SOCIETY NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2103, 14 June 1894, Page 46

SOCIETY NEWS.

On Monday evening, the 4th inst., the Kahanga Club held its first meeting for the season. Mrs Woodhouse kindly placed her house at the disposal of the members of the club for their opening night, when they were most hospitably entertained by her. About 50 old members were present, and arrangements were made to admit new members to fill the vacancies which have resulted from various causes. The presidents of the club for the current year are three in number, as on former occasions^ Mrs Woodhouse, Mrs Cargill, and Mrs Boyd having consented to fill the posts, and also to be chairwomen for the first evening. There were seven items on the programme, all of which were of special interest to the greater number present, and tbe evening proved a most successful one to all concerted — both to chairwomen and audience. By the way, the programme is becoming quite a feature of the entertainments, and on this occasion it took the form of a most artistic painting, the work of Miss Hodgkins. Tbe first item was a piano solo by Mrs Lindo Ferguson, which was followed by an exceedingly amuting and witty recitation by Mrs J. Cargill, called " The Pleasures of Golph : By a Frenchman." Mrs CargiU's clever imitation of the Frenchman's broken English as he recited his troubles in learning the EDglisb game brought forth peals of laughter from everyone. The next item was a song by Miss Kichel Reynolds, and an excellent recipe (which will no doubt find much favour), given by Mrs Woodhouse, ended the first part of the programme. After a short interval, Miss Muriel Maitland played a violin solo very tastefully, and was accompanied by Mrs Stilling. Next, Mrs Danniston gave a most interesting and instructive reading on her visit to the Chicago Exhibition of 1893 ; and a clever recitation by Mies Holland concluded the evening. The next week's meeting is to be held at Mrs Sise's house, Queen street, when Miss Reynolds will be chairwoman for the evening.

Tbe evening was both wet and cold, but a few of tbe ladies wore evening dresses. Mrs Boyd wore yellow silk trimmed with flounces of black lace ; Mrs Woodhouse, a black costume trimmed with pink silk veiled in black lace ; Mrs Nelll, ruby-coloured velvet and silk dress trimmed with jet; Miss Neill, white serge; Mrs Lindo Ferguson, pale grey, with aouave bodice over yellow and white brocaded silk bodice ; Mrs H. Mackenzie, crimson velvet and pink silk trimmed with ]3ca ; Miss Reynolds, blue Bhot silk, with ,lac? trimmirig ; Miss R. Reynolds, black, with heliotrope bodice ; Mrs Postlethwaitc, black silk with steel passementerie trimming ; Miss Cargill, black and yellow ; the Misses Turton, crimson and black velvet : Miss G-ilkison, black and pink ; Miss Rattray, green and pink, and her sister brown and blae.

On Wednesday a most enjoyable little musical evening was given at Bishopscourt

by Mrs Wright. A very pleasant and bright evening was spent, the musical items being varied by recitations and enlivened by choruses, all the party heartily joining in the refrain of "Private Tommy Atkins," "Bubbles," &c. Mr Phil Wright played several solos, his sister accompanying on the piano. Mrs J. Wright, Miss Greenwood, Miss Lulu Roberts, and Mr Harris all contributed songs. Mr J. Oargill gave several humorous recitations in his usual amusing style, each of which, at the request of every one, had to be followed by another. Mrs Wright wore a handsome trained gown of black, and Miss Wright wore black, with sleeves and empire belt of green silk, and black lace trimming. There were about 40 guests present, amongst whom were Mrs J. Wright, who wore a white empire gown, with green velvet sleeves ; Mrs Oliver, handsome trained gown of heliotrope brocade ; Mrs Finker, black, with jet trimmings ; Miss Gwendoline Roberts, pale yellow silk, with trimmings of white lace and orange silk ; Mrs J. Oargill, pale pink veiled in Limerick luce ; Miss R. Reynolds, yellow crepon; Miss Bartleman, white trimmed with pale pink ; Mrs Moore, black costume trimmed with white silk ; Miss Sise, green ; Miss Bartleman, whice crepon, with frills of soft white chiffon ; Miss Lulu Roberts, black, with silk bodice ; &c.

On Thursday evening, Mrs Finker gave a large euchre party in honour of her cousin, Mr L. Harris, at her residence in Roslyn. About 40 or 50 guests were present, and most enthusiastic games were played during the evening at 10 or 12 tables. The successful prizewinners were Miss Neil, Miss Hodgkins, Mr Williams, and Mr Pasco. After supper the party enjoyed some capital and amusing songs, Mr Harris and Mr Sievwright each contributing comic songs with choruses, in which all heartily joined. The supper table was lighted with shaded candles and fairy lamps, which looked soft and pretty. Mrs Finker wore black, the bodice handsomely trimmed with lace and jet ; Miss Sband, white floral delaine trimmed with pale green silk; her sister, pure white; the Misses Roberts wore black, with velvet bodices ; Mrs Oarew, black, with red shot silk blouse ; Miss Carew, white ; Miss L. Mackerras, white corded silk trimmed with pearl passementerie; Miss Ethel Neill, cream bengaline silk, with soft frills of lace trimming the bodice ; Miss Grierson, white and heliotrope silk; Miss Stephenson, heliotrope floral muslin; Miss Ziele, white silk trimmed with yellow and lace insertion ; Miss G. Roberts, green and black, with dark green velvet trimming; Miss Wright, a pretly empire dress of white bengaline silk trimmed with ruffles of white lace. There were also present, amongst others, Mr Pasco, Mr Black, Mr Goates, Mr Kettle, Mr Menlove, Mr Williams, Mr Fisher, Mr Richardsoo, Mr Park, &c.

Mrs Leach's Fancy-work Basket maintains its attractiveness to a wonderful degree. The eleventh half-yearly volume is just published, and like its predecessors it contains 250 illustrations in the 116 large pages which comprise the volume. The illustrations in this number are principally devoted. to pretty and useful knick-knacks, though the more substantial work is by no means neglected. It is wonderful the variety of objects to which woolwork may be applied. A number of handsome flowers are shown, including roses, lilies, fuchsias, sweet peas, &c., a bunch of which would comprise a pretty drawing room ornament. Messrs Prictor and Crawford, Stafford street, are the Dunedin agents.