WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1756, 1 November 1905, Page 25

WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

(BY “ERIE.”)

The least imginative ■women have -their Ideals—A Supreme Court embodied all the solemn majesty and pomp of the outward and visible sign of justice, as depicted in our mind's eye• . "With pardonable curiosity we made our way to the Court with mixed feelings of respect and awe. We wanted badly to hear if any glimmering of light was dawning upon this notorious Voucher Mystery. The inconvenient discomfort of the Ladies’ Gallery was a very broad hint that women are not Welcome visitors. Its whole moral speaks plainly, that woman should be neither seen nor heard in those legal precincts. Having put our pride in our pockets we elected to stop, feeling the novelty of all we heard and saw quite worth it- The interior of tins palace of justice is ugly and stuffy, and not good for hearing m. The amazing erection arranged for the i-Tusne judges struck us with speechless won-uer, whose taste is responsible tor the excessively ugly royal blue anu musca:d coloured drapings of the imitation of bed hangings of a century ago. {standing close under these, is a row of uncomfortable looking chairs upholstered in dingy beet-root coloured morocco. Considering how many weary hours their honours have to sit there, we agreed they had a grievance in those chairs. The generous cups or wa supplied them was a drop or crearure comfort which tney enjoyed. h Was curious to w r atch tire men in wigs and gowns which are such a rehc of the quaint past, wifcii hosiery cups or tea, The swearing in of witnesses, and the whole proceedure was so- lacking in pomp and solemnity that we retired a thoroughly disillusioned company of women. The time is not yet, to write of what we saw' and heard. The poor witness we heard, seemed fagged in body and mind, and had huge heaps of heavy oiiico books about him on all sides in bewildering confusion. He was evidently a descendant of that fine old Arab chief known to Bihixcai readers as “Job.” The Brough-Fleminmg Company are having a phenomenal season, each mghi tlie Operai House is absolutely over-flow-ing—not a seat to be had anywhere. We are all glad that Mrs Brough has consented to play in Iter favourite part of Niobe for a night or two. Their season is cut in two by circumstances, but they will be Returning Here m about a month for the remainder of their pieces. Mr and Mrs Brough hope to get a holiday trip to Rotorua at Christinas for a week or ten days.

Mrs. Proust gave a very large and charming “At Home” at her residence “Cricklewood,” when very many of her friends were glad to welcome her back to New Zealand after her long trip to England. The handsome house was ablaze with lovely flowers. The exquisite yellow az' lias and beautiful rhododendrons "were reminiscent of the late Mr Mason’s garden from_ which they oame. They were as the faces of old friends, for who has not enjoyed generous benefactions of them of that very kindly man’s bestowing—season after season. The tea table was a thing of heauty with its vases of choice flowers, and its wealth of super excellent dainties. The delicious cakes which were in many cases, quite new to sight and taste, were said to have come from Palmerston, happy Palinerstonians, if such is their daily fare. Mrs Prouse’s family are adepts at entertaining, .and though their guests were many, each and all had the most hospitable attention. Personally, we enjoy such n, large well arranged function immensely, and have never any temptation to feel-they are “crushes." There was a cheerful band in the hall, and an. excellent graphophone in the upstairs morning-room. Quite beyond the pleasure of these was the. very sweet and artistic songs of our host. Mj Prouse, whose voice is even better than ever, was mos. kind to his guests, who were perhaps a little greedy and felt as if they could not hear enough of his finished singing. Miss Prouse, who is at once a sympathetic and helpful accompanist will he greatly missed in her family when the inevitable fiancee claims her, and she takes up her life in the Argentine. Miss 0. Prouse sang sweetly, and has besides a very clear nice voice, the heritage of her family in knowing how to use it with taste and refinement of feeling. Mrs Prouse received her numerous guests in a lovely Irish Poplin gown of rich autumn brown. It had small bands of white embroidered satin edging the V shapeu lace vest, and lace elbow frills. Mr and Mrs Brough stood by Mrs Prouse and renewed their acquaintance with many Wellington admirers. Mrs Brough wore a very stylish blue costume with lace ruffles, and a becoming hat the same shade. Miss Temple wore a pretty royal blue silk lustre tailormade costume, and blue straw hat. Miss Fraser wore a brown gown and brown hat with cherries. Miss Prouse had a very pretty de soie gown of pale biscuit shade with chine flowers over it, *nd made with wide insertions and frills of lace. Miss Constance Prouse wore

cream accordeon chiffon over glace, and satin blouse with pale blue sash. Mrs Seddon wore a handsome black and white gown, and round toque with beaver edge and tufts of violets. Miss Seddon had a sweet costume of pale blue and cream lace. Miss May Seddon had a pale pink cloth frock and black hat. Mrs F. Dyer wore a stylish navy blue tailor-made costume with cream satin vest, and blue straw hat. Lady Ward wore a cream voile frock beautifully frilled and insertioned with lace, and a folded silk belt finished at the back with a long jewelled buckle. Miss Ward had a pretty white frock and hat with pale blue. Mrs Harrison who was a most efficient- helper at the tea table wore a pale French grey cloth gown with white embroideries. Miss Rutherford wore a, white gown and blue hat. Mrs Beauchamp had a pretty fawn gown with bandeaux of Eastern embroidery. Mrs Tiapp had a black and white .cloth coat and skirt. Miss Trueman (Melbourne) wore a lovely white embroidered India muslin over pale green silk, and a pretty green and mauve hat-. Miss Quick had a black silk muslin with floral pattern, and a lovely Limerick lace scarf. Mrs Quick wore a striped satin gown ■with handsome bands of jewelled embroidery. Mrs Ponsonby had a- pretty black and white tailor-made costume. Mrs Donne wore a brown and white cheek silk gown with cream lace. .Miss E. V ard had a white gown and pretty white and pale blue hat. Mrs Ward wore a stylish dark costume with cream lace and hat w'ith pint roses. Mrs Watson had black and white gown and black hat. Amongst others who were present were Airs and Miss Hcggarci, Miss Edwin, Mr Maughan Barnett, -Mr Quick, Mr T. Seddon, Mr K. Gilmer, Mr and Mrs EmbLng, Miss -Stuart, Mrs and Miss May Blundell, Airs G. Robertson, Air, Mrs and Miss Butt, Mrs E-wen, Mr Harrison, Misses Chat field. Airs and Miss Holm wood, Mrs Wylie, Airs C. Tringham, Air and Mrs Izard, Mrs and Aliss Stafford, Airs Ross, Miss Lulu Brandon, Misses Mills, Mrs and Miss ivember, Mrs Nelson, Mrs Gilruth, Mrs Beere, Mrs and Miss Fulton. We are very sorry for everyone who could not or did not hear those delightful Westminister Singers. Their songs were the perfection of part singing added to particularly clear sweet voices. One felt they ought to be heard with all the suitable surroundings of their Cathedral training. in a gi and old building with stone aisles, vaulted roofs, and the dim religious light of stained glass windows, tneir rendering of “Comfort Ye” would have been entrancing. The four cheerful boys in Eton jackets were most delightful musicians and sang their variety of songs most precisely and beautifully. The smallest of these Master Travis has a wonderfully clear pure voice. He sang a very old ditty “Love was once a little Boy” w r hich is said to have been a favourite of Queen Elizabeth’s- The song “Drink to me only with thine Eyes,” also an ancient one, was wonderfully sung with, a very curious and beautiful vocal accompaniment. This was the tune set by John Wesley to the Hymn “There is a land of pure Delight.” Saying he “did not see why the Devil should have all the good times !” Mrs Harboe with her highly trained voice sang some very charming Irish songs. She wore a beautiful flame coloured chiffon gown over silk the same shade. The bodice was one (made in folds, and full puff sleeves. Aliss Eileen Ward has gone to Timaru to finish her musical studies. Mrs Rhodes has returned from her trip. Aliss Knight of Dannevirke is the guest of Mrs Findlay. Mr Donnelly (Hawke’s Bay) returned last week from England. Mrs and Miss Agnes Kennedy have gone to Rotorua for a health visit. Mrs Howie (Colonel Porter’s daughter) who has had a musical tour in England has now returned to settle down in New Zealand.

Miss Seymour who came over from Picton for Miss Fell’s wedding has gone back home. Miss Heywood has been visiting friends in Westport. Mrs John Marshall (Tutu Totara), has been the guest of Dr and Mrs Anson during the week. Miss Seed has returned from Napier, Mrs Corhford (Napier) has been down on a visit to her parents, Captain and Mrs Bendall. Mr and Mrs Levin (Rangitikei), have been the guests of (Hon O. and Mrs Johnston, Karori. Mrs Dr Collins has left Wellington on a visit to friends in Auckland. The Loyal Woman’s Guild of Africa entertained the ladies of the British Association at a most elaborate garden party at Kimberley. Lady Finchley brought a most feeling message of gratitude from the London B rah oh to their sisters in Africa for their kind efforts to look after the graves of all the soldiers who fell during the war. We have a branch of this Guild here, and we are in frequent communication with the English and African branches re the soldier’s graves. The Botanical members of the Association found their wandering after new specimen brought them through Griqualand to Mafeking. Some Boer families insisted upon entertaining them in true Boer style, with Boer dishes, Boer cooking, and Boer customs. Poor British Botanists)

Some of Aliss Baber’s little pupils gave an exceedingly pretty entertainment on Saturday evening in their schoolroom for a charity they are interested in. They had' -a pretty little farce, “Dick Whittington and his cat.” Nesta Brown was Dick, and Desmond Wilson was got up as a very nice furry white cat who stole cakes,etc., from the table. The six little fairies who came dancing in were such a pretty sight with their white gold spangled bellowy dresses and gossamer wings, and gold stars in their hair, and white wands with stars on the top. They were Aladge Smith, Linda Koch, Maisie Gray, Dorothy Revel, Lulie Dyer and Marjorie King. -xie second part consisted of a little one act farce called “The Falcon” in which Aliss A. Burnett. AI. Dum-bell, N. Chilman, and Elice Fitzgerald took part. Miss Lulie Dyer danced a jig very gracefully between the parts. The schoolroom was quite full of parents and friends, so we hope these enterprising little people’s charity will benefit somewhat by their efforts. The prettylittle painted programmes was due to the unaided skill of the punils. 'Hi & Mr Mandl (Mayor of Hokitiki) is on a visit to the Empire City. A beautiful embroidered white linen costume has arrived from Home as part of-a trousseau. It has four sets of velvet collars, rovers, and cuffs, which are of the following shades: —Blue, cerise, green and black. Either set is very easily fastened to the frock, and makes a most useful variety. The hat is drawn white linen with embroidered brim, and a large velvet bow of each colour to be worn with it. We are glad to find - there is any room in the world of fashion for any such economical arrangements to find a place. Handbags of embroidered white linen with steel mountings are often worn with light summer dresses. The members wives who had their portmanteaux packed, and their a-dieux all made-ready to go oil board the steamer on Saturday night were woefully disappointed w r hen a fresh burst of loquacity seized some members, and all their plans were upset. They were almost tempted into “saying things” not loud but deep.