NOTES BY "THE DUCMESS"

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 56, 8 October 1881, Page 57

NOTES BY "THE DUCMESS"

■ £" The Duchess " will be glad to receive from lady •contributors descriptions of new walking costume s, ball dresses, &c, -which are worn in Queen-street or at social re-unions ; also particulars of any very striking dresses worn in the Waikato, at the Thames, or in other totvns -where the Observer circulates. All communications •considered strictly confidential. Address — " The Duchess," Observer office, Auckland.] — A fancy dress ball for the Ponsonby children will take place in the Hall to-night (Friday). I expect the sayings and doings thereof -will be immense. Particulars in our next issue. — The tlispltij- of straw hats and bonnets in some of the drapers' windows is absolutely appalling. I should give the palm to Cosgrare's. Can it be jiossible that there are female heads enough in Auckland to wear out this Brobdignagnian show ? — The choral festival of the Diocesan Synod was held in St. Sepulclrre's new Church on Monday, the 4th inst., and was very numerously attended. Portions of the choirs' from all the" city and suburban churches were present. Mr Edwards, of Ponsonbj-, intoned the service, and Mr <xullivcr preached the sermon, which, as is usual with him, was very historical. Miss Fenton sang the solo in the " Hallelujah " chorus very finely, and with much force and confidence. The service occupied about two hours. Many clergymen were absent from various causes. — The last of the Ponsonby At Homes until the event of the Fancy Dress, took place on Friday, September 30th. It was not so crowded as usual. The hall was beautifully decorated with arum lilies, ferns and Hags. It was kept up an hour later than the usual custom, because it was " our latest and our last." The music was excellent. Dr Elliott played one of the extras remarkably well and in capital time. The supper, as usual, was not Al. Mrs Jakins wore a pink llama trimmed with grey silk ; Mrs Bayntun, ■dress of pink cashmere trimmed with black velvet; Mrs Devorc, black grenadine ; Mrs Furbie, black .silk ; Mrs Home, black satin ; Mrs Masefield, black grenadine trimmed with old gold and old gold fringe-. Mrs Greenwood wore the handsomest dress in the room ; it was of pale blue satin trimmed with white lace, cap of crimson plush, and red shoes. Miss Dunnett, blue sateen trimmed with white lace; Miss Evans, blue sateen trimmed with white lace ; Miss Home, a very pretty dress of pale pink sateen trimmed with white lace ; Miss Leighton, dress of striped blue silk trimmed with dark blue ; Miss Oldham, black grenadine trimmed with crimson ; Miss M. Kelly, wliite muslin with blue sateen bodice ; Miss Harrison, black grenadine trimmed with broad white lace ; Miss G-eorge, pale green sateen trimmed with dark green velvet ; Miss Halstead, dress of blue satin, made with a long train — a very pretty and becoming dress. — The second of the Kemuera Social Reunions took place on Wednesday, the 2Sth September, in the Eemuera Hall, which has been greatly enlarged and beautified. There were several novelties which deserve mention. In the first place, a card loom makes the whole affair far more enjoyable to married men and men of a certain age, to whom a whole evening of dancing is wearisome. In the second place, the supper, which was of first-class quality, was served in the gallery. And in the third place, a long and very wide verandah, hung with Chinese lanterns, was used as a promenade ; and really, what Avith the pretty variegated colours of the dresses, and the shaded lights from the lamps, the whole scene put one in mind of a scene out of some opera. The hall itself was not decorated. It was crowded to excess with all the upper ten thousand of the city and suburbs of Auckland. There was about an equal gathering of ladies and men, which made things pleasant. Mrs Chamberlain wore a dress of old gold satin, trimmed with white lace, and cap to match ; Mrs McCosli Clark (the Mayoress), dress of old gold satin, trimmed with brown satin, and wreath in her hair to match ; Mrs Matthew Clark, white silk, trimmed with white lace ; Mrs Dargaville, black grenadine, trimmed with crimson, and crimson scraper ; Mrs Brookfleld, Mrs Fairburn, Mrs Jackson, Mrs Owen, etc., were all sitting on the dais, and wore mostly black dresses ; Miss Brookfleld wore blue satin, trimmed with chenille fringe ; Miss Buckland was in white cashmere ; the Misses Fentons, white cashmere ; Miss Mowbray, white cashmere ; Miss Ridings, white corded silk ; Miss Laura Taylor, white corded silk ; Miss Sharland, white Japanese silk ; Miss Brookfield, white Japanese silk ; Miss Chamberlain, pink silk ; Miss Firth, pink Japanese silk, with bows of maroon ribbon down the front of the dress ; Miss G-oldsbro', combination of wliite grenadine and white silk ; Miss Mabel Fairburn, white grenadine with a wreath, of white flowers round her neck ; Miss Monro, blue tarletan ; Miss Jones, black grenadine, slashed with scarlet ; Miss H. G-eorge, white cashmere, trimmed with blue lace ; .the Misses Owens were in white India muslin, made with Mother Hubbard bodices ; Miss Thomas, maroon velvet, trimmed with maroon .silk ; Miss Jackson, dress of white cambric muslin, Avith scarlet flowers. The crush was so great that it Avas almost impossible to see lioav the ladies dresses were made, or scarcely what they wore. White Avas the favourite hue. The nuisic Avas not afc all good, and quite out of place afr so recherche an entertainment.