THE WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 9979, 3 May 1911, Page 2

THE WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

[By Mrs Malcolm Ross.] THE ELECTIONS. The municipal elections have certainly been the event of the week, though probably to the frivolous they have been of little importance compared to the autumn meeting at Trentham. At the polling booths on Wednesday there was little confusion and no rowdiness, although at times the crush was so great that one had to wait one's turn. But women now are getting quite expert at the booths, and though there were three separate papers to till un, seemed to have no diffioul.y. Our Mayor, Mr Wilford. .8 re-elected, to the general satisfaction Mrs Wilford, who is pretty and petite, is a daughter of Sir George Maclean. The councillors are pretty well what they wore, with alterations, one of which is John J. ullor, juiir., of cinematograph and i-ioati'ioal fame—a vory cheery, capable gonorouH man, who has done much kindness m a qniet way to poor of Wellington. He and his piotur. Houfl wife were quire prominent in tho Ward testimonial scheme. Onr luilf-holiilay is still Woduesday, which allows tho working man ou a Saturday, afternoon to go shopping with Ins missus. As a rule, it is an experience the working man usually shirks, but the popular idea is that Wednesday is the best day for an afternoon off. Probably Mr J. letoher was the bestpleased man aftpr the elections, for tiie votes placed him at the top—by a good majority—of both tho Harbour Board and the City Council polis. THE KACES. Trentham is such a lovely course that even at this dismal season when flowers are few and weather threatening it looked cnarming, set in its softly tinted hills, and studded with its tine trees. The weather on the previous day had been appalling, thunder aud lightning, furious gales, and sheets of torrential rain, and this perhaps accounted for the poor attendance. Another fact that kept away many familiar faces was the very sad and " sudden death of Mr Harry Holmes, of Matahiwi. a son-in-law of Mr Walter Johnston, and a well-loved and most respected man only fifty years old. He had so many relatives and connections here that their absence from the races made a noticeable difference. There were a number of visitors to Wellington. Mrs Acleaue and MrsEowry were among the smartest dressed women, the first in black velvet, the second iv ever-attractive blue serge aud a large hat with the übiqustous bows in white lace. Mrs Godlev, wife of our new commandant, has much distinction, and was dressed simply but b-comiugly in black, with black furs aud a black hat with a large flat gold and black bow across the front. Mrs Ken Duncan—one of our prettiest Wellington women—wore a picturesque frock of black ninon over white with deep yoke of veiled black and gold embroideries, aud very larce hat of paisley silk with upstanding black plumes. Miss Haroourt who wa<? hostess, her father being President, had on the plainest of dark blue tailormade, fitting exquisitely, and a blue hat where again the ribbon bows were to be seen. A Melbourne visitor sported huge ivory white silk bows on her black hat with quite a charming result. I only noticed, among the well-dressed women, oue long skirt. All were short trim and narrow, and a few absurdly tight. Wide black feathered or ribboned hats were most common, aud I saw few of the sick-headache bandages that for a time threatened to be the fashionable headgear. TITiES VOH NEW ZEaLANDERS. Quite aDart from the certainty of many here that Dr Findlay will be uiado Sir John, and the idea expressed by some that Sir Joseph will gain a new title, an Auckland girl, Miss Russell, is by this time the Countess of HardwicKe. It is not a case of birth, impoverished, seeking money to bolster it up, for Miss Kussell is not a" iieiress. although her father, Mr Jim Russell—who, years ago, with "Jim" Coates and "Bob" Browning, formed a most attractive trio of bachelors in Auckland—is welloff. Tne Earl is not wealthy, and the ancestral acres have beeu bought by ocuers. but he is young, active, has a profession, and is as handsome iv his way as his bride is in tiers, and it is said in London that seldom has a better-looking pair been seen. Although not a New Zealander, Miss Ola Humphrey is well known here, aud has many friends who will be interested to learn that she now belongs to the reigning house of Egypt, and is addressed as "Your Royal Highness " She has married a cousin of the Khedive, very wealthy, much thought of among business men, and very clever, with six languages at his lingers' ends, and au intricate knowledge of the biggest cotton business in the world, which is his own. He will be richer later, for his mother has a trifling income of £500.000 a year ! Mrs Knox Gilmer, with whom Her Royal Highness staved while iv Wellington, aud who is her great fneud, ought to look forward to a royal time when she, in turn, visits her former guest. ° TWO WEDDINGS. After Lent there are generally many marriages fixed, and two took place last week. On Wednesday Miss Barraud, daughter of Mr Syduey Barraud, of tho Hutt, married Mr Dixou, of the Bank of New Zealand. Many families are connected with the Barrauds. the Mosses, Didsburys, Blnudells, Mowbrays being among the number. The wedding was notable for the charming costumes of the bridesmaids, great and small, who were all in white cloth with bauds of fur, aud which velvet hats with fur, their posies of vivid autumn leaves • making effective notes of colour. Miss Vida Kennedy—the other bride, who is the only child of Mr W. A. Kennedy, the popular mauager of the Union S.S. Co.—had a really wretched day, though just for the weddiug the weather moderated somewhat But as the guests waited iv Church, the building absolutely groaned under the furious gusts of wind. The reception was a big affair, held in the AttorneyGeneral's house, and a number of people had come to towu specially for it. Among these were Mr and Mrs Vallauce, Mr aud Mrs Frank Kennedy, from Napier, on their way to Brisbane. Mrs Jim Wood, from Nelson, and Mrs Huntly Eliott, from Christchurch. The wedding group was a harmony of pink aud white, the

iConUnued on Page 3 i

bridal gown draped with beautiful Brussels laoe and the tulle veil, threaded at the edge with silver, worn over a little Juliet cap of Brussels laoe. Three little bridesmaids, mere babies, were to have swelled tue procession, dainty in laoe frookß and bonnets with borders •of tiny rosebuds, but the crowd proved too overwhelming, and one refused to go up the aisle, winle the other two had to be awed iuto- -comparative—silence by their anxious mothers. Dr Wilson, of Wanganui, was the bridegroom, ana lias a charming home and a big practice in that. town. By the way. Mr Jim Ooates proposed the bride's health, declaring he was her father's oldest friend and the bride's earliest love—when she was a little fair-haired baby! The next big marriage is that of Miss Elgar to Captain Hamilton—whilom A.D. 0., but now in the Defence Force. I honr it lias been put forward, because of his mother's state of health, and that it will take place this month instead of

June, a trip to England—to see his parents—taking the plaoe of the bridal tour. The next large wedding will be that of Miss Vera Fultou, daughter of Mr J. E. Fulton, the engineer to Dr Horton, of darn bridge. This comes olf iv July. ABOUT PEOPLE. Mrs G. Oruickshank, of Mastertou, is in Wellington. Her sister, Miss Campbell, has arrived from Sydney, and left on Monday for Masterton.

Mrs Hugh Beethata, of Branoepeth, has been iv Wellington this last week.

Miss Webster, of Dunedin, is a guest of Mrs David Fiudlay.

Mr aud Mrs E. J. Jellicoe have arrived from England, and have taken Mr Justice Cooper's house.

Mr aud Mrs Cooper aud their daughters left by the Kent for England last week.

Mrs Christie, daughter of Sir William Hall-Jones, returned, with her oniHren. by ttie Rotorua from England, wbei'H they have been for nearly eighteen months.

Mrs Bloomfield, wife of the late Dr Bloomfield, arid her sister, Miss Sinclair, have arrived from Dunedin, and are staying with Mrs Reading.

Mr and Mrs R, V. O'Conuor are back from Titahi Bay. Major Hnghes, their son-iu-iaw, is almost recovered from his attack of scarlet fever.