LINDA’S LETTER TO HER COUNTRY COUSIN.

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 10, 18 June 1898, Page 7

LINDA’S LETTER TO HER COUNTRY COUSIN.

My dear Elsie, —Last week the ■Governor was here. The sun shoue brightly, and festivities followed each other in quick succession. Now the Governor has gone, the sky is a sombre grey and, where we were wont to find each day’s programme, there now appears an announcement to the effect that “ ail accounts against the General Committee ” are to be sent in at once. So, as you may imagine, everything is decidedly flat, and the only satisfaction we have is in remembering what a very enjoyable time we have had. Of course, the principal event from our point of view was the ball, and, as the girls all say, it was “ lovely.” Before nine o’clock the people who were to dance in the Governor’s set assembled downstairs, and, when Lord Raofurly arrived, each of them was introduced to His Excellency, who then led the way upstairs to the ball-room, which was beautifully decorated with evergreens. The firstquadrille was formed, and in it the Governor had for his partner Mrs Mair, who wore a handsome black dress trimmed with yellow ostrich feathers, and an aigrette and ostrich tip in her hair. Captain Wellesley danced with Mrs Herbert Macdonald, whose gown was of eream satin, trimmed with crimson. She carried a large shower bouquet of red and white flowers and ferns. The Hon. C. Hill Trevor and Miss Mair were partners, and we all admired Miss Mair’s beautiful gown of buttercup brocade, which was plainly but elegantly made. Mr . Justice Pennefather had for his partner Mrs Cuthbertson, who wore a black •silk dress trimmed on the bodice with white lace. The Mayor came next with Mrs Ward, who, some of our .girls thought, looked best of all in a perfectly fitting velvet gown, made with cross-over bodice, filled up back and front with chiffon. The Hon. -J. G. Ward had Mrs Young for his partner, and she wore a black silk dress trimmed with white chiffon, and white flowers in her hair. Mr ■J. E. Watson’s partner was Mrs Batger, who looked charming in a gown of peach coloured velvet with a great deal of beautiful coffee-coloured lace on the bodice and shoulders. Captain Hawkins and

Mrs Whitcombe completed the set. Mrs Whitcombe wore a very becoming dressof black surah silk, trimmed with fancy pink silk and pink embroidered chiffon. She carried a beautiful bouquet of pink and white flowers. There were many other handsome dresses, but I have not sufficient space to describe them all. I must not forget to teli you that both Captain Wellesley and the Hon. C. Hill Trevor’s dress coats had Cambridge blue lapels, and the colour thus introduced was a pleasing change among so many plain black coats. As soon as the first part of the programme had been gone through two pipers led the way, and the Governor, and those who danced in his set, went in to supper. The arrangements had been well carried out, and the supper tables were prettily decorated with fairy lamps and other ornaments. The comestibles were very good, and the way in which they were prepared reflected great credit upon the caterer, Mr J. Kingsland. After supper the Governor left, expressing himself well pleased with everything; he even said that it was the best ball he had been to in New Zealand, and this delighted and flattered us hugely. The next morning I remembered that Uchter John Mark, Earl of Ranfurly, was an Irishman, He is also a very charming man, and while we listened to his clear voice and pleasing sentiments, our loyalty reached white heat. We gazed with admiration at the chair in which he had sat, the illuminated address presented to him, the ivory-handled trowel with which he tapped the memorial stone, and the railway carriages in which he travelled. Nellie was very anxious to see the interior of those carriages ; the locked doors and drawn blinds piqued her curiosity, and the coat of arms on the outside inflamed her fancy. When, however, by dint of scheming, she managed to get those doors unlocked, her ideas of viceregal luxury underwent a rapid change. Two small apartments where beds could be made up, and one larger one, containing two tables, a seat, and four cane chairs, with green leather padding, were all she found, unless one might include a very strong smell of tobacco smoke. We have been several times to the Pollards, but the Governor’s visit has crowded everything else out of my letter, and I must now conclude. Your affectionate cousin, Linda.