CHRISTCHURCH.

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

CHRISTCHURCH.

June 24. Dear Bee, When two pleasant events come off on the same day, one is puzzled to decide which is most worth going to. There was to be a kind of continuation ot Ham Fete out at Riccarton and the Hunt at New Brighton. Well, the fete won. There was to be a sale of some very choice and pretty things sent out from England by Mrs Clogstown, and 1 think arrived too late for the fete proper, so the ladies decided to hold this in the schoolroom, and make it attractive with good music, refreshments, etc. There were some new and very pretty window curtains, a great variety of toys, and some very nice china The refreshments were in another room. The ladies in charge were Mi's Lance, Mrs Boyle, Mrs J. Wilson, Mrs Ford, Mrs Shand, and a host of young lady helpers. They seemed to do a pretty brisk business, and the music was much appreciated by a large number of the visitors, though there is always a lot of talk going on at a thing of that kind. An earnest saleswoman could not bear the thought of losing a sale for the sake of a song. There was a produce stall, too, where I saw some magnificent grapes grown at Ham ; one bunch weighed five pounds. The music was contributed by Mrs Wilson, Mrs Wilding, Miss Gordon Rich, Messrs T. Acland, Day, Millar, and Weir, and some members of the Liedertafel sang some glees, Mr G. H. Mornington acting as accompanyist. A very good and enjoyable meet came off at New Brighton, though there were one or two very stiff fences, and some rough country, causing some empty saddles, but nothing more. Amongst the ladies out were Mis and Miss Haslam, the Misses Cowlishaw (2), Misses Gerrard, Hiorus. Helmore, and Delamain. It was a lovely day, and a great number drove out to watch.

After our dissipation at Opawa Mrs Harley entertained a number of young people at a dance—the ‘Not Outs,’ they called themselves, but they had a splendid dance. The floor was perfection from the night before, and a number of the gentlemen went again and a few of the ladies just to give things a start. Mrs Wilson and her daughter were there, the Misses Frankish, Black, Kimbell, Harman, Kinsey, HarleyVincent and many more. A very good concert was given in Papanui Hall in aid of the school-building fund. The audience, though not as large as could have been accommodated, was very enthusiastic, and encored everything. Mrs J. Matson sang very sweetly a song, ‘ Under the Daisies,’ the Misses Helmore a duet, Mr Weir the well worn ‘ Little Hero,’ Miss Matson and Mr T. Acland. The first social of the season was given by the Caledonian Society, and a most successful one it was. Among the ladies I saw Mrs Rhind in black, anil crimson plush mantle ; Mrs G. G. Stead, electric blue, with plush mantle of dark blue ; Mrs Flavell, black dress with handsome crimson wrap ; Mrs and the Misses Matson ; Miss Studholme, white dress with crimson roses in the bodice ; Miss F. Studhohne wore pink. Miss Spensley sang a Scotch song very sweetly. Mrs Alan Scott, who wore black evening dress and a lovely diamond clasp in the front of the bodice, sang ‘ Castles in the Air ’ very nicely. Mrs Wilson, Opawa, who wore pink silk with black laceandsomemagniticent diamonds, sang ‘ Lochaberno more.’ Mr P. Campbell, the President, and Miss Robinson are to be married shortly, in a month or so, when they will start on their travels to Europe. Lucky people ! Bishop Julius delivered his first lecture in the Oddfellows’ Hall, which was packed, those ladies and gentlemen who are specially interested tn St. Mary’s Home having chairs on the stage. The lecture ‘ Three Years in a Country Village,’ was in aid of St. Mary's, and must have added a few pounds to the fund. The Bishop told us he had given about four hundred and twenty lectures in Australia, and he thought it was four hundred and nineteen too many, but I for one would like to hear the other four hundred and nineteen. He must be very observant, has a splendid memory, a very large vein of humour, and a large heart, full of sympathy ami great reverence with it all. He is an eloquent “peaker, so you may imagine how we enjoyed the evening, which was too short, though he talked for nearly two hours.

Mr St. Maur and Company open with ‘Chums.’ We are most anxious to see it, having already fallen hopelessly in love with Mr Christie Murray. Miss Florence Seymour has many admirers here too. We have another delight to look forward to, an ‘At Home ’ given by Messrs Edwards and Bennett. They have taken a house, and this is a house-warming. There are to be two chaperons, so we shall be well looked after. 1 had almost forgotten a delightful afternoon we spent, when Miss Florence Stratton, H.A.M., had a Matinee Jlusieale at their house, Gloucester-street. She played eight pieces from the best composers, including Beethoven, Chopin, Schusman, without a note of music, and sang two songs, Cowen s * In the Chimney Corner,’ and Schubert’s ‘ Ave Maria. ’ Her playing is exquisite; she is a real artiste. Mrs Stratton dispensed afternoon tea to her numerous guests, among those l>eing the Bishop and Mrs Julius, Mrs Studholme, Lady Wilson, Mrs A. Cracroft Wilson, Mi's Bowen, Mrs Flavell, ami many others.

Dolly Vale.