WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 25

WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

(BY “ERIE.”}

The liveliest interest in feminine circles lias suddenly been awakened by the clause in the Street Widths Bill. It is so seldom there is anything personally interesting to the woman in the street, that this is a new sensation. The right or the wrong of the position is so mixed that we give it up as a brain-twisting prob lem. Each expounder of these mysteries seems to have truth and justice on her side, yet all have entirely different views. ' What we do understand and feel is that if our houses are in a narnow street, and if they should get burnt down, we could not rebuild them, which, to say the least, is an awkward reflection. On the other hand, it is very high time to stop the cramming in of houses on bits of ground higgledypiggledy. We . are all so glad there is a law against women in Parliament, since it puts all the onus of settling these tough questions upon the M.3ELR. Mr Fisher and his Boojum Voucher has ceased to he of any account since so many, much pleasanter interests are occupying the feminine attention.

"We try to he amiably philosophical, but we should love to have had the ladies golf champion in our midst this year. The play in Napier this season is generally considered to be a great advance upon other championship meetings, and has been watched each day- by a large number of admiring and critical onlookers. The Wellington players have had a most delightful visit, and for the most part, fine weather. Tlio lovely wealth of spring flowers which are so plentiful everywhere in the northern town, is one of the joys cf their daily life. If our players are well practised we hope next year one of their number will hold the lovely silver rose bowl, which is the championship plate, and cannot be woiT'butright.

A very large number of lovers of art have visited the exihbition of pictures at McGregor Wright’s Gallery. Miss Richmond and Miss May.Lingard have done a wonderful amount of good work, and it is most refreshing in this commercial and prosaic city to have one’s attention drawn to the. poetical and beautiful art side of existence. It is a many-sided gallery. Grave and gay, cloud and sunshine, are all to be found. In art as in music, it is simply ignorant impertinence for the outsider who has no technical or educational knowledge to set lip as a critic. On the other hand, there are very many natures who can, out of their inner conciousness, respond to the poetical feeling expressed in such pictures as Miss Richmond’s without in the least being aware of how it is accomplished. To such there is a restful beauty which appeals to their need in their lives of hurry and work. Given a pocketful of money and a free choice, what a lovely selection one could make of coveted possessions. What sunshine they would let in upon a duncoloured life. Miss I/ingard’s bright colouring is also such as makes for the snapping of the Tenth Commandment in many of her lovely Continental bits of life and landscape. The out-of-date homily in the nearly „obsolete Catechism which ends with “Therein to be content’’ comes in usefully under such temptations to the envious of other’s possessions. This exhibition has given many an odd hour’s real pleasure to many a toiler who comes out refreshed and grateful. It makes us realise how much we need an Art Gallery of our own.

The Coloured Lancer Ball promises to be not only a gay function and an exceedingly pretty spectacle, but a financial success. Mrs Fulton’s set and Miss Reid s set were omitted accidentally from our list last week. All the tickets for the two front rows of the gallery are taken besides a number of others. The •upper benefactions are also coming in, and all the arrangements are well forward.

Miss Richmond’s wonderfully interesting school broke up ou Friday afternoon. The children have their minds trained from the earliest age to method and order, which is such a great boon to them in after life. On Friday afternoon a number of the scholars read scenes from Shakespeare with an intelligence and appreciation which many grown-ups never attain to, and it is a priceless possession which they will value in after life.

* # * All are rejoiced that our amateurs scored such a success in their production of “Dorothy.” They had put a lot of good work into it, and a lot of money, too, in dresses and scenery, and we are glad they have come out with £IOO to the good. Their audiences were highly appreciative, and they had excellent houses after the first two nights, which was when their real merit was. made public.

9 * w . To people who thoroughly enjoy a nice little concert under the pleasantest circumstances and surroundings, the entertainment given by the Governor and Xjadv Plunket on Saturday evening was

most charming. The ballroom made a lovely concert hall. A small crimson carpeted stage occupied the lower end of the room, where tall palms and bananas in pots were arranged with picturesque effects. The chimney-piece was decorated with large bunches of graceful tree lucerne in full bloom. Their Excellencies received their guests at the lower door, Lady Plunket wearing a pretty but -peculiar gown of greenish grey silk voile covered with irridescent sequins, and a large bunch of pink roses on the corsage, a diamond tiara, etc. There was a very choice little printed programme of ten items, which was thoroughly enjoyed. Mr Cyril Tcwsey played brilliantly, and he was also the accompanist, and one felt how much the singers had to be grateful for in having such a sympathetic helpful artist at the piano. Mrs Glover Eaton’s finished voice has seldom been heard to better effect, and she had to respond to an encore. The clever little boy violinist, "Victor Harris, pleased his listeners very much, and there were universal prophecies of his high place in the world of music when he is grown up. He is ,a bright, jolly little fellow, and he plays as if lie loved it.

Mr Ballance's songs were given with great taste and feeling, and were reminiscent of the style and manner of Hodges—a most excellent prototype.

This occasion was a most auspicious one for a new prima donna to make her debut. Miss Lynn-Mills *is a Sydney lady,’ and is the guest of His "Worship the Mayor and Mrs Hislop. She sang 'the Jewel Song from “Faust” with wonderful skill and dramatic power, and showed she was quite at home in operatic music. Her voice is very highly trained, but we should scarcely class it as a- very sweet one. In singing “II Baccio” she was heard to very great advantage, and this old favourite was received with great applause. If Miss Lynn-Mills elects to remain in Wellington she will be a great acquisition to our musical ranks.

Amongst those present were the Right Hon. the Premier and Mrs Seddon. the latter wearing a handsome gown of black Ottaman silk with cream silk lace berthe and sleeves, and black Spanish lace scarf, diamond ornament. Hon. Miss Plunket had a heliotrope taffetas with Limerick lace berthe and frills.

Mrs Babington had a cerise satin with Brusseils lace berthe and sleeves.

Lady Ward wore a cream satin trimmed with fine Oarrick-ma-cross lace and pearls.

Mrs G. McLean had a black satin gown with Chantilly lace and tulle drapings, and cerise velvet flowers on the corsage, and a small coronet of the same, and diamond ornaments. Mrs F. Dyer wore a stylish black toilette with cluster of pale blue flowers as a touch of colour.

Mrs PI. Crawford wore a red satin gown with frills and front of cream gauged chiffon and black velvet bows. Miss O’Connor had a lovely gown of black chiffon velvet and Limerick lace berthe, and amethyst ornaments. Miss Pitt had a pretty pale blue costume with chiffon frills.

Mrs Sprott wore black satin and cream lace.

Miss Johnston’s dress was of green velvet with tablier of* silk embroidery and pink chiffon frills and diamonds. Mfrs Pearce wore a dove-grey satin, with blue satin ribbons.

Mrs Pollen had a black lace gown over glace silk. Mrs T. C. Williams’s gown was a lovely grey satin and beautiful lace, and white marabout stole.

Miss Coates wore a handsome blaok toilette.

Miss Hilda Williams wore white satin and silk embroidery. Mrs Herries had a black velvet gown and Limerick lace scarf.

Lady Millar wore a lovely gown of rich satin and lace relieved with violets.

Mrs Cooper had a black voile gown with jet and lace. Mrs Sidey wore handsome satin gown and lovely lace scarf. Mrs R. Levin had an ivory satin gown with flounces of Brussell’s lace. Mrs Duncan’s dress was of grey satin with yoke of cream lace. Mrs Stowe wore black silk gown with yoke of black lace and spray of pink roses.

Itlrs Rhind had black satin with tulle berthe. Mrs lan Duncan wore a lovely green brocaded satin with cream lace. Mrs W. Nathan had a handsome black costume and Spanish lace scarf. Mrs Chaytor wore a handsomely jetted black gown. Mrs Turnbull’s gown was of pale blue satin.

Mrs Hislop (Mayoress) wore black silk voile over glace with lace bertne and violets. , . Mrs Wylie had a white voile trimmed with black lace insertions. Mrs Ross wore a black satin costume. Mrs Blair had a black and white gown. Mrs Rankin-Brown had a black chiffon gown with frills over glace silkDr Platts-Mills wore a handsome black silk costume. , Mrs Trask had a black toilette with Maltese lace. , , . , , . Mrs Wallis wore blaok velvet and pearl ornaments. Mrs Wilford had a pale blue brocade with embroidered tablier.

Mrs Fell wore a handsome cigale brown toilette. Mrs Butts wore .a black satin gown with cream lace yoke and sleeves. Mrs Findlay wore a lovely pompadour silk gown. Mi-s Webb had brocade gown with heliotrope flowers. Mrs Hales had an effective biscuit toilette. Mrs Mills wore a black jetted satin gown. Mrs Burnett had a stylish black toilette. Miss Eileen Ward wore a white muslin frock and pink ribbons. Miss Rhind had a white satin gown. Miss McKenzie had a pretty blue and white chiffon toilette. Miss Gore, ivory satin. Miss E. Richmond grey and white satin gown and cream lace. Mrs G 1 over-Eaton had a stylish black toilette with cream lace yoke. Miss Lynn-Mills wore a pale blue brocade with blue chiffon frills. There were a large number of gentlemen present, and a very bright effect was given by the wearers of red uniforms. * * * Herr Hoppe’s concert was a most enjoyable one. All were delighted to welcome back Mr Prouse, ajid he received quite an ovation when he appeared. He is even more musical than ever, and that is saying much for such a beautiful voice as his. * -x- * Mrs Baume, sen., has come down from Auckland for the remainder of the session. * * * Colonel and Mrs Wood have returned, and are settled in their house in Fitzherbert terrace. it ■* * Mrs Cornford (Napier) is visiting her mother Mrs Bendall. * * Mrs Louisson has returned from her trip to Auckland, where she was the guest of her sister. it * The Bishop of Auckland and Mrs and Miss Neligan will be the guests of the Bishop of Wellington and Mrs Wallis. *' * * Mrs Robertson has returned from Sydney, whither she went to see her son, our Rhodes scholar, so far on his way to take up his life at Oxford University. * * * The ladies’ evening at the Savage Club is anticipated with much pleasure. •* * * There are yet several other balls looming. * # - * The marriage of Miss Irene Speedy, daughter of John Speedy, Esq., “Bumview,” Hawke's Bay., to Mr James Armstrong, Akitio, is to take place on the 27th September.