TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 55

TABLE TALK.

Monday Morning. A very pleasing performance of the oratorio "Messiah" was given by the Dunedin Choral Society at His Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday evening, when every 6*at in the theatre was occupied. Great credit is due to Mr Wolf, who so ably conducted. The choruses were excellently rendered, and the soloists did some good work, Mr Leech and Mr Tavlor both being heard to advantage; also "Mrs Astley Black and Miss Lefevre A large party from tho Aurora, attended, also the Hon. James Allen, Mrs Allen, and Miss Allen, and tho Mayor (Mr James Clark). On Wednesday afternoon tho Rose Show was hold in the Art Gallery, there being a magnificent display of roses, also beautiful cut flowers from quite a number of amateur gardens. Mr R- Nichol showed a magnificent table of roses. Mr H. Clarke (Green Island) also showed a splendid table; whilst Mr Broad had many exhibits of wellgrown panaies and viola 3. Mr Cousins showed a number of well-grown carnations. On Friday afternoon Mrs Lindo Ferguson

(president of the Otago Ladies' Club) gave a large "At home" in the clnbrcoms to the members of the club. A most delightful afternoon was spent. Tea was enjoyed in the room adjoining the club, where vases were principally arranged with roses. A good orchestra gave many delightful selections, and ono or two songs were rendered, and there was also a reading from the play reading circle. The cardroom was set apart for strawberries and cream and ices, and, being a hot day, nothing could have been more appreciated. Mrs Lindo Ferguson received the guests in the clubroom, and looked charming in a smart blue and white checked silk frock made with a frilled capo of the silk and white ninon vest, and large picture hat of black net finished with abunch of pink ro~cs. Those I noticed present were Mrs Begg, in a handsome black silk coat and skirt, large black feather hat; Mrs Petre, blue checked costume, floral hat; Mrs Mason, black taffeta silk costumo relieved with vest of lace, large straw hat; Mrs Aitken, electric blue coat and skirt, small straw hat with flowers; Mrs Neville, white voile costume, large black feather hat; Mrs Tom Ross, fawn silk coat and skirt, large Tuscan hat with blue; Mrs Hewitson, sapphire blue silk costume, black feather hat; Mrs Marshal, striped blue and white silk trimmed with plain blue taffeta silk, white hat trimmed with blue and pink; Mrs Fenwick, fawn silk costume, close-fitting fawn chiffon toque with touch of' pink; Mrs Hudson, cover-coating costume, black-and-white tagel hat; Mrs Woodhouse, black-and-white spotted muslin, black feather hat; Mis Laing, pale grey coat and skirt, white hat; Mrs Butterworth, black silk costume relieved with white, white hat with touch of purple; Mrs Hutchison, pale grey coat and skirt, neat grey toque; Mrs Br.ugh, bright navy blue silk costume, large black feather hat; Mrs Johnson, white silk costume, large white hat with touch of pink; Mrs Theomin, black-and-white spotted silk, small black toque; Mrs Smith, black-and-white silk costume, black-and-white hat with touch of yellow; Mrs Oldham, grey silk costume, large black haf; Miss Begg, pale heliotrope coat and skirt, picture hat; Miss Cargill, navy blue taffeta silk relieved with white, smart brown feather hat; Mrs Martin, heliotrope floral ninon, large heliotrope hat with ostrich plumes and flowers; Mrs Gnllaway, black silk costume, white toque; Miss Allen, black relieved with white, large white hat trimmed with black; Miss Wilson, soft grey costume, grey toque; Miss Webster, black coat and skirt, largo black hat with white bow; Mrs Morrell, fawn costume, small hat with pink flowers; Miss Macassey, fawn cloth coat and skirt, large white hat with blue; Miss Martin, grey silk frock, black hat with feathers; Mrs Cheesemen, navy blue serge coat and skirt, smart blue straw hat; Mrs Gillies, cream striped with black coat and skirt, black hat trimmed with black-and-white tulle; Mrs Moore, tailor-made coat and skirt, floral toque. Also present, were Misses Woodhouse, Kirkcaldy, Begg, Cargill, Smith, Jackson, Wish Wynne, Moore, Williams, Ross, Z. Ross, etc. v

All the secondary schools broke up last week, and people are beginning to leave town with their families. Mrs Russell Ritchie has gone with her family to spend the holidays at Moeraki. Miss Kathleen M'Lean left for Warrington on Friday to -spend, the summer months there. Mrs Frank Fitchett and family have gone to Waitati for a few weeks. Mrs Laidlaw, who has been staying at Onslow House for a fortnight, returned to Matakanui on Tuesday. Mr and Mrs Mitchell (Colombo) are at present on a visit to New Zealand, and. are staying with their relations in Roslyn. Mrs W. O. M'Kellar was in town for a few days last week. The engagement is announced of that promising young artist, Miss Frances Alexander Anderson, eldest daughter of Mr J. T. Noble Anderson, consulting engineer to the Australian Federal capital (Canberra), formerly engineer-in-chief to the Dunedin Drainage Board, to Captain A. P. Derham. A.1.F., Military Cross, son of Mr T. P. Derham and nephew of Sir F. T. Derham. Miss Anderson began her artistic education when 10 years old at the Dunedin Art School, and is at present art mistress of the Swinburn Girls' Technical College, the first of Melbourne's junior technical schools.

INVERCARGILL, December 15. On Wednesday last week Miss Prain gave, a very enjoyable afternoon. tea in their beautiful grounds to the pupils of Miss Roe's school and their parents. The weather for the show this week was all that could be desired, and not too hot, as it sometimes has been. There were a tremendous number of country people in town for it, ■and the evening saw large houses at all the picture theatres and at a patriotic concert held in the theatre. Mrs Potter (Dunedin) is the guest of her daughter, Mrs Abbey Jones. Mrs and Miss Brodrick have returned from a short holiday spent in Queenstown. Mrs Haszard has returned from Wellington. Mrs and Miss Roe left last week for Levin, where they are visiting Mrs Frank Wright. Mr, Mrs, and Miss Macdonald (Edendale) moiored in for the show. Mrs and Miss Pinckney (Gore) were staying at the Grand Hotel during show time.. Mr and Mrs Storey (Vcnlaw) were also in town for the show. Miss S. M'Lean (Dunedin) is at present staving with Mrs Macdonald (Edendale). The Rev. W. Ready left for Dunedin, en route for Wellington, where he joins the Maheno as chaplain. Mrs Donaldson, who has been staying with Mrs Wylie for some time, has gone up to Gore for a short visit. Mr and Mrs G. Chewings (Mossbuni) motored into town for the show. TIMAR*U, December 15. Mrs Grierson and her son are the guests of Guinness. Mrs C. Buchanan and Miss K. Buchanan are spending the week-end in Waimate. Mrs Grierson and her son are the guests of Mrs Arthur Dixon, Woodbury. The Timaru Sayage_ Club gave a most successful concert in aid of the local Queen Fund, the flag realising over £BOO, the total proceeds being £IO3O. The queen, Mis 3 Naumai Guinness, looked most charming, wearing a beautiful dress of lace over satin. A gracefully-worn scarf over the shoulders and beautifully-dressed hair made p. i>icture of dainly girlhood that would be hard to improve on. Miss Bassett (Rosewill) returns to-day from a visit of some weeks to tho North Island. •Miss Sams (Balmoral) is the guest of Miss Rodgers, Tho Vicarage. Mrs Wallace is the guest of Mrs Simmers.

Mrs Hi. Fer-:;;-nn intends leaving for England som; time early in tlio new year. CHRISTCHURCH, December 15. The Kindergarten Association held a most interesting display of the Montessori system of teaching the very young at the Art Gallery on Wednesday. There were also several stalls of home-made toys, sweets, and cakes. Her Excellency the" Countess of Liverpool was present, accompanied by Mm Wigram. Others present were tho Mayoress (Mrs Holland), Mrs Taylor (chairwoman of the and Meedamej Palmer, Rice, G. Rhodes, C'Mlton, W. Wood; Deans, A. Anderson, Wilding', and tho Missel Tabart, Wilding, and Cocks. Mrs Palmer entertained a few friends U tennis during the week, amongst whom were Mrs Cooper, Mrs C U.-id. Mrs T, Cowlishaw, and the Misses Lcc-, Cowlishaw, Harlej', Helmore, Anderson, Wood, M. Wilson, and Humphreys. Mrs T. Cowlishaw had tennis on Tuesday, Those playing were Mrs Cowlishaw Mrtf Reid, Mrs Borthwick, and the Misses Hunv phreya (2), Anderson, and Lee. Mr and Mrs C. Dalgety and Miss D. Dalgety returned to Christchurch from England by the Ro+orua during the week. Mrs Hector Rolleston (Wellington) has been visiting Christchurch, and was the guest of Mrs Teschemaker. Mr and Mrs W. Bond have been staying at Warwick House. Mrs E. Grigg (Ashburton) has been in town during the week.

WELLINGTON, December 14. We are still in the midst of opera, and the old timers amongst, us are living over again their seventies, when the Italian opera came here under just such circumstances, which they all aver have never been equalled m the interval. Last week wound up with " Lucia," which proved a magnificent production. Moreover, it stood the usual three tests of the Contract Scene (of which the feature is the wonderful sestet), the Mad Scene (the great effort of the greatest singers), and the Death Scene, in which the unhappy lover dies after marvellous singing. All these three were acclaimed by the audience, and the only one that could be repeated was repeated—the sestet. To hear these six voices with the very fine orchestra at it.» best in this was a thing to be remembered for ever. The staging of these pcoplo is excellent, and the costumes most appropriate. One might smile a little at the first appearance of the tartans and kilts in chorus., for they make you vividly realise that it is not the" kilt which makes the Highlander. But when the chorus sings and the principals do their moving and characteristic work, you realise the Highlanders —otherwise toleratewithout difficulty. As for the other operas,

"La Boh«me" (which they mads most attractive), " Pagliacci," " BaJlo in Maschcra," " Traviata," there is no need to enlarge. They are just " It.' The company comes straight from Italy, where opera haa given place to hospital work. The company had to travel perforce, and as it does one realises that the old operas have kept their hold of their birthplace all these years of the German ascendancy elsewhere.

On Saturday the Mayoress and many friends entertained the families of soldiers at the front at the Town Hall with a Christmas party. Such a collection of prams, gocarts, and mothers you never saw. Such happy faces, and such a long-drawn shriek of delight when the doo-S opened, and the SOOO audience and guests burst their fascinated, eager way in. Festoons hung all over the galleries, nikau palms made gTace everywhere, bunting of every race and clime gave gaiety even to the corners, and the centra of attraction and focus of marvel, with the authentic brand of Santa Glaus all over it, was the Christmas tree, prominent and avreinsoiring on the stage. Its branches were filled with gifts galore, and on either aid* stood stands bearing presents—millions ©> them it eeemed for certain sure —for boy* and girls; and their name it was legion. Ail this was an impressive ensemble. But no one could look at it because the happy faces of the children monopolised all eyes, and their chattering hum of irrepressible joy monopolised all ears And there were ice creams!— emphasis for all eatables and drinkables of all sorts that fill creation, and they were as unlimited as they were accessible and! pressing. And all over the floor, tables, such spotless white! Paper, if you please: and who would have thought that they could look so nice. It was the good thougnt and action of the Evening Post people. And presently in due course the spotless white was covered with things of delight. How well everything went then! Even the speeches of Mr Mayor were digested there and then, for the small jaws innumerable felt that so • long as they moved in their way while the Mayor's moved m his way it did not matter how heavy the words of wisdom that cama out of his mouth. Out I Fau<di' What mattered was not what cama out of one mouth but what went, into a million. It is a sort of socialism pleasing to childhood in certain hours of true delight. Mrs T. Cooke and her daughters were present, having come in with the Mayor. She is tlie widow of the heroic -soldier to whom a V C. was awarded after his death. Everyone knew the respected heroic townsman, and the hush and sympathy when the Mayor made the lady the presentation that kind people had made a point of getting together—well, it was a most touching scene. There was a handbag with silver plate—the record of honour,—and presei-ts for the children and the notification of a cheque on the road and very near its destination. After that the voices broke forth like the chattering of birds rather more than alive m the sp--ina. and the pleasant feast ended by pouring "a flood of brightness into the streets. Every soldier will know presently that his fellow citizens do not forget his

little ones and his dearest ones while he is paying the customary attentions to Frit? nnd enduring the incidental privations. AUCKLAND, December 13 Ths laces at Takapima last week atmcted a large gathering from town and country, and as the weather was perfect an snjoyable time was spent. Amongst those present were Mrs Alison, Mrs; Baume, Mrs Rayner, Mrs Ralph, Mrs Stringer (Wellington), Mrs C. Nathan, Mrs Benjamin, and Mis 3 Alice Walker. The Town Hall has once again been the scene of great activity in connection with the operations of the Women's Patriotic Leagne, when the packing for the Dominion gift scheme took place. In the morning tho Mayoress (Mrs J. 11. Gunson), addressed the workers, as well as tho large number of Bijeotators in the gallery, giving an outline of tho good work being done by tho league. Sapper Moore-Jones's exhibit of Aißao ■ketches is attracting great attention.

These same pictures, you will remember, were hung at Buckingham Palace for the private inspection of the King and Queen. An old identity has lately passed away in +ho person of Mrs Mary Tregear, widow of Mr W. J. Tregear, R.N., at the very advanced age of 92 years. The living members of her family are Mr Edward Tregear, 1.5.0., Miss Tregear, and Mrs 11. C. Morrison (widow of Major Morrison). Miss C. Leatham (New Plymouth) is tho guest of Mrs Southey Baker. Captain and Mrs Sneddon (Hamilton) arc staying at Cargen. Those who suffer from unduly moist hands in warm weather should bathe them frequently in warm water to which a little alum or vinegar has been added. No lady should be without Martin's Apiol and Steel Pills. Sold by all chemists and stores throughout Australasia. —(Advt.)