TEA TABLE TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 15

TEA TABLE TOPICS.

Wellington, May IS. I am pleased to chronicle a very popular engagement which has just been announced, that of Miss Phcebo Seddon, eldest unmarried daughter of tho Premier, and Mr Frank Dyer, of Wellington. Both are well known and very popular, and have tho hearty good wishes of a largo circle of friends.

I am pleased to announce tho engagement of Miss Kate Johnson, daughter of tho lato Captain li. Johnson, and Mr Charles Tally, son of Mr Tally, of Grey town, Wuirarapa.

Dr and Mrs Grace have issued invitations for tho wedding of Miss Maude Grace and Mr J. Duncan, which is to take place on tho 2Sth of this month.

Mrs Samuel gave a vary nice afternoon tea on Friday, when a large number of guests wore present. Miss Campbell, of Nelson, ami Miss Fisher both sang delightfully, and their music was much appreciated. Mrs Samuel’s drawing-room was prettily decorated with flowers and the tea table with white and golden-brown chrysanthemums, which were most effective.

The hostess wore a handsome silver-grey satin gown, trained and trimmed with iaco and steel passementerie; Miss L. liaise, who was assisting to entertain, wore a pretty pink crepon blouse, with a cream lace collar and a black skirt; Lady Douglas wore a very handsome black brocado gown, with jot trimming and a brown and gold bonnet with coloured flowers; Mrs C. Johnston looked very nice in black; Mrs Newman, a handsome sealskin jacket, black dress and pretty black bonnet, relieved with fawn velvet; Miss Campbell, stylish black costume and black hat with greystriped ribbons ; Mrs Douglas, black costume and bonnet, relieved with cream flowers; Lady Stout, protty navy blue costume and toque, trimmed with red cloth ; Mrs Baldwin, dark dress, sealskin jacket and becoming toque; Mrs AVatson, navy serge costume trimmed with fur, and brown bonnet; Mrs C. Campbell (Dunedin), stylish pale grey costume and toque trimmed with narrow steel passementerie; Mrs T. Martin (Christchurch), black costume and black and cream bonnet; Mrs W. Symon;i, liecoming brocaded silk blouse, black skirt and toque with quills and petunia flowers; Mis Tuckey, black dress with steel trimming, black bonnet with ostrich tips and shaded silk bows; Mrs Rhind, black and white costume and bonnet; Mrs Field, dark brown dress and brown and green hat; Mrs Fifcchett, protty tabac brown costume trimmed with passementerie and hat to match; Mrs Right, stylish black dress with fawn .'ace, black hat with ostrich feathers; Mrs Davy, black dress and bonnet; Mrs McTavish, handsome black gown relieved with yellow, bonnet to match; Mrs Molineaux, black crepon and pretty bonnet with petunia-coloured flowers; Mrs Tregear, handsome black silk gown trimmed with jet, bonnet to match; Mrs Fishor, becoming dark brown dress with yellow passementerie, brown bonnet with feathers; Mrs J. Wilson, fawn coat and skirt, brown waistcoat and hat; Mrs W. 14. E. Brown, Mrs Leckio, Mrs Jellicoe, Mrs K. Phar.izyn, Mrs J.C. Martin, Mrs lleury, Mrs Butts, Ac.; Miss Brandon wore a becoming black bonnet with shaded roses, a handsome black velvet jacket and blackskirt; Miss Seddon, cornflower-blue crepon gown trimmed with black chiffon and satin , ribbon, a black beaver li. t with aigrette ! and satin bows; Miss Ethel Smith, navy j blue coat and sKirt and black hat; Miss Gibson, dark cloth gown with hands of j satin; Miss E. liaise, pretty dark slate- I blue gown with jet trimming; M.ss Tuckey, pale grey cloth gown and black bat; Miss A. Brandon, Miss llamerton, j Miss Davy, and others.

The K irukom dance eventuated on Friday night and was a thoroughly pleasant and successful affair. A very large number of people were present, who enjoyed themselves immensely, owing, in a great measure, to the fact that the “ Rarukores ” wore such excellent hosts, and introduced the strangers to each other and did thenduty in entertaining their friends in tho most corteous and successful manner. All tho “ whare,” and the secretaries in particular, are to be much congratulated on the first largo dance of the season being such a success.

Thomas’ Hall has been re-decorated and is now a tender shade of pale greon, which harmonises well with any coloured ball gown which tho ingenuity of dressmakers can devise, and is a good lighting tint as well.

Each of the Rarukore wore a band of pale blue ribbon with the name of the clique embroidered in darker blue across his shirt front, and it mado a very effective decoration. The supper table was also

ornamented with pale blue crepe paper, with vases of brown chrysanthemums at intervals. Minifie’s hand discoursed the sweetest of music, and the lloor was in grand “going” order.

Now I must come to the important subject of dress, and my heart fails me somewhat as I think of tho largo number of girls present, all of whom looked very nico and whose gowns wero handsome and in good taste, but when one is enjoying oneself it is very hard to have an eye to business and to keep up an animated conversation with a partner and make mental notes of costumes as well. If I have failed and have forgotten some of the prettiest gowns, the wearers must forgive me, and I shall hope to do them justice another time.

Among the chaperons I noticed Mrs Stafford in a very handsome crimson velvet gown, trained and trimmed with jet and black lace; Mrs Milos, black silk and lace; Mrs Halos, a black gown, with cream lace and bertho of iridescent sequins ; Mrs Fitchott wore a very becoming yellow and black dress; Mrs Fair hurst, Christchurch, stylish black net gown, relieved with jet; Mrs Finn, Dunedin, black dress, with jet and white embroidered net; Mrs Findlay, black and red; Miss Pownall wore a pretty blue dress, but other colours are more becoming to her; Mrs Griffiths, block velvet, with leaf-green silk sash and bows; Miss Simpson, handsome rose pink velvet, with chiffon of a lighter shade; Miss L. Seddon, very becoming deep yellow silk dress, trained and trimmed with passementerie; Miss Reeves, pretty yellow silk dress; Miss Edwards, smoke-green satin gown, with lace and silver trimming; Miss Ling, very stylish old rose corded silk dress; Miss AViddop, black velvet and jet; Miss Leed, black net and white chrysanthemums; Miss M. Leed, blue dress with black satin bands ; Miss Laishley, pretty white satin gown, with lace and chrysanthemum bouquet; Miss Blundell, dark green silk dress, with black lace; Miss E. Blundell, black velvetgown with scarlet ribbons; Miss Mee, white brocado and lace; Miss E. Williams, pale green satin and cream lace ; Miss Williams, black velvet and cream lace; Miss Pauling, unusual gown of cream silk, with wide line stripes of blue and crimson ; Miss Stringer, cream silk, brocaded with bunches of flowers and trimmed with lace; Miss Tringham, stylish cream brocade gown; Miss Bendall, white muslin and Valenciennes lace ; MissJ. Richardson, cream velvet with scarlet ribbons; Miss Cohen, very stylish gown of black net with lemon yellow bodice, black sequin net sleeves and bodice trimming fastened with bundles of violets ; Miss Stavoley, pretty cream silk gown with white net sleeves and trimming; Miss Holt, white and crimson; Miss Strachan, soft white silk gown ; Miss Richardson, pretty pink and silver gauze dress; Miss Barber, becoming green silk dress; Miss E. Barber, looked well in yellow silk ; Miss Gibson, pale greon ; Miss Hughes, black drees with pink chiffon holm and roses; Miss K. Blundell, pink crepon and satin bows to match ; Miss J. Stuart, pretty yellow gown with cream lace; Miss Bishop, yellow silk dress with black lace trimming; Miss Rowlands, black silk gown with dark red silk trimming; Miss Brandon, wiiito silk and lace; Miss Halos, yellow crepon with bows and bands of black silk ; Miss Hales, wiiito muHin with narrow rows of cerise ribbon; Miss A. Campbell, wiiito muslin gown and cream ribbons; Miss Luckio, stylish pink silk gown with pink chiffon frills; MBs Me.M aster, palo blue crepon dress; Miss Biggie, dark green dress with yelkw silk sleeves and shoulder frill.

A on.ng the gentlemen were M ;rs .Stafford, sen., I’. Si afford, F. and li. I’ownsll Fleetwood, Abbott:, llulme, Young, \\ Jirillie, AVood (2), Hareuiut, Hartmann MeEellar, Didsbury, Bianfcli, Reid, F Ross, Pearce and many others.

Mrs Iligginson gave a very jolly little dance last Thursday evening as a farewell to her sou, Air C. Iligginson, who is leaving AVellington. There were a number of children present as well as “ grown-ups,” and with them tlieao is an absence of formality, which is always pleasant. Among tho guests the Misses Chapman looked very nice, one in pink silk crepon, and the other in yellow; Miss Coleridge wore black net and silk; Miss M. Gore, Miss A. Grace, Miss 0. Gore, Miss G. AVilliams, Miss A'. Rawson, and others.

Mrs Hales gave a very nico evening party last Thursday, when music and euchre were the attractions of tho evening. A large number of guests were present in spite of tho bad weather. Airs Hales wore a handsome gown trimmed with white satin and jet,- Miss Higgle, who was assisting her to entertain, wore a becoming green silk blouse, ond a black crepon skirt; Miss L. Seddon looked well in a soft pink silk blouse and dark skirt; Miss Simpson, a

stylish blue silk evening blouse and black velvet skirt; Miss Fairchild, pink silk; Aliss Leigh, pink striped gauze blouse and black skirt; Miss AVilson, cream dress.

There wore also present Dr Young and Messrs Pickering, T. Voting, Pringliam, Galbraith, Pownall, Ac.

I hear that the Governor and his familywill be leaving Auckland on the Ith J line. After their long absence we shall bo glad to welcome them hack to Wellington.

Air and Mrs T. Hamer celebrated their golden wedding last week, when a large number of friends had the pleasure of congratulating them, i hear they had a beautiful wedding cake decorated with golden leaves and flowers, and were the recipients of some nice presents.

The Government Insurance Literary and Social Club held their annual reunion in the club-room in the Insurance Buildings last Saturday, when a very pleasant evening was spent by all present. A short concert came first, when Messrs Spackman and Kennedy played a violin duet, Mr Morris Fox '-ecitod “A Struggle for Recognil ion,” Mr J. Reid sang “Anchored,” Messrs Paltiic-r, Lindsay and Traversi also played, and Air AV. Crombio gave a recitation. These items were well received, and were followed by a very amusing topical song called “The Government Insurance Club,” which was written by Mr C. J. Alexander and sung by Air G. Kennedy.

The eommittoo had decorated tho room very nicely with flags, and there was an excellent supper, and they are to be very much congratulated on the success of the whole affair.

Among those present were tho Premier and Airs Seddon, tho latter wearing a handsome black silk gown with lace and jot trimmings; Aliss Seddon, white, much trimmed with soft lace; Aliss Alay Seddon, cream veiling; Airs Luckie, black silk and lace; Aliss Luckie, protty brown-shaded silk, with black velvet and cream lace trimmings; Airs Richardson, in black merveilleux; Aliss Fancourt, pale bum silk; Aliss Levestam, palo green gown, trimmed with black lace; Airs Spademan, in a terracotta and pink gown; Airs Jordan, palo heliotrope silk ; Mrs Alorris Fox, fawn dross; Aliss Dyments, in lemon silk and cream lace ; Airs Bridge, black merveilleux.

Among tho gentlemen present were the Hon J. G. Ward, Messrs Leckio, Crichton, Faehe, Barltrop, Blacklock, Richardson, Luckie, Thomson, Bolt, Smith, Spackman, Arrow,smith, Kinniberg and Jordan.

Alis Davy gave an afternoon tea on Alonday, for soino of her friends to meet Aliss Richmond and Aliss Baber, who have just come here to start “ coaching ” and general educational classes ; Airs Davy wore a black cloth dress trimmed with silk; Miss Davy, a pretty cream silk blouse and black skirt; Aliss E. Davy, a cream silk blouse with narrow red stripes and darkskirt; Aliss L. Davy, a pretty shot crimson and brown blouse trimmed with laco and a crepon skirt; Aliss Baker wore dark blue and a sailor hat; Airis Richmond, black cloth with largo smoked pearl buttons, a black hat with shaded silk band; Afrs ('. P. Knight looked well in a pretty brown dress trimmed with Gobelin-blue silk and cream lace insertion bands and a becoming hat to mate'll wit.h brown strings; Alis Tri-gear, black silk and j''t ; Alls AI. Richmond, black cloth, jotted bonnet relieved with cream laco; Alias E. Young, All's.-; Tuckey, Ali s Kebbell and others.

Aliss X. March.ant gave a very successful dance to a number of Imr friends last Thursday evening.

1 am very sorry to hear that Bishop Wallis has been seriously ill in Wanganui. He and Airs Wallis are the guests of Rev. Air AlcLean. it will bo some time before the Bishop will be well enough to return to AVellington.

J am sure tho sad news of tho death of Sir Patrick Buckley will bo received with tho greatest regret. His kindness and geniality made him so many friends, and his loss will bo felt by a largo circle, who will feel tho greatest sympathy for Lady Buckley. IONE.