The Social Sphere

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 918, 8 August 1896, Page 10

The Social Sphere

By Muriel.

Mr and Mrs John Conrt entertained a large number of friends at a moat enjoyable dance on Wednesday of last week in the Ponsonby Hall. The dance was given in honour of the approaching marriage of their daughter Jeannie to Mr Seering H. Matthews, which event took place yesterday. The hall was beautifully and elaborately decorated for the occassion by Mr H. D Pike, the work, I understand, occupying two days to carry out. Words would fail to convey any idea of the transformation effected by the aid of draperies, bright flags, lace curtains, greenery, numerous pot plants, fairy lights, and large mirrors, -whiih reflected the gay and kaliedescopic scene. Mr Buchanan, of Wakefield street, provided a splendid supper, and Adam's string band supplied the dance music. Mr S. D Hanna acted as M.G., and by his assiduous attentions to all promoted in no small degree the success of the evening. Mr 3 Court wore a beautiful dress of brown bengaliue silk, the bodice relieved with silk Maltese lace ; Mrs Fred Court, black silk gown ; Mrs James Court, handsome black silk ; Mrs George Court, fawn- costume ; Mrs W Court, black merveilleux, the bodice brightened with pink; Mrs Matthews, sen., black costume ; Mrs J. Shaw, creme ; Mrs Heightington Jones, blue dress with sleeves of ruby plush ; Mrs Henricksen, pretty black silk costume ; Mrs H. D. Pike, handsome black silk gown, veiled in black tulle, with yellow chenille spots ; Mrs Clark, black and white costume.

Miss Court wore a very pretty creme dress with blue silk spot, tastefully trimmed with pale blue silk, blue chiffon and ailver passementerie ; Miss Florrie Court looked well in charming pink cashmere dress, finished with creme lace and silver passementerie; Miss Katie Court (Onehunga), pretty creme silk dress; Miss Cotes looked extremely well in white cashmere dress, trimmed with white satin; Miss Mary Edwards, chaiming dress of sea-green cashmere and silk, finished with fischu of white chiffon; Miss Ria Edwards, pretty yellow crepon dress, with sleeves and trimmings of creme satin; Miss McDonald, dainty blue cashmere dress trimmed with satin and chiffon ; Mis 3 Russell looked well in creme relieved with blue; Miss Cobb, creme, tastefully trimmed with buttercup silk; Miss Laura Edmiston, very pretty creme silk gown, trimmed with gold passementerie; Miss Nellie Edmiston looked charming in pale blue silk grenadine frock, finished with chiffon ; Miss McKay looked well in black silk and grenadine dress, the bodice profusely trimmed with jet; Misß Geddis, creme silk relieved with amber; Miss S. Dickey looked nice in black velvet, with large sleeves of white silk; Miss M. Dickey, pretty white cashmere and silk dress ; Miss Campbell, creme silk, relieved with buttercup silk; her sister wore a pretty pale blue frock; Miss Carrigan, pretty creme dress, finished with lace and pale blue ribbon; Miss Hewson, creme, finished with chiffon.

Mrs D. Hay, Remuera, gave a very successful 'afternoon tea' on Wednesday of last week, in honour of Mrs A. C. H. Collins {nee Miss Devore). A. nnmber of guests were present, and the time was most agreeably and pleasantly spent. Several songs were given by Mrs Cooper, Mrs Sibbald and Mrs Harrop, which contributed to the pleasure of the gathering. The table was laden with dainty cakes, trifles, etc., supplied by Waters, confectioner, and was very tastefully decorated with pink silk arranged down the centre, relieved with delicate ferns, white camellias, and pretty fairy lights, the effect being exceedingly pretty Mrs Hay received her guests in a handsome gown of gobelin blue corded t-ilk; Mrs A C. H. Collins looked extremely well in a stylish navy blue and black cloth dress, and pretty black velvet picture hat ; Mrs Devore was attired in a handsome black silk gown and stylish little bonnet. Mrs Alexander, stylish brown costume ; Mrs J. B. White, handsome brown cloth costume, fawn vest, bonnet to match ; Mrs Kempthorne, handsome black figured costume; Mrs S. Y. Collins, pretty heliotrope crepon gown, bonnet to match; Mrs Hay, tweed gown, brown velvet hat ; Mrs E. W. Burton, pretty

green dress, black bonnet; Mrs Dufaur, stylish brown and black curl cloth gown, pretty brown hat.

Mrs A. Bach wore a stylish black skirt, pretty heliotrope blouse veiled in black lace, fawn bonnet ; Mrs J. Hay, handsome black silk gown, black bonnet ; Mrs Mahoney, dainty brown velvet coscume, stjlishhat to match; Mrs Newell, pretty black dress, trimmed with electric blue silk, hat to match ; Mrs Harrop, neat black costume, trimmed with white silk, veiled with black lace, black bonnet ; Mrs Caldwell, handsome green costume, the bodice trimmed with gold sequins, hat en suite; Mrs Thornes looked well in electric blue costume, toque to match ; Mrs (Dr) Cooper, pretty black and wine curl cloth gown, black hat ; Mrs Crawshaw, handsome green silk gown, very dainty green velvet bonnet ; Mrs W. Collins, pretty fawn and green tweed gown ; Mrs Catianach, pretty wine coloured curl cloth dress, trimmed with velvet and sequin trimmings ; Mrs E. Diddams, black velvet costume, becoming black hat. Miss Bach assisted her aunt, Mrs Hay, and Jooked very nice in dark blue crepon skirt and heliotrope shot silk blouse, relieved with white chiffon ; other ladies were present, but their names are forgotten.

The marriage of Mr B. Perkins, schoolmaster at Red Hill, to Miss Neary, of Parnell, was quietly solemnized on Wednesday, July loth, at St John's, Parneil, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Father Kehoe. The bride was given away by Mr J. R. Stewart, and looked extremely nice in a very pretty and tasteful travelling dress of blue crepon trimmed with black corded silk and lace, very pretty velvet hat to match, trimmed with black satin ribbon and ospreys; she also wore two dainty gold brooches, the gift of the bridegroom. Miss E. Neary attended her sister as bridesmaid, and wore a tweed dress, and hat to match. Mr Fenton acted as best man. The happy couple left for Uelensville, en route for their future home at Te Kopuru.

The plain and fancy dress ball held in the Gladstone Hall, Northcote, on the evening of Friday week, passed off most successfully. Although the weather was anything but agreeable, a number of visitors were present from the Lake and North Shore. The hall was nicely decorated with flowers and evergreens. Amongst those present were Miss M. Goodail, Carmen ; Miss Ward looked very nice as a Gipsy Queen ; Miss A. Goodail, Nancy Lee ; Miss McLean looked well as Goddess of Liberty ; Miss Smallwood, evening dress ; Miss Ripley, evening dress ; Miss Langdon made a charming Waitress ; Mra Freeman and Miss Buck, evening dress; Miss McGuire, attractive little Romp ; Miss Tunny, Alma ; Misses Carder (3), evening dress ; Miss Devonport, evening dress ; Miss Lees, evening dress ; Mrs Williams, pretty pale blue dress; Mrs Pitt, Ivy ; Miss Taw looked well as Vanity ; Miss Morgrove, Italian L ancing Girl ; Miss Marvell, evening dress ; Miss Vince, evening dress ; Miss N. Ward, Grandpa's Darling, looked charming; Mrs JBriggs, Queen of the Roses ; Miss Gee, Swiss Reaper ; Mrs Brooks, evening dress ; Mrs McLaughlin. evening dress ; Mrs Rodgers ; Miss Flo Reach, as a Tabernacle Footballer, did credit to her team ; Miss Buck, For-get-me-not. The following gentlemen were in fancy costumes : Mr Langdon, French Count; Mr A. McDonald, Cricketer; Mr Smith, Sambo ; Mr Wabsters, Sambo's Wife. The happy couple caused a good deal of amusement during the evening, as also did Mr F. Jackson as Dummy ; Messrs A. J. McLean, Marquis; S. McPhail, Tommy Atkins, F. Carlquist, Prince Valdemar; George Koss, Spanish Pedlar ; E. Winters, Admiral ; J. Taw, Jockey ; Alf Hurley, Lord Salisbury ; Parker, Life Jbnoy ; H. Gee, Fiji ' Toff ;' Patterson, Australian Stockman ; A. Searle, Our Jack ; S. Carson, Rear Admiral ; W. Hurley, Fisher Boy. Altogether, about fifty couples graced the floor, and dancing was kept up till the early hours of the morning. Messrs Fred Carlquist and George Ross acted most efficiently as M. C*s.

The annual social in connection with St. Patrick's Cathedral, tendered by a committee of ladies, was held in the Catholic Institute, on Wednesday, the 29th inst., and proved to be a great success. Fully sixty-five couples danced to the delightful music supplied by Mr Alf. Marriage's band. Rev. Fathers Madden, Buckley, Mnlvihill and Rev. Dr. Egan were also present. The hall was tastefully decorated with evergreens and bunting by Mr Scholium and others, and the M.G.s, Messrs E. F. Noonan and P C. White, by their courtesy and attention greatly added to the geueral enjoyment. Miss C. Burke looked exceedingly well in deep creme nunsveiling, creme satin, relieved with gold trimming ; Miss S. Gough, very becoming creme with gold trimmings ; Miss H. Burke, stylish pale pink nunsveiling with black trimming; Miss Collins looked well in all pink, pretty creme opera cloak with white fur trimming; Miss R. Ftrnandez, creme silk, relieved with creme tulle and satin trimming ; Miss K. Gough, pretty canary costume, white lace trimming ; Mrs Tapper looked well in black silk costume; Miss Quinn, all white

costume (very neat) ; Miss Lonergan, pretty dark green velvet, relieved with black jet and a spray of creme roses ; Miss "White, white nnnsveiling, creme trimming; Miss Little, pretty pale blue ; Miss Nolan, pink, black sleeves ; Miss Grace, creme costume (very neat) ; Miss M. McCormick, white, creme silk trimming; Miss K. O'Neill, pretty pale blue, creme trimming ; Miss Smith, strawberry, creme silk sash; Miss Molloy, black velvet, red roses; Miss M. Keenan, white muslin, pretty red sash; Mies Baker, all white costume; Miss B. Keenan, creme serge, creme satin trimming ; Miss Hickson, creme costume ; Miss Riley, salmon pink costume ; and others too numerous to mention.

Mrs F. Winstone, ' Lucerne ' Remnera, fave b> very pleasant afternoon tea on 'riday last, which was attended by a camber of gueßts. Songs were nicely rendered by Mrs Sibbald and Mrs Lawry. The table -was prettily decorated and laden with all descriptions of dainty cakes, etc. Amongst the guestß were Mrs Holland, Mrs Lusher, Mrs T. Finlayson, Mrs Steele, Mrs Pritt, Mrs "Williams, Mrs Lawry, Mrs Devore, Mrs Lennox, Mrs (Dr.) King, and a number of others.

The fonrth of the Dorothy socials took place in St. George's Hall last Friday evening and proved a pronounced success, fully sixty couples being present. The arrangements were all that could be desired, and the M.C 's, Messrs J. Pike and J. Fairweather, carried ont their duties admirably. During the evening Mr Noonan announced, on behalf of the ladies' committee, that the leap year social would take place on Monday, August 17. The ladies are working with a willing heart for the success of their social. Miss Worthington looked most becoming in black satin relieved with a spray of pretty pink roses ; Miss M. Noonan looked exceedingly well in pale heliotrope relieved with white silk lace ; Miss SchieLla, black cashmere skirt, and old gold nunsveiling blouse ; MiBB Perrish looked well in canary relieved with pink roses ; Miss E. Davidge looked

charming in pale blue nunsveiling, relieved with black velvet trimming ; Miss Williams, black, with pale blue and creme chiffon; Miss Bartlett, black costume relieved with white (very neat) ; Mrs Smith looked exceedingly well in black relieved with creme satin ribbon, and a spray of pretty creme roses; Mrs Brown, dainty black costume; Mies Smith, pale blue nunsveiling, pink sash, lace trimmings; Miss Coreon, black relieved with creme Eatin; Miss Hatswell, black with blue trimmings, pink and white roses ; Miss Miles, black, red crepon ; Miss .Rogers, creme costume (very neat) ; Miss Townley, black, sky-blue trimming ; Miss Lynch, black skirt, pale blue blouse, jet trimming; Miss Gleeson, black skirt, pale bine blouse ; Miss Bruce, grey costume (very neat) ; Miss Mulligan, black costume ; Miss Leaning, black relieved with sprays of red roses ; Miss Ray, pale blue, white lace trimming ; and others.

A very successful progressive euchre party was given by Miss Eees, 'Riverside,' Ponsonby, on Tuesday evening, July 28th. Play was kept up with much spirit until the close of the game, after which an adjournment was made to the dining room, where a splendid snpper was laid. Amongst the guests were Mrs W. Sharland, Misses Devore, Tye, Manning, Upton, Berry, Peacock, Scott, Airey, and many others.

Tbomas' Hall, Wellington, presented a very animated appearance one evening last week, on the occasion of a private ball given by Mrs George Evans, of Upper Willis street, aiid the Misses Evans. The company was a large one, including visitors from Napier, Christchurch, and Nelson ; and some of the costumes worn by the fair sex were very effective. The floor was in excellent condition, and capital music was supplied by King's band. The catering arrangments were carried out by Mr G. Mawson, with the assistance of Mr C. Sloan, formally chief steward of the s.e. Aorangi, and gave the greatest satisfactfon. Mr F. Cohen discharged the duties of director of ceremonies in a most efficient manner.