THE WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11540, 12 December 1912, Page 2

THE WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

[By Mes Malcolm Rots.l

About People,

December 9th

Admiral Ross and Miss Ross, from America, are at. the Royal Oak. They leave ou Friday for Australia. Mrs H. H. Beetham has been visiting town. Mrs Manoy, nee Miss May Newman, has been visiting her mother, and returns to-day to Motueka. Mrs T. (!. Williams is back from Hawke's Bay, where she-was visiting Sir William and Lady Russell. Miss Greta. Kwoii is back from Dunedin and Christchurch. Mrs and Miss Masscy arrived with the I'.vime Minister hist Tuesdny from Auckland, and are settled in the Premier's residence. Mrs Cecil Cornford, of Napier, Jins been visiting her mother. Mrs Kendall. Mrs W. Fosbery Uandyside, who came to Wellington to meet her father and sisters, who arrived from I'higland, has returned to Inverc.iirgill. Mrs Cargill, who has been v guest <jf Mrs Douglas McLean, returned to-day to Napier. Miss Lorna. i\icLean, who has boon in Napier bidding good-bye to her friends, is back. She l ami her parents leave on Friday for Australia, and spend some weeks there before starling for Knghunl. Mrs Francis Stevens, of Oriental Bay, leaves in February for England. Miss Vera Chapman has returned from Auckland. Captain and Mrs Kstcourt came up from Lyttelton last week. .Or and Mrs Buck have gone to the Islands. Mrs 'iiid Miss Corless intend spending the holidays in Picton. " Miss Wkeireti: has gone on a motoring tour to Hawke's Bay. Mr and Mrs Walter Strang arrived on Wednesday from Australia. The Misses Whitcombe, of Christchurch —who have been some time in Knglitnd—and Miss Brownlec, of Hnveloek, who has been visiting British Easy. Arrica, were ])assengers from Sydnex - last Wodnosdny. 1 »r. and Mrs Nairn, of Bli'iihcim, \sdio have been in Auckland, are in Wellington. Mrs BoauHork, daughter of the late Sir Robert Hart, Insportor-Goneral of Maritime Customs. China, and her two daughters, are slaying at .Miss Malcolm's. Mrs Cunnin. l .'- --ham, :>f Christ-church, who has been ilcJixv'i'ifg inieu'sting addresses here, has K't.ui'iH'd home. Mrs C. ('•. .'-inch and .Miss Finch arrived by the Maungamii from Sydney, and leave shortly to pay a ,-jsit to Airs Ritm'm, of Pulmerstou North, Miss Stafford is back from Bienheim. Mrs Napier McLean has rclurn- «'<; from Ih'iiedin, having let their house to Captain liscourt. Mr and .Mrs jMauiu-e (iiJlor arc staying at Day's Bay. Mr and Mrs Martin Kennedy and the Misses Kennedy, leave in a week ci; route for England. The Misses Maginnity liav gone on a Irip id Syduev.

A Doll's Party. Mrs .1. B. MacKwen is always an artistic hostess, and is quite original in her entertainments. Last week-—m honour of two young girls she has staying with her, tier niece Gipsy Alatlv- l--son, and Miss Fsther Samuel, from Taurangii—she gave a doll's tea-party, at which each guest was to come dresseo. as a doll. The hostess's little son wa.s a Punchinello, and there was great variety, Italian and gipsy dolls, a baby doll in a real long robe and cap, an elaborate French doll, and most amusing of all, a nigger doll. The ingenious mother had hidden the child's auburn hair under a red bandana handkerchief, and contrived black plaits and curls in curl-rags out of black paper, wonderfully realistic about the quaint black face, with its bright eyes and rod lips. The costume was complete even to the black hands, in gloves, aud legs. One pretty child had her fair hair crimjiod closely and in a bushy wave about her face. The entertainment was 'as original a;; the guests. I'Jach one received a boiled egg to begin with, and looked rather askance, at the nursery fare, until the first tap revealed instead of yolk and white, a grotesque cap. The'piece de resistance of the feast was a huge pie, which, when its crust was cut, re'\e:ile<l a present for everyone, such dainty '-lifts, handkerchiefs, brooches, necklets, and to each packet was attached I y pretty ribbons a posy of .'lowers. After tea there was a dolls' march, and merry games. Altogether it was a very picturesque tea-party, and as much erijoxed by the hostess';is the guests. Madame Kirkby Lunn. The great singer has charmed everyone who has met her. She is quite enthusiastic about New Zealand, although last Weduesday was the first really fine day she has had in the Dominion"! Her concerts have been intensely appreciated, and her audiences have steadily increased, as is the way here with any good artist. !So many people wait to near what others say before they go themselves. She is handsome in a sumptuous style, and one is reminded .somewhat of Melba when she moves and speaks. Music lovers here are quite excited over the treat we are going to have when she and Andrew Black are ( singing in "The Messiah."

In Madame's Honour. Miss Coates invited a number of friends to meet Madame last week, and all wi'i-c charmed with her easy grace and interesting conversation. The rooms were lovely with roses and sweet peas, which as yet are rather scarce. Among the guests was Mrs Crawford, wife of the commander of the Cambrian, and Mrs Beauclerk and her daughters, who are touring New- Zea-

land. Another At Home in honour of Madame Kirkby Luun was given by the members of the Pioneer Club in their pretty common-room. Tea was served 'in the adjoining room, and a delightful licui was spent, many being introduced to the distinguished guest. It is certainly one of the most agreeable privileges of this club—the meeting of notabilities that are passing through Wellington. Madame Kirkby Lunn, though she wears most glorious frocks, on the concert platform, dresses in dark rich materials in the street. At Miss Coates' she wore a black satin coat and skirt, the black tegal hat being massed with grey-green feathers, and at the Club her black coat and skirt was worn with a green blouse and a green hat with black ospreys. Mrs Fisher's At Home. This affair, held this afternoon, was in honour of His Excellency Admiral Sir George King-Hall, who is here at present in H.M.S. Drake. The Minister foi .Marine and Mrs Fisher received their guests in the Seamen's Mission

Hall, i'eionging to the fine building presented to the sailors by M.-.s M A. Wi.llian.s, who, by the way, vas not aide '.o i.>e present at the reception. Flags, j-crcens, palms and (lowers de.%.r ute'd the ha!!', and a Land playet." si'.eet mi.sic, while a bevy of pretty girls, helped with the tea. A large kit iicr of boys from the .Uartfoi'd Ir:mi:iig vessel wore among the gnosis, and later on were excellent assistants to the girl-waiters. Mrs Masscy was present—the Prime Minister is' away —and made many new ■■icquai.atn:;ces, and renewed old ones. Interesting

figures were the Hon. Mr Herri es, the Hon. H. I). Bell, Hon W. Eraser, Mr Donald Robertson, the new Civil Service Commissioner, aud Mr G. E. C. Campbell, the new Secretary to the Treasury. The Admiral's speech was short, "serious and earnest, with none of the humour that sailors often possess. Mis Excellency is a little man, with a white pointed heard and keen eves, and is evidently deeply impressed with the importance of attcndin.tr, not only to, physical, but also the spiritual welfare* of his men. Christmas Presents. Every season seems to bring more charming things for presents, and the shops just now are filled with fascination. Especially delightful is a new show-room opened in a Lambton Quay fancy shop. Here are a wonderful variety of novelties for sale. Some American motto-cards, the lettering tooled on leather," are very attractive. A small hat-rack has, below the pegs, "Make yourself at home." Telephone pails, with pencil attached, are to be got in all styles, and all the little odds and ends useful to the bridge-player. Especially delicious are the sachets and potpourri', rosemary, lavender, and violets, tied up in quaint bags or put into real pierced potpourri jars.- Bags, calendars and pencils are to be got at any price and any style, and it must indeed be a captious man who will find there nothing to suit his wants. Charming presents for girls—and men, too —are the sets of handkerchiefs done up in boxes, some of the very prettiest, being a fine lawn with hem-stitched coloured borders. There are pretty sets of collars and cuffs, in Irish crochet, muslin, aud linen, and for those with fuller purses, deep capes of embroideries and crochet—a handsome finish to a coat or a smart frock. A Trio of Weddings. Next month three well-known and popular girls will be brides, Miss Irene Maybittlo to Mr Kidston, Miss Margaret Simpson to Mr Peacock, ami Miss Alice Rawson to Mr Davidson, of Canterbur v.