THE SOCIAL SPHERE

Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 5, 18 October 1902, Page 8

THE SOCIAL SPHERE

By Muriel.

A SERIES of very enjoyable pingpong evenings, held during the

winter months at the residence of Mr and Mrs Gregory, senr., Marine Parade, Ponsonby, was brought to a close for the season with an "At Home," in All Saints' Schoolroom. No trouble had been spared by the committee of young people in decorating the schoolroom with a profusion of greenery, arum lillies, ferns, hanging baskets, etc., and the whole effect was extremely tasteful and charming. Over one hundred guests were present to participate in the evening's enjoyment. The first portion was devoted to a ping-pong contest, and after some good play, Miss G. Hunt and Mr Hemus were declared the winners. Supper and some selections of very good music followed, and the evening wound up with a few dances. The vocalists were Miss West, Miss Hunt, Miss Stevenson, Mr Wilfred Manning, and Mr A. White, Mr Midgley playing the accompaniments. The chaperones were Mesdames (Archdeacon) Calder, Gregory, Gillott, Hemus, and White.

The majority of the girls wore dainty light silk blouses and dark skirts. Mrs Calder wore a black brocade gown, the evening bodice trimmed with handsome Maltese lace ; Mrs Gillott, black brocade gown ; Mrs Gregory, black ; Mrs Littler, black brocade, white chiffon ruffle ; Miss Ethel Thompson, white silk blouse and lovely bolero, with bell sleeves, of point lace, black skirt ; Miss Gerty Thompson, pretty pink silk blouse, and Miss Muriel Thompson looked nice in pale pink ; Mrs H. W. Wilson, handsome black silk gown ; Misses Stebbing, white frocks ; Miss Gillott, dainty pink silk blouse, black skirt, and her sister looked pretty in white muslin ; Misses English, dainty white silk blouses, black skirts ; Mrs G. Osmond, pale pink silk blouse, black skirt ; Mrs Ray Adams, black gown ; Miss Florrie Merritt looked nice in white silk.

Miss Gracie Lee was charming in pale yellow silk ; Misses Atkinson, pale blue silk blouses ; Miss Rose Hemus, dainty pale blue silk blouse with transparent yoke ; Miss Bedford, white silk blouse, black skirt ; Miss Flora Gregory, pretty white ; Miss Amy Gregory, pink ; Miss Belle Sands, white silk ; Miss Ivy Crawford looked nice in black lace over pale blue silk ; Miss Mabel Macindoe, pale blue dress ; Misses Rees looked nice in black and white dresses ; Miss G. Gregory, yellow blouse, dark skirt ; Miss Lily Gregory, tussore silk ; Miss Laura Edminston, black brocade, the low bodice handsomely trimmed with jet ; Miss Nellie Edminston, dainty blouse of tucked white silk and string coloured insertion lace, black voile skirt ; Miss Peggy Stone, dainty white silk ; Miss G. Hunt, pale pink dress trimmed with insertion lace ; Miss Muriel Blades, pretty pale blue.

Miss Woollams looked nice in pale green ; Miss Ethel Moore, .becoming pale pink ; Mrs W. Manning, pretty crushed strawberry blouse, trimmed with creme insertion lace, black voile skirt ; Miss Wilson, pale pink ; Mrs J, Gregory, red costume ; Misses Annie and May Oswald, dainty white silk blouses, with tucks and insertion lace, black voile skirts ; Miss Alice Caldwell, pale blue silk ; Misses Cum-

ming, Nellie Smith) and Hewson all wore pretty light blouses ; Miss Hemus, white silk blouse, and others.

The engagement is announced of Mr W. Downard, of Parua Bay, to Miss Mia Bloomhardt, of Kamo. The German custom was observed by the young couple of announcing their engagement to their immediate friends by the sending of pretty betrothal cards.

I am told that when Melba visits us in January next she has kindly promised Mr A. Boult to visit him in his studio for the special purpose of testing the voice of Miss Ivy Ansley, a very talented pupil of his. Miss Ivy Ansley is the happy possessor of a very beautiful contralto voice, and friends who have heard her, predict a brilliant future.

The plain and fancy dress ball to terminate the season of the Grosvenor socials was held on Wednesday ovening, October Bth, in St. Benedict's Hall. One hundred and fifty couples were present, and took part in the Grand March, with which the ball opened. The function was most successful, and extremely enjoyable, the success of the evening being due to the energetic committee, Mrs Wishart, Miss Kirkwood, Messrs J. E. Bennett, K. A. Kirkwood, R. Tucker, I. Hart, and H. Barnaby, who were untiring in their efforts to promote the pleasure of all. The gentlemen of the committee carried out the duties of M.C.'s very satisfactorily, and wore white cricketing costumes, with broad gold sashes, and turquoise blue ties.

Mrs Wishart wore a black tulle dress over silk ; Miss Spencer, heliotrope silk gown ; Miss R. Hurrell, white frock ; Miss Barker, pretty creme : Misses Bell, white costumes ; Mrs Spencer, pink and black ; Mrs Ross, yellow silk gown ; Miss Hart looked well in black silk ; Mis» Mendelssohn, black and white dress ; Miss McCready, pretty white silk ; Miss Molloy, La Mascotte ; Miss M. Williams, Dolly Varden ; Miss Kirkwood, Night ; Miss Ross. " Peace" ; Miss R. Bennett, Empire frock ; Miss M. Kirkwood, Casino Girl : Miss E. Leece, pretty seagreen Bilk frock ; Miss Wishart, Belle of New York; Miss Carpenter, white silk gown; Miss Bassett, Daffodil ; Miss Rule, pretty pink silk ; Miss Needham, dainty creme silk ; Miss Picton, Island Lassie ; Miss Goodgear, Alsatian costume ; Mrs Bennett, black silk gown ; Miss Judd, creme silk ; Miss Smalby, Hailstone.

Miss Fletcher, creme silk frock ; Miss N. Williams, Flower-girl ; Miss Bennett, Peace ; Miss Reynolds, white silk, relieved with blue ; Miss Rolland, pretty creme ; Miss McNaughton, black lace dre»s ; Miss Aylett, pretty creme silk ; Mrs Hood, creme satin ; Miss Barnaby, crerae silk ; Miss W. Discombe, Poppy ; Miss M. Hurrell, Spanish Gipsy ; Miss Leece, pretty white silk ; Miss W. Holland, Spanish Dancer ; Miss Holland, black, relieved with pink roses ; Miss McElroy, black gown ; Miss M. Holland, crerae ; Miss Day, Ivy ; Miss Perry, Red, White and Blue ; Miss — Perry, black gown ; Mrs Bassett, black and white silk. Mr M. Grace, blue satin Court costume ; Mr Bassett, Lord Roberts ; Mr G. Tucker, Courtier ; Mr Topps, Returning C.I.V. ; Mr Wyatt, N.Z. Trooper ; Mr Bromley, Hygienic Bakery ; Mr Whitten, Gladiator ; Mr Kelly, Mexican Cowboy ; Mr Murdock, Topsy ; Mr Wilkinson, Morman Elder ; Mr Smytheman, Cricketer. The most successful fancy costumes were Miss Wishart, as the Belle of New York, and Mr Grace, Court costume.

Wild strawberries — replicas in size and colour of the natural fruit — form the trimming on some summer hats. Foliage is mingled with the berries in artistic combination.

The engagement is announced in Dunedin of Miss Lena Stewart, daughter of the late Mr Downie Stewart M.L.C., to Mr G. W. Armitage. Miss Stewart and her sister are at present visiting Europe.

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