THE SOCIAL SPHERE

Observer, Volume XVI, Issue 925, 19 September 1896, Page 12

THE SOCIAL SPHERE

By Muriel.

A very large audience was present in the Opera house on Monday evening, at the second performance of the ' Gondoliers ' by the Pollard Company. Amongst those present were : — Mrs Hanmer, taßteful black and white costume; Mrs Pierce, black, pretty black and white cap ; one daughter wore a black skirt, and dainty green silk blouse, and two others pretty black costumes; Miss Finlayson looked nice in black dres3, relieved with light silk veiled in black iace ; Miss Percival, black skirt, pretty white evening blouse ; Miss Tye, black ; Mrs R. H. Hopkins, black skirt and charming blouse of orange silk, finished with black chiffon; Miss Bartley, black skirt, becoming cardinal silk blouse ; Miss "Winnie Leys looked nice in pink ; Mrs P. A. Edmiston, beautiful gown of sage green silk, the bodice finished with black chiffon ; Mrs Hadley, black flowered costnme, handsome mantle ; Mrs Fenwick, black, silk ; Miss Fenwick looked very pretty in creme ; Mrs Churton, dainty lemon coloured silk chiffon costume, creme cloak ; Mrs Jervis {nee Miss Buddie) looked pretty in dark skirt, light blouse ; Mrs Greenwood, black costume, handsome creme cloak; Miss Greenwood, pretty crushed Btrawberrv silk costume; Mrs Kingswell, black, with vest of creme silk. The marriage of Mr 3. McMurray of Kingsland, to Miss Annie Dann, youngest daughter of Mr A. R. Dann, an old and respected citizen, was quietly polemnised on Wednesday, August 26th, at Sfc Patrick's Cathedral The Rev. Father Purton officiated. The bride was given away by her father, and looked .charming in a trained gown of white silk tastefully trimmed with chiffon and sprays of orange blossoms, coronet of orange blossoms, tulle veil, and she carried a beautiful bouquet from which . fell long loops of ribbon. The bridesmaids were Miss B. McMurray, Miss P. Fleming and three little children who acted as pages, Miss M. and May Dunn, and Master Fairweather. The first couple wore tasteful dresses of creme cashmere trimmed with lace and creme silk, large black velvet picture hats finished with creme chiffon and rosebuds, and each carried a beautiful bou quet fastened with creme ribbons. The bride - groom presented Miss McMurray with a diamond brooch, and Miss Fleming with a gold ring engraved with the initials of the bride and bridegroom. Miss M. Dunn wore a pretty frock of heliotrope silk, and hat trimmed with white ospreys; Miss May, dainty pink cashmere frock, green silk sash, and green hat trimmed with pink roaes ; Master Fairweather wore a pretty suit of green plush trimmed with real lace, and each carried a lovely basket of flowers. Mr J. Dunn attended the bridegroom as beat man, and Mr J. Fairweather acted as groomsman. At the conclusion of the ceremony the bridal party drove to the residence of the bride's parents, where they were entertained at a splendid wedding breakfast. Mrs A. R. Dunn wore a handsome black silk gown, bonnet relieved with old gold ; Mrs Fairweather, sister of the bride, looked pretty in a black silk costume and small jet bonnet; Mrs Robinson, black silk gown, bonnet to match ; Mrs J. Dunn (Onehuuga), handsome gown of navy silk trimmed with buttercup silk, dainty little buttercup bonnet; Mrs R. Dunn, pretty blue crepon costume, bonnet to match ; Miss Jessie Robinson, styiish costume of bengaline silk. Several others were present. The bride and bridegroom are spending their honeymoon out of town. The Hon. Edwin and Mrs Mitchelson celebrated their silver wedding on Saturday last with an 'At Home ' and garden party at their beautiful home, ' Waitaramoa,' Remuera. Upwards of one hundred guests were present from all parts of Auckland and surroundings, and the afternoon and evening passed in an extremely pleasant and enjoyable manner. An extremely pleasant and enjoyable dance waß given on Friday evening by Miss Ivy Crawford, at the residence of her .parentß, • Garfield,' Ponsonby. About thirty couples were present, the majority of

whom were still in their teens, and just at the age to enjoy most fully and heartily the pleasures of life. The "'evening was spent in dancing, which was kept np with the utmost spirit until the early hours of the morning, Mrs Angus providing excellent mnsic. A splendid snpper contributed to the evening's enjoyment, the table being laden with all sorts of light delicacies. The decorations consisted of crimson and moss green tulle, . which was puffed down the centre of the table, in the soft folds of which nestled stands of flowers, and bright coloured, fairy lights the effect being exceedingly tasteful and pretty. The youthful hostess, who was assisted by her mother in receiving the guests and in introducing one to another, looked charming in a black skirt and dainty evening blouse of pale green cashmere famished with white lace and sequin trimmings. Mrs Crawford wore a black crepon skirt, and taßteful blouse of crimson shot figured silk ; her younger daughters, Misseß Eveline and Olive, wore pretty pink Kate Greenway frocks, with deep frills of lace finishing the necks ; Mrs Rainey, black skirt, and handsome blouse of striped chine silk; Miss Rainey, pretty dress of white hailshower muslin ; Misses Binstead (three), pretty black evening dresses ; Mrs Binstead junr., looked nice in black costume ;. Mrs A. Daw, black silk finished with jet ; Miss Mabel Douglas, dainty dress of white lustre finished with chiffon; Miss Geddis, pale blue ; Miss Mabel Hanna, pretty creme silk dress ; Miss Campbell looked well in | pale blue cashmere dress finished with chiffon ; Miss Odium, dainty frock of pale bine satin, the bodice of pale blue and silver gauze ; Misses Hudson (two), charming dresses of pale blue and pink silk respectively ; Miss Eva Harris looked nice in creme. The last of the Dorothy socials took place on Friday evening in St. George's Hall, and proved most successful. About 80 couples were present, and dancing was indulged in until midnight, Marriage's band supplying excellent music. Messrs J. Pike and J Fairweather acted in an admirable manner as M.C.'s. The season terminates on Friday, Sept. 25th, with a calico and fancy dress ball in the Choral Hall, and the committee, Messrs J Pike, T. Fairweather, C. McAffer and R. Noonan (hori. sec.) are working hard to ensure the success of the (uuction. The decorations are ,to be most unique and elaborate, and will be carried out under the direction of Mr J. Pike. Marriage's band of five instruments ha 3 been engaged to supply the dance music. For the convenience of those residing in Ponsonby, it has been arranged for trams to run from the three lamps to the Choral Hall at intervals. Tickets for spectators are 1/- each, and may be obtained from R. Eagleton. QueenI street ; A. Teasdale, Victoria-street ; and |W. H. Philip, Newton. Doors open at 7.15. p.m., iv order to avoid a crush. Private letters from Sydney announce the engagement of Mr J. C. Hutchinson, ! formerly of this city, and Miss Scott, the well known teacher of dancing. A few weeks ago Mr and Mrs George Evans, of "Wellington, entertained a large party of friends in Thomas' Hall, in honour of the approaching marriage of their eldest daughter to a Blenheim gentleman. On Wednesday of last week the guests returned the compliment by entertaining Mr and Mrs Evans and their family in a similar manner at the same hall, and the affairs, like its predecessor, was a | great success. The floor was in capital order, and excellent music was played by King's string band. Mr and Mrs Evans and their daughters were received by the whole company standing,and as they were escorted I to the dais, ' Auld Lang Syne ' was played, and during the supper the health of Mr and Mrs Evans was neatly proposed by Mr F. Cohen, and the toast was enthusiastically received,and Mr A. G Johnson,in the absence of Mr Evans, made an excellent reply. The cacering arrangements were carried out in first class style by Mr G. Mawson, assisted by Mr E. Sloan, late chief steward of the Aorangi. The committee consisted of Messrs A. G. Johnson, F. Cohen, J. B. Innes, F. Evans, A. G. Dixon, E. Atmore and H. B. Price (hou. secretary). A mo3t enjoyable gathering was brought to a close at 2 a.m. by the singing of ' Auld Lang Syne.'