THE WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11591, 13 February 1913, Page 2

THE WEEK IN WELLINGTON.

[By Mks Maloolm Rots. |

Feb. 10th. About People. Miss Hanau is a guest oi ! her aunt, Mrs Garcia Webster. Mr and Mrs J. A. Pike have been visiting Botorua. Mr and Mrs Stott took a Hying visit to Waitaki, where they took their son to school. The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson ami Mrs Jenkinson are spending a holiday in the North. Mrs Rattray, of Dunedin, and Miss Kirkcaldie, of Sydney, are guests of Mrs John Kirkcaldie. Mr Fowler, principal of the Nelson Boys' College, and Mrs Fow.ler, who have been visiting in the Wairarapa and staying at York Bay, have returned to Nelson. Miss E. Cock left on Saturday to take up her duties as French mistress in the Auckland Girls' Grammar School. The Hon. Mr Prickett, American Consul lit Auckland, and Mrs Prickett, spent a few days here, and left on Thursday for the South. Mr and Airs Reynolds Denniston left for Sydney by the Manuka. Madame My, who has been a guest of Mr and Mrs Stott at Silverstream, returned on Saturday to Hastings. Mr and Mrs Charles 11. Iloworth, the artist engineer, and his wife, of Wanganui, and Mrs and Miss Neill, of Feilding, have been in town last week. Miss Bateson, who has been staying with her uncle, Mr Bushby, at Nelson, left on Saturday for Taupo and Auckland, from which place she takes the Marama en route for England. Mrs David Nathan and ncr little daughters have gone for some weeks to I'oxton. Miss Anson, who has been visiting her sister, Mrs Estcourt, left on Monday for Christehurch. Dr and Mrs Hassell have been staying at the Mount Egmont Hotel. Miss E. Myers has returned from Moawhango, where .she was a guest of Mrs Batley. By the Tiirakina left Miss Helen Mackenzie, daughter of the High Commissioner. Miss Coila Brown, of Dunedin, accompanied hor. At the Grand this past week have been Mr and Mjrs Tringhain, of Pigeon Bush, Mr and Mrs Hector Smith, Napier, and Mr and Mrs Arthur Williams, llawke's Bay. Mr and Mrs D. Buchanan, Mr and Mrs McLaren, Mrs Archer and Mrs Cooper —all of Masterton—are at the Empire. Mrs Chaytor and her children, who have been spending their holidays in Marlborough, have returned to Palmerston North. Dr and Mrs Palmer and Miss Palmer, of Featherston, came back from England on Wednesday, coming from Sydney in the Warrimoo. The Misses Cock are guests of Mrs J. D. Gray. Mrs Berger and Miss Toski Berger, of Feilding, left by the Turakina. The latter is to study music in Germany. Miss Coates has return&d from Auckland and Opotiki. Sir Bobert and Lady Stout have gone to their own house on the Terrace. Mrs Dillon, of Leefield, in visiting Wellington. Mr and Mrs J. Parker have returned from their holiday at Mcndip Hills, where they were guests of Mr and Mrs A. W. Rutherford. * * * * A Revival. The very latest fad of fashion is the cameo, and those who are fortunate to possess—among their half-forgotten treasures—some of these old time ornaments should bring them out and wear them. The larger ones, even those of considerable size, are set in plain gold or silver rims, as pendants, dung on fine chairs, or :is clasps or buckles, while the smaller ones arc utilised us brooches, in ji row of three, or buttons, .or even ear-rings. They harmonise charmingly, too, with almost any gown. The acjuaruaim has been a tremendous vogue, and the tourmaline and beryl, too, have been in groat favour, especially as pendants. But, on the whole, the wearing of jewellery, in the daytime, is not usual, unless it be, of course, with a smart garden party gown or reception frock. Yory few people nowadays wear bracelets, probably because they impede the energetic hustle of the age, while very often a simple enamel brooch is the .sole ornament. One must except the wrist watch, which is .so common an appurtenance alike of the society mnid or the working girl. The petulant watches are beautiful trifles, but not nearly so practical or so safe. The Plunket Fete. This was held in the grounds of the Prime Minister's residence, now in their kite summer glory, brilliant with coreopsis, hydrangeas, lilies, and masses of marvellously tinte-d nemesia. They form an ideal setting for an out-of-door entertainment, with a magnificent stretch of lawn, set in a bank of flowers, above which is a walk that forms a natural gallery. The great trees, too, afforded grateful shade, and there were various diversions provided by the Committee. An ice-cream stall and a. tea-kiosk refreshed the weary, and there were sweets for sale in one tent, and all sorts of produce, from fruit to soap, in another. A nail-driv-ing competition w;is most exciting ;tnl profitable. Everyone tried their "hand, from Dr Collins to Mother Mary Joseph, and the latter wonderful old lady drove her nail home with such a will that she gained a prize. .She threw sticks at the Aunt Sally, too, to such purpose that she hit her squarely on her nose, a feat that many other aspirants to fame, including the Prime Minister and an aide-de-camp, failed to accomplish. The Maypole dance, performed charmingly by the Mount Cook children, was another attraction. But the greatest magnet was the baby show. From two o'clock there had been babies arriving, fat and thin, dark and fair, blue-eyed and black-eyed, in arms, in go-carts, or toddling along with the aid ot a friendly hand, all, of course,

in their best bibs and tuckers. They i

were drafted off to the stable yard, a pleasant grassy enclosure, and there, when the judging was over, we were allowed a peep. There were rows_ of mothers and babios, such good babies, too. One proud father paraded the champion baby—a child of eight months that weighed "'2 stone! —about, and was ever ready to display its varied charms. Uenlly, the children were bonny and well cared for, with roseleaf skins and bright eyes —a credit for their parents and Wellington. Later on, the Prime Minister, in his happiest vein, gave the prizes—very handsome prizes—rto the .successful parents. The fete must have realised a goodly sum, probably about £150. * * * • * Her Excellency. Lady Liverpool looked • charming that afternoon when she visited the fete, and was received by Mrs Massey, Mrs Algar Wiilliams and Dr Platts Mills. Her trock was pretty, a gown of pleated blue satin, with a short accordion pleated tunic of mole ninon. Her hat was a graceful mole straw wiith blue trimmings. She visited the stalls and made purchases, took tea, with the President ami Mrs Massey. in the sum-mer-house, and watched the Maypole dance with interest. She takes a kindly pleasure in all her public duties, and it is delightrul to hear that both Lord Liverpool aud she are charmed with their new home and country, and keen to see everything that is to be seen, and get to know the people. I hear they are giving a large gardenparty next Saturday. To-<iay they leave for Picton, to attend the Cook ceremony, and with them go the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher and Mrs Fisher, Mrs Godley, Miss and Mr Rhodes,, who have been staying at Government House. Miss Foljambc has been doing the Alliford Sound walic, with Sir James Mills and Miss Greta Mills. Already their Excellencies have seen quite a lot of New Zealand under the most favourable conditions, for virtually evor since they arrived the weather has been delightful—such a charming spell of sunshine as Lord and Lady Islington never experienced. -:t * * » The New Tailor-Mades. Whip cord and serge are still the favourite materials for the walking suit, and the skirts are still narrow, though not extraordinarily so, and the- coats short and slightly high-waistod. The patent leather belt- —narrow and severely plain—is an appendage to many of the new coats, and braiding decorates a number. Buttons, too,play :i pron-inent part in the present fashions. By the way, I saw recently a most ingenious way of making buttons to match a costume. A large pearl button and a small linen button were needed, the latter covered with the material of the frock, and if liked, padded a little. Then it was sown firmly, by means of the holes in the pearl button, to the centre of the latter, and bohold, you have a button with a pearl rim and a centre to harmonise with your gown. Of course this idea is capable of much elaboration, for the centre could be beaded or emhbroidored or covered with fine crochet. I saw a set of buttons, each centred, with a crochet rose, which were to be worn on a linen costume with a Peter Pan collar and cuffs of Irish crochet.