SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 66, 17 December 1881, Page 211

SOCIETY

-St James's choir propose holding a social picnic! on Eoxing Pay. — A correspondent assures us that Miss A. MeGee was unquestionably the belle of tlie Otahuhu ball on Tuesday week. - — A friendly dance was held at Wellsford on .Saturday last, after the cricket match with the Port Albert Eleven. There were a number of ladies present, and Hie evening proved most enjoyable. ■ — Miss Speight's social took place in the Parnell school last Tuesday evening ami was a decided success. Miss Speight's representation of v " ]S"un " and Miss Annie Clarke's of a "Sleeping 13eauty " were perfection. — Admiral Aslanbexoff, of the Africa, belonging to Hip "Russian Paeiffe Squadron, dined with His Worship the Mayor and Mayoress at " The Tower," Remuera, on Monday evening. The Admiral was accompanied by his private secretary. The oih'eers of the Africa have been lionised during the week. — Mr Peter Oliphant, solicitor, has taken unto himself n vei'y charming wife, in the person of Miss Burnett— a young lady who taught in the "Welloslpy -street School. The marriage was fixed for Christinas, but the impatient Peter found the time of probation unnecessarily long, and so the knot was quietly and unceremoniously tied on Saturday week. Xo one received prior intimation of the event. - On Thursday last, a fashionable wedding took place at St. Mary's, Parnell. The bride, Miss Trimble, late of Belfast, was attired in a beautiful costume of fine white cashmere, trimmed with Iloniton lace and white satin, a la pri license. The veil was of Iloniton lace. The bridesmaids wore white llninn, trimmed with white silk and navy blue toques. The happy man avjis Mr Purvis, one of the Katikati settlers, and reported to possess large private means. The Yen. Archdeacon Maun sell performed the ceremony. - -A series of lahlcaux vivants, three in number, are being arranged in connection with a Christmas-tree entertainment, which is to be given on Monday evening next in the 13eresford-street Schoolroom. The first is termed "A Fairy Gathering," the second illustrates the nursery tale of " Little Red Riding Hood," and the third is a Geographical Tableaux, in which the continents of the world and many countries, including of course jNTcw Zealand, will be represented.. There will be a gorgeous display of colours in the costumes, and plenty of gilt and tinsel. The teachers muy'be depended upon not to omit the usual dance afterwards. . •

' • — Dean's Minstrels will give their annual entertainment on Montluy evening, the 26th, in aid of the Sick and Accident Fund of the Auckland Fire Brigade. We bespeak for them the bumper house of -which the cause is so worthy. — Mrs Kolnn has painted a picture of Captain Cook landing at Doubtless Bay, and which is at present on 1 view at Mr Angelo Forrest's warehouse in Queen-street. Mrs Jfolan intends presenting the picture to the Bazaar in aid of the Newton Church, at which it will be disposed'of by art union in the usual way. — Mr A. G-. Ilorton returned to Aucklann by the Arawata on Monday List, and has been congratulated by his large" circle of friends on the visible improvement in his health and spirits. Mr Hortoii was the reverse of idle whilst in England, and brings witli him many advertising novelties and specialities for the Weekly Ketvs and Herald. — The amateur concert in the Masonic Hall, Kemuera, attracted a large and fashionable audient'c, and was highly successful. The Mayor, the Mayoress, the Russian Admiral, and many of the elite of Beinuera were present. A wellselected programme was efficiently performed. Mrs Clark playctl a pianoforte solo with excellent taste. Amongst other instrumentalists and singers were Mrs Stevens, Mrs Lodder, Miss Woolnough, and Messrs Morgan, E. Hesketh, Forth, and Gordon Grooch. — A picnic party, composed principally of the youth and beauty of St. Paul's congregation, supplemented with a few representatives from St. Andrew's, spent a pleasant afternoon at Vauxhall on .Saturday last. Strawberries and cream, sweetened with a little oscillatory exercise, and followed by some dancing upon the croquet lawn to the music discoursed by an amateur plantist, served 1o while away the time very pleasantly. On the return to the boat the party generously gave the benighted ""suburbans" the benefit of some vocal musical selections. Miss P. managed the affair excellently. Mr A. was highly disgusted because his recommendation concerning the " Postmann's Knock " failed to excite much enthusiasm. lie played it, however, on his own account. — A marriage, which excited considerable interest, took place at St. Sepulchre's Church at the early hour of 5 o'clock on Tuesday morning, when Mr George Thorne, of Christchurch, led to the altar Miss Murdoek, who has been for some time past the guest of Mr Heather. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. 33. L. Dudley, incumbent of St. Sepulchre's. The bridesmaids were Miss Robertson, daughter of Mr John Robertson, and the Misses Gertrude and Winifred Rice, daughters of Mr V. E. Rice, of the Board of Education. Mr Heather gave the bride away, Mr H. B. Morton and the Masters Heather acting as groomsmen. The wedding was choral, and at the conclusion of the ceremony the Wedding March was played by the organist. Considering the early hour there was a goodly muster of friends and spectators. The bride and the bridegroom looked extremely well. — A most enjoyable evening was spent at the Temperance Hall on Tuesday, when the second series of concerts and tableau vivants took place | iv connection with the Young Ladies Institute. The tableau, " Bluebeard," was amusing on the whole. The scenery was good, and the music appropriate. About 200 people were present. The children, 30 in number, aquited themselves capitally. When the curtain was drawn (sister Annie) little Angelina White, stood waving her handkerchief over the top of the tower, and Linn. Sampson made up well as Bluebeard's wife, Tasso Impey, as Bluebeard also won golden opinions, and the two little Wildertons were all that could be desired as the newly wedded prince and princess. They were encored four times. Tiny (Dalsie Wickham) and Lina Eastdown looked more like wax dolls than children as the two fairies, but on the whole they were good throughout. Angelina White (Sister Anne) and Zalinia (Linia Sampson) carried the palm of beauty, the former being |a pretty little brunette and the latter blounde. There are not words enough to praise Miss Edith Fairburn for the mrnner in which she trained the 30 children, and they were all as attentive to her as if she was ther elder sister. But as all Auckland jieople know the Nairburns are clover, and little may be said on that score. Mr Ewington read splendidly, and Miss Smith was attentive to the wants of everybody. — The satisfaction of the ladies of the Symondsstreet social union at the ball given by their gentlemen friends, found expression in a return dance, which was held at the Wewton East school last Friday evening. There were upwards of sixty present, and Messrs B. Johnson and Philp ably filled the position of M.C.'s. The music was supplied by Mr Arthur Eady's string band, The ladies' committee were unceasing in their endeavours to make the affair a success, Mrs Johnson and Miss Strctton, the secretary and treasurer, being especially deserving of commendation. The dance was the most successful of the many pleasing re-unions given by the energetic members of the Symonds-street social union. The ladies' dresses: Mrs Johnson, lavender silk, prune velvet trimmings ; Mrs Fountain, black cashmere, trimmed with pink sateen and looped up with, blush roses ; Miss Johnson, black silk and Machlin lace ; Miss Edith Johnson, blue and white checked sateen, silver ornaments ; Miss Emma Johnson, costume of grey cashmere and' silk ; Miss Stretton, black and blue lustre ; Miss Doyle, black velvet jersey bodice, black cashmere skirt ; Mis* Philp, black cashmere, with oatmeal cloth fishwife, trimmed with crewels (rose design) ; Miss N. Philp, black grenadine, blue sateen sailor collar, elbow cuffc's and fishwife; Miss Jessie Campbell, black and white striped grenadine ; Miss Furness, white muslin, pale blue satin trimmings and silver ornaments ; Miss Christmas, biscuit-coloured satin cloth, trimmed with prune silk ; the Misses Kinloch, grey cashmere. Amongst the gentlemen present were,' Messrs F. G-. Ewington, James Whitson, Oliver Woymouth, George Done, Alfred Bartlett, Arthur* Partridge, . Tiri Gibson, Partirrgton, Edward Stretton, W. J. Geddis, Alexander S. Reid, R. Comyns Maxwell, Ernest James, B. Johnson, Kinloch, Cahill (2), Fo\intain, Simpson, G. Campbell, etc. The ladies were greatly disappointed at the Absence of Mr Tregonning.