THE SOCIAL SPNERE.

Observer, Volume XXIII, Issue 28, 28 March 1903, Page 8

THE SOCIAL SPNERE.

By Muriel,

THE annual Polo Tournament was brought to a close on Saturday

with the annual gymkhana and races held at Alexandra Park. The weather was perfect, and the various events were watched with interest by the many friends of the contestants present. The Auckland Provincial Polo challenge cnp, which was won on Friday by the Auckland senior I earn, was presented on Saturday to Mr H. C. Tonks, captain of the winners. Dr A. C. Purchas made the presentation.

Many very handsome dresses were worn by the ladies present. Amongst them were Mrs E. D. O'Rorke, who wore a stylish dress of turquoise blue voile trimmed with crenie insertion lace, and black picture hat ; Mrs A. C. Purchas, green linen dress and burnt straw hat, with chou of cherrycoloured ribbon ; Mrs Hope Lewis, a handsome dress of white foulard silk, spotted with black, and elaborately trimmed with black insertion lace, white lace vest, and belt of turquoise blue silk, hat to correspond.

Mrs Mark ham wore a creme gown and black hat ; Miss Cooke, pretty green linen frock and large black hat ; Mrs Maitland was dainty in a black dress and hat, black feather boa ; Miss Cotter wore a flowered silk dress and flower- trimmed hat, and her sisters wore dainty white silk dresses with coloured silk belts and stylish hats ; Mrs Langley Shaw, pretty brown voile dress with pink silk vest and pink hat ; Mrs R. Johnson, flowered French muslin dress, the skirt finished with tiny frills, and black hat trimmed with silk and ecru lace.

Miss Worsp, very pretty pale pink voile dress and picture hat wreathed with flowers, and loops of pink velvet falling at the back ; Miss — Worsp wore a dainty pale grey voile, strapped with silk to match, and picture hat; Mrs Talbot Tubbs wore a black gown and large black hat ; Mrs Lloyd, black gown, with silk Eton coat, black hat ; Mrs Tonks, dark blue dress, black hat ; Miss E. Smith, dainty white silk dress trimmed with insertion lace, black hat ; Mrs Burns, handsome black voile dress, elaborately tucked, black and white toque ; Mrs Ferguson, white tucked silk dress inserted with lace, black hat ; Mrs E. Firth, dainty crenie dress, the silk blouse trimmed with ecru lace, black hat ; Miss Banks wore creme silk with lace yoke and black hat.

Mrs T. Morrin, handsome black silk gown trimmed with beautiful silk passementerie, ecru lace vest with pale blue chou, large black hat relieved with pale blue ; Misses Morrin wore dainty dresses of creme voile and large black hat, and pale blue silk with flower-trimmed hat respectively ; Miss Httt (Sydney), stylish dark blue silk with' white cross-bar stripe, the flounces edged with pale green, pale 'green also trimming the bodice, picture hat ; her sister also wore a pretty blue dress ; Mrs S. Morrin, grey brocade gown, and black and creme hat ; Mrs Robison, stylish black gown, the bodice trimmed with fagoting, black toque; Mrs Colbeck, dainty pale grey voile dress, and pale pink picture hat with pink roses ; Miss — Moss-Davis looked nice in creme, with deep ecru lace collar and black hat ; Mrs Peyton, grey gown, and hat with flowers ; Miss Owen, black costume ; Miss A. Owen wore a long coat and black hat; Miss Dawson, green linen dress and black ha,t with ostrich tips ; Mrs Pittar, black gown*, long coat and hat in the new rosewood tints; Mrs E. Burton, black gown, and hat with rp-^»} MrsE. Coleman, dainty white

dress, and white and green hat ; Mrx W. R. Bloomfleld, stylish creme silk dress trimmed with insertion, and hat wreathed with flowers.

Mrs McCosh Clark, black costume strapped with silk, and black and crerae toque ; Mrs Ran son, black and white spotted silk gown, hat to oorrespond; Mrs Kirkwood looked nice in black voile skirt, tucked black sjlk blouse, and white and black hat ; Miss Buddie, wore a stylish dark blue Kion costume, with collar of white cloth finished with tiny gold buttons, black hat ; Mrs H. Bagnall, wedgewood blue dress trimmed with ecru insertion luce, hat with flowers ; Mrs Upton, black gown, black and white bonnet ; Mrs Bodle, creme dress, and hat trimmed with violets ; Mrs (Dr) Bedford, black voile skirt, pretty white silk blouse, over which was worn a stylish grey coat, large black hat ; Mrs Younghusband, handsome tucked grey voile trimmed with black insertion lace, and stylish hat ; Miss Stevenson, dainty white silk, and flower-trimmed hat.

Mrs A. Clark, stylish grey tweed dress, black toque ; Mrs Pittar, senr. , black brocade gown, black and pale pink bonttet ; Mrs Eliot, black gown, sequin and chiffon mantle, and pretty black and yellow bonnet ; Mrs VV. F rater, dark blue gown with white silk and lace collar and vest, black hat ; Miss — Hesketh, dainty pale pink voile dress, elaborately trimmed with cieme lace insertion, stylish hat ; Miss Waller was pretty in white silk and hat wreathed with tiny roses ; Mrs Pollen, black gown and smart red hat ; Miss Lucas, fawn costume strapped with brown silk, hat to correspond ; Miss Dunnett, stylish black Eton costume, pale blue brocade blouse, and black hat ; Mrs Dunnett, black skirt, creme silk blouse, fawn jacket and black hat ; Miss Crowther, dainty white dress, pale blue silk belt, and black hat; Miss Wylde- Brown wore white, and hat trimmed with pale blue.

The engagement is announced of Miss Isabel Cargill, fourth daughter of Mr E. B. Cargill, of "The Cliffs," Dunedin, to Signor G. dv Pozzo, a leading portrait painter in Rome. Miss Cargill, with Miss Babington (a cousin of Major-General Babington) has for some time past conducted most successfully the English tearooms in Rome, a great resort of English and colonial visitors to that ancient and historic city. News has also arrived of the approaching marriage of another New Zealand lady now resident in Rome, Miss B. Loughnan, late of Christchurch, who is engaged to an officer of the Italian army. Both engagements are to terminate in matrimony in May next.

••• ••• .». Many friends were present in St. Luke's Church, Kotorua on Thursday morning, 12th inst., the occasion being the marriage of Mr Percy J. Hammond, second son of Mr Hammond, " Sunnyside," Tauranga, to Miss Nesta Griffiths, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs D. Griffiths, of " Arawa House," Rotorua. The Rev. H. Gordon Blackburne officiated. The bride was given away by her father, and wore a smart tailor-made costume of fawn cloth, finished with silk passementerie, vest of creme silk and chiffon, and creme hat trimmed with shaded roses and autumn leaves. The bridegroom's gifts to her were a diamond brooch and gold watch and muff chain.

Misses Pattie and Gwendoline Griffiths, sisters of the bride, attended as bridesmaids, the forflaer wearing a pretty dress of bright blue voile trimmed with creme insertion, and French toque to correspond, and the latter a dainty frock of tucked creme silk inserted with lace, and chiffon hat to match. All the ladies carried beautiful bouquets. Mr Ernest Hammond attended his brother as best man. After the wedding breakfast, which was served at "Arawa House," Mr and Mrs Hammond departed for Tauranga to spend their honeymoon, and will afterwards take up their residence in Whangarei. The wedding presents were^yery numerous, and included cheques and a number of handsome articles in silver.

The engagement is announced in Christchiirch of Miss Violet Campbell, daughter of Mrs M. S. Campbell, to Lieutenant Hope ; and Mr R. E. Harley to Miss Hausniann.

I hear that Mrs D. B. Cruickahank, formerly of " Craighall," Remuera, but for some years past a resident of Wellington, leaves shortly for Eng. land, where she will make her future home.

The marriage of Mr George Ward Stanwell, of Te Awainutu, and Miss Laura Clement*, eighth daughter of Mr and Mrs Clements, " Oak Dale," Kaipara Flats, was celebrated on the 11th inst., in St. Clement's Anglican Church. The church was beautifully decorated for the event by girl friends of the bride, and the ceremony was witnessed by a crowded congregation. The Rev. F. Latter officiated. The bride was given away by her father, and was attended by five bridesmaids, Misses Mabel and Amy Clements, sisters of the bride, Miss Maud Bone, and two tiny maids, Misses Dorothy Kensington, and Mercia Oliver, nieces of the bride.

The bride wore a beautiful silk bridal gown, trimmed with lace, the custumary wreath and veil, and she carried a lovely shower bouquet. The three elder maids wore pretty dresses of white muslin, with transparent yokes and sleeves, and black chiffon picture hats with ostrich plumes. The Little girls wore dainty Kate Greenaway dresses of Indian lawn, inserted with hice, and white chiffon bonnets. The bridegroom's gifts were gold brooches and pin charms. Mr F. Stanwell acted as best man. About forty guests were afterwards entertained at a sumptuous wedding breakfast by the parents of the bride, when the customary toasts were honoured. In the evening a very enjoyable party was given in honour of the nuptials, which was attended by many young friends of the happy couple.

Aspiring young New, Zealand sopranos hear with envy of Madame Marchesi and the splendid results of her voice-training, of which Madame Melba is a standing example: But such tuition is only available to people with long purses. Australian pupils pay Marchesi £12 12s a week for voiceproduction, languages, elocution and deportment. As the fees are exclusive of board and residence, and other expenses, 12 months' study under Marchesi would make a considerable hole in £1000.

Miss Violet Mount, late of Wellington and Auckland, has been appointed to fill Miss Edith King's position as soprano soloist at St. Patrick's Church, Sydney, on that vocalist's departure for Queensland this month.

Countess Clancarty, formerly Belle Bilton, of music-hall fame, lives on her husband's estates in Ireland, and her marriage seems to he a happy one (writes a Home paper). Three children have been born to the Earl and Countess — Lord Kiloonnel, the heir, the. Hon. Robert Trench, and quite recently a daughter. Lady Clancarty cares little for society, and apparently prefers a life of semi-seclusion to the gaieties which attended her as one of "the ladies of the theatre." The Countess of Clancarty was the first of the three actresses now peeresses to. win her title. She stepped from London music halls into the peerage not only of Ireland but of the Netherlands. Her husband holds the Dutch Marquisate of Heusdon. A number of chorus girls and players have married younger sons of peers, but only three lords, the Earl iof Orkney, the Marquis of Headfort, and the Earl of Clancarty, have taken their wives from the stage. The Countess of Clancarty is of Welsh extraction, and were her husband not so universally called by his title, she would be known as Mrs William Frederick Le Poer Trench. The Trenches are French by birth. Their estates lie principally in the County Gal way, Ireland, where is also the famous Trench picture gallery. Both the Earl and Countess go in for hunting, steeplechasing, horse-breed* ing and travelling.

The. marriage of Mr Arthur Harris, son dt Mr George Harris, and Miss Mabel Grace, of Plrongia, Waikato, daughter of Mr John Grace, journalist, took place at the. Catholic Church, Kihikihi, recently. The Rev. Father O'Carroll, parish priest, officiated. The bride, who was attended by her mother, was dressed very tastefully, and was given away by her father. The bridesmaid was Mrs O'Sullivan (widow), Kihikihi, daughter of the late Mr James Farrell, chairman of the Kihikihi town district, and she also played the Wedding March on the organ. The best man was Mr John O'Keilly, brother of the Right Rev. Monsignor O'Reilly, Thames.

The Rev. Father O'Carroll, most kindly and hospitably, as a special mark of respect to the bride and bridegroom and their parents, entertained the wedding party tit breakfast, which lie had specially prepared, although the bride's parents hud made other arrangements which had to be cancelled. The Rev. Father O'Carroll proposed at this repast the health of the bride and bridegroom, which was suitably responded to. Alter the breakfast the happy couple left on their honeymoon trip amidst the good wishes of thefr numerous friends.

Dainty sandals, designed for ladies' evening wear, have already appeared in the London shop windows, and will doubtless ere long be seen in the drawing-room. A West End bootmaker recently exhibited a charming pair of sandals which he had made for ;i fair customer, and which would have graced the feet of a Roman empress. The boot expert believes (says the Queen) that the sandal has come to stay, and that the shoe, which has held sway for over twelve centuries, is at last threatened witli a rival.

There is little fear (says a woman writer in the £>j>here) of the blouse being demode, as it has entered upon a new lease of life, and for every-day and theatre- wear is greatly in request. Perhaps it is in its most attractive form at the present moment, made of ivory velvet arranged iv large pleats, decorated with small gold buttons. There is a cheap, washable white velveteen that makes quite pretty and inexpensive blouses for wearing with white cloth or serge skirts.

The elbow sleeve will be seen upon all the smartest evening gowns this winter, and women must reconcile themselves to extravagance in gloves. Many buttons will again be worn, and the newest fancy is the nouveau art button. Raty, the famous French medallist, is making himself more famous by designing the most beautiful of glove buttons.

Her Majesty the Queen almost inrariably wears materials of British make in some form or another. Of course, she gets rich »owns from Parisian makers, liut in many wnys Bhe employs English work, an I (lie Parisian makers know that the surest way to please her most is to utilise English (which includes Irish, Welsh and Scottish) materials wherever possible in their creations.

A London writer remarks that ;i curious hobby which seems to have attected more than one person of late is the collection of potted-meat covers of a special brand made and sold by ;i certain firm in the forties, and representing a kind of transfer design on china. One lady has an interesting assortment of these covers neatly framed and decorating the walls alongside the staircase. Th« search fur originality carries us very far uow-a--days, and no doubt the worthy maker of potted condiments would be immensely flattered could he have known that the top of his pictorial pots would eventually fetch no less than £1 at a well-known house in London, and be displayed in company with priceless Empire fans, jewelled snuff-boxes and treasures in uncut-stones behind the glass doors of a hundred-guinea Sheraton cabinet. Such glory has come too late, alas, to affect the sale of the meats, but fame i» a very woman, and gives no excuse and no explanation for the most startling of her .vagaries,