LADY'S LETTER FROM CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 26

LADY'S LETTER FROM CHRISTCHURCH

(By “Joan.”)

This week’s round of gaieties -began with the opening on Monday evening of the Military Circus at the spacious King Edward? s Barracks, which have just been built on the site of the old Drillshed. The circus was an ambitious affair, entirely amateur, but none the les© it has proved a monster success from a financial point of view. Captain Jqwsey and an enthusiastic band of ladies and gentlemen have been rehearsing and training for months, and fully deserve all possible credit. The performing ponies and some really clever dogs were a most attractive feature of the formance, which included some pretty skirt-dancing, also. “Dick Turpin?® Ride to York,” was enacted an the second part of the programme, Mi* George Rhodes

taking the part of the bold highwayman with some cleverness, and Black Bess, a well-trained and bonnie found admirers by the thousand. The interior of the great shed was gaily decorated with flags and hunting, the! boxes, about twenty in number, being in crimson and white. Enormous audiences have witnessed the performances nightly, among those on the opening night being His Excellency Lord Plunket, Lady Plunket, the Hon. Kathleen Plunket. and suite, Mr and Mrs Arthur Rhodes, Mrs George Rhodes, Mrs and Miss Kettle, Mr and Mrs Stead and Miss Stead, Mr and Mrs H. Loughnan, Mr and Mrs Boyle and Miss Boyle, Colonel Bauehop, Mr and Mrs C. Dalgety, Mr and Mrs Arthur Elworthy, Mrs Deans and Miss Deans.

On the afternoon of the same day Mrs Denniston had a charming little afternoon tea at her residence, among her guests being Mrs Deans, Mrs E. O. Palmer, Mrs Archer, Mrs Cobham, Mrs Litchfield, Mrs Henry Rose, who sang during the afternoon ; Mrs Wilding, who „ played some enjoyable music; Mr Archer, and Mrs Hugh Reeves. Grand National Day, though damp and inclined to be foggy in the morning, cleared up beautifully in the afternoon, and, as it was quite warm, everybody thoroughly enjoyed the outing. Lord and Lady Plunket came just before lunch, accompanied by Mr and Mrs Arthur Rhodes, and were received -by the President of the Jockey Club, which afterwards entertained the whole “party at luncheon.

Lady. Plunket, who was looking very well, was wearing brown chiffon velvet with vest of old lace, brown hat and velvet coat with sable -trimmings; the Hon. Miss Plunket wove blue freeze, a white beaver hat, and long coat of pale blue cloth; Mrs Arthur Rhodes looked very pretty in mauve cloth with toque to match and beautiful sable furs; Mrs H. Johnston (Wellington) had a grey tailor-made costume, with hat to match; Mrs John Studholme, gown of rich black taffetas, black toque; Mrs Buckley, smart grey coat- and skirt and becoming toque; Mrs Elworthy, handsome black silk, black bonnet and rich sables*; Mrs Wigram looked well in a costume of checked cloth and blue and white hat; Mrs Robin Campbell, of Otekaike, was in a handsome gown of black cloth, with lace vest and white hat with touches of black; Mrs G. G. Stead was in navy blue, -with handsome white fox furs and white toque; Miss Stead wore brenvn cloth with hat to match ; Mrs W. G. Stead had a grey tailor-made and fawn hat;.. Mbs Duncan Cameron was in grey tweed, with touches of violet and heliotrope; Miss Cameron wore brown; Mrs Kettle, light blue tailormade ; Mrs Boyle had a becoming grey cloth dress and toque covered with violets; Mrs George Gould looked well in •dark-blue cloth with hat to match; Mrs Arthur Elworthy wore !black cloth, cream lace vest, and very 1 handsome sables; Miss Barnicoat (Wanganui) had a becoming gown of cream •serge and a brown toque. In the evening the Hunt Club held its annual ball in the Alexandra Hall, which had been artistically decorated, the ceiling being a perfect network of lycopodiums ancl baskets of flowers. The Governor and his party arrived soon, after 9 o’clock, and were received by the Master of the Hunt, Mr Bond. Lady Plunket looked charming in a robe of gleaming satin of deep crimson tone, the corsage swathed in rich Honiton lace, tiara and necklace of the Hon. Miss Plunket was in white satin and lace; Mrs Arthur Rhodes was also in White satin ; Mrs Arthur Elworthy wore pale blue crepe; Mrs Duncan Cameron, bright green crepe de chine and handsome diamonds; Miss Gamer on, lace gown; Mrs Boyle, gown of cream silk with overdress of spangled net; Miss Boyle was in rose pink, with cream lace; Miss Burns wore white satin and tulle; Miss Deans looked pretty in turquoise crepe de chine; Miss Denniston wore white satin; Miss Tobart, white satin; Miss Blarnicoat, pretty white silk; Miss Inman, pale cream satin ; Mrs T. Cowlishaw, white satin; Miss Stead, black chiffon over silk with pink rosebuds on the corsage; Mrs G. Gould, rich gown of pale blue silk, with touches of black; Miss Julius, pretty pink silk and white lace; Mrs H. Johnston, lovely pale blue satin. ' , Mi* and Mr© H. Johnston (Wellington) are visitiijg Mr and Mrs Stead at iShoman. The Governor, Lady Plunket, and suit are the guests of Mr and Mrs Arthur Rhodes at^.TeKoraha. Among other visitors from Wellington are Mr and Mrs* Young, and Mr and Mrs Duncan. * Mr and Mis W. Montgomery, Little River, are staying at Warner 5 © for the festive season. Mr and Mi’s Donnelly returned this week to Wellington, after a-short visit to town for the Grand National. Dr and Airs Perry are the guests of Mr and Mrs George Rhodes at [Elmwood. Miss Helmore has gone to Wellington, where she is the guest of Mrs Malcolm Macpherson. On Wednesday evening the Savage Club gave its annual ladies night, when among the distinguished guests were His Excellency ~ the Governor, Lady Plunket, the Him. Kathleen Plunket, and suite. The Art Gallery wa*s filled with the lady friends of the members, and an removable Programme was nre-

Rented. A dainty supper of a.light nature was. handed round at the close, _and then a short but very pleasing little dance concluded the evening- Lady Plunket looked stately in black velvet and diamonds; the Hon. Kathleen Plunket wore black also, as did Mrs Denniston, Mi's Blunden, and Mrs Miles. Mrs Arthur Elworthy was in pink silk and cream lace; Mrs Stringer wore pale blue; Mrs Kettle looked handsome in grey; Mdsa Kettle, wore yellow satin, and Mrs Jennings white satin. During the afternoon of "Wednesday there was a large gathering of golfing visitors at the Shirley links, where some good, play was made for trophies presented by Mrs J. Wilson. Miss Kettle and Mr J. Ritchie, of Dunedin, were the winners of the mixed foursomes bogey match. On Thursday evening the Charity Ball for the Consumptive Sanatorium, came off at the Alexandra Hall, with greater success than the most sanguine had dared to expect. The pretty decorations used for the Hunt Club Ball were still quite fresh, the supper was capital, and the thing went with swing. The Governor and Lady Plunket with their suite were present, Lady Plunket wearing red satin, with diamond ornament^; the Hon. IQithleen Plunket was in black; Mrs Arthur Rhodes wore black net embroidered richly with sequins, diamonds in her hair; Mrs J. D. Hall had a beautiful white - satin gown; Mrs George Rhodes, rich white brocade, diamond ornaments; Mrs W. Montgomery, white satin; Mrs Arthur Elworthy (Pareora), primrose : -rocade; Mrs Denniston, handsome black satin ; Mrs Melville Jameson (Timaru), black net richly embroidered with sequins; Mrs Kettle, turquoise blue silk ; Miss Kettle' white muslin with pale green ; Miss Burns was in pale blue, Miss Stead; pretty- pale blue silk, and Miss Cameron looked well in cream lace. There were present also the Misses Julius, Merton, Matthews, Denniston, Meares, Inman, Rutherford, Maodonald, Moore, Williams, Mills, Wells, etc. Yet another dance! On Friday evening Mrs Arthur Rhodes gave a hastily arranged ball at her beautiful home Te Koraha, which was most charmingly decorated and brilliantly illuminated with electric light. The Governor, Lady Plunket, the Hon. Kathleen Plunket, Captain Braithwaite, and Mr Waterfield were, of course, present, the ball being arranged as a small farewell for them. Mrs Rhodes received her guests, wearing a handsome gown of silver tulle over white silk, and lovely diamond ornaments; Lady Plunket was in rose-pink satin and diamonds; the Hon. Kathleen Plunket wpre black chiffon embroidered with silver; Mrs George Rhodes looked well in blue sa#n with lace and diamonds; -Mrs A. Roberts wore white satin; Mrs Boyle, beautiful gown of white net embroidered with sequins; Mrs W. Montgomery, rich "white satin; Mrs Arthur Mworthy was in pale blue and silver; Miss Stead wore black crepe de chine and roses: Mrs George Gould, handsome pink satin; Miss Burns, pale blue silk; Miss Denniston. cream silk; Miss Kettle, pretty white muslin; Miss Tobart, white satin; Mrs Barclay, white satin; Mrs Beswick, lovely pale blue gown; Miss Rutherford (Montrose), was in pale green silk; Mrs T. Cowlishaw looked pretty in. white satin with touches of pale blue; Miss Campbell was in white silk; Miss Nancarrow, white satin and lace; and Miss Burnett was in pink silk. Aug. 19.