LADY’S LETTER FROM CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 25

LADY’S LETTER FROM CHRISTCHURCH

(By “Joan.”)

Mrs Neave had a few friends at Okeover on Saturday afternoon to pick primroses, which were sent to brighten the hospital. As they were growing in profusion several large basketfuls were gathered. Among the young people present were Misses Denniston, Izard, Cook, Morton, Humphries, Bowen, Lewin, Anderson, Deans, Symes, and Sommerville. A delicious tea was served, and a very pleasant afternoon was spent.

Town has been quite full of young Collegians from Wanganui, Wellington, and Nelson, representing the football and hockey teams of those towns, and matches have been the order of the day and dances the order of the night. On Monday evening . Mrs W. Reece gave a dance at her pretty house in Bealey avenue for the Nelson visitors and her son, and a most charming affair it proved. Dancing was in the breakfast-room, and the supper, a most dainty one, was laid in the dining-room. The garden was brilliantly lighted with lanterns, and the verandah was enclosed and decorated with pot plants and palms. Mrs Reece wore a handsome dress of black embroidered gauze over white satin, and her daughter looked very pretty in white muslin and lace. The Misses Bloxam, Merton, Burns (2), Anderson, Prins, Martin, Meredith, Kaye, Thomas, Kitson, Wilding, Bassett, Hay, and Mears were a few of the guests. On the following evening Miss Moi--land and the Headmaster of Christ’s College gave a large dance at “Te Whare,” Miss Cox’s ballroom, to entertain the visiting footballers. The hall was prettily decorated, flags and wreaths of greenery forming the principal features. Miss Morland received her guests wearing black crepe de chine, and among those present Miss Denniston wore white satin trimmed with white satin ribbons and lace, Miss Mills was in pale blue silk with black velvet; Miss N. Denniston, white silk muslin with pale green; Miss Mears, soft white silk; Miss Campbell looked dainty in white crepe de chine; Miss Mathias wore pale blue satin; Miss Bassett was in white lace;

her sister in white crepe de chine. Also present were Misses Anderson, .Humphreys, Elmslie, Kitson, and Ogle. On Wednesday the High School Boys held their football dance in the Alexandra Hall. Among those present were Mrs Milsom wearing black satin; Mrs Appleby, pa'e yellow satin; Mrs Lawrence, handsome black gown ; Mrs John Deans, rich black brocade; Miss Deans, turquoise blue gown; Miss Moorhcuse, pink satin and lace; Miss Mathias, coral pink silk. t>n Thursday evening Miss Kitson gave a perfectly charming little dance for the hockey visitors. It was held in. the Alexandra Hall, which was festooned with flags, and presented a most gay appearance. The chaperones were Mrs Kettle, wearing a gown of pale blue silk and white lace ; Mrs Wilding, in black velvet; and Mrs Vernon in a gown of black silk. Miss Kitson was frocked in whit© satin, made with a quaintly gathered skirt, and her corsage ornamented’ with rings of forget-me-nots. Among the guests were the Misses Campbell, Izard, Mills, Mears, Kettle, Reece, Philips, Anderson. Cook, Wilding, Humphreys, Burns, Molyneux, and Mathias.

On the same evening Mrs GowerBurns’s song recital came off at the Choral Hall, and was a rich musical treat. “In a Persian Garden” and “The Daisy Chain,” together with a few other well-chosen songs, made up a most enjoyable programme, but the first, consisting of songs taken from “The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam,” and' set to music by Liza Lehmann was full of quaint beauty, though “The Daisy Chain” proved very fascinating by reason of its sweet simplicity. Mrs GowerBurns looked well in a gown, of primrose brocade and chiffon, with some handsome white lace, and among her large audience were all the music lovers in the community.