AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 28, 12 July 1890, Page 11

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, July 1. ‘ Princess Ida ’ has been quite the rage this -week. Success was assured from the first night, and crowded audiences showed that the popular taste had been thoroughly pleased. The general opinion is that the opera is the best of the season, and there is no question that it has been the most profitable to the management. Strangely enough, though the opera made its name in London several seasons ago, this is the first time it has been produced in Auckland. The music is bright, sparkling and captivating, the dresses quaint, novel, and charming, and the scenery and effects wonderfully pretty. The dialogue, too, is very amusing, and taken as a whole * Princess Ida ’ is a delightful idyllic opera. Miss Merivale as the Princess wears a lovely gown of deep creme coloured brocade, with very long train hanging loose from the shoulders, and lined with a shade approaching ■terracotta. The edge of the skirt and round the train were beautifully embroidered with gold, while the bodice, chatalaine, and coronet were sparkling with gems. Amongst the audience I especially noticed, in the dress-circle, Mrs Alfred Nathan, wearing a very handsome dress of terracotta silk, with vest and trimmings of lovely white lace, tan gloves, gold and diamond ornaments ; Mrs Archie Clark, extremely handsome dress of pale blue silk, combined with blue and gold brocade, the bodice cut V-shape, and finished with soft folds of lace, long light kid gloves ; Mrs Ridings, handsome black silk gown, pretty cap of strawberry-coloured lace ; Mrs T. Cotter, handsome ■dress of black lace and cardinal silk, cardinal aigrette in the hair; Mrs Arthur Heather, black silk and lace evening dress ; Miss Brigham, pretty creme lace gown made with baby bodice, finished on the shoulders with knots of creme ribbon, creme gloves and handsome creme feather fan, aigrette of feathers in the hair; Mrs Moss Davis, black gauze evening dress, long tan gloves, ruby plush mantle, -aigrette of pale yellow feathers in the hair ; Mrs Haultain, beautiful black silk gown, ruby plush opera mantle ; Mrs Bourne, black merveilleux gown, the V 7 -shaped corsage finished with a cluster of crimson flowers, aigrette of creme feathers in ■the hair; Mrs Baume, lovely black silk gown, gold ornaments; Miss Baume, very becoming black evening dress, with elbow sleeves of lace, long kid gloves ; Mrs Myers, rich black merveilleux dress with vest of silver grey satin ; Miss Myers, pretty dove-coloured dress ; Miss Berry, pretty creme gauze ■dress finished with clusters of purple pansies; the Misses Brett both wore dark dresses ; Miss Harding, black merveilleux gown, opera mantle of grenat plush ; her sister also wore a black evening dress ; Mrs Varnom, handsome black merveilluex gown profusely trimmed with jet; Miss White (Parnell), pretty black silk and lace dress, the low corsage beautifully trimmed with jet, ruby plush mantle; Miss Holland, pretty creme Liberty silk gown, finished with aigrettes of creme feathers; her sister also wore creme finished with bands of black ribbon velvet; Mrs (Dr.) C. Purchas pretty dove-coloured gown, gold ornaments ; Misses McCabe, black silk and lace evening dresses trimmed with jet, .pink opera mantles ; Miss Fenton lovely dress of •creme satin, the low neck edged with folds of tulle, aigrettes of coral pink feathers in the hair and on the shoulder, creme mantle. In the orchestra stalls I noticed Miss Worsp, Mrs T. Morrin, Madam Schmitt, Mrs F. Earl, Mrs A. H. Nathan, Mrs Lewis, Mrs Davis, and a great many others. The_Remuera Social Union gave the first of their winterentertainments before a crowded and fashionable audience. The programme, which was a varied and excellent one, consisted of choice selections of vocal and instrumental music, etc., interspersed with some very effective tableaux. The instrumental selections were contributed by Mrs Upfill, Miss Edith Haliday, and Miss Clendon, and the vocal items by Messrs A. Tayler, T. Jackson, Upfill, Cotterill and Gilfillan. Mr J. B. Russell gave a very amusing Irish reading, and Mr Finlayson an excellent recitation. The tableaux included the twenty love-sick maidens from ‘ Patience,’ the Three Witches from ‘ Macbeth,’ ‘ Lear and Cordelia,’ and ‘ Oberon and Titania.’ Amongst the audience were Mrs Russell, Mrs Tewsley, Mrs Finlayson, Miss Finlayson, Mrs Hunt, Mrs Carr, Mrs Owen, Misses Pickmere, Mrs Hardie, Mrs Clark, Mrs Young, Miss Herrold, Miss Short, Miss Buddle, Miss Stevenson, Mrs Cooper, and many others whose names I at present forget. A subscription dance was given in connection with the Remuera Social, Musical and Literary Society. 1 was not present myself, but I am told the dance was most enjoyable, the company pleasant, and the attendance large. The extremely cheap rates at which the U.S.S. Company are issuing return tickets for Sydney and Melbourne by the Monowai have had the effect of inducing a large number of Aucklanders to visit friends in Australia. A well-known young gentleman, who shall be nameless, went over to Sydney by the last trip of the Monowai, intending to surprise his fiancee, who was visiting friends in that city. The young lady having been absent for some time, and her visit drawing to a close, her devoted lover thought to have the pleasure of her company home after a short stay on the other side. Imagine, dear, his disappointment and disgust when, on arrival, he found that the lady had left by the Mararoa for Auckland whilst he was journeying across, and they had passed each other on the way. ‘ La Mascotte,’ the opera which is being actively rehearsed by the Amateur Opera Company, is to be produced shortly, and judging from a recent rehearsal which I had the pleasure of attending, the performance promises to be quite as successful as was ‘ lolanthe ’ last year. The cast has been allotted as follows Duke Laurent, Mr Archdale Tayler ; Kocco, Mr ('. Chambers ; Pipjsi, Mr George Reid ; Prince Frettelini, Mr A. L. Edwards ; Matheo, Mr P. Hamerton ; Sergeant, Mr E. D. Pollock; Bettina (I.a Mascotte), Miss Annie Buckland ; Princess Fiametta, Miss Clara Steele. The chorus will number upwards of sixty voices, ami the orchestra will also be a very large and efficient one. The opera will be produced under the direction of Professor Scharitt.

I notice that Mr J. C. Sutherland, the talented pianist, in compliance with a request which he made, has been graciously permitted by the Countess of Onslow to dedicate any of his musical compositions to her ladyship. Several engagements have been reported to me. < >ne that is soon to terminate in matrimony is that of Miss Annie Braithwaite (sister of the young lady in the Free Library), to Mr James Hammond, teller in the Bank of New Zealand. Miss Braithwaite received a handsome cake basket from the pupils of the Mount Eden Public School, where until this month she has been engaged in tuition. The teachers of the school gave Miss Braithwaite a pretty cruet. If presents continue to come in like this the young lady will have quite a collection of useful and ornamental articles for her new home.

The engagement is announced of Mr Alf. Bartley and Miss Grattan. Both are well-known residents of the North Shore. Mrs Arthur Stone is engaged to Mr Den ison (Messrs Dennison and Grant, Oamaru); and a daughter of Mr Edson, the well-known chemist in Queen-street, is to be married to Mr Corquadale, junior, son of the manager of the Northern Roller Mills. A very jolly little dance, given by Mr James, took place in the Mount Hobson Hall. Among such a galaxy of beauty and fashion it would be impossible to attempt to do justice to the numerous toilettes represented. The following is a list of some of the most effective costumes: —Miss Kidd, cream lace and blue sash ; Miss Von Sturmer, handsome black lace dress, with red poppies; Miss Spiers, lovely shade of green Liberty silk, very stylishly made. Miss Dickson looked well in crimson silk ; Miss A. Dickson, black lace and yellow sash, very effective ; Miss Conolly, white dress with pink trimmings; Miss James, black lace; Miss A. James, cream nun’s veiling ; Mrs Mahoney, very pretty pink net trimmed artistically with black velvet; Mrs Finlayson, stylish black satin and lace; Mrs Cattnach, pale pink delicately shaded ; Mrs Burton, crimson silk (one of the handsomest dresses) ; Mrs Orchiston, effective dress of pink moire.

Muriel.