SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 16, 25 December 1880, Page 136

SOCIETY

— A confirmation was held at St. Sepulchre's on Wednesday. — There was a very enjoyable party at Mrs. Lewis's school, Epsom, last Friday. — Amber heads for neck wear are coming into fashion again. — More marriages are on the cards at the North Shore. — The gem of Mrs. G.s concert was the performance of "La Oarita." — "Europe" was the principal exclamation ! at a recent picnic, at least so " Quack" says. — The parishioners of St. Matthew's are said to he getting up a picnic in grand style. — Mr. Hull, of Fairhurn, is expected in town for the races on New Year's Day. — Charlie McMurdo, having leased his house • and sold his furniture, has gone up country to spend Christmas at Fairburn. — A novelty, in the shape of a scarf dance, • -was introduced at the party given last week by Mrs. Lewis. — Garrard says he will contest the seat for . City West at the next election for the General Assembly. — Mr. Jackman, who came to town princi- . pally to get medicine for Harry McMurdo, fell • ill himself, and was very bad for a day or two. He is nearly all right now. — It is whispered that a member of the civil service, well-known for his fine riding, met -with a fall from his horse under somewhat aggravating circumstances the other day. — Were the speakers at the Congregational • tea-meeting the other evening indulging in . trials of the extent of their lung power ? They might have been heard in Queen-street. — No less than five marriages, all in connection with the young people of St. James's, were to have eventuated this week. Verily, leap - year has been a busy time for the girls. — "Why," asks a feminine correspondent, ' " don't you notice Mr. Bishop, of Archd Clark •& Sons? He is, without doubt, the best •dressed man in Auckland." Bully for Bishop ! — Mrs. G. gave her annual picnic on Friday week. The "Tongariro" was chartered, and the party went down to West Tamaki, where they spent a very pleasant day. — Much curiosity is felt in polite circles re the identity of the lady somnambulist mentioned in my last. Several names have been mentioned, but none of them are near the mark. ' — Amongst the approaching matrimonial alliances, I hear of that of a gay and gallant ■capting and a charming widow at the Thames. • The officer is at present, most assiduous in the ■ prosecution of his love-suit. — One of the most interesting of approaching marriages is that of a gentleman employed in one of our leading importing warehouses to the young and charming proprietress of a Hobsonstreet boarding house. — A private moonlight excursion is on the •tapis amongst the Beresford-street lads and lasses. Capt. Daldy is going to charter a . steamer and let them have their own way for •once. — The garden party at Cambridge was a • .great success, and many of the ladies wore .. charming dresses. A pretty grey, with black trimmings, looked stylish, whilst a black, with ■ -cream trimmings, suited the wearer perfectly. — The maidens of Beresford-street Chapel .assembled in force on the wharf at the departure , of the "Tararua." Their great favourite was .going "far, far away," and they were there to bid him a weeping farewell. — The effect of a very interesting sermon was . entirely lost last Sunday to a great portion of the auditory of a fashionable church, in con sequence of the debut of a certain lady in a really magnificent dress of cream heliotrope. — Several young ladies have been mtitilating last week's issue by cutting out the paragraph • re early closing. One old lady has received over twenty slips enclosed in separate envelopes. She does a regular war dance as each one * .arrives. — I hear that the blue-blooded editor of a 1 country contemporary has become very "high •church " of late, and creates a tremendous .sensation in Hamilton by the solemnity with which he assumes the eastern position in church, • .and bows Avhen passing the altar. —It is whispered that a deputation of young ladies are screwing up courage to ask the Editor of the Observer to open a "gentleman's •column." They say it would be sitch fun to have all the fellows described with their " Avide . pants, bow legs, bandy knees, chimney pots, and manner of gait." — By the death of the Duchess of Westminster, who has been ailing for some months past, half the peerage will be thrown into mourning. The Duchess was the youngest •daughter of the 2nd Duke of Sutherland, and married the head of the house of Grosvenor i n 1852. She Avas a very handsome Avoman, an d •one of the most popular leaders of London society. — They Avere very fond of each other, and had been engaged; but they quarrelled, and were too proud to make it xip. — He called a feAV days ago at her father's house, to see the old gentleman on business, of course. She Avas at the •door.— Said he, " Ah, Miss Blank, I believe ; is your father in ?" — No, sir, she replied; "pa is not in at present. Did you wish to see him personally?" — "Yes,"Avas the bluff response, feeling that she Avas yielding, "on Aery particular personal business," and he turned proudly to go aAvay. — "I beg your pardon," she called after him, as he struck the lower step, "but avlio shall I say called?"— He never smiled again.

— A teacher, of exemplary character, in one of the Presbyterian Sunday-schools, has been conspicuous " by his absence from duty for several Aveeks past. On two separate occasions he has been observed in suspicious propinquity to the straAvberry gardens, Avith a fascinating damsel on his arm ; but to each and every query on the subject he returns the positive asseveration that," inspired by philanthropic motives, he has started a Sunday-school for the especial behoof of the neglected young of the North Shore. This "yarn" is generally regarded as of exceedingly flimsy texture.

— Last Friday evening, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Buckland entertained a large number of children at their residence, Higlnvic, NeAvmarket. The little ones gathered in the afternoon, and engaged in all sorts of out-door games. After a sumptuous tea had been enjoyed, dancing commenced, and was kept up with much spirit until it Avas time for the juveniles to go home. A number of "children of a larger growth," who had ably assisted Mr. and Mrs. Buckland and family in the entertainment of the little ones, then began to dance, and, as the room is one of the largest in any private house in or near Auckland, the company thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

—On Friday evening, Mrs. LeAvis gave a breaking-up party at her residence, Epsom House, Manukau Road. The dear old lady ne\ r er seems so happy as Avhen she sees her pupils and friends enjoying theruselA'es, and she spares neither trouble nor expense to make them happy. There are feAV ladies avlio have been such successful teachers as Mrs. Lewis. She manages to impart to her pupils not only a good education, but such lessons in manners and deportment as fit them to adorn society. In addition to her present pupils, there Avere present on Friday evening a large number of former pupils ; and, though the space for dancing Avas limited, everyone seemed to enjoy a very pleasant evening.

— On the same evening, Mrs. Clayton gave a breaking-up party at her school, in Parnell. Besides the scholars and their " sisters and their cousins and their aunts, " .and their mothers and their fathers and their brothers, there Avere Captain and Mrs. Clayton's friends, Avhile "Ted" had invited a number of his cronies to dance Avith the pretty school-girls. Altogether the assemblage Avas a very large one. If any fault could be found, it Avas that there Avere rather too many for the accommodation ; but, as some of the younger pupils Avcnt away early, this slight defect Avas soon remedied. The last of the guests took their departure about two o'clock, after expressing their gratitude to the genial host and hostess for a very pleasant evening's entertainment.

— Last Friday and Saturday a Christmas tree and miniature bazaar were held in the Newmarket Hall, in connection with St. Luke's Presbyterian Cl'urch, Rcnvuera. As it is only a fewNveeks since the project was first moot eel, the ladies of the congregation deserve great praise for the hearty manner in Avhich they took it up, and arc to be congratulated on the large amount of success which attended the bazaar. The object iv view was to raise funds to pay for alterations and improvements made in the church, Avhich Avill add greatly to its appearance, and to the comfort of those who attend it. A very large number of useful and ornamental articles were offered for sale, in addition to those which were on the Christmastree, and these met with ready sale at fair prices. Where" all the ladies did so well, it Avould be invidious to mention names, but a •word of praise is duo to Mrs. Monro for the indefatigable manner in which she gathered the Avilling Avorkers together at her house. During the two days no less a sum than £130 Avas taken, Avhich Avill go a long way towards paying for the alterations and improvements.

— I am glad to see that the Admiralty House is at last being repaired and renovated, and I sincerely hope that our resident minister, the Hon. the Attorney-General will not be satisfied Avith allowing it to be done up in a beggarly manner. It would be a great pity not to make it a thoroughly habitable and agreeable residence for the Commodore of the Australian station. This house has been, on occasions, one of the most hospitable in Auckland, and at one time Avas hardly outrivalled by Government House for fashionable entertainments. Noav, I haA r e good reason for knoAving that Avere there a suitable residence for the Commodore and Mrs. Wilson, Aye should have the pleasure and honour of their presence in Auckland for a certain period each year, and as a consequence have additional attractions for society. The Hon. Mr. Whitaker has now an opportunity of conferring a great benefit upon all those avlio are so much interested in the presence of any of H.M.s ships in the Waitemata.

— Last Thursday evening there Avas a perfect plethora of amusement in and around Auckland. In addition to Mrs. Revitt's concert at the Choral Hall, and the performance given by the sable orphans in the Parnell Hall, there Avere two large dances. One of these was an ' 'At Home, " which took place at the neAV Public Hall at Mount Albert. No doubt, on account of the number of counter attractions, there Avere not so many present as might have been expected, considering Avhat excellent arrangements had been made for the entertainment of the guests. HoAvever, those avlio were there enjoyed themselves immensely, as they could hardly fail to do, having a good floor to dance on, excellent music, and refreshments of the choicest description. Mirabile dictu, there Avere more gentlemen than ladies, Avhich, as everyone knoAVS, is a most unusual circumstance at a dance in or near the " Athens of the Pacific." I think that both ladies and gentlemen were pleased Avith the change, as the former are ahvays glad to dance all the evening, Avhereas man is a lazy animal, and loves an occasional "spell" Avitha pipe or cigar. Dancing continued till three o'clock on Friday morning, when everyone Avent aAvay Avell pleased, and hoping that, though it Avas the first " At Home " in the Mount Albert Hall, it Avould not be the last by a good many.

OUR CHRISTMAS PRIZES. The Christmas and New Year's number of the Observer will be published on Friday next and will contain (besides ordinary news, &c.) apropos Stories, verses, funnyisms, &c. To make the number attractive the propi'ietary have also determined to give away the following magnificent prizes, for which everyone buying a copy of the paper will stand a chance. PRIZES. Ist. A superb Diamond and Ruby Hoop Ring, value, £8. 2nd. A copy of Dv Manner's ' ' Society at Home," superbly bound ; value, £3. 3rd. Half-a-dozen of the finest Amontillado Sherry ; value, £2. 4th. Two Bottles of Sparkling Hock; value, £1 10s. NOTICE. Every copy of the Christmas number will contain a coupon, which must be filled in according to the instructions accompanying it, and returned to this office before January 6th, ISSI. The prizes will be drawn for in the same way as an ordinary sweep, and in the presence of a Committee specially appointed for the purpose, and the result duly notified in these columns. The prizes will be on view at the Observer Office during Christmas week. N.B. Persons will be allowed to send in as many coupons (every coupon representing one chance) as they like,