TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 55

TABLE TALK.

MONDAY AFTERNOON. On Tuesday evening Mr and Mrs P. 0. Neill gave a large dinner party at their residence " Chingford," when they entertained the captain and some of the officers of the French warship Eure, then in PoTt.

On Tuesday afternoon Mrs Sis.c gave a ladies' "At home " at hei residence in Queen street, as a farewell to Mrs and the Misses Gibson, and the Misses Reynolds, who leave within the next feAV weeks for England. Mrs Sise received her guests in the drawing room, and the Misses $ise presided over the tea table id the dining room, where all sorts of dainty cakes and sweets were most temptingly -arranged..-

Several rooms were thrown open, and also a verandah, to which access was gained through one of the rooms, and roads a delightful outlet when the rooms became crowded. There was no music, but a very pleasant and enjoyable afternoon v/as spent wandering about and chatting with friends.

About 150 ladies were present, amongst whom were Mrs and the Misses Sise, Mrs and the Misses Gibson, the Misses Reynolds, Mrs Leslie Reynolds. Mrs G. G. Russell, Mrs Philip Russell, Mrs A. W. Morris, Mrs and the Misses Shand, Mrs Richards, Mrs Chapman, Mrs and the Misses Hart, Mrs Theomin, Mrs Bridgeman, the Misses Neill, Mrs Robinson, Mrs Kempthorne, Mrs Pym, Mrs Williams, the Misses Williams, Mrs and the Misses Rattray, Mrs and Miss Fitchett, Mrs Michie, Mrs Ramsay, Mrs R. Neill and the Misses Neill, Mrs and Miss Branson, the Misses Fraser, Mrs and Miss Cutten, Mrs and the Misses Graham, Mrs S. Brent, Miss Tolmie. Mis-s Haggitt, Miss Stephenson. Mrs Barnett, the Misses Gilkison, Miss Lily Reynolds, Miss Gwen Roberts, the Misses Farquhar, Mrs Adam. Miss Mackellar, Mrs Lindo Ferguson, Mrs Sinclair Thomson, Mrs M'Gowan, Miss Effie Spence, Miss Cargill, Mrs Martin, Mrs Valentine, Mrs and Miss Fergus, the Misses Bartleman, Mrs B. -Hhllen&tein, Mrs Holdsworth, the Misses Turton, etc.

Mrs Sise wore black with jet trimmings ; Miss Sise, white pique skirt and pretty blouse bodice of pink brocade ; Miss Maud Sise wore a white skirt and dainty blouse of Avhite figured Madras muslin ; Mrs Gibson black, and black and yellow bonnet ; Miss Gibson, blue serge skirt and smart short tight-fitting coat of bright red cloth ; Miss Peep Gibson wore a pretty dress of grey cashmere trimmed with rows of narrow black velvet, and yoke and pointed vest of pink silk covered with cream lace,

finished with narrow black velvet bands, picture hat of black velvet with feathers ; Miss Rachel Reynolds wore a smart tailormade costume of black and white tweed, the jacket trimmed with black braiding, white and black vest, and' black feather hat ; Miss Maud Reynolds also wore a black and white tailor-made coat and skirt, and black hat ; Miss Fraser, white skirt snd pink silk bodice finished with lace collar, rustic straw hat trimmed with pink and purple flowers ; Miss Alice Fraser wore a Holland costume braided with white braid, and white hat trimmed with ostrich feathers and bunches of violets ; Mrs Butterworlh wore a blue serge skirt and charming Eton jacket of white serge, trimmed with rows of white silk braid, opening over a vest of pale blue and lace, and smart toque of blue tulle with pink flowers and black feathers ; Mrs Hanson Turton, brown cloth costume with white vest, trimmed with rows of narrow black velvet and Tuscan straw hat with trimmings of bright orangecoloured ribbons and orange-coloured flowers ; Mrs Sargood Avore a lovely dress of pale reseda green crepe de chenc made with over-skirt, edged with tiny ruches of green satin, the bodice finished with yoke and front of white mousseline de soie and lace, and charming hat of pink tulle ; Mrs Williams, stylish blue serge tailor-made costume, and hat composed of violet velvet with white crown and purple-tinted feathers ; Miss Williams wore green cloth and heliotrope and black hat ; Miss Dora Williams, stylish blue cloth tailor-made costume, with short jacket trimmed with white; Mrs Hosking. purple and black costume, with yoke of heliotrope and jet, heliotrope and purple hat ; Mrs Kirkland (from England) wore a veiy handsome gown of rich black and white silk trimmed with white satin and black lace, and black and white bonnet ; Mrs Hart, blue cloth costume, with Eton jacket, and sequin toque ; the Misses Hart wore stylish tailor-made costumes of dark smoke-coloured cloth, with Eton jackets, finished with high standing collars of white silk braided with black, and Leghorn hats trimmed with black velvet ribbon and black ostrich featheis ; Mrs Chapman, costume of bronze-coloured silk

covered with black silk grensrlinp, and cape of fawn-coloured cloth ; Mrs G»orge Roberts wore a pretty dress oi' pale hcliotiope silk, the bodice trimmed v ith white yoke and revers of lace, finished with narrow block velvet, ?nd large while feather hat ; Mrs G. G. Russell wore black silk grenadine over blue silk, the bodice trimmed with blue, and black and blue bonnet ; Mrs Philip Russell, smart tailor-made costume of fawn-coloured cloth, and black and white toque ; Mrs Arthur Fisher, dark blue serge costume, and black hat with cerise trimmings ; Mrs Holdsworth wore black with cerise and cerise tulle toque with black feathers ; Miss Butterworlh, dark blue cloth tailor-made costume, the jacket finished with revers of blue and white checked silk, and feather hat ; Mrs Finch, brown cloth costume trimmed with brown velvet, the bodice finished with white satin and gold trimming, and large feather hat ; Mrs Le Cren wore black, finished with yoke of white trimmed with rows of narrow black velvet, and toque of pale hyacinth blue ; Mrs Pynsent (Wellington) wore black and white, 'braided with black, and gold straw bonnet with flowers. ; Mrs M'Gowan, grey cashmere dress with trimmings of yellow silk ; Miss C. Neill, dark blue cloth costume, the jacket faced with white braided with black, hat trimmed with cornflower blue silk, and vest of the same silk ; Miss Rita Neill wore a smart black and white skirt and black jacket, and hat trimmed with pink and blue ; Miss, Cutten, dark skirt and blue silk bodice, and blue hat ; Mrs Dovling, grey skirt and jacket, white vest, and grey toque with feathers and steel trimming ; Miss Norah Farquhar, white serge costume with yellow silk vest, and white and yellow hat ; Mrs Adaro v , costume of black over pink, fini&hed with cerise

velvet trimmings ; Miss Mackellar, white pique costume, and toque of shaded blue and green tulle ; Miss Wright wore a pretty costume of bright navy blue voile, with overskirt edged with narrow ribbon ruches, and yoke of white mousseline de soie, finished in front with handsome lace, black velvet picture hat with- feathers ; • Miss Tolmie, green cloth costume trimmed with black satin ribbon and pink and black toque ; Miss Haggitt wore a white pique costume ; Miss Bartleman, fawn-coloured cloth coat and skirt, and white felt hat with feathers and bunches of violets. The "At home" so generously given by Mrs Williams on Friday evening at her residence at Anderson's Bay, in aid of the Contingent and Remount Fund, proved most highly successful in every way, and as over 150 tickets at 5s each were disposed of, the fund shotild benefit considerably by the entertainment. Over 150 were present, and everything possible was clone to make the party as highly successful as possible, and to make it enjoyable to all. The Judge and Mrs Williams and the Misses Williams received the guests at the entrance to the drawing room, and the dancers soon found their way to the dining room, which had been prepared for dancing. Passing through the dancing room was another room in which coffee and refreshments were served during the evening, and still another room besides the drawing room was thrown open for non-dancers. The visitors entered by , the side door, and the verandah leading | from the front door which had been en- ' closed, was a very favourite resort leading to the garden, which looked delightful by the bright moonlight. Dancing was kept up with great spirit, all seeming thoroughly I to enjoy themselves, the flooi and music being excellent. Supper was served in another large room, which was beautifully decorated with flowers. I Amongst the many present were Judge and Mrs Williams, the Misses Williams, Dr and Mrs Ogston, Mrs Kirkland, the Misses Rattray, Mr P. C. Neill and the Misses Neill, Mr and Mrs Gallaway, Mr and Mrs George Roberts, the Misses Farquhar, Mrs , Robinson, Dr and Mrs Lir.do Ferguson, | Mi&s liutterworth, Mr and Mrs J. Wright, Miss Wright, Miss Fergus, Mrs and the

J Misses f-iir>?on, Mr ar.T Mrs and the Missts 1 Sise, Mv iv,id Mrs J. Frazer, the Misses Fraj zee, the Misses Shand. Miss E. Gilkisou, ;Mr and Mrs Bryan Haggitt, Miss Gwen ! Roberts, Mr and"ilr& and Mis,s Hart, the . Misses Bathgate. Miss Cargill, Miss Hag- ! gilt, Mrs and Mi&^ Cutten, Captain and Mrs I Stewart, j\Ji\s Hosking, Professor and Mrs j Benham, Mr and Mrs Oldham, Miss Den-

niston, Mr and Mrs Butterworlh, Mr and I Mrs Spence, Mr and Mrs Sinclair Thorn' son, Miss Fitchett, Mrs M'Gowan, Miss , Spence, Miss Ulrich, Mr Kettle, Mr P. ] Macassey, Mr Fox, Mr Moore. Mr W. , Shand, 'Mr Williams, Mr Bach, Mr Sale, Mr Gully, Mr Ferguson, Mr Sinclair, the i Messrs Haggitt, the Messrs Ritchie, Mr J. • C. Marshall, Mr H. Law, Mr Neill, Mr W. 1 Stewart, the Messrs Cutten, Mr Crawford, !Mr Harris, Mr P. Wright, Mr Sale, Mr Denniston, etc. I Mrs Williams wore a handsome dress of , heliotrope brocade trimmed with purple vel- ' vet, and spangled lace trimmings ; Miss Williams wore black, the bodice made with revers covered with sequin net ; Miss Mary Williams, stylish dress of orange-coloured satin, relieved with a roll of dark crimson velvet encircling the neck and Avaist ; Miss Dora Williams, pretty white satin dress with draped bodice, finished -with shoulder straps of flowers ; Mrs Kirkland wore a ' very handsome black satin gown, trimmed witli a deep flounce of real lace, the bodice also trimmed with the same lace, and lovely diamonds were worn ; Mrs Lindo Ferguson^ handsome dress of scarlet satin, the bodice "made with bolero trimmed with cream lace ; Miss Butterworth, white satin dress covered with white lace, and sash of red and blue ribbon fastened across the shoulder and hanging in long ends, a pretty represen-

tation of the Red, White, and Blue ; Mrs Jack Wright wore grey and pink brocaded satin, with long sash ends and bodice trimmings of pink chiffon ; Miss Wright, pretty dress of white brocade trimmed with tiny blue ruchings ; Mrs Hart, handsome dress of pale coloured satin, the skirt ornamented with vandyked rows of insertion, and the bodice trimmed with rich lace and sequin trimming, long transparent sleeves of sequin trimming ; Miss Hart wore a smart white satin dress, the skirt made with plain tight-fitting back ; Mrs Gallaway, costume of black brocade trimmed with black chiffon and rows of narrow white ribbon, transparent sleeves trimmed with rows of white ribbon ; Mrs Bryan Haggitt wore her pretty wedding dress oi white satin trimmed with chiffon and white satin bebe ribbon and pearl trimming ; Mrs C. Rattray, black satin trimmed with jet and blue ; Miss Alice Fraser, pretty white satin dress with tucked bodice draped with lace ; Mrs Hosking wore a very handsome dress of rich black satin, covered with jetted lace ; Mrs Woodhouse, black, trimmed with cream lace and bands of green velvet, the bodice strapped with velvet ; Miss Fitchett, yellow silk dress, draped with white lace ; Miss Haggitt, yellow satin, the skirt trimmed with a black lace flounce, and the bodice covered with black spatvjled net ; Miss Olive Turton, black broc\ de with large red sash and lace on the bodice ; Miss Marjory Turton blue satin dress with long sash of Avhite chiffon ; Mrs Benham, yellow satin dress trimmed with lace ; Miss B. Farquhar wore a very pretty dress of rich white silk, the bodice draped with lace ; Mrs Finch, pink satin dress covered with black ; Aliss Denniston, blue silk dress trimmed with white ; Mi&s Lucy Rattray, dress composed of pink accordion-pleated silk ; Miss Jackson, pink satin, the skirt bordered with a lace flounce and the bodice trimmed with lace ; Mrs Oldliam, handsome white satin dress ; Miss Molly Neill, white satin frock, the bodice trimmed with spangled net ; Miss Gibson wore pale green satin ; Miss Gwen Roberts, dress of white brocade, the bodice draped with spangled lace ; Miss Maud Sise, handsome white satin dress ; Miss Ellie Ulrich wor yellow

I strapped with black velvet and steel I buckles ; Miss Fergus, pale blue silk, ! trimmed with straps of black velvet and steel buckles ; Miss C. Neill, handsome black satin dress, the bodice trimmed with pink and revers ; Miss Eita Neill wore a' stylish dress of pale pink brocade ; Miss Shand, smart black satin dress trimmed with knots of white chiffon, and spangled trimming on the bodice ; Miss Edith*Shand,black satin trimmed with white and black embroidered chiffon ; Mrs Kempthorne, white brocade ; Miss S. Graham, black, i with white lace on the bodice.

The engagement is announced of Miss Nina, Gibson to Mr E. Reid, son of Mr John Reid, of Elder&lie. Miss Nina Gibson proceeds to England in the beginning of March along with her mother and sisters.