TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 43

TABLE TALK.

Tuesday Mobning-.

The usual weakly meeting of the Kahanga Club was held on Monday evening, 30th ult., at the residence of one of the presidents of the club, Mra Sale, in the University buildings. The night was fine and clear, consequently a large number of members were present. Mr Melland was in the chair, and had prepared a first-class programme. Misa Fanny and Miss Issiet Rattray opened the evening with a pianoforte dnefc, which they played in excellent time. An exhibition of Indian club exercises was then given by Miss Olive Turton, which evoked a perfect round of applause from the 'audience; and the first part •of the programme was brought to a close by a pretty skirt too hg Miss Elsie Bell. This tea irai

a sailor's hornpipe, aud Miss Ball, in a shoit red and white striped galatea skirt and sailor blouse of blua flannel and sailor hat, was inimitable in all her gestures and movements. After this refreshments were served in the dining room, and done full justice to. The second part of the programme opened with a capital paper by Mies de Salamos on "Dresden and its China." The faot of this lady's remarks being founded on her own experience, she having spent several years in Dresden, made them especially interesting. A very pretty vocal du6t by Mrs Woodhouse and Miss Rachel Reynolds brought this enjoyable evening to a close. ' Amongst those present were Mrs Sale and the Misses Sale, Mrs Melland, Mrs Woodhoute, Mrs Denniston, Mrs Jackson, Mis? Webster, Mi«s H. Driver, Miss E.Uiricb, the Misses Fifchett, the Misses Turton, Mrs Tutton, Miss Cargill, Misß T. Murdoch (Oimaru), Miss Hodgkins, the Misses Roynolds, Miss R. Neill, Mrs MacGowan, Mrs D-iwljng, the Misses Farquhar, Mies Neill, Miss Graham, the Misses Sband, the Misses Bartleman, and Miss M. Slse. On Wednesday, Ist inst., Mrs Michie gave a large luncheon at her residence in the Bank of New Zealand. : 1 i On Thursday^ Mrs, Sargood gave a girls' luncheon at her residence, Romanoff. T. Mrs- Driver and Miss Morton returned to j Danedin by the 5.9. Talane on Saturday from their trip to Sydney. Mr and Mrs Reynolds, Miss Reynolds, and Miss Vida Reynolds have gone up to Wellington for the session. Mrs A. A. Finch and Miss MaoN«il left on Monday by the e.s. Mararoa for a trip to Australia. A very large private ball was given last Friday evening in Wellington by^Mw Robert Pbarszyn in Thomas's Hall. Upwards of 400 guests were present, and the decorations as well as the dresses worn by the ladies were j most brilliant. In the centre of the stage, which was furnished as a drawing room, was a tall stand of ferns placed on a circular mirror, round which were fairy lamps, which gave a most artistic touch to the whole scene. The supper table was decorated with scarlet berries and ferns, which looked lovely. The hoßt and hostess received their guests at the entrance to the ball room. The latter wore a stylish pale grey brocade dress trimmed with bright pink eatin, white lace, and ostrich tips; Mrs Aoland black brocade gown .trimmed with white lace; Mrs Boner, handsome black j silk-, the bodice trimmed with black chiffon edged with white lace; Mrs Butt, elegant black satin gown striped with silk and trimmed with lace ; Mrs Hell, paiegreen silk trimmed with pearl embroidery and lace 5 Lady Douglas, a trained black .velvet gown trimmed with' lace; Mrs Grace also wore bJack velvet with wide revers of white lace ; Mrs O. Johnston was in black velvet, with a portion of the bodice and sleeves of white Bilk veiled in spangled chiffon; Mrs Maxwell, handsome red satin arid brocade dress; Mrs Bailer, a becoming dress of black and white satin; Mri Rhodes, black satin with diamond ornaments ;* Miss Duncan, heliotrope silk trimmed with lace ; Mrs W. Mantell, a heliotrope satin gown with.panels and fronts of crinkled figured gauze; Miss Hutchison (Dunedin), pale lavender silk with sleeves and trimmings of white silk; her sister wore black; Miss E. Halse, pretty pink silk with chiffon and flowers to match; Mrs Larnach (Dunedin) wore a handsome black velvet gown trimmed with jet embroidery and white lace; Miss Larnaoh, a lovely black silk dress trimmed with eequined net ; Miss Medley, white satin with blue ribbon bows ; Miss MacLaren (Dunedin), pale blue silk slightly trimmed with jet; Miss Holt (a debutante) wore a very pretty soft white silk trimmed with accor-dion-pleated chiffon and satin ribbon* ; Mrs A. Pearoe, pale heliotrope brocade trimmed with cream lace and purple velvet ; Mrs L. Reid, crimson eatin trimmed with velvet of the same shade and bead embroidery ; Mrs Rbind wore a very handsome red satin gown trimmed with velvet to match and white lace ; Mrs Gerald Tolhnrst looked well in a white silk gown with passementerie trimmings; Mrs Warren, black satin trimmed with pink velvet roses; Miss Ling, pretty pink ftilk frock trimmed .with white lace ; Mrs Werry, sage green satin and velvet oostume, the front of the skirt being veiled in beautifully-embroidered net ; Mrs H. Rawson, cream, satin. drees .with epaulette* of whlfce accordcoa ohjffon and bine velvet bows,

I have just been looking through " Sohlld's Mother's Help" and "Sohild's Ladies' Fashions " for Jane. Both journals contain a number of pretty and practical designs for oostumes, and each journal carries with it a cut-out paper pattern with diagram and description for outting out and making up. The pattern presented with the "Ladies' Fashions " is that of a Tery pretty blouse, with the soft full fronts which are to be bo popular next summer, and prettily shaped bretelles on the shoulders. Of the two journals, however, I confess I feel inclined to give the palm to "Mother's Help," the variety of children's garments is so great and the designs co extremely pretty and useful. For example, there is a oharming little petticoat hapging from a yoke, just the very thing for wearing under the smocked dresses. The cut-out pattern is that of a very dainty little walking coßtume which, though very simple, would make up charmingly. Not the least attractive feature of both publications is their moderate price, the annual subscription, posted to any place in the colony, being only ia 0(3. It is no wonder that Messrs W. J. Prictor and 00., the Dunedin agents, get rid of a great number of these useful publications.