TABLE TALK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3312, 5 September 1917, Page 56

TABLE TALK.

Monday Evening. The Mimical Comedy Company organised by Messrs J. and N. Tait opened their short season here on Thursday evening at His Majesty's in the bright and well-mounted farce-comedy, " Very Good Eddie." During the four performances large audiences have been attracted to enjoy the tuneful music and extremely pretty dresses and applaud the clever acting of the talented principals. Among those present I noticed Mr and Mrs Bdtaond, Miss Edmond and Mr J. Edmomd. Mrs P. Clayton, Mr and Mrs Galbraith, Mr and Mrs Sargood, the Misses Sargood, Mrs George Roberts, Miss Farqtihar, Miss E. Roberts, Miss Cargill, Mr J. C. Marshall, Mr D. Whitson, Mr E Webster, Mrs Cheeseman, Mrs Charles Turnbull, Mrs Cameron, Mr and Mrs Parker, Dr and Mrs Ernest Williams, Mrs Macbeth, Mr and Miss Laing, Miss Neill, Mr and Miss Theomin, Mr and Mrs Kane (Beaumont), Mr and Mrs Moore, Miss Moore, Miss Bird, etc. On Tuesday afternoon' Lord Liverpool entertained the staff of the hospital ship at tea at the Savoy. On Friday evening Major and Mrs Cooper entertained aorne friends at dinner at Onslow tiouse p-nd at His Majesty's to see " Very Good Eddie." The theatre party were entertained at a pleasant little supper by Mrs Oldham at her residence, Albert street, the table being prettily arranged with narcissi. Among the guests were Mrs Leslie Miles (Wellington) and the Missss C. Williams, Denniston, and Gallaway, Major Shand, Plight-lieutenant Shand, and Mr P. Oldham. Lord Liverpool left for the north on Thursday morning Mrs D. E. Theomin returned on Wednesday from Wellington. Lady Allen has returned from Wellington. May Hart left last week for Trentham, where ehe will be the guest of Mrs Garth Gallaway. Mr and Mrs Fred Parker have returned from Napier. Miss K Rattray is the guest of Mrs Russell Ritchie at Moeraki. Mrs Truby King has returned from her visit to Wellington. Mrs Alfred Caselburg (Masterton) is staying at Onslow House. Miss Pigott (Timaru) is the guest of Mrs Herbert LeCren (Mornington). Miss May Barron and Miss Rona Allen are the guests of Mrs Montgomery at Little River. Mrs Macdonald (Invercargill) is staying with Miss Morris (Littlebourne). Mrs Robert Gilkison and her family are spending the holidays at Puketeraki. Mr and Mrs George Ritchie on Friday from, England, having spent a little time in America en route to New Zealand. The Misses P. and E. Shand (Timaru) are staying with Mrs Shand (George street). The Misses Scott left for Christchurch on Monday, they- have taken a house in Park terraceMiss E. Farquhar spent a few days in Wellington last week Mrs Wilfoxd (Wellington) is the guest of Lady M'Lean (Elder street). Miss Raynolds has gone to Honley for a few weeks, and is staying at White House. Miss Fynes-Clinton, who has been staying with her sister (Mrs Nevill, Bishopsgrove), returned to Invercargill on Friday. Mr and Mrs Stuart Holmes hn-ve returned from their trip to the North Island. Miss Agnes Mill left on Tuesday for Moeraki, where she will be the guest of Mrs Riissell Ritchie. INVERCARGILL, September 3. Mrs Oliver returned this week from a month's holiday in Dunedin. Dr and Mrs D. Hansen left _ on Thursday for a trip to the Lakes district. Mr and Mrs Tennent and their son (Lieutenant Tennent) have returned from Dunedin. Mrs R. King, who has been visiting her

mother ,aTm .V : . ALi.ciic:!). iws reunited to the norlJ.. ; \ia ii-rivi, has re in-ncil fioui a snort vJsi- ;o l:;i , ..U'H. M;-:, i-zit... :t..s recused horn h. .: visit to D-.uv. :.:,.. ■Viisb ...scG.'liivrr-y hus ::i.-o returned kcni tho north. isSi-ii J:: nsi . Ma i/::os, who has b.er. in lowa for u icw dliys, b£3 le-.urir.d to Dipt on. Cn ir.:::t;;y i.ftsrnoon Mrs C. Roberts (Ghias.oue) save a most enjoyable tea in honour of Mis Gordon Smi h, who is leaving shortly tor the north. Music was indulged in "during the afternoon. Among her guests were Mrs Gordon Smith, Miss Bell, Mr* Cuthbertson, Mrs W. Henderson, Mrs T. M. Macdonald, Mrs A. M. Macdonald, Mrs Macalister, Miss MaeGrillivray, and Miss Carswell. Mrs J. T. Mitchell (Ellesland) gave a vory enjoyable little tea on Friday afternoon in honour of Mrs C. Clare, who is leaving here shortly to make her home in Auckland. OAMARU, September 3. The town was gay wiih banting last Thursday in honour of a visit, from the Governorgeneral, who presented the military medals won by Oamaru soldiers. The Victoria Gross, won by ihe late Sergeant D. F. Brown, is the first that has bee a presented in New Zealand. The Military Cross was won by the late Lieutenant Kibblewlnte, and the Russian medal of St. George by the late Private A. Kennedy, B.C.M. A .arge crowd gathered to witness the ceramony, after • which his Excellency proceeded north by the express. A very successful concert was given in Hayward's Picture Palace on Thursday evening in aid of thi Middle School funds. The first part of the programme was given by the school children, and the latter part by Mr D. H. Thomson's concert party, assisted by several friends. News was received last week that Corporal Douglas Mitchell, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Mitchell, of Otekatke, has died of wounds in France. Much sympathy is felt for his parents and relatives in their great loss. Sergeant Frank Williams is down on final leave.

Mrs John Frazer has returned from Kurow. Mrs and the Misses Whitton motored to Sumner last week to the school holidays t here. Mrs Buckley and family are spending the hohdayvs at Redcastle. Miss O'Shta ana Miss Stevendon (Dunedin) are the guests of Mrs D. Fothermgham.

Miss Murdoch is staying with Mrs Buckley at Redcastle. Colonel and Mrs Nichollj have returned from Dunedin, and are at Kuriheka,

TIMARU, September 3. Miss Rhodes is paying a visit to Wellington. , Mrs Wigley, who has been staying with Mrs Tom Wigley (Tycho Flat), returned home on Wednesday.

Mr, Mrs, and Miss LoCren (Fairlie), who have been at the Bungalow for some days, nave gone back to Fairlie. Mrs Perry, who has been with Miss M'Lean, has gone to Cadogan. Mrs F. LeC'ren is staying with Mrs Gillingham (Fontmell, Fairlie). Miss Aspinall is staying in town for a short while.

Mrs and Miss Ziesler went to Lyttelton last week to meet Lieutenant C. Ziesler, who returned from Englaid on a hospital ship.

The Misses Woolcombe and Mrs Beauchamp leave this week for a holiday to Hanmer.

Mrs Goodwin (Geraldine) was in town during last week. Mrs Graham Hayter was in Timaru for the week-end.

Mlrs Melville Jameson is the guest of Mrs Bond (Clarmont). Mr and Mrs Simon M'Kenzie are staying at the Grosvenor.

Mrs Crowe (G%raldine) spent a few days with Mis 3 Temple during the early part of the week.

CHRISTCHURCH, September 1

The collegiate schools football tournament, which has been played on the Christ's College Grounds during the week, has drawn crowds of interested spectators. , The first match (Wellington v. Christ's College) resulted in a win for Christ's College; the n°xt match (Wellington v. Wanganui) was a drawn game, and the final match (Wanganui v. Christ's College) was also "a drawn game, so that Christ's College won the tournament. Play throughout was most interest ing, and a fine display of school football was given; also there were no serious knockouts. Amongst the spectators were the headmaster and Mrs Blanch, Mr Firth and Mr Marshall (head masters of Wellington and Wanganui), Mr and Mrs Flower, Mr and Mrs Bains, Mr and Mrs Hogg, Mr Merton, Mr and Mrs Rhodes. Mr and Mrs Boyle, Mrs Algar Williams (Wellington), Mr and Mrs Lowry (Napier), Mr and Mr H. Reeves, Mr and Mrs G. Gould, Mr and Mrs MurrayAynsley, Mr and Mrs Cooper, Mr and Mrs Rich, Mrs Vernon, Mrs St. Buckley, Dr and Mrs Fox, Mrs C. Reid, and the Misses Cowlishaw, Ross, Reeves, Wells, Gould, Harley, Helmore, Wilson, Fox, Rich, Buckley, and on the second day the officers and crew of the Japanese cruiser were present. Christ's College boys formed in two lines to receive their visitors, and a pretty and stirring sight it was to see the Japanese crew march on to the grounds and return their hosts' cheers. Mrs Deans was the hostess to a farewell tea for Miss M. Harmer, who leaves shortly for India to be married. Amongst the guests were: —Mrs Hanmer and the Misses Hanmer, Mrs J. Deans, (Homebush), and the Misses Gould, Wells (2), Reeves, Somerville (Wellington), Westenra, Harley, Teschemaker (2), Wilkin, Helmore, Humphreys, Northcote, and Knight. Mr and Mrs H. Lowry (Hawke's Bay), who came to Christchurch for the college football tournament, have returned north. Mr Dowry is an old Christ's College boy, and is this year's president of the Old Boys' Association.

Miss Agnes Duncan is the guest of Mrs Wells' (Lower Riccarton). The first of the musical recitals arranged by Madam Gower Burns and Mr Hobden was held in Mrs Elworthy's drawing room on Friday, and much enjoyed by those present, amongst whom were Lady Clifford, Lady Denniston, Mrs M. Jameson, Mrs Wells, Mrs B. Wood, Mrs M'Beth, Miss Ogle, Miss Murray, Mrs B. Lane, Mrs Allen, Mrs W.' Wilson, Mrs and Miss Wilding, Miss Humphreys, «Mrs Hill, and many others. GREYMOUTH, August 29. There was a very good attendance at the Orchestral Society's concert on Tuesday evening. The soloists were Mrs W. Fletcher and Mr Harold Proscott, the accompanists being Misses Lawn and Hopkins. Mrs Fletcher wore a soft white silk frock with ninon under-bodice. Miss Lawn was in pale blue ninon and Mis 3 Hopkins in a frock of turquoise-blue satin. At the close of the concert an address was given by Mr Smeoton, Y.M.C.A. commissioner, recently back from Franco. The address was unusually enjoyable, and many wished it had been longer. Some present were Mr and Mrs

Haskins, Miss Ilaskins, Mr and Mrs "Wise, Mr and Mrs Chalk Mrs Moss, Mrs Carter, Mr and Mrs G. Schaef, Mrs Watson, Mrs Buck, Mrs Orr, Mrs Oxcnham, Mrs Blair, -Mrs and Miss Wylde, Misses Bishop, Berry, Kitto, Dunn, Bean (Christchurch), Bush, Keddell, Winchester, Smith, Robinson, Skogland, White, Ring, Lawn, Hopkins, and the (.lev. Pa'chett. Messrs Lynch, .Ring, Coaies, Fletcher, Wallace, Rickards. Wheelbarrow" Day, in aid of the appeal for funds for Red Cross work, is to bo held on Saturday next. It certainly promises to be a decided success if one may judge by the interest that is aroused by the committee and the energetic "heads" (Mrs W. Thomas and Mrs Shroeder), who

arc working hard to make the day a success. The Girls' Friendly Society hold Red Cross cowing evenings on alternate Mondays. The evenings are held at the vicarage, and Mrs York acts a 3 hostess.

" Intolerance," the muoh-talked-of picture, is being shown this week. Almost every seat has been booked for all screenings, so the audiences will be unusually large. Archdeacon York is in Nelson at Synod.

Miss Bean (Christchurch) is on a long visit to the Coast. Miss Wilson went to Wellington to meet her brother, Lieutenant P. Wilson, who has just returned from the front. Mrs and Miss Heaphy are spending some weeks in Wellington. They will return after Private Cyril Heaphy sails.

WELLINGTON, August 31

Mi&s Beere's dance recital on Saturday and its repetition on Monday- night brought good funds inio the Red Cross work. But the public got their money's worth and more. There never was such daintiness of dancing, such deftness and such easy grace of attitude and bearing. That last character-, istic was, of course, the consequence of having young people on the work. Children are easily the best public entertainers for grace and abandon; they learn the preliminary business so well, and they set about the work with such little self-consciousness, and such charm of spontaneous motion, and such grace of natural steps and gesture that they make art a department of Nature. In singing they are distinctly inferior, for their voices and intonation are such as to leave much to be desired—immaturity, awkwardness of phrasing; these defects are not to be got over in the publio' exhibitions of children. But when it comes to dancing, perfection comes back in a. flash, and everything is picturesque, posed without effort, spontaneous, as the graceful movement of birds. As Miss Beere's young people have established a great reputation for this sort of artistic success, the Opera House was crowded both nights, and +he finances were a marvellous success, but not better in its way or even so good as the artistic result. There were many fine tabeaus and groupings, and the dancing that is represented by the " Pas Seul ' was very much in evidence. Of course, the setting was all that could be desired—flo'.vers, pot plants, decorations, flags, and drapery of various sorts, and all arranged w.th great artistic effort, with lights cunningly hidden here and boldly displayed there, —and the incidental music was pleasant exceedingly, and, therefore, the setting of the various pictures was the best one could want. But the pictures were the thing! Two pieces stand out m the memory with main prominence—" Cupid's Garden " and " A Romance of the Forest." The little people were babies for the most part—the 'cutest little people you ever saw or could imagine. Th every motion they were up to the n ost exacting professional standard in perfect co-ordination of and rhythm and dainty gesture. The little Cupids were marvels of self-possession and dainty grace, with gravity beyond compare of anything on earth. There were gnomes of the forest in great numbers and elves, and they wound their way about among the scenes and the tree-trunks and the foliage and the forest-clearings until you thought them part of the surroundings, and began to wonder how you had never before suspected the amount of the poetry of motion which our forests contain. Benevolent little gnomes evidently, and when the " Children of th. 3 Forest" '•ame into' play with the gnomes and elves there was no doubt about the benevolence of their character. And so with dancing and lilting and music and lights and loveliness of flower and tree, and a strong suggestion of poetic beauty everywhere, the time flowed away on rippling waters of delight, calm and beautiful. Of what use to try to describe the rest! All was good, and the audiences did not forget to say so most emphatically. Neither did the Red Ciross people, who, after the " very substantial amounts" earned had been handed in, passed a tremendous vote of thanks, and tooK cars io add that these series of dance recitals—a prosy name for a poetical exhibition—were as much real war work as any other that is done by the people who persevere patriotically to uphold the Dominion's share in the great conflict. We must not forget the dan-je of " The Harlequins" in costumes of white of the traditional Harlequinade order, with great square patches of green or crimson and a suggestion of the pegtop in the build of the costumes, designed by_ Mrs Hannah, whose skill in artistry of this sort is a household word among us here. Lady Allen has returned to Dunedin. Major and Mrs Slefman are in Christchurch.

Word has been received here that Miss Adelaide van Staveren, the popular daughter of the nmch-respected Rabbi of Wellington, has been engaged to sing every afternoon of the present week at the London Opera Hduse. It is a rare start for a prosperous musical career. Mr Justice Stringer and Mrs Stringer are at present in Auckland staying at the Grand Hotel.

Mrs Luke, the Mayoress, returned early in the week from the country after a tour undertaken for organising Red Cross work. She reports great success at Wanganui, Feilding, and Palmerston North.

Apropos of some objections appearing in the correspondence columns of the local press to the constant collecting for patriotic purposes in the streets by all sorts and conditions of people, young and old, especially young, it is notified that the head mistresses of girl schools in England have been drawr'ng attention to be bad effects of "flag days" upon the school girls, and suggesting that ro girls under 18 should be allowed to collect in the streets. The Hon. Gilbert Carson gave an instructive lecture here during the weak on women police, giving his experience in Sydney and Melbourne of the patrol work done in those cities by women appointed by the Health Department. Patrol work, especially now in var-time, he contended, was all that was required. Arrests and the heavier side could very well be left to the police. AUCKLAND, August 29. Another successful dance has been added to the long list of these functions in aid of the Red Cross that have been held at Cargen. Amongst those pres3nt were Mts Lucas Bloomfleld and Miss Thelma Bloomfield, who have lately returned from Wellington, and have gone into residence at Cargen ; Lady Walker, who wore a white cr< pe and lace frock, with wide belt of tur-quoise-blue ; Miss E. Gillies (a southern

visitor) was in white georgette; Mrs Mackay, Miss Enid Eeed, Hiss Barstow, Miss Upfill, Mrs R. Gillies, and Mrs Partridge. The old girls of Ihe Diocesan School have given a most successful entertainment in St. Mark's Hall, liemuera, the proceeds from which arc to go to the Minesweepers' Fund, the first play was called " Playgoers," by Arthur Pinero, and then followed a short musical programme, after which " The Burglar" was vsry clevery acted. The orchestra, arranged "by Mr lioger Fenton, played several delightful selections. The Auckland Women's Patriotic League appealed for funds last week through the agency of " Paddy's Market," held in the Town Hall, which was for the time being converted into a market, with stalls arranged under the gallery, leaving the middle space free. The proceedings were opened by the Mayorss (Mrs J. H. Gunson). Excellent business was done by the many stall-holders. The marriage took place last week at St. Sepulchre's Church, Kyber Pass road, Auckland, of Miss B-ita Carlaw (daughter of Mr and Mrs Thomas Carlaw, Symonds street) and Mr Rupert Sloman, well known in cricketing circles, and the youngest son of Mr Sloman, for many years a, master at the Auckland Grammar School. Mr and Mrs G. K. JJ. James (Wellington) are staying at the Grand Hotel.