The Social Sphere

Observer, Volume XXVI, Issue 45, 28 July 1906, Page 8

The Social Sphere

By Muriel,

THE annual ball of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Club was held on Friday evening in the Choral Hall. The hall had been beautifully decorated, under Mr A. Thome's supervision, with flags, ferns and palms, with the club colours (light and dark blue) effectively arranged. The supper tables were tastefully decorated by Mrs Fischer, ye'low daffodils and white jonquils being used with charming effect. The floor was iv excellent order, and the music: provided by Meredith's orchestra was splendid. Mr P. J. Grace, the general secretary of the club, and also secretary of the ball committee, deserves special praise for the thorough and able manner in which he carried out his duties. He was assisted by an energetic committee — Messrs P. F. Egan, F. Wilson, A. VV. Bryant, F. Simpson, A. Thorne and J. M. McVeagh, all of whom acted as Ms.C.

Many beautiful dresses were worn amongst the number being Mrs (Dr) Broekway, who wore a charming flowered silk gown ; Miss Anderson, dainty white net over white silk, trimmed with bebe ribbon ; Miss Foughy, mauve crepe dc chine ; Miss — Foughy, black velvet ; Miss Grace, very pretty white muslin dress and point lace berthe, red geraniums in corsage ; Miss Jenkinson, pretty white net dress; Miss Lizzie Knight, creme silk, with pale blue sash ; Miss Madoleine Knight, pink silk ; Miss Chappell, very dainty dress of white silk, pink rosebuds in hair ; Mrs Fischer, stylish black velvet gown trimmed with silver passementerie ; Miss Bryant, veiux rose velvet ; Missß. Bryant, pale green silk ; Miss Parker, pretty heliotrope silk ; Miss Leith, creme net over red silk ; Miss Garnaut, creme silk voile; Mrs Wilson, handsome creme crepe de chine ; Miss M. Ryan, blue voile.

Miss McCready, dainty pale pink chiffon over glace ; Miss Ada Richards, sea green silk relieved with dark green ; Miss L. Hodgson, white muslin, prettily frilled ; Miss — Ryan, dainty pink silk ; Misa Dyson, blue silk ; Miss M. Dyson, pink silk ; Miss Beehan, white net over pink silk ; Miss — Beehan, white net over blue silk ; Miss E. Smith, pretty blue silk dress ; Miss Wilson, lilac silk ; Miss Nolan, heliotrope Oriental satin ; Miss Buckler, white silk ; Miss Brennan looked nice in pink silk ; Miss — Ryan, blue silk voile ; Miss Grayden, creme silk with red roses ; Miss Kirkwood, pale blue silk ; Miss Flynn, white silk ; Miss Cole, plum-coloured velvet gown ; Miss Brigham, pretty light brown silk ; Miss R. Ryan was dainty in black ; Miss Weltie, black silk relieved with creme lace ; Miss Mclntyre, black crepe de chine ; Miss Malavey, creme silk ; Miss McLean, creme net ; Miss Page, cerise silk ; Miss Kelly, brown crepe de chine ; Miss Smith was smartly gowned in black ; Miss Irwin, graceful dress of creme taffeta ; Miss Davis (Wellington), handsome black brocaded silk ; Miss A. Courtney, dainty gown of sky-blue crepe de chine relieved with creme lace.

The marriage of Miss Ada Louisa Dawson, of Dargaville, and Mr Henry Morris was quietly solemnised on Tuesday, July 17th, at the residence of Captain Cox, Dargaville. The Rev. Mr Wansbone officiated. The bride was given away by Mr George Morris, and wore a pretty dress of creme silk finished with lace and chiffon, and the usual wreath and veil. She was attended by Miss Finlayson, of Rehia, and Miss Ivy Sherwin, both attired in dainty silk frocks, and carrying bouquets. Mr John (Jalvin acted as best man.

The marriage of Miss M. Elvin, third daughter of Mr W. Elvin, of Turua, Thames, to Mr A. Fisher, eldest son of Mr A. Fisher, of Netherton, was celebrated on Monday, July 9th, at the residence of the bride's parents. The Rev. A. T. Thompson, of the Thames, officiated, in the presence of a large party of relatives and friends. The bride was given away by her father, and wore a pretty dress of creme Bilk voile, trimmed with lace and chiffon, and tulle veil over a coronet of orange blossoms, and she carried a pretty bouquet. Misses A. Elvin and M. Fisher, sisters of bride and bridegroom, acted as bridesmaids, both wearing tasteful creme frocks ; Mr W. Fisher acted as best man. The wedding breakfast was served in the Victoiia Hall, and in the evening about 150 friends were entertained at an enjoyable party. Mr and Mrs Fisher left by steamer for Auckland, where they embarked for a three mouths' tour of the Islands.

It is a tradition of fashion that laces and embroideries are never in favour at the same time. We have had so much embroidery that it is almost time that they were pushed aside for laces, and yet the vogue of eyelet embroidery appears to be as strong as ever, in spite of the immense popularity of Irish crochet, Cluny, and net laces of every description. There is a new lace on the market — new, at least, in the sense that it is an innovation — called Japanese lace. It is not made in Japan, but the patterns are supposed to suggest Japanese designs. The material is a silky fibre, and it sometimes gives the effect of silver, especially when used with white or pale tinted materials.

Mr and Mrs Kirk, of Lake Takapuna, entertained a number of friends on Wednesday evening of last week at their residence, when a very enjoyable time was spent. Progressive euchre was played in the earlier part of the evening, Miss Corry and Mr Corry winning the first, and Mrs Sharland and Mr Esdaile the consolation prizes. A short programme of dances followed, Mrs Tompkins and others playing dance music. Songs were given by Mr H. L. Brett and Mr Culpan. Mrs Kirk received her guests in a handsome black silk gown ; Miss Kirk wore a pretty creme silk frock, with crimson roses ; Miss Kenee Kirk, black silk skirt, dainty pale blue blouse ; Miss Muriel Kirk was charming in a peachcoloured silk blouse, and black silk skirt ; Mrs Esdaile, black silk, with handsome lace berthe ; Mrs O'Neill, black silk gown ; Mrs 11. L. Brett, trained black silk skirt and dainty pink silk blouse ; Mrs F. W. Weston, black evening gown, the corsage finished with heliotrope poppies.

Mrs Monckton, pretty pink silk blouse, black silk trained skirt ; Mrs Shakespeare, black lace and silk gown, with crimson roses ; Mrs W. J. Geddis, pearl grey tafteta silk gown with transparent lace yoke ; Mrs W. Boak, creme voile skirt trimmed with satin ribbon, creme chiffon blouse ; Mrs Sharland, pale grey silk gown, the bodice relieved with yellow daisies ; Miss Annie Berry, pink silk blouse, creme skirt ; Miss May Alison, black silk skirt, dainty white gauze blouse finished with pale blue ribbon ; Miss Minnie Frater, frock of pale blue crepe de chine ; Miss Corry, pale blue silk muslin ; Mrs Hart, white pin-spotted net gown finished with white bebe ribbon ; Mrs Quick, lemon-coloured silk blouse trimmed with black velvet, black crepe de chine skirt ; Mrs Mair, handsome gown and long biscuitcoloured evening coat ; Mrs Tompkins, black crepe de chine skirt, pale blue silk blouse.

The styles in belts are numerous. There are wide belts and narrow ones, belts of kid and of suede, of silk and of patent leather, to say nothing of the wash belts now so popular ; some have deep points in the front, others are equally deep in the back, and some are as conspicuous for their elaborate ornaruentatiou as others are for their severe simplicity. Among the recently introduced novelties is a leather belt quite narrow in the back with a deeppointed girdle effect in front, having a row of tiny leather- covered buttons down the centre. On either side of the

front is a small pocket suitable for nothing larger than a few coins, and the belt is fastened by means of a plain brass buckle half-way between the front and back, with a corresponding brass slide on the opposite side.

A pretty wedding was celebrated on Wednesday, July 11th, in St. Mark's Church, Te Aroha, when Miss Florence Jessie Taylor, daughter of Mr H. W. Taylor, of Waitekauri, was united to Mr Alfred Tattersall, youngest eon of Mrs Tattersall, of Waihou. A large congregation was present, amongst whom were a number of members of the Fiako Mounted Kifles, of which corps the bridegroom is sergeant-major. The Rev. E. M. Cowie officiated, and the service was fully choral. The bride looked exceedingly well in a prettydressofcreme silk voile, trimmed with lace and ruched ribbon, and embroidered tulle veil, wreath of orange blossoms, and she carried a beautiful bouquet. Four bridesmaids were in attendance, Misses S. E. Kea (of Rotorua), Taylor, P. Devey, and B. Taylor. The former couple wore pretty dresses of creme voile, and the latter pale blue trimmed with white, and they carried bouquets. Mr W. T. Rowe, of Mangaiti, acted as best man, and Mr Rikklesen, of Waihou, as groomsman. After photographs were taken, the company were entertained at an excellent wedding breakfast tastefully laid in the Public Hall. An enjoyable dance was given in the evening.

Small wonder that the men employed on the Trunk line railway works have shocked the unco quid by indulgence in Sunday football. From an interview between William Jennings, M. H.R. , and the Premier the other day, it seems that until now they have had to put in the same hours at the works on Saturday as any other day. And as they could not play football on Saturday afternoons they had to take Sundays for the game. Being New Zealanders, and mostly young, they couldn't forego their weekly kick and scrum, no matter what else went by the board. Football and two-up, it is declared, are the only forms of relaxation from steady graft in those delectable regions. If Bishop Wallis sends them the mission he talks of, the missionary will need to be of the muscular kind, in order to get any hearing at all.

Looking down the lists of undefended civil cases in the Magistrate's Court reported in the daily papers every week, one is struck with the infrequent occurrence of the name of an Aucklander as defendant. In ninetenths of the cases it is indicated that the debtor lives either at Whangarei, or Hamilton, or New Plymouth, or some other distant place. Can it be possible, then, that scarcely any Auckland people have to be sued for debt ? Hardly. The real explanation is that most Auckland debtors are cute enough to know that if they take the trouble to confess judgment, they not only lessen their costs by saving the hearing fee, but also keep their names out of the papers. As a matter of fact, there are in every New Zealand town people who make a practice of never paying their debts till they are sued, but whose names are never pilloried in the press because they systematically confess judgment. As a rule, it is only the simple person not " up to " the ways of the court and the papers whose peccadillo is exposed. Commonly, too, he is an honest person whose non-payment of the debt is due to inability.

The Northern Amateur Boxing Association are about to hold a big carnival in the Federal Hall, at which the Provincial Championships will be contested. The carnival extends over three nights — Friday, Saturday and Monday, July 27, 28 and 30. All the best local men are competing, besides numerous other competitors from different parts of the province. As the prices of admission are moderate, the Association should be rewarded with bumper houses. The proceeds will go to the fund for sending representatives to compete for the N.Z. championships.