"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3029, 3 April 1912, Page 75

"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

February 16. It was on one of those grey days that England knows, and particularly London, so well that the second Parliament of King George wa3 opened in State. Fine, but bitterly cold, dense crowds of spectators were 'not deterred from seeing the show. Large crowds gathered in the streets long before the King and Queen left Buckingham Palace, which was shortly before 1 o'clock, and all along the route'to Westminster and back again to the Palace there were crowds and crowds and crowds. The ugly bare front view of Buckingham Palace, with its cold, bare quadrangle, had never looked more uninviting. On this cold February morning the old-time stately procession passed through the old Palace gates to Westminster, back to the Palace again, every yard of the road hemmed by loyal subjects. Five State landaus drawn by teams of six horses made a brave show, conveying the officers and ladies of the Household. When the old State coach, with the eight cream ponies, came into view, bearing the King and Queen, the old British shout went up—old as the British Parliament. The Royal procession arrived punctually to time. Inside the House of Lords the scene was set. The scarlet and ermine of the peers' robes, the brilliant uniforms of the high officials, and the mourning black of the peeresses all glittering with diamonds and touched with white, made an effective background of regal colour to the entrance of the King and Queen. As his Majesty entered the House of Lords, leading the Queen by the hand, the whole assembly rose, and a vivid mass of colour, shimmering with gold and gems, framed the picture. The King wore his robes over a fieldmarshal's uniform. The Queen looked her best, her black robes suiting her fairness. Her dress was of chiffon embroidered with jet. On her bodice, "severely plain decolletage," were those wonderful diamonds, the twin stars of Africa. Rows of diamonds formed her Majesty's necklace, and she wore the famous Maltese cross, and with the Garter ribbon and diamond insignia (the gift of the Marys). Attaching the miniver mantle and ruby velvet train to the Queen's shoulders were two bows of diamonds. Lady Minto took the place of the Duchess of Devonshire, who is in mourning, and as Mistress of the Robes held the Queen's train. On either side were Pages of Honour, and following were Lady Eva Dugdale, Woman of the Bedchamber, and Lady Desborough, Lady in Waiting, attired in black satin and velvet and wearing tiaras of diamonds. In the gilded chamber all the ladies* wore Court mourning, and the men wore black bands upon their arms. There were many notable women in the great assembly. The Duchess of Wellington wore black velvet and satin with a crown of diamonds ; Lady Carew, a young and beautiful woman, wore black, with diamond earrings and necklace and diadem. Lady Antrim and Lady Granard also wore splendid diamonds. The Lady Mayoress (daughter of the venerable Lord Mayor of London) wore black tnlle and satin. The daughter of the Prime Minister, Miss Asquith, was also in black. ""Lady Leconfield, who made her first public appearance as a bride, -wore black and a crown of diamond leaves. Mrs Winston Churchill wore black satin with a large diamond star above her forehead. Many wonderful diamonds and pearls were ■worn, the black gowns making a foil. Lady Cadogan. Lady Pirrie. Lady Weardale, Lady Allendale, and Lady Galway were amontr those whose jewels were specially noticed. Among interesting weddings of the week was that at St. Peter's Church. Eaton square, between Commander Tomlin. of the Medina, the ship in which the King and Queen went to India, and Miss Violet Osborne. The banns of the wedding were published on board the ship at the Sunday services, in the presence of their [Majesties. The wedding was a very pretty one. The bride, who was dressed in white satin trimmed with ermine, was attended by a number of small bridesmaids dressed in pale mauve and carrying violets, and accompanied by Admiral Sir Edward Seymour. The best man was a brother officer, and the bridegroom, who was married in uniform, had many officer friends present. On the same day (Thursday) there was an unusually pretty wedding at the Guard's Chapel. Wellington Barracks, the bridegroom being Mr Allen Campbell, of the Coldstream Guards, and the bride Lady Moya Browne, a granddaughter of Lord Sligo. The chapel was beautifully decorated with white flowers, and so crowded with friends that many had to stand. The aisle on either side was lined with men of the bridegroom's company of Coldstream Guards, and drummer boys of the regiment presented wedding favours of white heather and bog myrtle to the guests on their arrival. The bride. who was conducted by her father. Lord Altamont, was presented by a sergeant with a lovely bouquet of white lilies, from the men of the regiment, with whose colours it was tied. The bride looked charming in her white satin gown, which was embroidered in thistles and shamrocks in silver. Her beautiful lace veil was lent for the occasion by her grandmother, Lady Sligo. There were two little train-bearers, followed by a number of other bridesmaids, among'whom was Lady Norah Hastings, the granddaughter of Lady Wilson, and Lady Kathleen Hastings, another granddaughter. Lady Eileen and Lady Doreen Browne, Miss Cooper, the daughter of Sir George and Lady Cooper, and others well known. The bridesmaids wore picturesque dresses, blue and black hats: the little trainbearers had sashes of the same blue with

(Specially Written for the Witness Ladies' Page.) STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

their white frocks. Each of the bridesmaids wore a Coldstream Guards star, mounted in gold, the gift of the bridegroom, and carried a bouquet of pink carnations. The uniforms and bright dresses made a colour-picture in the church. The bride's mother, Lady Altamont, was dressed in grey chiffon and satin of a soft shade, with touches of pink, with hat to match, and ermine furs. The bridegroom's mother wore Palma violet, with masses of shaded convolvuli in her hair. Lady Sligo, the bride's grandmother, woro a dress of pansy purple velvet with lovely old lace. A beautiful cloak of stamped blue velvet was worn by Lady Allendale. After the wedding Lady Altamont received at Upper Grosvenor street, where the wedding presents were on view. These were very numerous and handsome, among them Lady Moyar received from her father and mother a, beautiful diamond necklace, and from her father-in-law and mother-in-law a diamond tiara; from her grandmother a beautiful diamond and ruby bracelet. Mrs Campbell also presented her daughter-in-law with a sealskin coat. To her son, among other things, Mrs Campbell gave a set of pearl studs, and from his father the bridegroom received a cheque and a silver-fitted suit case. One of the most notable presents was from the officers of the bridegroom's regiment, consisting of a silver coffee tray, candelabra, and four silver candlesticks. Hundreds of other beautiful presents were much admired, but are too numerous to detail.

Another wedding of interest took place in the Guards' Chapel early in the week—that of Lady Rosabelle St. Clair Erskine, daughter of Lord Rosslyn. to Mr David Bingham. Lady Rosslyn has been chaperoned by the Duchess of Sutherland since her debut, and Lady Rosemary Leveson-Gower, only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, and cousin of the bride, was chief bridesmaid. The chapel was a bower of lilies, lilac, and roses, and crowded with distinguished guests. The bride wore a simple and beautiful wedding dress made of soft white satin and chiffon, with diamante and pearl fringed trimmings. The bridesmaids were charmingly and simply dressed, as befits a morning wedding. The dresses were of blush-pink charmeuse with cream lace kimono bodices veiled with blush-pink chiffon and a lace cap. The children attending the bride wore Kate Greenaway dresses and laco caps. The caps of the bridesmaids were very quaint and pretty, tied with narrow blue velvet ribbon, with a bunch of forget-me-nots on one side. They carried bouquets of pink roses, and wore a black velvet neck ribbon threaded with diamond slides, the gift of the bridegroom. Among the bridesmaids were Miss Lavinia Bingham and Miss Barbara Bingham, the daughters of Lord and Lady Bingham, Miss Helen Porteous, Miss Christian Gmthrie, and Miss Shelia MacDougall. The bride was given away by her father. The band of the Coldstream Guards (the bridegroom's regiment) admirably performed the musical portion of the service, at which the Rev. Canon Elgar ibneppard, sub-dean of the Chapels Royal, officiated, the chaplain to the forces assisting. Among those who acted as ushers were Lord Burghersh, Mr Ralph Bingham, MiArnold Kepple, and Mr Ivan Hay. The marriage took place, at the unusual hour of a-quarter to 12, to give the couple, time to catch the 2.20 train for the Continent. Amonrr those who signed the register were General Cecil Bingham, Lord Ripon, Lord Rosslyn. and the Duchess of Sutherland, who wore sapphire blue velvet and a largo white-plumed hat turned back with black. :Lady Rosslyn wore a long black satin coat and a black hat with pink feathers. Mrs Bingham, the bridegroom's stepmother, wore a lovely dress of pale grey satin, with a tunic of old point de Venise lace, and a pansypurple velvet hat. Another lovely dress was worn by Miss Chaplain, who came with the Duchess, in blue velvet and chinchilla. Lady Ripon looked handsome in black and white. On a previous day the Duchess of Sutherland, assisted by her daughter, Lady Rosemary, received at Stafford House a large number of the friends of the bride and bridegroom to inspect the wedding presents, which were both beautiful and numerous. The Duchess l'eceived in the handsome red dining-room of Stafford House, where the wedding presents were set out. Her Grace wore a charming dress of blue. A band played in an adjacent room, where tea was served. Lady Rosabelle helped to entertain the guests, receiving them as they arrived. Although the pre-Easter season has been considerably affected by the Court mourning, all the official and Slate functions being either abandoned or postponed, a considerable number of private functions are taking place, where the hosts are not connected with Court. With the opening of Parliament the London season officially begins, and many balls had been arranged some time previous to the death of the Duke of Fife, and where the entertainments have been of a purely private character they have been carried through. One ball was given by the Duchess of Somerset for her nieces. Many distinguished hostesses are giving dinnerparties. The King has announced the dates of the March Courts and other State functions to be held at Buckingham Palace, as follows :—Monday, March 4, first levee at St. James's Palace at 11.30 a.m. ; Wednesday, March 6, investiture at Buckingham Palace at 11.30 a.m. ; Friday, March 8, first (diplomatic and official) Court at Buckingham Palace at 9.30 p.m. : Monday, March 11, second levee at St. James's

Palace at 11.30 a.m.; Thursday, March 14, second Court at Buckingham Palace at 9.30 p.m. ; Friday, March 15, third Court at Buckingham Palace at 9.30 p.m. The first Court takes place immediately after the expiration of the five weeks' mourning, and will be a purely official and diplomatic Court. Mrs Whitelaw Reid, wife of the American Ambassdor, will present a number of American ladies, and the hostesses of the Russian, Spanish and Italian Embassies will attend officially. At the second Court a number of young ladies, who will occupy prominent positions in the future, will be presented. Among them will be Lady Percy, a future Duchess of Northumberland, who will be presented by her mother-in-law. The third Court is announced for the following night, so that March will be very full. As the wife of the new Lord Chamberlain, Lady Sandhurst will occupy a prominent position at Court functions. On the resgnation of Lord Spencer recently there was a good deal of speculation on whom the honour would fall, and there is pleasure that Lord Sandhurst was appointed. He is brother-in-law of his predecessor in office, his first wife being a daughter of the fourth Lord Spencer. The present wife is a daughter of the late Matthew Arnold.

Starvation among horses in Wellington is said to be all too common —that is, horses that, are too old or decrepit for service aro simply turned out by their owners, the majority of whom escape detection. At a recent meeting of tho Wellington Branch of the S.P.C.A. the inspector stated that ho had found many horses lately in a state of starvation, in most instances the unfortunate animals being beyond recovery, and having to be destroyed.

Tho Ekctahuna Express says: "It is stated that throe Wairarapa la,nd speculators recently made £30,000 out of ie. deal in the Taupo district*"

A ring with a number of pieces of wire bent to different shapes for picking locks was found in Nelson by a, police constable the other day.