LADIES' TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1438, 21 September 1899, Page 19

LADIES' TOPICS.

(BY "ERIE/')

So long as the session lasts we shall have a. continuation of dances and gaities of divers sorts. > Concerts and recitals vary the entertainments, with the kinematograph and the minstrels and a very fair circus thrown -in. . The noh-dancing popu-lation-have beeit amply provided with their <r particular'"variety", at the other kinds of amusements/so that all have been having a "'good time." '■ .•* •••'. * .* - * . *

Lady Ranfurly on Thursday evening had a- very charming dance at Government House, at which a number of semi-grown-ups were present. The ball-room was very prettily decorated, and the floor has got into nice condition again. In the billiardroom, coffee, ices, etc., were beautifully served all the evening There was also a most recherche sit-down champagne supper, daintily and elegantly laid in the din-ing-room. ;■# * * * *

Among the guests present were— The Ladies Keppel, one of them wore.a pretty gown of cream brocade, trimmed with scarlet. The younger one wore an effective gown of grey silk veiled with grey chiffon. * Lady Constance Knox looked exceedingly pretty in a rose pink silk dress. Miss Julius had a pink silk with over ■dress .of white chiffon. Miss Elworthy was also of the house party. Mrs Rolleston wore a handsome black satin dress with flounce and trimming of •cream, lace. Miss Rolleston looked extremely well in a beautiful gown.of pale green satin. Mi3S Rolleston wore a very pretty white muslin.

Mrs Penton had a handsome black satin gown. Miss Penton wore a nice -white dress. Mrs Bell had a lovely gown of oyster grey satin. "" The Misses Bell were becomingly dressed in' white satin gowns. Miss Riddiford wore a beautiful dress of white silk with blue chine flowers. Miss C. Smith had a very pretty and becoming dress of white, with pale blue sash, and trimmed with violets. Miss Douglas wore a handsome pink silk "trimmed with lace. Miss M. Douglas was dressed in a very becoming shade of cerise, trimmed with white. Mies F. Brandon had a beautifully-made dress of white satin with chiffon frills. Miss G. Reid had a lovely and effective gown of white inuslin with blue satin stripes trimmed with pink roses. Miss M. Seddon looked extremely well in a pretty white silk dress. Mts Herepath wore a very handsome black satin drees, beautifully trimmed with scarlet geraniums. Miss Coates had a black satin skirt, and bodice veiled with white lace. Mrs Wason was handsomely gowned in a lovely combination of grey and pink. Mrs Butler wore a white satin dress trimmed with lace.

Miss McGregor was beautifully dressed in white brocade with scarlet flowers. The Misses Fell wore becoming dresses of black satin. Miss M. Fell had. a very pretty white muslin. , , n Miss C. Fitz Gerald wore a most becoming white silk dress. " . ... Miss Una. Fitz Gerald had a nice white muslin frock. ' . - Miss "'— : Richmond was dressed in white satin trimmed with chiffon and violets. Miss Coleridge wore a black satin gown. Miss Ida Coleridge had a pretty muslin d.rt'B3 Miss Williams had a lovely white satin dress with chiffon bodice. Miss Waldegrave wore white muslin with pale blue sash. , Miss A. Johnston had a very pretty and Incoming dress of grey .chiffon. Miss Doris Johnston was prettily dressed in muslin. , ~„ . .„__, Miss Skerrett wore a beautiful cieam >r ffiss'Tolhurst had a handsome white dress. ,' ,'-. ;ii. Miss Higginson wore a pretty white hUk dress trimmed with chiffon and roses. Miss Hutcheson had a very handsome dress of black satin with rivers ot blue satin thickly covered with pink clover. Mrs Isaacs wore a handsome dress of pink brocaded silk. ' , Miss Allen (Dunedin) had a pretty aress of white satin with becoming fichu ot chitMiss Simpson wore a lovely gown of amMiss Moore was dressed in white silk with pink roses. . T , Miss Sprott. Mrs Collins. Miss S. Johnston, Mrs I. Duncan, Miss George, Miss McLean, Miss Barclay, and many others were there.

Amongst the gentlemen present were— Sir K ? Douglas,°Dr Collins. Col Penton, Hon C. Johnston, Hon Butler Messrs H. Johnston. Herepath. Coates, Wasqn, Rolleston (2), Cooper, Barclay (2), Simpson, Tteid, Cox, Pearce, C. Cooper, Hazledon, Riddiford, Higginson, Sainsbury Seddon <2), Menzies, Stubbs, Bonar, E. Reid, bkerrett, and many others. •** * *

King's band supplied the music. * D * * * *

The Bulb Show in the Exchange Hallwas the- largest and best that has ever heen held.: •Mr Cooper had two tables full of lovelv specimens, and took the medal for the greatest number of varieties. Many of them were old and well-known friends, only they were so: very large and beautifully grown that one -scarcely recognised glorified specimens as the same as our common or garden blooms. One that was rather a stranger was the Poeticus Grandiflora. It is of the Pleasant Eye varietv of jonquil, only the centre is a lovely* shade of green. Bishop Mann, Johnstoni, Fortuosus, and many others are very lovelv kinds to possess. ■-■ * • • * * * *

Messrs Gibbons* show was a revelation of what bulb-growing can be brought to. They had simply hundreds of exquisitelygrown blooms banked up in tiers of handsome clumps, and of every .imaginable

variety. It was quite worth the entrance fee just to see their blooms alone.

Mr Poole had not only bulbs, but many other nice pot plants which at this time of year, when gardens are demanding much furnishing, were exceedingly tempting to the mere woman. We trust the next show of roses, etc., will be as successful and good of its kind as this very excellent bulb show has been. Our Horticultural Society is; most painstaking and persevering, and we hope every one will look out for the summer show, and do all they can to help it. * * * * *

On Friday afternoon Mrs Hales gave a most pleasant " Shakesperian Motto " tea at her residence, Oriental Bay. Miss Baker (Auckland) and Miss Hudson (Wanganui) are visiting Mrs Hales, and they assisted her in receiving her guests. A most delicious tea was very daintily set out in the dining-room. A handsome silver table centre was surrounded with quantities of spring bulbs very tastefully arranged.

The Shakesperian quotations were some of them extremely ingenious, and caused much amusement. *****

Mrs Brown won the prize for guessing most of the quotations, and Mrs Rotherain for having the most originally-carried-out one.

Mrs Hales received in a handsome green silk dress. Miss Baker wore a pretty muslin dress over deep yellow silk, with heliotrope sash. The quotation was, "In the sere and yellow leaf," represented by autumn-coloured leaf.

Miss Hudson was dressed in black silk, with chiffon trimmings. She had a representation of " Tell me where is fancy bred."

Mrs Fitchett was wearing a-pretty amethyst gown with mauve velvet trimmings, and stylish hat with mauve trimmings. She had a large silver C, with gem in. centre, for "A gem set in a silver sea." Mrs Litchfield wore a bright red dress handsomely braided in black, with a bonnet to match. Her quotation was "A tiny candle spreads its beams of fire," represented by a lighted taper. Mrs (Professor) Brown, wearing a stylish black coat and skirt, represented "A bauble at the cannon's mouth." Mrs G. P. Knight wore a pretty fawn coat and skirt, with large black hat. with plumes and steel ornaments. "We will a tale unfold," which was amusingly represented. Mrs Rotberam was wearing a handsome brown costume and bonnet to match. " I am sent with a broom before/' was represented prettilv by a bottle of ea'u de Cologne and a. tiny broom fastened on her dress.

Mrs Hales was "To be or not to be," set forth with two B's with " or not " between them.

Miss Davy had a nice navy blue costume and becoming hat. " All is not gold that glitters" was represented by six little bright gilt buttons. Mr W. Hudson took the quotation, "Grey hairs ill become a. fool." Mrs Wood wore a nice brown costume with pink silk trimmings, and a large brown hat to correspond. Mrs Bean had a handsome black silk blouse prettily trimmed with pale blue rucked ribbon, and a black hat trimmed with blue to match.

Mrs Frank Dyer wore an exceedingly pretty black and white costume trimmed with satin. A becoming toque of violet velvet trimmed with feathers and violets. Mrs Easterfield had a black dress with large picture hat lined with pale blue. Mrs Hogben wore a pretty coat and skirt, and a stylish black lace bonnet trimmed with blue velvet.

Mrs Robinson was dressed in a dark green cachmere costume, with a black hat with white satin crown and trimmed with feathers.

Mrs Findlay had a pretty black costume nicely braided, and a hat trimmed with an unusual shade of blue.

Mrs Ward had a stylish costume, and hat with lovely blue trimmings. Mrs Hudson wore a, njce black dress, and a prettv black and white hat. Mrs (Dr) Young had a handsome black dress, and nice hat with white feathers. Miss Simpson wore a verv stylish shepherd's plaid dress, and a becoming pink hat.

There was some pleasant music, and Mrs Hales's son sang two songs very nir-ely.

The Misses Logan gave a very charming tea on Friday afternoon for young people. Tea was laid in the dining-room, and the table beautifully decorated with spring flowers, etc. It was a book title tea.

Miss Esme Somerville won the first prize for the most original design. It was "Pickwick Papers/ 5 represented bv a toothpick, a bit of candle-wick, and a bundle of papers.

* ■» * * * Miss Mollineaux won the prize for guessing most titles. ° # * * * *

Amongst other amusements provided was an excellent phonograph, also some nice skirt-dancing (Irish jig and a fan dance), and some verv charming songs.

Mrs Logan received in a handsome black silk dress. The Misses Logan (2), in very dressy pink silk blouses. Miss Logan wore a most becoming yellow silk blouse.

Amongst some that were present were— Misses Seddon, Waldegrave, Mcintosh, Flannagan, Marchant, Beauchamp. Curtis, Gavin (2), Mollineaux, Gray, Nathan (2), Bremner (2), Wiggins, Warburton, Somerville, Elliott, Miles, Tegetmeier, Ronayne (2), Fulton, and many others. w • * ■ * * * *

Mrs Miles gave a most delightful progressive euchre party on Friday evening at her residence on the Terrace. Miss Lowe won the ladies* first prize, and Miss Hardy the second one. Mr Cox won the first gentleman's prize, and Mr McKellar the second one. w ,'fi':W': : : » ' .. \ * • ..

Mrs Miles received in a very handsome

black silk, trimmed with heliotrope and jet. Miss Miles wore a pretty black velvet frock. Miss Miles a pink dress prettily trimmed. Miss H. Miles had a pretty white silk frock. Amongst some others who were present were—Misses Reid, Simpson (2), Tolhurst, Goulter, McKellar, Blundell, Stafford (2), Holmes, Handyside, Mcintosh, McGregor, and Finch, Mrs Gavin, also Messrs Cox, McKellar, Simpson, Goulter, Tolhurst, Holmes, Broad, Handyside, Nancarrow, Montgomery, Buchanan, Hodson and many others.

It is a matter of regret we omitted to state that the account of Miss Copers dance was communicated to last week's letter. *****

Mvs Ewing has issued'invitations for a book-title evening as a farewell party to Mr Frank Hume, who is shortly leaving for promotion in Australia. * * * * *

Miss Borlass's breaking-up party will be on Fridav evening. *****

Miss Koch's girl friends are giving her a return dance in the Sydney street Schoolroom.