Tea Table Gossip.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 25, 1 September 1894, Page 17

Tea Table Gossip.

Although we were promised such a very dull session, and letters were written to the papers advising us to refrain from the iniquity of buying ball dresses, &c., we have had, as far as it has gone, one of the gayest lesions that have been experienced since Qie dear extravagant old Stout-Yogel days. Entertainments have succeeded one another with alarming rapidity, and have been given upon a more elaborate scale than ofyore; the decorations more elaborate, flowers more plentiful, and gowns richer and more v aried than I ever remember to have seen them.

The first great social event of August was the ball given by the Wellington Club. The ball-room, which is not very large, was crowded. The whole building was thrown open to, the guests, and the rooms beautifully decorated with daffodils, scarlet and white camelias, and wattle.. The supper, which was laid out in the billiard room, was excellent; of course, club suppers are always so. Every delicacy that could be procured was to be found, and the champagne and other wines of the very best. His Excellency the Governor and a party from Government House were present. They were met by the President of the Club, Mr. Edward Pearce, and Miss Pearce, who stood at the top of the first staircase and received the guests. Some of the dresses were extremely handsome. Mrs. Johnston Stewart wore a beautiful gown of silver grey brocade, with clusters of pink roses; Lady Augusta Boyle, a white silk, trimmed with strips of flowered embroidery; Mrs. T. C. Williams, a handsome brown brocade, trimmed with ecru lace; Mrs. Arthur Russell, a beautiful sage green silk ; Mrs. Larnach’s gown was a beautiful combination of peacock blue silk and canary satin; Mrs. Collins wore a dress of black moire and white silk ; Mrs. Werry, a costume of sage green silk and velvet ; Mrs. Tolhurst, a gown of brown velvet, with petticoat and shoulder trimmings of cream and. gold brocade. There were a great many other beautiful dresses, but it wpuld take too long to describe them all. Amongst the guests were also Mrs. and Miss Russell, Mr. and Mrs. A. Brandon, the Misses Brandon, Dr. and Mrs. Grace, Sir Walter and Miss Buffer, Captain Stewart, Major Elliot, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pharazyn, Colonel Fox, the Misses Holmes, Gore, Duncan, Gibson, Cooper, Johnston, Williams, Carrow, &c.

On the next evening (Friday), Mrs. Johnston Stewart gave her second At Home at Government House. The decorations were very tasteful, the mantelpieces being built up with banks of maiden hair fern, and camelias, palms and pot plants filled the corners ; the conservatory was thrown open, and dimly lighted with coloured lamps. Mrs. Johnston Stewart assisted His Excellency to receive the guests. She was beautifully dressed in a pretty gown of white and silver striped gauze over white satin, and with pearls in her hair. Lady Augusta Boyle looked very well in a slightly trained gowu of pink satin. Amongst other handsome gowns I must notice that of Mrs. Newman, a lovely creation of pale blue and pink, and that of Mrs. Wilson, a beautiful cream satin embroidered with pearls. Miss Clara Russell wore a pretty white spotted gauze over white satin. Miss Whistler, white covered with blue and gold striped gauze. Mrs. G. Hutchison, silver grey trimmed with steel. Others present were Mrs. Dan Riddiford, Mrs. Mantell, Mrs. C. Izard, the Misses Dransfield, Graham, Friend, Bnncan, Medley, Brandon, Allan, Baker, &c. Colonel Fox, Dr. Cahill, Messrs Cooper, Gore, Todd, Buffer, &c.

There were several large and fashionable audiences at the Opera House to hear .the Montague-Turner Company, “ Maritana ’! drew a crowded house, including Eds Excellency the Governor, and a party from Government House. ~ The Belle Cole concerts also obtained a good share of patronage, Madame. Cole’s exquisite singing of “ The Lost Chord ” being particularly appreciated. It would be almost impossible to describe all the entertainments, so 1 must content myself with a few of the more important. On the 13th Mrs. George Hutchison gave a most delightful At Home at her residence in Hill street. The rooms were a dream of loveliness decorated with wattle and.drapings of yellow silks, and everywhere great clusters of daffodils. Mrs. Hutchi-

son received her guests in a very handsome gown of dark green velvet. The supper was excellent. Music and floor all that ' • could bo desired. ~ There have also been several delightful musical “At Homes." One given by Mica. Travers was a very largo affair, both rooms and the hall being filled with guests, amongst whom < were Captain and Mrs. Stewart, Lady Augusta Boyle,- Major • Elliot, and Mr. Clayton, Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Arthur Russell, Hon. B. and Mrs. Pharazyn,Mr, and Mrs. Pynsant, Mr. and Mrs. Olliver, the Misses Jofinston, Grace, Buffer, Williams, Izard, &o. On the next evening Mrs. Collins gave a small danco at her residence in Boulcost street. Daffodils again formed the principle of decoration, and the beautiful hostess resembled one of these flowers herself, wearing an exquisite gown of maizocoloured mervilleux trimmed with ecru lace, anacOrryingabou* quet of dafiodils and ferns. Lady Augusta Boyle wore white silk trimmed with strips of embroidery. Miss H. Williams* - white brooade embroidered with pearls and-trimmod with mauve velvet. Miss Gibson (who is staying with Mrs. Collins) wore * ■ pink silk. Amongst others present were Mrs. and Miss Russell*, ■ , Mrs. Walter Johnston and the Misses Jolmston, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Pearce, and Mrs. Dowell, Mrs. H. Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. A. Crawford, Miss Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. T. Wilford, Mr. and Mrs. Bell, Mr. & Mrs. Dan Riddiford, the Misses Goro, Builor, Whistler, Duncan, Tolhurst, Mills, Medley &o. On the following night everybody mot onoomoro at tho Theatre Rcyal to see the Amateur Theatricals in aid of tho>" 1 Roman Catholic Orphanage, Tho clross circle presented a brilliant appearance ; gay dresses and gayer flowers lighting up the somewhat dingy old place most agreeably. “ Our Bitterest Foe ” was the principle piece and was extremely well acted, - every character being extremely well and carefully played. Those who took part in the three pieces were the Misses Grnco, Dr. and Mrs. Purdy, Mrs. T. Wilford, and Mr. Ross, Goro. -Mrs, Grace entertained all the performers at supper after the per,*, formance. His Excellency the Governor and a party from Government House were amongst the audience. The very gay week was finished up by a most enjoyable danco given by Mrs. Adams, on the Saturday night. The verandah was covered in and softly lighted with coloured lamps, and tho decorations consisted chiefly of red and white camolias. Dr. and - Mrs. Adams received the guests, the latter wearing a very handsome black silk gown trimmed with jet. Amongst the guests were Captain and Mrs. Stewart, Lady Augusta Boyle, Major Elliot, Colonel Fox, Mrs. and Miss Russell, Mrs. 8011, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Pearce, Mrs. Collins, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. Wardrop, Mrs. Rhodes, the Misses Grace, John* ston, Buffer, Harding, Duncan, Mills, Gore, Cooper, Williams, Dransfield &c.

On Monday, August 20tb, a pretty wedding took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was that of Miss May Carrow, to Mr, Edgar Ward, Mayor of Riverton. The bride woro a pretty cos* tume of grey with trimmings of white and gold brooade, large grey hat with white feathers, and carried a bouquet of white flowers and maiden hair. The bridesmaids were Mjss Hey wood and Miss S. Hej wood, who woro dresses of gobelin blue and brown, with bats to match, and carried bouquets of daffodils. Mrs Carrow wore a beautiful costume of gobelin blue and gold brocade. There were very few guests. Mr, Browning acted as best man, and the ceremony was performed by tho Rev. Mr. Sprott. On Monday evening tho “ Living pictures from Punch ” attracted a large audience at the Art Gallery. Tho entertainment was got up by Miss Holmes and Miss Williams in aid of “ Auld Robin Gray," and “ Paradise and tho i?eri’‘ were particularly good. Those who took part in the performances were the Misses Williams, Izard, Johnston, Gibson, Duncan, Williams, Gore, Holmes, Mrs. A. Pearce, Messrs. Newton, Gore, Tripp, Hsdfieldj Potterson &c. " Mrs. Walter Johnston gave an At Homo on the 22nd and Miss Pearce on the following night. On the 27th Mrs Johnston Stewart gave another most aelightiul At Home at Government House. .