NOTES FROM THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1875, 28 October 1887, Page 17

NOTES FROM THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

By Pearl Pen.

Signs of Coming Gaieties— Dress and Fashion —A Eeporter at Sea— Art Exhibition-

Wellington, October 17.

It is au ill wiud that blows nobody good, and even two sessions in one year carries unmixed satisfaction to the hearts of some folks, the Welington shopkeepers to wit, who will now get rid of heaps of beautiful goods that would otherwise have lain as dead weight upon their hands, if they had not sold them at an immense sacrifice. AU the lighter fabrics are beiug bought up rapidly, for the vista of numerous forthcoming entertainments has the effect of loosening the purse strings in quite a surprising manner. But what would you have? One

must have ball gowns, visiting toilets, gloves, fans, and all kinds of fal-ials wherewith to make oneself presentable, and to do duty duriDg this gay season.

And no wonder that there is such a run on the light and dainty materials just now, for only think of the hot and crowded rooms into which we shall be stuffed before the season closes. I was shown the other day two ravishingly beautiful ball-gowns, both destined to be worn by one of the leaders of fashion in this city. One was composed of a pale shade of pink tulle inrde over a rich satin of the same solou:-, but .several degrees darker in tint. It was profusely trimmed with lots of lovely blush roses and pretty bows of picotedged pink satin ribbon. The second gown was simply a dream of loveliness, and far too delicate in its dainty perfection to be squeezed and crushed and made limp, as it assuredly will be, in some packed assembly. The foundation was of heliotrope satiu, over which was draped in an indescribable way the loveließt old lace you can imagine, which was held in place by sprays of daphne, whose dark green leaves looked

I delicloußly cool and sweet amsngst the massesof filmy la&», The lady by whom these elegant dresses trie to be worn, is » beautiful blonde, noted for her lovely hair; and, oh! won't she be! sdnuired and perhaps envied by many of #to less favonred ones throughout the coming festivities. And white on the subject of dress, I floaty refer en passant to the extremely droll mistakes made sometimes"by gentlemen when they attempt to 1 write about toilet matters. A reporter oi2 the staff of a leading London newspaper gave a description of the dresses worn at Ascot, h? something like the following manner: — "It would probably have struck moat people that the prevailing hues in the Royal inclosure f as elsewhere, were sober ones, though the fir e~quen& dresses of white, grey, lavender, pearl-grey, &cv were lighted up here and there by a bright' scarlet, or a rich plum-coloured cos tame; trimmed with some of the crewel lace which alwayß looks bo well." Now, only think of a plum-colourtd costume trimmed with crewel lace! Could anything be more delightfully absurd ? It is more like a description of the mantel drapes in a third-rate boardinghouse than anything else. I think it was Ruskro. (the unhappy genius who has become insane) who once exclaimed in hio cynical way " What a pity it is.that charming women talk of things they don't tinderstand," but it seems to me that the same migfcfc he said in reference to the sterner sex occasionally/

There has not been many parties given of lata but it is expected that the real " sessional dissipation " will commence almost immediately. The bacheloro bethought them to be generous towards the ladies recently, and gave a very enjoyable dance in the Masonic Hall. It turned out a great success, man? of the elite of the Capital being present.

On the 30th of this month the Fine Art Society will hold their annual exhibition m St. George's Hall, when some exceptionally fine © x " hibits are expected to be on view.