WELLINGTON TABTE TALK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 25

WELLINGTON TABTE TALK.

(BY “ERIE.”)

One does not willingly write of the weather, but when it obtrudes itself in such an uncompromising way, ones only revenge is abuse. Why are we so defrauded of rightful temperature and pleasant sunny summer? In July or August we are prepared with furs and thick tweed gowns for a thermometer at 50 degrees, and feel fairly amiable afi we bow to the inevitable. But a March of this sort freezes all _ the geniality up, and leaves a very prickly world of feminines who cannot forgive the lost opportunity for enjoying their charming summer costumes, and becoming hats. This travesty of summer is a real and substantial grievance and upsets our plans piteously.

Our latest (and most expensive) possession, our new Town Hall organ, proves really “all our fancy painted it.” On Tuesday evening the beautiful Town Hall was a stirring scene filled to overflowing with well-dressed citizens eager and curious to hear the first notes of the grand organ. The very air was charged with pleasurable expectation reflected in every face. The most prosaic and least susceptible folks were stirred by the theme that was in the minds of us all, and made us one. Plis Worship the Mayor, accompanied by Mr Maughan Barnett, appeared suddenly from an tin considered little door at the back of the stage. The Mayor made a neat little speech, very much to the point, earning our gratitude by his brevity, and declared tho organ opened. Then a thrilling moment carno when tho first’ notes of our' “National Anthem” rolled vdth splendid volume from this huge and magnificent instrument. The thousands of British subjects present rose silently, and as we stood listening to this glorious melody we realised its power to move our pride and patriotism, and tho beauty of this organ to interpret our national feelings. It -was a unique occasion which few will forget who had the good fortune to he present.

Mr Maughan Barnett began liis recital with Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. Its many varieties of expression from the great rolling volume of sound to the softest, sweetest passages sounding like beautiful aeolianlike melody far away, were all treated with the most refined and artistic delicacy, proving what a real master he is of this most intricate and difficult instrument. In Smart’s Andante con moto in A, the vox liumana stop was used, and the great audience sat spellbound. It was difficult to realise in some passages that it was not .a clear perfect tenor voice singing to the accompaniment softly played. The crumple in our rose leaf will be, that we shall be dissatisfied ever after with all less perfect organ music. It was pleasant to refloct that this beautiful instrument is stationary, and our own —so that we may honestly count on many evenings of solid enjoyment in the future. Feeling how great the temptation to insist upon encores is when one is so entranced, yet it will be both wise and kind to restrain the impulse. The programmes are very generous in length, and the physical exertion in managing the" complications of such an organ, added to the nervous strain, taxes the strength of the organist, and lie ought to be considered Mr Barnett was most courteously land in responding to the encores of his enthusiastic audience, hut we hope too much will not be selfishly demanded of him or any succeeding artists who give us such perfect musical enjoyment.

Another hint w© would mention in all kindliness. It would be thoughtful of ladies who go to concerts in large picture hats if they would kindly take them off for the benefit of those who sit behind them. It is miraculous what a big space of view they obstruct, yet all like to see the performer, or the stage, as the case may be. Beautifully got-up souvenirs with an excellent picture of the organ, and many other subjects (including His Worship) wore embodied with tlie programme in an elegant booklet and presented to everyone. This was designed by the Town Clerk, and is an exceedingly pretty remembrance of one of the historic and interesting events* of the city. Amongst the audience were the Lady Mayoress and Miss Hislop, Miss Seddon, Mr Fraser, M.H.R., and Miss Fraser, Mr Izard M.H.R., and Mrs Izard, Mr and Mrs Biss, Dr and Mrs McArthur, Mrs and Miss Bannister, Mr and Mrs Palmer Mr and Mrs Herdman, Mr and Miss Parker, Mrs and Miss Parsons, Mr and Mi's R. Lough nan, Mr and Miss Lowe, Mrs Tweed, Mm J. Gray, Mr and Misses Ohatfield. Mrs and Miss Somerville, Mr and Mrs Enabling, Miss Hennah, Miss Powles, Mrs Goring Johnston Mrs and Miss Rhind, Mrs and Miss McTavish, Mr and M,m Handson, Miss Halse, Mrs Butts, Masses Coleridge.

Mrs Bussell on Tuesday afternoon gave a piost delightful tea at her residence, Tinakori Boad. It was a very large tea, .but the many guests work

able to spread themselves into many handsome rooms, and some found cocl pleasant seats round the tennis court, which is shaded by lovely willow trees. A string band played in the balcony, and after tea many of the girls amused themselves by dancing on the concrete tennis courts. A clever fortune-teller held high court in the morning room, and her confidences seemed weirdly retrospective of the incidents of the lives of the more than half-believing inquirers. She had so many eager clients that she could only take half of those who wanted her to look into futurity for them.

Miss Arndt gave some of her clever recitations, which were most amusing, and given with much spirit and point.

One of the most delicious of tears was charmingly arranged in tlie dining-room. The decorations were particularly artistic and harmonious. Mauve and pink and cream China asters made a lovely blending of soft shades for the vases on the table. The sideboard and chimney piece had masses of sweet peas arranged in small vases, producing a nice effect. The scheme of colour in the drawing-room was yellow, and fine tall sunflowers made handsome groups of colour that were much admired.

Mrs Russell received her guests in a very chic gown of chestnut brown glaoe silk with pointed yoke of cream lace and sleeves with ruffles.

Mrs Coriti (Mrs Russell’s mother), wore a handsome black satin gown with Valenciennes lace.

Mrs Rose (London)-had an unusually handsome gown of black taffetas with ridges of cardinal chenille woven across it. The bodice had a pretty pale blue front with cream lace.

Mrs Rutherford (Amuri), had a heliotrope gown with violet velvet points, and violet toque. Mrs Tolhurst wore a hansomely jetted black costume.

Mrs Ohatfield had a pretty grey tailor-made gown with white cloth collar and revers.

Miss Harman (Christchurch), wore a white costume.

Mrs Dean had a pale blue voile with cream yoke and appliques. Mrs Riley wore a light tweed coat and skirt, and pretty hat with mauve velvet and lace.

Mrs Marohant had a stylish black silk gown with embroidered chiffon. Mrs Harris wore a white crepe do chine with lace and a pretty grey toque. Mrs L. Reid wore a black and white silk muslin with black lace insertions.

Mrs Nathan had an elaborately handsome gown of green cloth with darker shade of velvet, and cream lace. Miss Nathan wore a pretty blue embroidered linen with small frills. Miss Nathan had a white embroidered muslin frock. Mrs. J. Rose wore black lace over silk and a pretty blue hat. Mrs Butts had a black and white check costume and pretty toque. Midis Butts wore a pale blue floral muslin and blue liat.

Mrs Ross had a black cloth costume with broad braidings, and a hat with yellow roses. Misses Grace and Olive Mills had white daintily embroidered muslins. Miss Mills wore dark grey with velvet collar.

Mrs P. P. Webb had a stylish grey voile with cream yoke and silk ruches. Miss Webb wore a pretty white gown and hat trimmed with roses.

Miss O. Chat field, pretty salmon pink muslin with green velvet bows.

Miss Marchant wore a very pretty shade of stone grey voile, with blue silk belt.

Miss Holmwood had a pretty white muslin gown. Miss K. Marcliant had a white frock and Irish green sash. Mrs Finch wore- navy blue canvas with cream lace motifs. Mrs A. Young had a royal blue voile with lace insertions, and blue hat. All’s T. Young wore a heliotrope floral muslin and violet bands. Miss Finch had an accordeon cream oanvas and pink hat. Mrs Burns wore a handsome heliotrope costume with violet velvet. Miss Tolhurst had a lovely white silk frock with lace sleeves and ruffles.

Mrs Kirby wore a fawn voile with chiffon.

Mrs Arthur had a handsome black costume.

Mrs Set on wore a pretty green gown with cream lace.

Mrs Bruce had a grey voile with ruffles of lace. Miss Hales had white linen with brodetie Anglais*

Mrs McEwen had a cream costume. Mrs Hislop wore a black silk costume. Tho Misses Hislop had stylish white dresses. Mrs McKerrow had a black tailor costume and violet toque. Mrs Carolina's pale blue silk gown with touches of pink velvet on the cream lace yoke was extremely pretty and elegant. Mrs Macarthy had a very stylish costume of white cloth, and a hat with roses.. Mrs Holmwood had a stylish brown, veilii costume. • Mrs Frederick Riddiford has issued invitations to the marriage of her daughter Aileen. to Mr Edward William Bunny, on the 28th inst., at All Saint’s Church, Palmerston. The bride is a niece of Mr Edward Riddiford of Ferngrove, and the bridegroom is the youngest son of the late Mr Bunny, at one timo Provincial Treasurer of this district at the time the late Sir William Fitzherbert was Superintendent. The lato Mr Bunny sat for many years in our House of Representatives as member for the Wairarapa. Mrs John Barton of Trentham has a luncheon party for ladies who wish to go out to see the Rifle Championship prizes presented. Mrs T. G. Macarthy is giving a tea on Wednesday for Miss Amy Kane, whp has- been her guest for some time,, and who is leaving shortly for a trip to England. Miss Ruby Sodden has gone to Auckland for a trip. Mrs Pynsent is living in Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, in order to be near her two granddaughters who are being educated at the college in that city.