TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 43

TABLE TALK.

.Tuesday Moknikg. Mrs Peraton gave a very nice little~tea party for Miss Roberts on Monday afternoon at her residence in the Bank of New South Wales-, a very jolly and happy aftornoon beiag spen^. Amongst thoEe present were Miss Roberts^ Mrs E. 0. Reynolds, Mrs Michie, Mrs Finch, Miss Macassey, Mica L. Robert?, Miss Le Cren, Miss Scott, Mis 3R. Reynold?, and Miss M'Lean. The weekly meeting of the Kahanga Olub was held last Monday evening at the residence of Mrs Graham, Mahanqa. It was '* guest evening," but unfortunately the weather was- very inclement, a pitiless raia falling and the roads being thick with mud. Th&kept many at home who had otherwise intended to be present. Nevertheless, between 30 and 40 were preßßnt/mcstly girls. Mrs Sinclair-Thomson was obairwoman, and had ' airargad a very good programme. Each and all. tha items seemed to be thoroughly appreciated by the audience. M» Petre gave' a pianoforte solo, which was listened to with wrapt attention, and it was well worth it, being plajed in a most masterly style. Mrs Sinclair-Thomson then read an excellent paper on " Hobbies," advising each woman to have a hobbr. Refreshments were provided in the dioing room, and after all had done justice to tho delicious coffee and cakes an adjournment was made to the drawing room again and the second part of the programme' begun. Miss \Raobel Reynolds sang sweetly a very Dratfej Song, Miss Stuart Bartleman than read an excellent original paper on " School Life in Germany," and the programme wav brought to a close by a capital little character sketch acted by Miss Ruby Neill, Mils E. Neil), and Miss Lily Roberts. • Amongst those present were Mrs and the Misses Graham, Miss MacLaren, Miß& K. Neill, the Misßes Rattray, the Misses Roberts, the Misses Reynolds, Miss Le Cren, Mrß Sinclair-Thornton, Miss Ford, the Misses Bartleman, Miis Sise, Mrs Webster, Miss Websteri. Mrs Neill, Mis 3R. Neill, and Mrs Sale.' ■-,-.-. t Mr and Mrs W.. G. Neill gave a very pleasant little muslcale on.Tußfldayevening at their residence' in Melville street in' honour of . their nephew*. Mr B. Neill, and Miss Roberts. The evening began with music in the large drawing room, but soon the druggets were removed from the hsdl, and dancing commenced, which seemed to be keenly enjoyed by all present. Mrs Neill's spacious rooms seem to be specially adapted for -entertaining, and that, along with the- host's and 1 hostess's, notjed hospitality, combined to make the evening a most suscessf ill one. 'A most recherohe little supper was served in the dining room, where the table looked very artistic Amongst those who contributed music during the evening were Mias E. Neill, Miss .Stepbeason, Miss •MacNeil, Miesß'R-yaold?, Mr Clowes, and Miss Roberts. Miss Neill looked extremely well in a becoming .. dress of white Bilk with trimmings of white chiffon. There were also present Mr and Mrs Bridgman, Mr and Mrs Georere Denniston, Misi Roberts, Mr B. Neill, Miss K. Neill, Miss 'GWen. Roberts, Misfl H. Driver, Mr and Miss Reynold?, Mr O&eesoman, Mr Crawford, Mr and Miss Macassey, Miss E. Dlrich, Mr Oldbam, Mr Olowea, Miss Slse, Miss Bartleman, Miss K. and Miss Tui Stephenson, Mr Menlove, and Miss MaoNeil. The usual bi-monthly meeting of the Ladies' Mniical Olub was held on Wednesday afternoon at the realdenoe of Mrs Ulrich in Duke Btreet. Some capital items were given. At the close of the programme Mra Teuton in a few werds, on behalf of tho Musicil Olub, presented Ml*s Amy Roberts with an extremely pretty and useful travelling writing case, as a small memento of the. o!ub, of wbioh she has been secretary since its birth. -.Miss Roberts .thanked- the donors in a very kindly way for 1 their pretty present.

On Thursday afternoon Misa Boberts, MUs Baby aad Master.^. Roberts {eft Bunedin

by the s.e. Flora, from whioh they will be transhipped to the s.s. Gothic at Wellington, whence they sail for England. Mr B. Neill left the same day and by the same steamer. Great numbers of their friends were down to the wharf to bid them good-bye and a safe return. Mr Neill intends studying for his degree at Cambridge after his arrival in I England. The Misses Batchelor have returned to Donedin, after a six weeks' visit to Napier. Mr and Mrs Higgins have leased Bishopsgrove for a teruo. Mrs A. W. Morris is at present paying a visit to Invercargill. Mrs George Turnbull has returned to town, and is at present staying with Mrs Gallaway at Anderson's Bay. Miss M. Reynolds has left town to pay a visit in the country. On Friday, the 19fch ult., the first dance of fcbe season at Government House was given,' and proved a great suocess. The Governor and Lady Glasgow received their guests in the drawing room. Lady. Glasgow wore an exquisite drees of rioh blaok satin, with folds of pink silk introduoed in the skirt, and the bodice trimmed with the same and petuniacoloured flowers, and a petunia and pink hair ornament ; Ladies Augusta and Alice Boyle wore stylish dresses of pale yellow, brocaded silk with ' trails of wild convolvulus round the berthe and on the skirt ; Lady Dorothy wore a simple white muslin gown with frills of lace ; Lady Helen Bojle looked well in black brooade with white lace ; Mrs Meczics wore a handsome black silk gown with cream

lacs and. jot ornaments^ L*dy Douglas, blaok .velvet tiimmed with lace and pearl embr.oidery-5 -Mrs Werry, elegant dress ,of black brocade finished with spangled white satin and steel ornaments ; Mrs William?, a pretty dress of pale grey brccade; Mrs Collin?, a lovely white silk dress embroidered with . silver and trimmed with lace ; Mrs Warren," cream silk striped with red and trimmed with satin to match the stripes ; Mrs A. Pearoe, a very rich black satin dress, with loose front of pleated white chiffon and narrow bands of gilded satin ; Mias Russell, striked pink and white silk frock, with fichu of white chiffon ; Miss H. Williams, a lovaly white brocade dress with colonred jewel trimmings; Misa E. M-tcLaren (Dunedin), a very pretty dress of while silk and chiffon ; Miss . Barclay, white silk with pale blue ribbons; Miss Elliot, white silk and lace. There were two debutantes — Mias Luoy Atkinson, who wore white silk trimmed with lace and snowdrop?, and Miss Harcourt*-, who also wore white silt, but trimmed with lovely sprays of lily of the valley.

The fourth meeting of the Austral Girton Olub was held at the college on Saturday. There was a good attendanca of members. As it has come round to the turn of the committed to provide the entertainment for next montb, the President (Miss Freemsn) suggested that as she and Miss Fodor would be away for part of July, there should be an informal programme for the end of Jaly. This proposition was agreed to, and it was decided that every member was to come prepared to contribute towards the next afternoon's entertainment. Then each member's name is to be written on a slip of paper acd plac«d in a box, and from these slips a certain number are to bs drawn, the young ladles' names drawn to be the entertainers for the afternoon. Daring the " work hour " on Saturday Miss Gall read from the 11 Jungle Book." Tben followed an exceedingly good and varied entertainment, in whioh the following ycurg ladies took part : Misses L. Wilson, E. and B. Icglis, M. Mill, and N. West. The first item was a ohorus from "The Gondoliers," "Roses White and

Red," in which the Misses' L. Wilson and E. and 8.-Inglis took part. The young ladies were in appropriate oostume, with baskets of flowers, and the stage looked very pretty. Then followed a most amusing tableau, entitled "Single Blessedness," in whioh Miss Emary was the central figure. The last-mentioned young lady also sang "Oarmenoita" very sweetly.* Miss L. Wilson recited that beautiful poem " Telling the Bees." The tableaux "Faith, Hope, and Charity " and " He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not," were much appreciated. Then followed the song ■" Wishes and fishes," sung by Miss Emery, and Illustrated by three amusing soeneß in dumb show, the ladies taking part being the Misses Inglis, L. Wilson, and N. West. The proceedings conoluded with the play " Petticoat Perfidy," whioh endsd^ a very pleasanb and well-prepared entertainment. The refreshment committee, whioh consisted of the Misses N. Duttoc, A. and M. Watson, M. Haynes, and V. Gall, Jaad prepared an excellent tea, which was much enjoyed. The table, in spite of the scarcity of flowers, looked pretty, being deoorated with geen silk and crimson chrysanthemums. The company 'separated at half -past 5, the usual hour, having spent a very pleasant afternoon.