THE LADIES

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 68, 31 December 1881, Page 243

THE LADIES

"A Constant Reader" is very anxious to know tlie names of the six young ladies who were first in obtaining Certificates of' Proficiency from the Board of Education in Auckland. Their names ■were — Christian Robertson, Frances Marian George, Laura Munro, Ellen Fenton, Ella Burton, Ada Warner, Kate Davy. The last two, although receiving letters from the Board to testify that they had obtained the number of marks, did not actually receive certificates, as they were just turned sixteen, and at that time the Board only gave certificates to those under sixteen. Of these young ladies, Miss Robertson -went to Queen's College, London, and graduated ; Miss Laura Munro is now Mrs Wilson, of Christelnircli; and Miss Kate Davy is married in Wellington. The rest of that fair and blooming bevy of girls remain in sicdu quo. The marriage of Miss Harris, only daughter of C. A. Harris, Esq., was celebrated in St. Mathcw's Church on Wednesday, December 21st, by the Rot. Mr Tebbs, assisted by the Rev. CM. Nelson. The bride wore a handsome white satin dress, en 2})-incesse, with long train, elaborately trimmed with Honiton lace ; white tulle veil, and orange blossoms. The bridesmaids, Miss Emily Clayton and Miss Maggie Kelly, wore short dresses of plain white silk, with blush roses on the corsage, Grainsborougli hats, with cream feathers. The groomsmen were Mr James Coates and Mr C. Harris. There was a fashionable attendance in the church to witness the ceremony, the bride being well known and much liked. Mrs Haines wore a pale blue satin dress with bonnet and feathers to match. Mrs H. P. Barber, a maroonfigured satin, trimmed with pale pink brocaded satin ; bonnet and flowers to match costume. The wedding breakfast was supplied by Canning, therefore we need not say it was both costly and recherche. The happy pair proceeded to the

Waikato by the half -past four train on the same evening.

As the decorations of the chxxrch of All Saint's | appear to have been left out altogether by the morning paper, and as it appeared to ourselves most beautifully and tastefully adorned, here goes for a description, if possible. If the naughty ladies who said " they -would have nothing to do ■with it — no, never for ever again," really kept to their word, then at least sojuebody did it, and did it -well. In fact we heard it was " done by the yard," so determined were some of the ladies that it should be done by somebody. We ought to premise by saying that the beautiful articles purchased by means of the Indies' church aid working society for the decoration of the apse were in their places. The handsome altar cloth bore placed upon it two pair of exquisite gold vases filled with floral offering. The new carpet, the folding stools, the kneeling cushions, gave a Christmas air to the little church, in itself tasteful and picturesque. The large and handsome font was also there. But not in its right place ! Wo. The fitting, right, and proper place for a font is at the entrance to the church, as holy baptism is the rule which introduces us to the privileges of church membership, but every aspirant thereto must enter by the door. To place a font where last Sunday the lectern stood is a serious innovation, and one which we are quite sure will be remedied as soon as possible. Now for the decorations, they were in the best possible taste, and very lovely, mostly in green and white. The arch of the sanctuary apse bore emblazoned in scarlet letters the text, '• Unto us a son is born," and depending from the arch were wreaths of foliage interspersed with geraniums. Nikaxi palms were festooned round all the small windows. But, the painted windows above the altar held an enormous floral cross composed of foliage and white flowers. Over the organ was the word " Hallelujah" in gold letters on a scarlet ground, and on the vestry door, " Christ is born in Bethlehem," illuminated in letters of gold and blue and red. Mrs Campbell sang the solo in the anthem. A densely packed audience of the elite of Auckland crowded the Choral Hall to hear the performance of the " Messiah," on Thursday, the 22nd inst.; in fact, so great was the crush that asphyxiation would have been the order of the evening had not someone very wisely thrown open the large entrance doorsjtheroby cooling the heated atmosphere, and giving those who came too late to sec at least a chance to hear. The dais was elegantly decorated with the creeper of the passion llowt >• and rod geraniums ; and as the brilliant gaslLiit fell on the white dresses of the sopranos and altos, and the shining brass instruments of the band, one was fain to confess that " there are more things in Heaven and earth, Horatio, than arc ever dreamt of in our philosophy." Again, the overmastering excellence of the instrumental parts, and of the really grandly executed choruses, was more than ever perceptible ; and the solos (if we shall ever be forgiven for saying so) went a little worse than usual, with one or two exceptions. One gentleman positively broke down. We thought ourselves that Mr Brett's rendering of " Why do the Nations ?" was the gem of the evening. There is no doubt that Mrs Upton and Miss Corbet's arias were, par excellence, the soprano solos of the concert. Miss Fenton, from nervousness or some other cause, did not do herself justice ; we have hcai'd her sing much better. Perhaps she was a little overweighted. And, in point of fact, who would not bo overweighted in attempting the solos of that grand oratorio, which, to do it full justice, has taxed the highest strength, and genius, and passion of the greatest artistes of the world . The critic who writes the notices in the Herald re the Opera, etc., makes sometimes very queer mistakes. He says the Montagu-Turner Company is the best we have had here 3ince the EseottSquires Company. This is paying the present Opera Company a very poor compliment, unless an equivocal one. We remember the Escott -Squires Company, which came here eighteen years ago, and was the first strain of operatic music we had ever listened to since we left the old country. We paid 10s for a chair to listen, and devoutly wished ourselves away many times before the opera was over. With the exception of one of the tenors (Beaumont), there was not a decent voice among them. The prima donna (Madame Lucy Escott) was a fine looking woman, and once had a voice, but it was gone. Now, if anyone had chanced to say that this is the best company we have had since Alice May fairly charmed us out in " Satauolla," that would have been a compliment. There are very few things which make impression xxpon a hardened old habitue of concerts and theatres, but the two things we do remember jotting oxit sharply, after thirty years of such like things, are— the white arms, the voice, the acting of Miss Alice May, and the singing of the treble of the "Elijah" by Eosina and Fanny Carandini. The Escott-Squires Company had little to recommend them, and can only be remembered for the high prices they charged, and the utter lack of all scenery and requisites for the representation of the drama. For marriage presents, we can recommend everyone to inspect F. H. Lewisson's stock of sterling silver goods, in cases, consisting of fruit knives and forks, nap rings, fish slice and forks, tea, table, desert and salt spoons. Two, four, and six in a case. Q.uccn-strcet, Auckland. — [Adtt.]