the South of France, being asked what he would like best for a birthday present, and replying "a ticket back to Ajundel at once," is quite apocryphal, writes an English exchange correspondent. But there is no doubt that he is devoted to the feudal magnificence of Arubdel Castle (which looks mediaeval, but is, for the most part, fairly modern). He has been very carefully brought up by his mother, and is a studious youth, who is likely to act up to his position.

Dame Clara Butt is a great favourite with the King and Queen, as well 'as with tho majority of their subjects, and it is interesting to recall that the great singer made her debut before Royalty, remarks an exchange correspondent. When, as a mere girl, she sang for the first time in public as a student of the Royal College of Music in a performance of "Orfeo" at the Lyceum, King Edward and Queen Alexandra (then, of course, Prince and Princess of Wales) were present and rendered here hearty congratulations.

Princess Arthur of Connaunght is, I believe, the only English Princess who is shingled, writes an exchange correspondent, but it suits her so 'remarkably well that it would have been a shame had she not adopted the fashion. Princess Arthur usually wears two small bar combs in her pretty fair hair, and at a dance recently I saw her looking charming in a black georgette frock which was beautifully embroidered in shimmering diamante; and in her hair she wore two little diamond brooches. Both she and Prince Arthur are keen dancers, and thoroughly enjoy the smallest and most informal of affairs arranged by their many friends.

A most enjoyable evening was spent on Tuesday when a large gathering of Grammar School old girls met to welcome Miss Johnston, who has lately taken Miss Picken's placu as headmistress of the Auckland Girls* Grammar School. The proceedings were opened by a piano solo by Miss M. Spargo, and then the president of the Old Girls' Association, Miss 11. Wilson, in a few words wished Miss Johnston every success in her new position and expressed the -wish that she would often honour the old girls' meetings with her presence. Miss Johnston replied in a bappv little speech ana thanked the old girls for the beautiful bouquet, which was presented bv Miss Brinsden, the secretary. The rest of tha evening was devoted to dancing and competitions, and songs were contributed by Misses L. Solomon and T. Duflin and a recitation by Miss I). Messer.

Mr. T. M. Wifford, M-I\. accompanied by Mrs. Wilford and Miss McLean, left Devonshire recently for the South of France in search of warmth and sunshine (writes a London correspondent). Their programme included visits to Reims, Avignon and Cafcasonne, on their way south. A number of invitations for social fractions have followed Mr. Wilford to France, where he reports the sun to be shining, with the result that ho i:; feeling considerably better. Mr. and Mrs. Wilford were asked to the State opening of Parliament by the King and Queen with seats in the House of Lords, and to an important "At Home" given by the Marchioness of Londonderry on the evening before to meet the Prime Minister. New Zealandcrs will be glad to know that Mr. WiHord's health is beginning to show signs of improvement. Miss McLean is travelling with Mr. and Mrs. Wilford. The last news came from Lyons, when the party were on the way to the South.