LADIES' RACE DRESSES.

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 524, 5 January 1889, Page 10

LADIES' RACE DRESSES.

WflMl HE presence of Hig Excellency Sir WilJm «. liara J ervois ' -Admiral Fairfax, and tbfl J" t officers of the Squadron, lent additional eclat to the A.X.C. Meeting for 188-9. Never did a more brilliant contingent of' fashion muster than that which graced the famous Ellerslie lawn on New Year's Day. The smiling blue sky, warm sunshine tempered by a cool refreshing breeze ; the velvety green sward with its parterres of vivid blossom, contrasting artistically with the soft harmonies of the ladies' costumes, formed a charming picture. A distinct line of dernarkation was noticeable between the gowns of this and the last race carnivals. The gorgeous richness of the tulip has been supplanted by the chaste simplicity of the lily. White, cream, and pale pink were the prevailing colours ; but limited as the tints were, some beautiful effects were produced. Mrs Fairfax appeared in a gown of soft blackness, with red relief, black bonnet, and gloves. Mrs Dr. Lewis was pronounced by everyone to be the most handsomely dressed woman there. Her gown was a poem in that indescribably lovely shade known as ' vieux rose,' costumed with clinging statuesque folds ; over the front of the exquisitely fitting corsage foamed a cascade of white lace. Her head-gear was a bit of beauty in white tulle, wUh blooms corresponding with the hue of the dress, nestling amongst the flimsy folds. Mrs Cobbett looked charming in a combination of soft tones in blue and grey silk, so cunningly mingled as to render it impossible to tell where one colour left off and the other began. Her bonnet was a pretty conceit, uniting the rival rays of the costume. Mrs Alfred Nathan was in russet brown silk. The effects of the rich classical draperies gleaming with new warmth and beauty in the bright sunlight, was still further enhanced by a tiny white tulle bonnet, which looked for all the world like a cluster of snow-flakes. One of the long parasols, a glimmering of red, clouded over with ficelle lace completed the toilette. Mrs L. D. Nathan's white dress was also an artistic success. Quantities of delicate Indian embroidery covered almost entirely the front of the jupe, and meandered over the jback draping, running up and down in graceful lines. Her hat was one of the new Gainsborough shape in grey straw, charmingly garnished with silk. Mrs Eeid's beautiful tan-coloured and niignon* ette-green costume was the subject of much admiring comment. The gown was so constructed as to show the green only when the wearer moved, giving the illusion of a tree just bursting into bud. The bonnet was in a cool tone of tan straw wonderfully brightened by a group of very real- looking chestnut blooms, tied with the mignonette shade. Mrs Moss Davis wore a stylish symphony in grey and \ieux rose, the becoming headgear artistically repeating the colours of 'the dress. Miss Davis' vivid red toilette lent a picturesque dash of biightness to the creams and whitea abounding everywhere. Miss Courtayne also wore a poetic gown of deep rich crimson, the white vest and the bird adorning the tall hat softening the brilliant tone in a wonderful way. Mrs Purchas wore a lovely white gown, the petticoat or dress, as some milliners call it, it being really a dress all but a bodice —was made of rich embroidery. Up one side was arranged a graceful trimming of the material itself ; the adjuncts were a large white hat, long tan gloveß' and a ' Sunset ' parasol the ferule half hidden by multitudinous ribbons. Mrs Clark's exquisite gown drifted over with lace, the filmy folds caught by an art bow — ft poem in itself — was a triumph. Mrs Wilson wore pale pink striped with cream. Her delicious chapeau was trimmed with pink feathers, that foamed over and upon each other like miniature breakers seen through rose-coloured spectacles. Miss Daveney was robed in brown silk, beautified across the front with a handsome white Liberty silk sash. Mrs Bloomfield, who was unanimously declared the belle of the lawn, wore an ;exquisite costume of neutral tint. The charming gowns above described form but a drop in the ocean of fashion flooding the lawn at Boxing Day and New Year's racing. Casasndba.

— A letter has been received by Mr Johnson, of Tasmania, from the secretary of the National Rifle Association in England, in which the writer speak 3of the introduction of sliding bar sights. He states that a patent sight has !.een i -laced under the notice of the association, and the advisableness of adopting- ifc will be discussed at the winter meeting 1 . There is every probability that sliding bara will be admissible at the next N.R.A. matches. This should be a great encouragement to the New S^uth Wales Association, which has been fighting so long and so hard for the use of sliding bars. —At last the New South Wales Bine Association has surmounted the difficulties which occurred in connection with the dispatch of a team to represent the mother colony. Major Walker is in charge of the team, which left here on Saturday, and which includes the following riflemen r Major Strong, (captain), Captain George, Lieutenants Keating, Cook, Foskett, and Farrar, Oolor-Sergeant Gee, Sergeants Lambert and Quontock, Privates M'lntosh, Keevers Carey and Christie, A.B.s Brooks and Gibson. A few-well-known shots are also visiting Tasmania. —At the last parade of the Wellington Rifle Battalion, Colonel Crowe, who was in 'command made the following- farewell speech. On many occasions he had felt proud to command such a nne body of men, who had not only earned a name for themselves in camp as well as on the parade ground, but had upheld the reputation of the district for discipline and good order. He would always take an interest in their future well are, and would strongly advise those corps that remained— as several must go, through being unable to r.iaeh tha require- i strength— to maintain themselves as independent corps, and on no account to form themselves into an administrative battalion, as he was well able to judge from his 20 years' volunteer experience that corps were more successful as iudependent corps than when forming a battalion. Afte? giviug several reasons for advising them to take this step Colonel Crowe concluded by wishing them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.