Wellington Gossip

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1013, 31 July 1891, Page 5

Wellington Gossip

On Wednesday evening Mrs Collins gave a small dance ; and the following evening the long-expected ball given by the members of the Wellington Club to ‘ His Excellency the E;»rl of Onslow and the Countess of Onslow.’ Such were the words which appeared upon the programmes. The guests of the evening arrived at a quarter past nine, and were received by the president, Mr E. Pearce, who afterwards danced with Lady Onslow in the first set of lancers, the Ear. of Onslow having the president s daughter, Mrs H. D. Crawford, as his partner. Mrs Grace and Mrs 0. Johnston also danced in this set. King’s band of six musicians played some very good music daring the evening. Eor the waltzes they gave ‘ Albert Y ictor,’ ‘ Tris L’amour Immortelle,’ ‘ Maseotte,’ ‘ Gloire de D.jon,’ ‘ When the Lights are Low,’ ‘ Nichts warmer,’ ‘Paul Jones,’ ‘Blue Danube,’ ‘Dorothy,’ * Mareckal Kiel,’ ‘Mikado.’ The polkas were, 1 See me Dance,’ and ‘ Who’s that Calling.’ The lancers, ‘Tambour Major,’ ‘ Toemau of the Guard.’ ‘ Mikado,’ and the Barn Dance, ‘ The Huia Schott ische.’ For this there was some effort macie to dar.ce i* in the proper way ; each couple following the other in a circle round the rocm. The dining-room as usual was converted into the ball-room, a small dais being erected at one end for the convenience of Ladv Onslow, who was thus enao.ed to obtain a good view of the dancers.. It is one of the drawbacks to tne Club dances that the chaperones cinnot obtain a rdimpse of the ball-room unless they stand at either of the doors, which is onlypossible for a few moments at a time. Thursday night’s ball was decidedly one of the most successful of the many delightful balls given at the Club-house.. Ihe room was rather crowded, and became ver y warm, but this latter, I think, was only because the windows were opened at the bottom in place of the top. The view from the windows was very lovely, the moon shedding a glittering pathway across the water, where the numerous ships and hulks showed twinkling lights of many colours, green, red, and yellow. The balcony over the mam entrance was closed in, carpeted, draped with curtains, and furnished with a looking-glass and handsome easy chairs, whilst Chinese lanterns softly illuminated what looked like a pretty room. The verandah beyond the readingroom wa3 also covered in, so you will see there •was plenty of room for the dancers to wander between the waltzes. The supper was a club supper, which is synonymous to Baying it was most excellent ; everything in or out of season appeared to be upon the table, and all dressed in the most inviting manner. Lovely white swans floating upon lakes of golden jelly ; large fish formed of some delectable sweetmeat lying with open mouth as if ready to eat instead of being eaten : roast pheasants, which, like the lizards, had once more picked up their tails ; oyster patties, pat 6 de foie gras in fact all the good things obtainable, served up by a most scientific hand. The table was beautifully decorated with camellias of every shade. But to return to the ball-room. Some of the dresses seen there were the prettiest which have appeared this session. The Countess wore a deep yellow dress ; the bodice of watered silk and the train of striped gauze. The front of the skirt was of handsomely embroidered white merveilleux ; diamond n3cklace and pendant, tiara, and many ornaments upon the bodice. Lady Hall was in a grey satin trimmed with white 1 E.ce.

Miss Hall was in white. Mrs G. Beet’nam was in white satin covered with black lace and trimmed with velvet. , , Mrs Perceval, from Christchurch, was in a deep pink silk trimmed with black lace and deep fall of which edged the pointed bodice \ a broad band of diamonds ornamented the front of her coiffeur.

Mrs Rhodes was in a high black dress with diamond ornaments.

Miss Rhodes, from Christchurch, wore a handsome dress of pale blue, with stripes of pink flowers brocaded upon the material. Ihe low bodice had a pointed vest of tvirra cotta velvet, the short puffed sleeves being of the same ; pale blue shoes and gloves.

Mrs A. Russell was in white satin and brocade trimmed with lace. Mrs Pratt was also in white satin and lace

Mrs Travers wore her wedding dress,

Mrs Miller (nee Duthie) was also in her white bridal dress. Mrs A. Longdan was in a spotted white silk gauze. Mrs E. Richardson was in black velvet trimmed with white lace. Miss Richardson in white satin and chiffon pink roses. Mrs James Mills, from Dunedin, in brown moire trimmed with brown silk gauze ; the side of the skirt and the bodice trimmed with yellow flowers. Around the lower edge of tlie bodice was a trimming of grass. Mrs Collins was in a white brocade with a long train ; with her was Miss Darlev, from Sydney, in a cream and orange, and Miss Neal, from Dunedin, in pink with a gold thread, and pink bodice. Miss Spensley, from Christchurch, was in white soft silk, with a girdle of artificial flowers hanging low upon her Mrs Duncan, in a black dress embroidered with mauve ; chiffon frills and feather of the same shade. Miss Duncan, in a pale blue spotted satin, trimmed with pale pink carnations. Miss Hawkins, in a black net, embroidered with gold thread. Mrs H. Bell, in white satin, trimmed with pink chiffon and gold embroidery. Miss Carr, from New South Wales, in a cream striped and flowered brocade. Her younger sister in pink spotted Russian net. Mrs H. D. Crawford, in yellow satin, parrly covered with black lace. Mrs C. Johnston, in pale blue gauze, embroidered with delicate tinted beads. Miss E. Bennett, in a mauve brocade and chiffon, the bodice having a deep frill of the soft material around the lower edge ; mauve cord and pompoms trimuiiug the bodice and skirt. Miss E. Cooper, in a mauve spotted net. Miss G. Maclean, from Dunedin, in a soft white dress, trimmed with rosettes of narrow ribbon.

Miss Huxtable, from the same town, in a deep yellow dress. Ivxiss Wilson, from Christchurch, in a pale dres9, trimmed with fpj-vers. Mrs W. Man tell, in a yellow figured silk, trimmed with black velvet. Miss Dransfield. in a pink watered silk, trimmed with chiffon. . Miss Izard, in canary colour, witn white flowers and pearl trimming. _ Miss H. Williams, in cream satin and chiffon, trimmed with orange velvet. Miss E. Williams, in grey surah, with silver trimming. Their cousin in yellow. Miss George, in black over pale green. Miss M. George, in yellow. Miss Brandon, in cream, with pink waistcoat and puffs upon her sleeves. Miss K. Johnston, in deep pink. Quite a shock was experienced in society when it was learned that Miss Kate Larnach had succumbed to typhoid fever, from which she has been suffering for some weeks past. Miss Larnach, who was in her twenty-fifth year, was the eldest daughter of the Hon Mr Larnach, whom she accompanied with Mrs Larnach to Wellington when he came to sit as one of the Public Trust Commissioners. , , , , , , The Stag Hunt which had been looked forward to for some time took place at Miramar on Saturday, and turned out a dismal failure in every way. The little animal, who appeared half tame, scarcely attempted to get away from the hounds, but took refuge beside a cow, and eventually in a yard of cows. It scrambled through, instead of jumping the fences, and at last the hounds were whipped off and the poor frightened stag, which the onlookers say aDpeared like a little calf, was taken away. Whether correctly or not His Excellency the Governor heard a report of much cruelty having been exhibited on Saturday, and so instantly instructed Mr Walrond to write and withdraw his name as Patron of a club where such unsportsmanlike behaviour was allowed. The secretary of course withdrew His Excellency’s name, but expressed an opinion that the report he had received was not a correct one. Bellamy’s has been very much discussed in the House this sessioD. Several members want to do away with it altogether and make the brick building occupied by it into the Parliamentary Library, and turn the present library into coffee shops, part of it bem» reserved for those members who liked to form themselves into a private club. After a considerable amount of discussion it was decided that the Government should pay off Bellamy s overdraft at the bank, which amounted to about £6OO. . . An excellent suggestion has been made by one of the Members that in the case of civil actions where a fine only is inflicted, the defendants need not, if they pay the fine, appear in Court Thus in the case of a chimney being allowed to catch fire, the defendant can pay the fine and have done with it, instead of having to waste his whole morning in Court waiting for

the case to come on. This is a piece of red-tapeism which should certainly be done away with as quickly as possible. Ignota.