TEA TABLE TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 15

TEA TABLE TOPICS.

Wellington, May 4

The wedding of Mr J. T. C. Warren and Miss Lucy Frances Williams, daughter of the Ven. Archdeacon Williams, of To Auto, took place in the To Ante Church, which had been beautifully decorated for the occasion with a lovely floral cross, and beautiful flowers all about tho chancel and altar rails. Tho service was celebrated by tho Bishop of Waiapu, uncle of the bride, assisted by her father, and the Rev Canon St. Hill. Kov Allen Gardiner and Rev Arthur Williams were also present. The service was fully choral, tho organ being played by Miss Purchas, of Auckland.

The brido wore a handsome cream satin dross, trained and trimmed with lace and oramge blossom, a tnllo veil, and sho carried a lovely bouquet of while flowers. Thero were eight, bridesmaids —tho Misses Gertrude and Elsie Williams (Flawke's Bay), Misses Hilda, and Elfm Williams (Wellington), Miss Busby (Pourorere) and Miss Lndbrook, all of whom looked very nice in soft whito muslin dresses and black volvet bonnets with deep yellow silk crowns and bouquets of yellow chrysanthemums. Tho two littlo bridesmaids, Misses Muriel and Dorothy Williams, looked very sweet in white muslin Greenaway gowns, with largo muslin hats to match and white chrysanthemum bouquets. Mr Ernest lladfield was tho best man.

After tho ceremony, the guests adjourned to a large marquee in tho To Ante grounds, where delicious afternoon tea, <xc, was provided, and there was a very pleasant garden party. In the evening a very successful dramatic entertainment was given by tho house-party, consisting of the play "Ici on Parlo Fnuioais" and a farce, called "A Row in the Pit," which was far more amusing than such "rows" generally are.

Mr and Mrs Warren left in the afternoon for Edondalo, where they will spend their honeymoon, taking up their residence in Wellington later on.

Mrs O'Connor gave a delightful afternoon tea last Friday, giving her friends an opportunity to see the garden gay with beautiful chrysanthemums. Tho tea table was prettily decorated with clear-glass vases of yellow chrysanthemums and folds of soft silk. Mrs O'Connor received in a black cloth gown trimmed with lace and jet; Miss O'Connor wore a pretty black and white striped volvet blouse and a cloth skirt; Mrs Tweed, who was assisting to entertain, wore a handsome black Ottoman silk dress with a wido white point lace collar; Mrs Hiss wore a uico brown tweed coat and skirt with a silk vest, and a pretty brown boat-shaped hat; Mrs Jam-son, a loaf-green brocade blouse, black skirt and bonnet trimmed with pink roses; Mrs Abbott, petunia fancy cloth gown with whito spots, trimmed with pale yellow satin and whito lace, pretty gold and white bonnet with pink flowers; Miss Daniell, pale grey costume with white vest and small bonnet with forget-me-nots; Mrs Werry, black cloth coat and skirt and stylish bonnet with magenta velvet bows; Mrs Rhind, black cropon costume with shoulder capo trimmed with satin, quaintshaped black straw bonnet trimmed with black and cream satin ribbon; Mrs L. G. Reid, fawn and brown tweed gown with brown passementerie, brown bonnet with pink flownrs; Mrs Somerville, pale brown dress and deep cape trimmed with fur, pretty bonnet to match; Mrs A. Ilrandon, stylish brown dro, s triune"! with crimson cloth, hat to match; Mrs Tucke.y, blackdress and cape, jotted bonnet with old rose bows; Mrs Harron, handsome black costume and pretty bonnet with roses; Miss Barron, green cloth dress and toimo to match; Miss E. Barron, brown cloth; Mrs E. Rawsou, dai'k blue cloth coat and skirt, small black hat; Sirs Harding; Miss Harding, black gown with figured gold satin bodice with black sleeves; Mrs Quick; Miss Quick, shot green and crimson silkblouse, cropon skirt and black toguo with ostrich tips; Miss Dransfield, Miss Cottorill (Christchurch), Miss Coleridge, Mrs and Miss Tolhurst, Miss Moorhouso and many others. Miss Annie Bennett has returned to Bulls after spending some time in Wellington. Mrs Izard has gone to Marton for a visit. Tho Horowhenua Commissioners seem to bavo mixed pleasure with their business at Levin. 1 hear that they gave a most successful ball up thero last Friday, which all tho countryside attended, and which was a great success, and much enjoyed by all who wore there. A return ball, given to the Commissioners by the Levin people, is to como off next week, and no doubt will

be quite as successful. There is an amount of "go" about country dances which we can never seem to attain to in town, J suppose because we have too many of them. In tho country people begin dancing at S o'clock, and go on contentedly till 4or 5 o'clock in tho morning, and very often drive or walk long distances homo afterwards, and are astonishingly lively and cheerful next day, and will talk over the ball for weeks without seeming to tire of the subject. All this wo can admire immensely, though we are not given to imitation.

Miss Ling is staying with her brother at Otaki, and is causing quite, a sensation among the Otaki folk with her bicycle and the neat costume, .she rides in. Thero aro Home nice roads about the district, and now the giddy wheel has been introduced there, no doubt a good many girls will follow Miss Ling's example.

Mrs Parfitt is staying with Mrs W. Ferguson, on tho Terrace. Mr and Mrs Parfitt and family leave Wellington next Thursday, and take with them the good wishes of a large number of friends, a.s they are extremely popular here, and will be much missed.

Mr ami Mrs Hiss ate also leaving on Thursday for a trip to Sydney and Melbourne.

Mrs Whitall gave a very nice afternoon tea on Monday as a farewell to Mrs Parfitt. Among thoguests were Mesdames Harding, Worry, C. Izard, Tuekoy, C. I'. Knight, Quick, Gibson, Miles, and others. Mrs Whittall wore a handsome terracotta silk blouse trimmed with black lace, and a Cropon skirt j Miss J larding was assisting her with the tea. Tho table was most artistically decorated with gold-coloured satin and pale green embroidered chiffon, and vases of white flowers. The candles had rose-coloured shades and the effect was most fairy-like and pretty. Table decorating is becoming a line art here, as it has done in England, and it certainly enhances the flavour of one's tea, to see it boiutifully set out and arranged.

Mrs Travers also gave a very nice tea on the same afternoon for Mrs Parfitt, and a large number of guests were present.

I see the. Fruitgrowers Conference i.going on now, and J notice that there arc

no women's names among those who are conferring. This seems a. pity, as women aro generally good gardeners, and in England largo numbers are going in for the culture of fruit, flowers aim vegetables, and so far as we can hear thev are success-

ful. I. think that if sotno of "ourgirls" who look anaemic and miserable, ami who want something to do, were to band together and start a market garden and orchard and sell their produce at a reasonable rate, they wouldsoon "cut out " some of tin! much-abused Chinamen. So many people have a prejudice against " Chinese " vegetables, that if really reasonable ones wore to he got from a, European garden they would command a ready market. Of course a little capital would bo needed to start with, to rent land and pay men for the heavy digging, and soon, but 1 think with quite a moderate amount it would be a feasible plan.

The engagement is announced of Mis; Annie Mowbray, daughter of Mr \V. Mow bray of the Lower Huif, and MrHydnej Harraud, sou of Mr CD. Larraud, of Wei lington.