WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 24

WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

(BY “ ERIE.”) It is curious to compare the accounts of the various country camping parties and their experiences during the bad holiday weather. It resolves itself into Bu-eoess of your choice of companions in tent life. Given the right people, the experience is far from depressing or unsatisfactory. The people who took a spare tent for changing and drying wet clothes in, showed must commendable forethought. A delightful eenng expi~ dition in a pouring night had no terrors for them, and they returned tired and hungry, having nad a most . amusing evening after a long day shut in their tent. The less experienced campers-out have already come back draggled and disgusted, not realising it is their own fault for not having gone more suitably equipped. * * * * It is a great disappointment that this is proving such an anti-muslin season. Such irresistible temptations were put in our way in the spring, in the way of exquisite muslins, and perfect linens, that there are dozens of possessors jus 4 longing for the warmth and sunshine to wear them. But it does not come and serges and tailor-mades are discontentedly brought out with feelings of real ill-usage.

Invitations are out to the wedding o 1 Miss Lockie to Mr Brown on the 17th inst. * * m Dr and Mrs Anson have returned from their trip to England. * # # Mrs T. M. Wilford and her children have gone to spend the holidays in Dunedin with her parents, Hon. G. and Mrs McLean. * # -Sf * The Hon. F. Arkwright (Marton) has been on a visit to town. * * * m Miss Moore (Wanganui) was down for Miss Fitzherbert-’s wedding. * * * * Miss Gosset (Christchurch), neice of Mr 0. B. Morrison is on a visit to her relations in this island. * * * * Mrs Knox (Melbourne) is the guest of her s.ster, Mrs Babington. Major-Gen-eral Babmgton. with his wife and sister-in-law. have gone to the Southern lakes for the holidays. * * * * The engagement is announced of Mr Gerald Fitz Gerald to Mrs Charles Pbarazyn, widow of Mr C. Fharazyn, senior, late of Dong wood. * # * * Mrs Beaton Rhodes, who has been in Dunedin for some time under medical care, has returned to her home in Christchurch. ■m * # # Mrs F. Dver has gone to visit friends in Dannevirke. * -X- # # Black cloth costumes are greatly worn and have taken the pi tee of the ever useful serge gowns that come ir usefully at all seasons. Holes are punched in the edges of cuffs, reve.rs, etc., and filled in with embroidered stitches of coloured “button hole” silks, and the effect is very Oriental and gay.

A lady writing from Chef o a says the state of the Port Arthur shops have long heen most desolate. Every vest-age of anything that could he converted into bandages was used up—lately all the stockings were commandeered—and cut into bandages irrespective of their colour or texture. She says the terribk ghastliness of their lives will always haunt her memory. That they none of them had any private possessions, or scarcely an individuality, did not trouble them since they all lived perpetually on the brink of the chasm o death.

The cretonne which we have loved for its lovely designs and bright colouring, has to give place to the resurrected chintzes of our grandmothers’ jny. The flat patterns and duller sh -des will have to be educated un to. beiore we can accent them with any pleasure. However, we have to take what we can get, and if we can learn to like the stiff glaziness of the old-new materials, so much the better for us. Fringes are taking the role of our cherished fr 11s, 'but they will never be so pretly or artistic as a matter of ornamentation.

There is general satisfaction that the "Williamson Company have decided to give another performance of “Everyman.” Its solemn quaintness was greatly admired and numbers are glad to have a chance of witnessing it.

Lady Onslow took such a severe cold at Otaki that she was obi god to. wait in Wellington to recover, and she. then decided not to go the overland journey iron Picton to Christchurch, hut took steamer to Lyttelton, instead.

On Saturdav afternoon Mr and Mrs N ivens invited a number of Archdeacon Pun-court’s friends to meet him. Mrs

Nivens, who is the Archdeacon’s daughter, has taken the house of Mrs Brown, of Khandallah, for a few weeks, and +he family reunion is taking place there conveniently. Amongst those who in urneyed to Khandallah to greet theii returned friend were Rev. Stealy, Tuckev, Sansell and Walker. Mr and Mr and Miss T. F. Martin, Mr and Mrs Mar chant, Mrs Holmes, Mrs Vickers, Mrs S. Pollen and many others. Mrs Harrison and her daughter have also come from Wanganui to meet their father. The Archdeacon is looking very much better for his trip, and he hopes to continue to improve. He preached at St. Paul’s on Sunday morning.