SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 57, 15 October 1881, Page 68

SOCIETY

[We shall esteem it a favour if any of our readers (■especially those residing in the suburbs and country districts) who can spare the time, will jot down for this journal any notable features of the social re-unions — balls, parties, at homes, concerts, picnics, &c. — which they may attend. We don't want to hear whether Jack flirted with Annie, or Mr B. was attentive to Mrs K. Those are private details, and no business of ours or the public's. It is, however, interesting' to know how many people there were at a dance, whether any " society " swells were present, also if the rooms were decorated in an unusual way, or any pretty dresses worn. We shall also be invariably glad to hear of any festivities which are coming on. Communications will be kept strictly private, and (though they may not appear m print exactly its forwarded) will be used. Items intended for insertion in the current issue should reach this office not later than Wednesday morning.— Editor Obsekvkr.] — Miss White, of Oneliunga, is engaged to Mr A. Robb. —Mr W. Wilkins ;uul Miss C. Barker are to be married on or about the 28th October. • — The engagement is announced of Mr Cecil Gardner to Miss Evelyn George. — Mrs McMillan gives delightful afternoon teas on her reception days (Thursdays) at Remuera. — Mrs and the Misses Ilorne entertained some friends at afternoon tea on Friday last, — The Mayoress (Mrs McCosh Clark) gave a delightful dance to the eliie of Remuera, etc., on Friday evening last. — Mr J. Baker, of the post-office, is to be married early next month to Miss E. Hide, of Wellington. — -The Onehunga Presbyterian Church, choir is rapidly improving since Mr Stevenson undertook the conductorship. —At the Friday night rink Mrs Riddell appeared in a very tasteful dress of black velvet, trimmed with honiton, which was much admired. — A marriage is announced shortly to take place between Mr Robert Badger, of Newton Road, and Miss Martin, of Kyber Pass. — The new telegraph clerk is the coming 7nan with the Gisborne ladies. He was in great form at the Foresters' Ball. — The engagement is announced of Miss Ellen Fisher, daughter of Mr Fisher of Q.ueen-street to Mr Clement Bartley of the Savings' Bank. The Foresters' Ball, at Gisborne, was a grand success, there were about 80 couples present Miss T. looked very well but Miss B. was the acknowledged belle. — Mr Fred Prime, the popular young foreman at Porter and Co.'s ironmongery establishment, is to be married to Miss Hoyes, of Newton, next Thursday. — A marriage is to take place in November next, between Mr Higgins, of Union-street, and Miss May Beasley, a new arrival. The happy couple are to be united at St Paul's Church, and proceed to the Waikato, immediately after the ceremony, to spend the honeymoon. — A fishing party of about 3«i gentlemen chartered the s.s. City of Cork, and enjoyed a run down to Rangitoto last Saturday. They had fair sport and caught plenty of small schnappev and kawai. — The private Wednesday evening dancing class in the Ponsonby Hall brought the season to a close with a ball on Wednesday evening. All the available tickets had been applied for a fortnight previously, and consequently there was a large attendance. The programme included no less than twent-five dances. — The Tea. Gardens surrounding the hall, Kawakawa, were beautifully and tastefully lighted up with coloured lanterns on the occasion of the Young Ladies Ball, given last week. Thus the slurs and defaming inuendos hitherto so freely hawked about after such festive events were ; avoided, and the bottles usually hid in the dark corners dispensed with. The longer we live the more we learn of the ways of wickedness. — Mrs John James, of Epsom, gave a pleasant dance on Monday. About thirty couples were I present, amongst whom we noticed Capt and Mrs J Andrews, Mr and Miss Amy Barstow, Mr W. and Miss Cleghorn, Mrs W. Oklham, Mr and Mrs Carte, the Misses Pcrcival, Misses Owen, Mr Bruce and ! others. By a rather strange coincidence all the ladies were dressed in black, except Mrs Carte, who wore a pretty dress of gvey and cardinal. Charley was there attending busily to his guests, and pater James made a jolly host. The port and sherry was Al. — The " long night" of the Friday evening rinking club at the Choral Hall proved a great success, notwithstanding a lack of programmes and an insufficiency of liquid refreshment. The ladies were slightly in the majority, but the stewards were assidious in the discharge of their duties and consequently no one had any reason to complain of neglect. There were so many handsome girls present that we are quite at a loss to say who was the belle of the ball. It would be unwise to make a pronouncement upon such, a delicate point for no matter how judiciously the arbitration were given, it would be sure to be challenged from a dozen different quarters. It is said that the gentlemen of the club intend giving a return party to the committee as a recognition of the thorough, satisfaction which, is felt with their management of the club.

— T\vo young ladies, residing in a suburb not fifty miles from Auckland, were very anxious to attend tiie last Ponsonby "At Home," and came into town on the afternoon of the dance in search, of a chaperon. The first old lady they asked to accompany them had, however, a horror of sitting alone through a long dreary evening, and firmly declined to be overcome by kisses and other blandishments. The girls were therefore driven to seek out someone else, and set off for the house of a good-natured lady friend, residing at Ponsonby. What was their horror to find, after a long walk, the cottage locked up and the inhabitants evidently away from home. Most females would now have given up the dance expedition in despair, and returned whence they came. Not so our heroines. Climbing into the house by an unfastened window, they proceeded to investigate the premises, and in due course descovered a fairly filled larder. This they instantly rifled, and after lighting the fire and partaking of a hearty tea set off to the " At Home " unchaperoned. The evening proved a very pleasant one, and about 2 a.m. our heroines returned to Mrs domicile and took possession of the marital couch. In the meantime, however, a neighbour had_ "spotted" their doings, and by way of punishment for their forward conduct, hid their morning dresses. The consequence was that next day the girls were in a great state, and it was only after a long search they discovered the missing garments. Breakfast, however, somewhat reassured them, and about 10 a.m. they locked up Mrs ■ — — house and returned jovially home. After this no one need call our Colonial girls unenterprising.