SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 61, 12 November 1881, Page 134

SOCIETY

plate for a regatta or a race meeting, and these exhibitions are at least as entertaining, and without doubt more improving, than either one or the other.

HWe 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 X 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 m an unusual way, or auy 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 as forwarded) will be used. Items intended for insertion in the current issue should reach this ofiice not later than Wednesday morning.— Editor OBSERVER. I

—A quadrille party was held at the North Shore on the Bth inst. — Mr Goodwin, of Otahuhu, is engaged to Miss Campbell, of Nelson-street. ' — Jim Massey and liis bride spent their honeymoon at the North Shore last week. — Mr John Tomes, of Kirakira, is engaged to Miss Etta Carter, of Waikomiti. — Mr James Rae, late of Mangere, was married the other day at Newmarket to Miss Higgins. — The Bachelors' Ball was to take place at Wairoa South last (Thursday) evening. — Mr and Mrs W. J. Hurst were conspicuous at the Lawn Tennis Club at the North Shore on Saturday. — Mr Gregeon, of the Bank of Australasia, was married, on Tuesday last to Miss Harriet George, of Parnell. — The ladies man at tho North Shore has once again proved fickle. Naughty fellow, when will he settle down and become a benedict. —Mr F. W. Crookes, formerly of Grafton-road School, has recently got engaged to Miss Graham, of Okaihau. — An engagement is announced between Miss I Lundon, of Onehunga, and Mr G. Barry, arising I contractor at Hokianga. — The Newton lads are going in for matri- j mony. Two weddings will take place shortly, viz., Mr C. Colgan to Miss Brewer, and Mr j. Hobson to Miss Mary Roe. — An engagement is announced between Mr J. Tynan, of Onehunga, ancl Miss O'Keefe, of the same locality. The event is likely to take place about Christmas. — We are informed that a number of Symonds street gentlemen propose giving a " social " in a wqgjk or two. A meeting to arrange preliminaries came off with considerable eclat on Monday evening last. _ — The Choir stall at St. Matthew's Bazaar bids fair to be a great success, as the members and their friends are busily at work preparing nicJiaes for it. Mrs Mumford has kindly consented to receive subscriptions and donations at her residence, Symonds-street, next Dr Wine's. — The breaking-up party in connection with Mrs Johnson's dancing class was an unqualified success. Dancing was kept up " till the wee sma' j hours ay ont the twal," the music being piano and clarionet. Early in the evening several ladies j and gentlemen performed the amusing comedy of "The Happy Family," ancl tableaux vivants were also indulged in. — On the 24th instant a Grand Bazaar and Fancy Fair in connection with St. Matthew's Church, under the patronage of the Lord Bishop of the diocese and the Hon. the Premier of New Zealand, will be held in the drill-shed, and (by advertisement in another column) it is requested that intending contributors will forward their gifts to the parsonage at an early date. —The parties of the Saturday Fishing Society have been so successful of late that it has been resolved to continue them permanently throughout the season. An advertisement in another column notifies that the p.s. City of Cork will leave the Queen-street wharf (weather permitting) for the fishing ground at 1 sharp to-morrow (Saturday), returning not later than 5.30 p.m. Gentlemen wishing to go must send their names | in to Mr W. S. Pulford, Obsebver office, not later than 9 a.m. on Saturday. Tickets 5s each, gentlemen to bring their own bait and tackle. — Foi- various reasons, we never expected to see Mr E. M. Edgeumbe again, but he is now on tlie way out, and will be here shortly. Rumour explains his visit to England by a yarn to the effect that Lord Mount Edgeumbe (as trustee for Mr E. M. E.s two boys) is in reality Mr Fred Whitaker's partner in the Waikato Times, and that Mr Edgeumbe himtelf only acted as his uncle's representative. The arrangement didn't " Sf '" wJ ien ready money fell . short, and E.M.E. went home to try and raise the wind on £3000, which conies to him on the death of his father, who is 80. His return looks as if he had , ucceeded. —The Spring Exhibition of the Auckland Horticultural Society takes place at the Choral ] Hall on the 16th ancl 17th insts, when " currant jellyism" from Parnell, Ponsonby, and Remuera ! will assemble in force to view the show (which promises to be unusually good) of pot-plants, cut flowers, fruit, and vegetables. In London one of the great events of the summer season is the ! Horticultural Society's annual exhibition afc Ken- , smgton, and if only Mrs Whitaker and other ! leaders of ton will take a little interest in our < local affair its attractions will certainly be greatly magnified. There can be no doubt that a flower show is an admirable place to exhibit a pretty ' dress at, and it would scarcely surprise us if the \ fair ses were to give us a glimpse of theii- new summer costumes on Wednesday and Thursday next. Anyhow the Observer's lady correspondent means to be there, and will keep a sharp lookout for everything new and pretty. Apart, however, from their social aspect, the exhibitions of the Horticultural Society well deserve hearty , support from the public. ' Now that the Acclimatisation Society' is moribund in so far as plants, etc. are concerned, it is to the Horticultural we must look for the introduction of novel fruits and flowers. Some of our local Croesuses might do worse than offer a cup or two fpr competition at the Horticultural Exhibitions. There is never any difficulty in getting a cart-load of silver