WELLINGTON SOCIAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1157, 4 May 1894, Page 13

WELLINGTON SOCIAL GOSSIP.

Wellington, May 1. I am afraid there is n*>t very much social g ssip for you this week, but next week there should be someth ug of interest to describe, as the races take place on Wednesday aud Thursday, and, moreover, we are promised a small dance this week, on the second race night, at Mrs T. C. Williams’, aud for the following week Miss Pearce has issued a number of invitationsf. ran “At Home," which, the young people/ will rejoice to hear, is to hike the form of % small and early dance —from 9 to 12.

It is quite refreshing to hear of something in the way of dances which are not to be reserved for the session. Everythin?, or nearly everything, is, as you know, carefully kept for the session, when, 1 may add, it is not nearly so much appreciated, fur, after the first month or so, everyone, and the young people especially, who are naturally in great demand, get. satiated with pleasure, and cannot enjoy anything more.

A dance given at this time of the year, when the summer amusements are on the wane, and the weather is getting decidedly wintry, is thoroughly appreciated, and our prospective hostesses are to be cougtatuiftted on their thoughtfulness in

helping to relieve the monotony which nearly always precedes tho session in Wellington.

Colonel and Mis Goring arri\ed in Wellington last week from England, where they have had a delightful visit, and where Colonel Goring’a eyesight has been greatly, if not altogether, restored. They are at present staying with Mr and Mrs Walter Johnston, but leave shortly for their homo in Auckland, where Co’onel Goring is stationed.

Mrs Collins and Mias Holmes have just returned from the Hot Lakes, where the former, who weut for her health, g e.rtly benefited by tho change.

Dr Collins, who went toßaratonga with Lord Glasgow’s party, has also returned, and is looking tho picture of health, and appears to have had a most enjoyable and interesting trip.

Mrs Etnpson, who stayed a few days in Wellington, ha 3 returned to Wanganui.

Mrs Wroughton returns to her home in Canterbury in a few days, and Miss Knight, who has been paying a series of visi a in Wellington, leaves for Melbourne this wo k. Miss Fell, of Nelson, who has been staying with Mrs (Dr) Foil, also goes back next week.

While out calling the other day I noticed several pretty visiting dresses, and am going to describe them. Mrs Tayloo, who recently came out from Home with her husband for the latter’s health, and has settled down in Wei* lington for the winter, is wearing a very pretty gown of reddish brown cloth, much trimmed with black watered silk K and a black hat with jet and feathers. Mrs W. Ferguson is wearing a black serge costume and jacket, both braided with black slightly outlined wi:h white, and a black hat with flowers. Mrs Travers wears a blue serge gown braided, and a very pretty black lace hat with a crown of jet and a wreath of pink roses under the brim ; Miss Maude Grace, a black and brown brocaded cloth, braided with van dyked black braid, a long brown jacket braided to match, and a brown hat with black quills and bows ; Miss Buller, a plain tabac brown cloth gown with a vest of gobelin cloth and a black hat with tips ; Miss Fell, dark bottle-green cloth, the full basque edged with green velvet and a large green velvet hat with huge jet buckles ; Mrs C. Izard, a dull drab crepon with a yoke of peacock and gold shot silk, which also trims the skirt, and a burnt straw hat with black satin rosettes; and Mrs Duncan a dark heather tweod gown, tailor made, and a black velvet poke bon. net with pink roses and black tips and a fur boa.

The many friends of Mrs Pollen, wife of Dr Pollen, will, I am sure, bo very sorry to hear that she has been seriously ill for the past three weeks, and that her condition still gives great anxiety to her medical attendants. I sincerely hope to hear better accounts later on, but can now only sympathise very- much, both with the sufferer and with Dr Pollen during their trouble.

I believe (here is to be a Harmonic concert, quite soon and also a ladies* night given by the Liedertafel soon after that, and Mrs Menzies is to give a party on Friday night for young people, Progressive Euchre, l hear, to be the order of the . evening, so that we shall not die of ennui during the next fortnight.

Miss Reeves, of Christchurch, who has lately been staying with Mrs Bnker, of Tinakori road, is now a paying a visit to Mrs Izard, of Hobson street; and Miss Rich, of Auckland, is staying with Mrs W. R. E. Brown for a few weeks.

May 2. To day has been gloriously fine for the races and there was a large and fashionable gathering on the Hutt Park Course, which was looking its very best. Most people went out in time for the first and lunched on the ground, either at thoir carriages or at the rooms. Afternoon tea was supplied by the stewards, and the band was stationed on the lawn and played at intervals, and in fact everything that was possible was done to ensure the enjoyment of the visitors. There were a good many visitors from the country present, most of whom intend staying until Saturday for the Hunt Club Meeting.

Among those present were Mr aud Mrs % H. D. Bell, Mr and Mrs W. Moorhouse, Colonel and Miss Pearce, Mrs Dowell, Mr and Miss Duncan, Mr and Mrs A. Pearce, Mrs Collins, Mrs W. Johnston and the Misses Johnston, the Misses H, and E. Williams, Mrs Grace And the Misses Grace, Miss Cooper, Mrs H. Crawford, Mrs A. Crawford, Mrs Newman, Mrs T. Wilford, Miss N. McLean (Dunedin), Miss Tolhurst, Miss Buller, Colonel Fox, Mr Duthie, Mr H.Beethara, etc. I am sorry to tell you that I have mislaid my list of dresses worn and I am afraid to trust my memory, so leave you to imagine how well everyone looked. Violet. Ladies who are arranging for a dance should patronise the printing department of the Times. The price of 100 tastefully printed programme cards is 6s Od, or, if you prefer them on fancy folding cards, the charge will be 12s 6d. Visiting cards tastefully printed at 5s per htmdrcJ, post free, at the New Zbaunu Mail office.