OUR CHRISTCHURCH LETTER.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 66, 17 December 1881, Page 216

OUR CHRISTCHURCH LETTER.

CmusxcuußCiT, December 7. There is such a lot of news this month that. I hardly know where to begin or how to classify it. First : In order of precedence comes the opening of our Cathedral. 1 believe it is considered a grand effort for Xew Zealand, and T am bound to believe it is. 13 ut to me " a cathedral " recalls St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, York Minster, and the grand old buildings of dear far-away Belgium. The Christchurch Cathedral is, after all, but a building something like a large English parish, church, staringly now and garish. Candidly, I don't care about it. A church- woman all my life, I yet, in simplicity of doctrine, am almost a Quakeress, and the length to which High Church practices are carried here docs not. harmonise with my feelings at all. When 1 was a girl there were pulpits and black-gowned pastors even in cathedrals, and during the early days in Auckland our services were simply beautiful. We had no pulpits which was an improvement, and the white vestments stood out in beautiful relief to the dark rich colouring cf the wood of the chancel. Simplicity and earnestness characterised our good bishop — Bishop Selwvn — and members of the clergy. Did not these men go constantly, taking their lives in their hands, to carry the Gospel to the heathen and savages r 1 Was not the impress of a great faith and a great courage so written on the faces of men like Bishop Pattison that their very countenances were beautified and sanctified ? I have heard a few men such, as these since I have been in Canterbury. I nearly cried I was so affected when I heard John Selwvn, whom I had not, seen since he was quite a lad, and who has inherited much of his father's earnestness and simplicity. Our own good old bishop is a much, (and I think a deservedly) respected man, but I do not like to see him walking in procession with any amount of white-robed choristers and clergy, and a cross and crosier carried before him. The day after the opening services, of which the local papers would give you a full account, Mrs Harper, the bishop's wife, gave a reception, a sort of garden party. At this party I first saw entire costumes of pale pink, blue, and cream colour, generally worn with a black or cherry-ripe hat. Some of these costumes are very fresh and elegant, but ladies in the street, clothed entirely in the palest shade of jDuik or wearing pale blue with cream lace, look as if they were going to a perpetual party. Auckland friends will, I am sure, be interested to henv that at the reception at Bishop's Court I saw Mrs Buller. wife of the Rev. J". Bull or. The dear old lady is looking as bright and as active as evei', and has the same warm welcome for every one who goes to see her at her new and pretty home, on the Papanui Road, that she has ever had. She has the happy knack of being truly polite, making herself quite the obliged party if you go to see her, and is consequently beloved by all and sundry of every creed who have the pleasure of knowing her. Mr Bnllcr is, in his old age, the same pleesant, genial man I have over known him. Some worthy people think it impossible to be religious and yet agreeable ; but I confess I cannot see the virtue of aggressive ■crossness, nor why it is necessary to be disagreeable in order to prove that you are devout. Anyhow, the Bullers manage to be pious and plea sa life, which is a gveat boon to their largo circle of acquaintances and friends. I was very sorry Bishop Cowie was not able to be down to the opening of the cathedrial. I have once had the pleasure of seeing him since I have been down here, and found him a thoroughly nice man, who does not forget an old friend. But from the Church to the races, what a horrible leap ! I did not go, but some young lady friends did. They speak of the new stand and enclosure as a great improvement and benefit. Doubtless they are from inside the enclosure, but I have seeu several grumbling letters in the papers about this large space being devoted to the " bloated aristocrats." I inquired as to the dresses, and was told, " The usual thing now — dresses drawn and puffed most extensively in the

very palest shades, pink particularly." I have seen a golden brown " Mother Hubbiird " trimmed with gold-shaded ribbon and lined with cardinal satin. It is worn, with a cream lace hat trimmed with old-gold feather, shaded leaves and cardinal flowers. The wearer — a very slender, graceful young lady — is from Auckland. I met the other day Mr Jamos Smart, formerly of the firm of Cruickshank, Smart and Co. I did not know him at first, and he accosted me by my maiden, name, which J have relinquished for more than 20 years, which proves what a Aery old acquaintance he is. Mr Smart and family are living in Christchuvch. Onr garden parties have beon numerous and very recherche. Generally the costumes are tasteful and well-chosen ; but one young lady certainly sacrificed good taste to a desire to be singular. She wore ». cream-coloured dress extensively trimmed with cream lace of startling width over bright turkey -red, a hat whose dimensions were simply awfid, and which was trimmed and lined with black, and a black bow at her throat which would vie in size with the most outrageous tie ever worn by " Bones '' at a Christy Minstrel concert. The dress was little more than a kilt, and there was a plentiful display of red stockings. Really the young lady looked more like a figure out of an opera chorus than one of the " Upper Ten" at a garden party. 1 heard many remarks, move of amusement than admiration. For obvious reasons Ido not give the name ; butl hope the wearer of this startling costume will, if she sees the OnriEKVJJK, take my hint. At the Assembly dances, of which Ilicrc were two in race week, there were not many striking dresses. Mrs Cathcart Wason wore a xovv splendid dress of red velvet, trimmed with painted satin, and ornaments of butterflies witli diamond eyes ; Mrs Banks, was in white and silver --a very conspicuous costume ; Mrs "Willies wore white silk, with red one night, and white ami shaded blue the other. There were several imported dresses — one of white silk. A young lady from Dunedin was much admired. A wvv successful dance was given last week by the linn of Miles and Co., merchants, in their large warehouse, Hereford-street. The dross most worthy of note was that of Mrs Louis .Neville. It was hand painted by Mr Neville, who is an artiM of no mean ability. Mr and Mrs Neville form one of the handsomest couples in Chri-tchuivh. I forgot to mention, in its proper place, our Cattle Show. It was such acru>h, trains crowded to excess, and no room to walk about when von got there. "We just saw the flower* and the dugs, and then got on the stand to watch the h >rses jump and see the moving mass below. Amongst the Aucklanders down i saw Mr .To.-cph Ma v and Mr Brett. Mr May told me it was a. very good Show, so I give you information on his authority, as I know nothing about it myself. I had nearly forgotten that Mrs JVter Cunningham, wife of one of our richest and most genial " merchant princes," gave a children's ball thi> week, which was largely at .tended . Mrs Cunningham is specially kind in catering for the little folks, and gave a large fancy dros ball last year. This ball was simple evening dress. The Cunninghams live in Merivale (one of our most fashionable suburbs), in a house built by the late Mr Sefton Moorhouse. Mr Cunningham lias had it beautified and adorned in the most costly style of modern decorative art. The hall is painted' in Egyptian red, and the walls and dado are dark and richly gilt. The centre of (lie floor is covered with Turkey carpet, the ground being a lovely forget-me-not blue. Folding doors join the hall to the dining-room for a ball room, as Avas the old, old plan at Government House, Auckland. The drawing-room, in pale blue satin, opens on an immense conservatory ; and the floors of both drawing-room and hall have a sort, of inlaid margin of polished wood round the carpet. The whole place is simply splendid, and the womanly wish to describe such a beautiful abode has, I fear, made me send you this time a paper of considerable length. Auxt Polly.