WELLINGTON SOCIAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1182, 26 October 1894, Page 13

WELLINGTON SOCIAL GOSSIP.

Wellington October 24. This has been, by no means, a gay week, in fact, I really think that it has been the dullest during the whole of the session ; and, moreover, I know of nothing but the opening of the Thorndon Tennis Courts in prospect for. this week. That takes place next Saturday afternoon, and, if the weather is . fine, will be a pleasant gathering. The ladies always provide afternoon tea, cakes, &0., and the members invite their friends to partake thereof and to watch the matches. A little later on the excitement of the annual tournaments will begin. Last summer the tournaments were unusually well contested; and everyone seems as keen in interest as ever this year, and even now—before the courts have opened—one hears a good deal of “ tennis talk."

The harbour has been largely patronised during the week by pleasure boats. Nearly every evening lias been calm, and one sees boatloads of ladies and gentlemen rowing across and landing somewhere on the opposite shore—generally with a view to tea, &c. It is no uncommon sight to see the ladies of the party taking their share at the oars, and an excellent thing it is for them, provided it is not overdone.

I hear there is some idea among the fair sex of getting up a ladies’ rowing club in Wellington. In Christchurch there is a very good club, and the members are afforded a great deal of pleasure and beneficial exercise through it. But I am afraid that.rowing upon the Avon and rowing in out harbour will be found two very different things. Still, there are many ladies who do not play tennis and who would derive much good from such a club, although they would perhaps, owing to the uncertain nature of the weather in a harbour, be unable to practise every day. I like the idea very much better than that of a bicycle club for ladies, and sincerely hope that something will come of it. •. , .

The entertainment in aid of the Art Gallery Building Fund is to take place next Saturday night at the Academy, and will, I feel sure, be a great success. There are to be two very amusing pieces acted, and the entertainment will also include musical items by well-known amateurs.

Miss Holmes, who has always been an ardent supporter of the Academy, has organised the affair and appears to have got a very good cast of characters. In “ Boots at the Swan," the actresses are to be Mrs Fell, Mrs T. M. Wilford, and Miss Cooper, and the actors Messrs E. Hadfield, E. Izard, W. A. Day and Doighton. In “ Mv Uncle’s Will," a short piece with winch the entertainment will close, Miss Alice Grace, Mr A. Newton, and Mr E. Tladfield will take part. The rehearsals have gone off vei’y satisfactory, so that, even apart from the popularity of amateur theatricals and the worthy object, there should be a good house.

invitations for the wedding of Miss Ida Johnston and Mr Percy Baldwin have been issued by Mr and Mrs Walter Johnston for the Ist November. I believe the wedding will be the largest ever held in Wellington, and many relatives, including Mr and Mrs Sydney Johnston and the Hon. and Mrs Parker, will be present from other parts of New Zealand.

There are to be eight bridesmaids, the Misses Hilda, Siddie and Ella Johnston, sisters of the bride-elect, Miss (Sydney) Johnston, Miss Maud Grace, and Miss (Charles) Johnston, cousins of the brideelect, Miss Baldwin, a sister, and Miss Parker, a niece, of the bridegroom-elect.

The large ballroom is to be furnished as a drawing-room in yvhich to receive the guests, and I believe the festivities are to conclude with a dance in the evening. Miss Johnston’s trousseau is a very handsome one and has lately arrived from Homo.

This seems to be the first of a series of weddings in Wellington, for about a month later that of Mr Thomas Walter and Miss Gore is to take place, and at the beginning of the new year the marriages of Mr Henry Hadfield and Miss Bessie Tuclcey, and of Mr Walter Reid and Miss Halso, and of Mr Armstrong and Miss Barclay, and also of Mr Pearson and Miss Ethel Burnett are arranged to take place.

I believe the marriage of Colonel Fox

and Miss Cara Russell is also to take place early in the new year, at Flaxmere, Captain Russell’s residence in Hawke’s Bay.

Now that the season is so far advanced, I think I must give you some advice about your frocks, &c. Although we anticipated a very hot summer, I notice that black is still to be as much worn as ever, and satin is the favourite material, both for dresses and trimming. The old-fashioned narrow black satin bands and piping, together with satin rosettes, have been revived and are seen on the most stylish coloured gowns.

The new skirts all show a petticoat cf a contrasting colour or material, with a drapery over it, black moire or black satin being the most fashionable material for petticoats and trimming.

Most of the new hats are turned back from the face and many have strings, and there is an attempt to revive the quaint, old-fashioned coalscuttle bonnets in a modified form. The butter-coloured lace and insertion is extremely fashionable and will be much seen during the summer, both on black and white coloured materials and also on millinery. VIOLET.