LADY'S LETTER FROM CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1798, 22 August 1906, Page 25

LADY'S LETTER FROM CHRISTCHURCH.

(By ‘Joan.'') Even for Grand National week wo have been unusually gay in spite of the cold and wot which made Grand National Day unpleasant from a more weather point of view. The first of the week’s dances came off on Monday evening—a. most delightful affair given by seventeen ladies to the two brides-eloet, the Mb* 4 *? Denniston and Kitson. This is quite an innovation here, I may remark. The ball was given in Mrs Cory Thomas’s house, which was lent for the occasion, and was most beautifully decorated with flowering plants' and palmis, while the supper tables were gay with clusters of primroses. All the hostesses wove powder and patches, and carried slender white staffs with primroses tied on with white ribbon. Among them were Dr Alice Aloorhou.se, wearing dark red brocade and lace ; Miss El worthy, lovely pale pink .satin ; Miss Boyle, white chiffon gown with pink roses; Miss Pitman, cream laoe over satin; Miss Symes, turquoise blue glace; Miste Burns, lovely white chiffon gown ; Miss Todhunter, white taffetas; Miss L. Clark, white satin and laoe; Miss Banks, black silk, cream lace; Miss Deans, pale green crepe de chine; Miss Macdonald, pale and white taffetas; Miss Wilkin, lovely white satin covered with chiffon: Mies Meares, white taffetas; Miss B. Ruetsell, pale pink taffetas with pink velvet; _ Miss Denniston was in pale blue silk and white lace; Miss Kitson had a lovely gown of white satin and tucked chiffon. Also present were Misses Williams (Wellington), Inman, A. Burns, Stead, Moore, Afolineaux, Wilder, D. Anderson, Prins, Kettle, Barker, Harcourt, and P. Anderson. Oti Tuesday an enormous crowd of people went out to Riccanxm, nearly as many as one usually sees there on Cup Day, and this, too, in spite of the dampness and mud. Lady Plunket had a .'delightfully becoming black costume, the long coat richly embroidered and the black toque relieved with touches of gold; the Hon. Kathleen Plunket also wore.black, with a handsome coat of heliotrope cloth ; Mrs Heaton Rhodes was in brown, with a cream toque and handsome sables; Mrs George Rhodes (Meadowbank) had a smart brown tailor costume and toque and sables; Mrs Pitman wore, dark brown cloth, and seal furs; Miss Pitman was in dull red serge and red hat; Mrs Kettle looked well in dark green, with a green toque; Miss Kettle, navy blue with scarlet revers and scarlet hat; Mrs Wigram, navy blue cloth, navy blue, toque and cosy furs; Mrs Stead had a becoming brown costume; Miss Stead was in dark blue cloth and sable toque; Mrs A'. S. Elworthy wore a black cloth gown, long black coat and toque of mauve; Lady Clifford was in dark grey and sable toque; Mrs P. Campbell wore dark blue cloth and a pretty pale blue hat; Mies Williams (Wellington) looked well in navy blue cloth and a pretty red hat: Miss Harcourt (Wellington) had

a smart brown tailor gown and toque. Also present were Mrs Litchfield, Mrs Bidwill (Hawke’s Bay), Mrs Pyne, Mrs and Miss Bioyle, Mrs H. Reeves, Mrs Duncan Cameron, the Mieses Denniston, Mrs Gome (Auckland), Mi's Andrew Rutherford, Miss Rutherford, Mrs E. V. Palmer, Mm W. Bond, Mrs J. Bond, Mrs Wardrop, Mrs H. Cottrell, Mrs J. D. Hall and Miss Mend-el son. On Wednesday Mrs Andrew Anderson, who leaves for England with her family in a few months after paying visits in the North Island, gave a very enjoyable musical “At Home” as a farewell to her many friends. Charming spring flowers had been used with .lavish hand to decorate the drawingroom and the diningroom, where tea was served. Mrs Anderson wore a very becoming blouse of cream lace and a skirt of green velvet; Mrs Anderson was in cream cloth with, pale blue velvet; Mrs John Anderson was in black; Miss Anderson wore grey cloth ; Mis:? 1). Anderson had a gown of dark green cloth, and toque to match ; Mrs Gower-Burns, Mrs H. Rose and Miss Cicely Gardner sang very delightfully, and Miss L. Cook gave a violin solo. Among the guests were Airs and Miss Burns, Mrs Borthwick, Aim and Miss Kettle, Mrs lab art, Airs E. V. Palmer, Mm and Miss Hamner, Mrs Blunt, Mrs Rose, the Alices Morton, Miss Kit son, Mrs Cook and ALss Way.

Mrs Wigram had a very enjoyable bridge party, among the guests being Mm and Mho Pit-man, Mrs and Alias Kettle, Airs Boyle, Ail’s Duncan Cameron, Mrs Lindo Ferguson, Airs Pyne, Mrs J. Studhnlme, Mrs J. Grigg and Misses Murray.-Aynsley and E. Reeves. On Wocln-ctday the Christchurch Savage (flub gave its annual “At Homo’' in honour of members’ lady friends. A very charming appearance was presented by the pretty decorations in the Arc * Gallery which abounded in comfortable couches, and was filled with a fashionable aucVen.ce. His E xcellency and Lady Plunket and suite were- present, and stayed lor the first dance after wap per. Lady Plunket wore* black tulle over white taffeta, and a -diamond tiara; the Hon. Kathleen Plunket war-) in white tulle over satin ; Mrs E. J. Scott, the wife of this year’s president of the club, wove white satin, with touches of blue velvet ; Lady Clifford wore black sequin, embroidered net over satin, and diamonds and pearl •ornaments: Airs Kettle, handsome black taffeta# gown ; Mrs Gowor-Burne, black crepe de chine; Miss Burns, white satin : Airs Alontgomcry, white taffetas; Airs Denniston. purple brocade with cream lace; Miss Helen Denniston. white vitim Among others' present were Dr Alice Aloo-r----hou.se, Airs and Aliss Deans, Air and Airs Hume, the Hon. Louisson and Airs Lotiisson, Mrs A. Rutherford, Mr and Mrs Arthur Ehvorthv, Mr and Airs Willi a ms, Mr and Aliss Wkiyinoutli, and Aliss Heywocd. The Hunt Club ball on Tuesday evening was a very smart affair, and was well attended. The Alexandra Hall, where it was held, was beautifully decorated with ferns and crimson and white hangings, the supper room scheme of colour being also crimson and white. Dancing began soon after the arrival of the viceregal party. Lady Plunket wore a' beautiful robe of chiffon velvet in mauve, the bodice draped with white chiffon and diamond tiara; the Hon. Kathleen Plunket was in crimson chiffon over white satin; Mrs Boyle wore grey satin and lace; Airs George Rhodes, lovely gown of white chiffon over satin, embroidered with sequins; Alts# Stead, white satin and laoe; Airs Arthur Elworthy, pretty gown of pale blue crepe de chine; Airs Gower-Burns, handsome yellow brocade ; Mrs Hugh Reeves, pink taffetas and lace ; Aire Acton Adams, 'pale green crepe de chine and cream, lace; Air# Deans, black taffetas ; Aliss Deans, pale green chiffon over silk; Alias Burns, white satin; Mrs Alelville Jameson, pale green satin embroidered with silver; Alifts B. Julius, white taffetas and pale blue; Aliss Annie Rutherford (Mendip Hills) debutante, was in white satin with chiffon frills; Mrs Ronald Macdonald, pale blue floral silk. Also present were Alisses Kettle, Sym.es, Alearee, Ulrich, Barker, Fulton, Hanmer, Buchanan, Alacdonald, Harcourt (Wellington), Cottrell, Moore, Wilson, and A inter son, Pitman, Bloxaiu, Prins, Wilder and Nanoarrow. Airs Wigram had a charming bridge party on Thursday. Airs Wigram wore a handsome gown of black sequinned tulle over white satin; All's Pitman was in pale rose pink satin; Aliss Pitman, pretty pale cream chiffon over edlk; Airs Kettle, pale blue taffetas; Miss Kettle, white floral chiffon; Airs Pyne, black crepe de chine; Airs Lindo Ferguson, pale blue taffetas; Airs Duncan Camenon, black net over white silk; Airs -J. Studholme, black crepe de chine; Aliss Murray-Aynsley, white edlk and laoe; Mrs Grigg, white taffetas and lace. Miss Knight, Wellington, is the guest of All's Aticliael Campbell at Avoneide. Aliss Una Williams is visiting Airs Stead at “Strovvan.” August 18th.

A million tons of cardboard and paper were used last year by the German railways, according to official statistics. The consumption of printing paper lias increased 6 per cent, per annum since 1899.