TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 2321, 25 August 1898, Page 51

TABLE TALK.

Monday Afternoon; The Misses Kempthorne gave a musicale on Monday evening at their residence in Albert street, in honour of Celia Dampier, the

9 Graham, Mrs and Miss Maitland, Mrs S. ' Brent, Miss Mucassey, Miss M'Lean, Mrs j Cutten, Mi.«s Cutten, Mrs Holmes, Mrs Bathgate, Miss D. Bathgate, Mrs Ferguson, j. and Mrs Bulterworth. f Mrs W. S. Roberts wore a coat and skirt 3 of fawn cloth, with vest of green silk, 3 black velvet hat trimmed with black 1 feathers and lace ; Mrs Harris, brown tweed f costume, the pouched bodice having revers [ of brown velvet edged with astrakan, large picturo hat of black velvet ; Mrs Brent, ) black tweed costume, the skirt and bodice l both braided, black and yellow bonnet ; : Mrs Lindo Ferguson, black serge skirt and \ coat, black crinoline straw hat trimmed ; with blue chine silk ribbons and black feathers ; Mrs Buttcrworth looked very i stylish in a dark green braided Russian . blouse, worn over a black skirt, Tuscan straw hat trimmed with a wreath of scarlet poppies and black feathers ; Miss Macassey, brown lustre skirt and coat, with a yellow [ ves>fc, and large picture hat of black velvet ; Miss Shand, electric blue cloth skirt, bodice , of velvet of the same colour, large black fea- ■ thererl velvet bat ; Miss L. Shand, tailor- ' made skirt anl coat; of fawn cloth, with felt - hat of tho same colour ; Mrs Jones,handsome ' btack dress with sealskin cape, and black ; bun net ; Mrs M'Master, very stylish frock of black doth, relieved with pale blue trim- | mings, and hat en suite ; Mrs Hosking looked well in a smart black velvet Russian blouse trimmed with fur, and worn over a brown skirt, smart toque hat of black and heliotrope ; Mrs Michie, tailor-made costume of blue serge, and white felt hat trimmed with Parma violets ; Miss Fergus, green dress, the bodice having vest and revers of crimson velvet, felt hat trimmed with velvet ; Mrs Finch, dark green costume and sealskin coat; Mrs G. Roberts, smart* cos-

tume of black cloth with full vest and revers of white silk and chiffon, black toque hat relieved with white ; Miss Maitland, tailormade skirt and coat of dark green cloth, and large black velvet hat ; Mrs J. Wright, coat and skirt of brown tweed, with fur boa and black hat.

Mrs Grundy and Miss Dorothy Barlleman were passengers by the s.s. Westralia last week for Christchurch, where they joined the lonic, bound for England.

Mr and Mrs John Roberts and the Misses Roberts have returned from Napier, and ai c once more resident at Littlebourne House.

Mr and Mrs Stephenson and Miss Stephenson left on Monday by the s.s. Tarawera ior Sydney.

Mr James Rattray also left by the same boat.

Notwithstanding the wintry weather, Christchurch has been en fete with races, "At homes," and balls. Quite the event of the gay week, however, was Mrs Stead's ball, which took place at her residence, Strowan, on Friday, 12th inst. Very bril- ; liant the house looked in contrast with the ' wet and lowering elements out of doors. Mrs Stead received in the drawing room, which looked lovely, being most exquisitely furnished and arranged, while flowers, palms, and lights 1 veiled with pale pink shades added to the brilliancy. The ballrooms were decorated with wattle and other spring flowers tied with broad bands of yellow ribbon. In one corner of the outer hill was stationed Miss Scrivenor's string band, which discoursed delightful music. The dining room was used as a tearoom, while both staircases and corridors contained numerous cosy corners, to which the dancer* could always resort. The verandah downstairs was enclosed, and from there you entered the supper room, built for the occasion, and which one entered through curtains, flanked with tall palms on either side. The table seated 120 at a time, and was an exquisite sight with its beautiful appointments and decorations oi yellow and white

narcissus arranged in crystal vases. Neve; has a more brilliant and successful ball beev given in Christ church. Everyone com plied with the hostess's request and cam* in powder and patches, and this gave a mosi charming effect to the whole scene. The men ps well as the ladies wore powder, anc Mr W. Wood, Mr W. Day, and Mr J. Mac donaUl adopted the orthodox Court dress o: knee breeches, silk stockings, buckled shoes and lace cravats, which style cerlainlj looked more in keeping with the powdei than the ordinary nineteenth century mode of attire. Some lovely gowns wero worn. M»\ c Rtet'd wore a very handsome heliotrope satlr dress brocaded with a silver feather jiittfcera tlie bodice trimmed with bauds of iewellec trimming and white chiffon, an<l lovely diamond ornaments; Miss Stead, a. r/uik glacf pilk frock trimmed with white Lice : MrW. Studholme wore her lovely wedding gown of white satin ; Mrs Denniston, a drt^of buttercup yellow satin trimmed with bands of jet ; lier daughter. Miss Miuy Denniston, made her debut on this occasion, and very sweet and girlish she looked in a charming frock of white satin, the bodice trimmed with frills of white chiffon and sash eixh of the same, and large white bouquet; JVbs Arthur Rhodes, petunia brocaded satin gown made in the Princess style, the front composed of white chiffon adorned with bunches of lilac; Mrs Grace (Wellington), black velvet and diamonds ; Mrs Studholme, a dre.^s of pearl grey brocade ; Miss Ronalds, white satin gown, the bodice relieved with sprays of pink roses ; Mrs Heaton Rhodes, hand-,r-ome, r -ome gown of heiotrope velvet trimmed with lovely real lace and diamonds ; Miss Tabart black satin dress trimmed with turquoise blue velvet bands ; her sister, white silk and tulle gown trimmed with bunches of daisies ;

Miss Reeves, white satin dress, relieved wLh touches of pink satin ribbon.

Mrs J. L. M'G-. Watson gave a small but enjoyable afternoon tea at her (residence, Forth street, Invercargill, on Thursday, as a farewell to Miss Mabel Murphy, about 15 ladies being present.

Miss Maude Douglas is at present visiting Invercargill, and is the guest of Mrs J. L. Watson.

1 Mrs Nelson and Miss Nurse left Invercargill by the Tarawera last Friday for Christchurch, where Mrs Nelson intends making her home.

Mr D L. Matheson and Miss Matheson left for the north, by the Tarawera, for a trip of a few weeks' duration.

Miss Murphy also left by the same steamer, returning to her horns in Canterbury.