SOCIAL ROUND

Southland Times, Issue 18945, 19 May 1923, Page 14 (Supplement)

SOCIAL ROUND

IN TOWN AND COUNTRY. (By “Dorothy.”) Mrs G. G. Burns of Christchurch is at present the guest of Miss Dundas. The staff of Messrs H. and J. Smith Ltd. will hold their second dance in Ashley s Hall on Monday evening. A number of Invercargill people will be pleased to hear that Signor I. Conatantini, a soloist of the Sistine Choir, has settled in Auckland to teach the “Bel Canto.” The gift of silver which the Corporation of London presented to the Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bcwes-Lyon was on view at ‘Guildhall. It consists, of twenty silver dishes of the date of 1776, enclosed in an oak chest.

Mrs W. E. Taylor gave an enjoyable afternoon tea at her residence Northend on Wednesday afternoon. Among her guests were Mesdames Stanley Brown, C. S. Lon.guet, Royds, W. J. Barclay, McLeod, F. Scandrett, W. Todd, Jennings, W. Jones and Usher.

The dance organised by the Gore Ladies Hockey Club on Wednesday was a huge success. The melodious music of the Diggers’ Orchestra filled the Town Hall and everyone present enjoyed themselves immensely. Mr J. C. Winning was M.C. and a dainty set supper was provided.

Another beautiful day brought a huge crowd to Rugby Park to see the thrilling football matches. Among those in the grandstand I noticed Mrs W. T. Hazlett. Mrs Malfroy, Miss Kathleen Anderson. Miss Richardson (Auckland), Miss Doris Russed and Miss Haigh-Smith (Auckland!. The Royal cradle, which has been leant to Princes’? Mary for her baby, was made in 1840. It was’used not only by all Queen Victoria’s children, but by King Edward s and King George’s, including Princess Mary herself. It has silver fittings, and is beautifully furnished with sheets of Irish lawn, trimmed with Valenciennes lace, blankets of white Yorkshire wool, and eiderdowns embroidered with the Royal Arms.

A social gathering of members of the Waiau Welfare Society took place in Fitzgerald’s Hail on Wednesday afternoon, when a pleasant hour or two was spent in music, song, and other pastimes. The ladies in attendance were Mesdames Curow (President-), Benneworth (Secretary), Duncan,. McCulloch, Harris, Glendinning, Cook. Ludke, Robb, Batchelor, Coughlan, Charlton, Rilstone, and Druibrook, also Misses Mead and Craig. A poetical competition, in which most of the ladies competed, was won by Mrs Robb. Vocal contributors were Mesdames Batchelor, McCulloch, Harris, and Miss Craig. The Waimatuku Hall, gaily decorated, presented a jolly scene last Wednesday evening, the occasion being the celebration of the Harvest Home Ball. About fifty couples took the floor to the strains of excellent music played by Mrs E. Galt. During the evening songs given by Mrs A. Mathieson, Mrs E. Galt and Messrs G. Hicks, C. Brown and H. Cochrane were enthusiastically received. A welcome break in the gaiety was the handing round of a dainty supper by the ladies of the district. Dancing was continued until an early hour under the capable direction of Mr A. Brown and when reluctantly the gathering broke up, it was claimed by all to have been the most successful and enjoyable Ball ever held in the district. A pleasant social evening was spent at progressive euchre in the Cosy Tea Rooms, Gore on Wednesday evening by the members of the Gore Croquet Club and their friends. At the close of the contests Mrs T. Taylor and Mr W. Graham were announcer the winners. The president of the Club (Mrs A. A. Mac Gibbon) presented the trophies won on the croquet field during the year. These were secured by Miss Durham, Miss Blue and Messrs Aitken and Teller. Mr Aitken in returning thanks, stated that the function that evening was held with the object of augmenting the funds being raised for the purpose of erecting a pavilion at the croquet green, and he hoped that all would assist this laudable project. The gathering broke up with the singing of the National Anthem. Last Saturday evening the Southland Girls’ High School Old Girls’ Association held the first of their dances for this season in the School Hall. Mr Duerden supolied the music for the main part of the dance and Mrs H. A. Macdonald played for the extras. Among those present were Misses Brown, Brockenshire (2), Bell, Bath, Chilman, Cole, de Reya, Dey, Fraser, Howie,

Hamilton, Jones, Jamieson, Kingston Meredith, Mcßean, Mclntosh (2), McCaw (2), McCurdy, Oughton, Pncs, Potter, Penman, Roscow (2), Rankin, Stevenson (2), Stout, Shepperd, Turpin, Undrill, Vickery, Washer, Waugh (2), Ward, Messrs Smith (2), Ott, Officer, Beckingsale, Madden, Yates, Fallow, Jefcoate (Christchcurch), Fogarty, Yule, Murrav, Honeywood, Miller, Eraser, Scott, Snowball, Rea (2), Mahoney, Bews, Hebbef field, Cox, Todd, Prendergast, and Baker.

Writing on old-time traditions, a wnter in the Manchester Guardian gives the following points cf interest. W’hen the Empress Eugenie married Napoleon, it was not only her country women who were horrified to see that "to the diamond of six hundred brilliants which bound her head, and the diamond with three hundred rays which glittered in her corsage, she had added a rope of pearls wound four times round her neck. The Castilian proverb that the pearls women wear on their wedding day symbolise the tears they are fated to shed waa a cardinal tenet in marriage beliefs. Tha Empress shed tears enough, but since that fateful wedding how many brides in every country have clasped a pearl chain round their necks! Most of our wedding lore ia drawn from Greece and Rome. From tha silver wedding dress that stirs society it ia net a long step to the immense goldenyellow veil in which Greek and Roman brides were enveloped and with the gold veil went a gold coronet, the “corona nuptials” which indicated triumph. It waa the Crusaders who brought to England front the Saracens the wreath of orange bloajorns, with its symbol, net of victory, but of fertility—an emblem the Romans sought in the harvest field. Our wedding caka comes from the Roman austerity of salt, water and flour eaten by the bride with tha three wheat ears in her hand, which werf the Italian symbol of plenty. WEDDING. McBRIDE—GALT. A tthe Gore Presbyterian Church C* Wednesday, May 9, Violet Christina, fifth daughter of Mrs Galt, Invercargill, and tha late James Galt (formerly of “Mavis Bank,” Tuturau) was married to Mr Joseph Bell Mcßride, son of Mr and Mrs Robert Mcßride, Chariton, Gore. The Rev. H. G, Gilbert, of Invercargill, officiated. The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr Allan Galt, Tuturau, wore a dainty frock of cream crepe de trimmed with pearls; a beautiful embroid- • ered veil and shower bouquet completed het toilet. The bridesmaid, Mias Dorothy Galt (sister of the bride) wore a pale lavend&r crepe de chine frock relieved with lemon and a black velvet bat with touches of lavendar and lemon, and carried a shower bouquet. The best man was Mr Isaacs, of ‘ Dunedin. Miss Mac Gibbon played Mendelssohn’s Wedding March as the bridal party entered and retired from the Church. More than 60 guests sat down to the wedding breakfast at the Coay Tea-rooms, where the usual toasts were honoured, after which the bride and bridegroom left by tha afternqoW express for the North amid showers cf confetti and the best wishes from their many friends. The bride travel, led in a mole costume trimmed with braid and small silver buckles, with shoes and 1 stockings to match, and a pretty little hat ; of mole panne velvet. The bridegroom’s present to the bride 1 was a manicure set, and to the bridesmaid ! a gold bangle; the bridf’s gift to the bride- ’ groom was a gold albert. Mr and Mrs J. B. Mcßride’s future home will be at Christchurch.