AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 27, 5 July 1890, Page 12

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, June 28. Williamson, < lamer, and Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company still continue the great attraction for all classes of the community, and nightly the Opera House is crowded, especially so downstairs, with delighted and enthusiastic audiences. < Iwing to the unfortunate accident met with by Mr William Elton whilst out riding and the indisposition of Miss Merivale, the ‘Yeomen of the Guard ’ was withdrawn after the second performance, and < lilbert and Sullivan’s ever popular and irresistibly funny opera, ‘ The Mikado,’ was substituted, and proved very enjoyable. In the circle I saw Mrs Buckland, wearing a handsome black silk gown, plush opera mantle ; Miss Hunter, very pretty pale pink cashmere evening dress, creme mantle, aigrette of pink feathers in the hair; Mrs C. J. Houghton, brown silk evening dress, the corsage finished with an aigrette of coral pink feathers, aigrette of the same in the hair ; Mrs Houghton was accompanied by a young lady wearing a pretty black evening dress ; Aliss Florence Seymour, black costume; Mrs T. W. Leys, handsome black silk gown; Mrs (Dr.) Lindsay, all black costume ; Mrs Kissling, black silk gown, pretty cap of white lace and heliotrope ribbons ; Miss Kissling, black velvet dress, pretty lace collarette ; Mrs Haultain, black silk gown, ruby plush opera mantle ; Miss Murray, black silk and lace evening dress, the corsage finished with aigrette of maize feathers: Miss Pearson, pale blue cashmere gown, creme shawl : Mrs Briton, handsome black moire gown. One of the most successful balls of the season was given on Friday, June 20, in the Ponsonby Hall by the bachelor members connected with the Ponsonby ‘At Homes’ to the committee ami their friends. Quite a number of pretty gowns were donned for the oceassion. 1 have added a few. Mrs Upton, beautiful dress of rich wine-coloured silk; .Miss I pton looked extremely well in a pretty white Liberty silk dress : Mrs Devore, handsome ami beautiful gown of black moiresilk, made with very long train : Miss Devore, exceedingly pretty evening dress of amber-coloured net, finished with aigrettes of cardinal feathers; Mrs Robert Lamb, beautiful and striking dressof rich ruby plush,the frontof the skirt finished with fan pleating of pale pink silk, long train of pink silk ; Mrs J. A. Tole, lovely dress of pink silk made with long train ; she carried a lovely bouquet of pink roses ; Miss Rita Tole, tastefid and pretty low-necked dress of white silver spangled gauze draped over white silk ; Miss Hughes, very pretty dress of white net, the front of skirt tastefully trimmed with violets, fan composed of violets; Miss Alice I've, very becoming evening dress of black gauze finished with posies of buttercups and loops of ribbon to match : Miss McDonald, lovely dress of white gauze covered with chains and dusters of pearls: Mrs T. <'otter, handsome gown of black beaded net made over cardinal satin. I must not forget to tell you that the duties of M.C. were ably performed by Mr F. (Tainoml. The < 'horal Society are engaged practising Maefarreu's •May Day and Hamish McCunu's ‘Lay of the Last Minstrel’ for their next concert, which is to take place

shortly. The ‘ Lay of the Last Minstrel ’is quite a new work and has never before been performed in New Zealand. The music is extremely difficult sometimes, but throughout bright, tuneful, and eminently pleasing. The solos have been allotted as follows : ‘ Lady Buccleuch,' Mrs Kilgour ; ‘ Margaret of Branksome,’ Mrs G. Coates ; ‘ Sir William of Deloraine,’ Mr A. L. Edwards; ‘Mountain Spirit,’ Mr H. Bradney ; ‘The Monk,’ Mr Cornelius Taylor; ‘Lord Cranston,’ Mr Pollock ; ‘ River Spirit,’ Mr P. Hamerton. Miss Baume is the only soloist in ‘ -May Day.’ The engagement is announced of Mr C. Taylor and Miss Dixon.

Miss Isabel Braithwaite was married lately to Mr Herbert Burrell, son of Captain Burrell, of the North Shore. The wedding, which was a very pretty one, came off at St. Sepulchre’s. The bride looked lovely in a stylishly made gown of white cashmere, with the orthodox veil and wreath, the latter of orange blossoms. She carried a beautiful liouquet of orange blossoms ami daphne. The bridesmaids. Miss Braithwaite (of the Auckland Free Library), and Miss Ifwerson, were in white with tulle hats. The dresses were relieved by large corsage knots of azalea, daphne and maidenhair. They carried bouquets of water lilies, heliotrope, and daphne. The third bridesmaid, a little girl, Ruby Wade, wore pale blue. The happy pair left for the

Waikato after the ceremony.

Muriel.