TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2254, 13 May 1897, Page 45

TABLE TALK.

Mokday Afternoon.

The engagement is announced of Miss Butterwortb, daughter of the late Mr John L. Butterworth, Danedin, to Mr Ohaffey, who is at present residing in this city.

Mrs Macneil, accompanied by Miss Allan,

left on Tuesday for Auckland, en route for j Sydney, where they purpose spending the winter. Mr and Mrs B. C. Haggitt have returned from their shorf visit to Hanmer Springs. Miss Reeves (Caristchurch) is paying a viist to Dunedin, and is the guest of Mrs W. H. Reynolds, Montecillo. Mr and Mrs Mills left for Melbourne on Thursday ; the Misses Mills -are at present paying visits in Canterbury. Miss Gibson gave a luncheon party last Saturday at Anderson's Bay in honour of Miss Aggie Roberts and Mr Hunter Weston, Miss Tui Stephenson has returned to Dunedin after spending some weeks in Nelson with her sister, Mrs Barnes. Miss Rita Neill has also returned to her home from Christchurcb, where she has spent the last two months. Miss M'Lean is at present paying visits in Christchurcb, and Miss Evelyn M'Lean is in Wellington. Mrs W. H. Price is at present on a visit to Dunedin. Her many old friends have been delighted to welcome her back amongst them, and only regret her stay is to be so short. On Wednesday, the 28 th April, a pretty wedding took place in Timaru — that of Miss Mabel Le Oren to Mr J. Hay, of Timaru. The churcb, which was most beautifully decorated by a band of girl friends of the bride, was crowded with spectators long before the bride arrived. The service was full choral, and was performed by Archdeacon Harper and the Rev. Mr Brady. The bride I was led to the altar by her brother, Mr H. Le Cren, and was there met by the bridegroom, attended by Mr Tripp, who acted as best man. The bridal dress was very handsome — rich ivory-coloured satin with demi-train, and folded bodice finished with exquisite Venetian point lace. A tulle veil was worn over a spray of orange blossom, fastened with a diamond creßcent, the gift of the bridegroom. A lovely shower bouquet completed the costume. The bride was attended by four bridesmaids—Miss Hay, Mhs Beswick, Miss Marjorie Michie, and Miss Eileen Le Cren, the two latter being nieces of the brides. The two elder bridesmaids wore dresses of white Indian muslin, tucked to the waist and trimmed with lace insertion and white satin, and the tiny ones wore dainty frockß of white muslin and lace, finished with white satin sashes. The bats were large white satin picture hats with high crowns, trimmed with ostrich feathers and chiffon, finished with knots of bright-red ribbon arranged under the brim. Each bridesmaid wore a handsome brooch (the bridegroom's gift) and carried a lovely shower bouquet composed of white flower 3 and scarlet berries. After the ceremony the guests (the number of which was limited to members of the two families) were entertained by Mr and Mrs H. Le Cren at their residence, The Bungalow. Later in the day Mr and Mrs Hay lef fc for Christchurch en route for the West Coast, whore the honeymoon is to be spent. The bride's travelling dress was a stylish tailor-made costume of violet cloth, the jacket braided and opening over a waistcoat of tan- coloured cloth, and smart toque en suite. Both bride and bridegroom were the recipients of a large number of handsome and useful presents sent from far and near. On Wednesday, the 28th April, the marriage of Miss Eva Helmore ar(d Mr W. Cowlishaw took place at Merivale Church, Ohristchurch. A large cumber of guests were present, and also a number of spectators helped to fill the church, which had been moat tastefully decorated for the occasion. The bride was given away by her father, and the ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Mr Watson and the Rev. Mr Pascoe. The bride wore a charming dress of white satin with train and bodice of rich brocade, the bodice trimmed with chiffon and OTange blossom. A long tulle veil was worn over sprays of orange blossom, and a lovely shower bouquet completed the toilet. The bride was attended by two bridesmaidp, Miss Ida Oowlisbaw and Miss Grace Cowlishaw, who wore beautiful dresses of pale green chine silk brocaded all over with' violets, fichus and long sleeves from the shoulder puff of cream chiffon. The hats were composed of white felt trimmed with black feathers and violets, and lovely shower bouquets were carried. After the ceremony the guests were entertained by Mr and Mrs Helmore at their residence, Millbrook. The bride's travelling dress was composed of a dark crimson cloth, ekirt and jacket trimmed with velvet, and a stylish hat of

white felt trimmed with tinted roses. In the afternoon the bride and bridegroom left for Wellington e?i route for Wanganui, The young couple received innumerable handsome presents.

Amongst the guests were Mrs Cowlishaw, Mrs Wynn-Williams, Mrs Hall, Mrs Pitman, Mrs George Rhodes, Mrs Arthur Rhodes, Mra Beeves, the Misses Reeves, Mrs Stevens, Miss Palmer, &o.

The marriage of the Hon. Margaret Brand, eldest daughter of Lord Hampden, Governor of New South Wales, to Captain Algernon Ferguson, aide-de-camp to the Governor, took place in St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, on Wednesday, April 21. The greatest excitement prevailed in the city, the fact of the daughter of a moßt popular governor marrying a most popular aide-de-camp not being an event of every-day occurrence giving sufficient cause for rejoicings and merry-making. The etreetsiwere lined with spectators all the way from Government House to the church, where the open spacs in front of the Town Hall and Cathedral was bo densely packed that large bodies of police were kept clearing a track for passers-by, and the üßual route taken by cabs and omnibuses had to be changed for a time. No one was allowed inside the Cathedral grounds without a ticket of admission, but the rails surrounding the building and grounds were simplybesieged.

The decorations inside the Cathedral ware something wondrous : so lavish was the supply of foliage and flowers that the chancel presented the appearance of an avenue. Tall palms, some reaching 1-iEfc and 15ft in height, were placed about, their handsome drooping leaves hiding the pillars and giving a lovely setting to the exquisite bright colours of the ladies' dresses and the gay uniforms worn by many of the men.

Seats in the chancel had been retained for the vice-regal party, which consisted of Lord and Lady Hampden, Lord and Lady Brassey, Captain and the Hon. Mrs Freeman-Thomas, the Earl of Kilmorey, Lord Richard Nevill, Captain Sloane Sbanley, Lieutenant Campion, Hon. Gathorne Hardy, Captain Feilden, Sir Astley and Lady Cooper, Admiral Bridge, Flag-lieutenant Daff, Captain Fisher, and Mr Hopkins. Before their arrival all the other invited guests, numbering about 800, were seated, and a body of Lancers lined the aisle to guard the wedding procession. Their Excellencies Lord Hampdon, Lord Brassey, and Rear-admiral Bridge had each a mounted escort to and from the cathedral.

The bridegroom (resplendent in hi? Life Guardsman's glitter of gold and scarlet.) awaited the arrival of the bride at the choir steps, and was attended by his brother, Mr Ivor Ferguson (who wore a Court uniform). His Excellency the Governer (who wore his uniform as commander-in-chief of the forces) led his daughter to the altar, and the choir, which bad met them at the entrance to the Cathedral, sang " The voice that breathed o'er Eden " whilst walking.slowly in advance of the wadding party up the aisle. On arriving at the choir steps the party were met by the Bishop of Bathurst, who, assisted by Dean Cowper and the Ray. W. Carr-Smith, performed the ceremony. The bride's exquisite dress was made of rich white satin, the bodice slightly open at the neck, trimmed with a softly-folded fichu of white chiffon, and a broad waistbelt richly embroidered with pearls and silver sequin?. The Court train was of full length, caught up on the right shoulder and fastened at the waist. Ths bridal veil was made of fine white chiffon edged with a frill of the same, falling over the face in front and reaching to the end of the long train behind. The veil was arranged over sprays of orange blossom and fastened withlovely diamond stars, which were amongst the bridegroom's many gifts. The Court tsain was carried by two pretty little children — the Hon. Helen Braesey and Master Freeman-Thomas (her tiny nephew). The Hon. Helen Brassey wore a frock of yellow satin, made empire style and veiled in white chiffon, and poke bonnet of yellow satin and white chiffon, and the diminutive page wore yellow breeches and waistcoat; and coat of white brocaded aatin trimmed with gold braid, and three-cornered hat. The bride was attended by four bridesmaids. First came her two sisters, the Hon. AJics and the Hon. Dorothy Brand, i"ollo?/fcl by Miss Boxton, daughter of the Governor oi South Australia, and Miss Kitty Darley (Sydney). Their dresses were of buttercup satin veiled with white chiffon, shirred at the waist and falling in soft folds to the foot of the skirt. The bodices were finished with fichus and shirred chiffon and folded belts of white satin. The hats were of white chiffon and satin, trimmed with white ostrich feathers and yellow flowers. Their bouquets were composed of yellow flowers, and each bridesmaid wore a gold bangle, the bridegroom's gift.

Lady Hampden wore a lovely costume of turquoise blue moire, the bodice trimmed with embroidered chiifou and jewelled lace, and small bonnet en suite. Lady Brassey's exquisite dress was of grey moire. Toe dresse3 worn by all the ladies were lovely, many of them being quite works of art as to colour and design, and almost all the ladies carried exquisite bouquets. Tha foreign consuls appeared in full drese, and every man who could lay claim to a uniform wore ifc. After the ceremony the young couple left in Lord Brassey's state coach, with its smartly dressed postilions, which had been brought from Melbourne for the occasion, and were louily cheered and welcomed as they drove through the densely packed streets leading from the Cathedral to Government House.

A large reception was held during the afternoon by Lord and Lady Hampden and by Captain and the Hon. Mra Ferguson at Government House, after which refreshments were served in the dining room, where the bride cut her own weddiDg cake with her husband's sword.

The bride's going-away dress was a very stylish costume of pale grey cloth, made with an Ebon jacket richly embroidered with steel sequins, the vest beiDg of white satin finished with a folded belt. The costume was completed by a charming toque composed of tinted roses. The honeymoon was spent at Dangar Island, Brooklyn, tha residence of the Hon. H. C. Dangar.

About GOO or the poor of Sydney were entertained by Captain Ferguson at a feast on the lawns, where marquees had been ereoted for the occasion. The young couple

alighted from their carriage on their way to* the station and paid a short visit to those assembled, who in one body rose and gave three cheers for their host and hostess. The day will long be remembered by those poor, many of whom were complete invalids, and had to be assisted or conveyed in Bath chairs to their destination.

The Austral Girton Club held its second meeting for the year last Saturday at Girton j College. Miss Freeman, the president, in her opening remarks put forward a, suggestion re the disposal of a quantity of work which had been done by the members during the preceding year. They had already sent money to the children of Dr Barnardo's homes, and now there was the clothing, of which there was a good deal to be disposed of. She thought the members could not do better than send that clothing to the little children whose parents had become destitute through the awful calamity of the Hawke's Bay floods. Charity began at home, the speaker went on to say, and here was any amount of clothirjg made and waiting, and there in the North Island were little children waiting to ba clothed.. The proposition was put to the meeting, which unanimously agreed that the clothing should toe forwarded as soon as possible for tbe benefit of the little sufferers in the north. Then the garments were gone over, and it was found that there would be a great many articles of warm and useful clothing to be forwarded this week, from frocks and bed quilts £o knitted woollen socks. Matters of this kind ' having been satisfactorily arranged, the entertainment of the afternoon was proceeded with. The programme was an excellent one. It opened with a duet, " Nocturne," by Mißaes Jeanie Brown and Mabel Henderson. Next followed a most beautiful tableau, entitled "An Adajio," in which one young lady was represented playing the character of music and four others were dancing. The ladies were all in white, and were grouped effectively on tho stage, while in the background the beauty of tha picture was enhanced by two white statues, the "Vanus of Milo " and the '• Discobolus." On the whole, tbe tableau is one of the prettiest ever shown by the club, and that is saying a good deal. The young ladies who took part in it were the Misses Coila Btowd, M. Wilson, E. Cnlverwell, A. Sharp, and J. Brown. Miss Freemangave a, most amusing reading entitled " A Change of Treatment," which caused much laughter. Then came another cb.ar.micg tableau entitled " The Reed Piayer," in which Miss Coila Brown was tba single figure. There was an illustrated song, " Auutie," by Misses Mabel Henderson and May Wilson ; another pretty tableau, " Music, Song, and i Dance," by Misses Browo, Sharp, and Wilsou ; and a tableau entitled " Characters from Shakespeare," in which Miss M. Wilson took the part of Juliet, Miss J. Brown Portia, Miss A. Sharp Ophelia, and Mias E. Oulverwell Lady Miss Fodsr recited " The j Gift at the Belle," an<f, as an encore, " The Wedding of the Clans." The la3t item was an amusing plantation song, in character, entitled " Evening Belles."

The tea-table was remarkably pretty aad unique. Ifc was decorated with Japanese umbrellas suspended from the ceilinsr, from which were festooned streamers of piuk ribbons, the college colour. Here and there on the ribbons were folded, pretty floral paper handkerchiefs, and below, on the table, were vases filled with tha handkerchiefs folded into fantastic shapes, whiia on the table itself, were nests of handkerchiefs, in each of which were seated little noddiog mandarins. Round rhe table at intervals were pinned Japanese fans. The young ladies who provided the tea were tbe Misses L. M'Carter, E. and B. Inglis, and B. Davks. Both the entertainment and tho rafreshment committees are to be congratulated upon the excellence of their work, which was thoroughly appreciated. Miss Emery hao been chosen secretary for the current year, and ths other office-bearers and the committee remain the same as before.

Since the enjoyable combined matofr witb the Otago Golf Club last month members of the ladies' club have resumed regular practice, which is always at a low ebb during the summer months. The first of ths monthly competitions for a medal presautsd by Mrs Ferguson, was held on Tuasday May 4. There was a. good attendance, and the weather was all that could be desired. Mra Melland proved to bs the* wino-jr, the following being tha best scores: — Mrs Mellaud (scratch) 86, Miss K. Ritforay (scratch) 93, Miso -Begg (handicap 10) 97, Miss Wooster (handicap 10) 99. AmocgK others who took part were Mesdarnes Ogaton, Stilling, Woodhouse, Misssa Jf. Rattray, Gibson, &3.