WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 32, 9 August 1890, Page 11

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, July 26. We have not been quite so frivolous this week as last, but nevertheless there has been a good deal going on one way and another. There has not, perhaps, been quite so much dancing, which I consider a very good thing, for our young people would very soon be worn to shadows if they kept up the excitement of last week for long. When it conies to going out every evening in the week and calling, tennis or afternoon teas from 3 o’clock until 6 p.m., and perhaps rinking or shopping in the forenoon, I think pleasure soon begins to pall on one, that is, if one can call what appears to me real hard work pleasure. Dr. and Mrs Grace gave a very good afternoon dance in Mr Walter Johnston’s ballroom in Tinakori Hoad. There were about a hundred guests, who arrived at 4 o’clock and left at 7, rather awkward hours, as the gentlemen could not get there until 5 o’clock, and most of them ended by missing their 6 o’clock dinner in the evening. Had a Saturday afternoon been chosen the result would have been much more enjoyable. To vary the programme some music was introduced between the first few dances, and Miss Hawkins gave a recitation. Miss Maude Grace and Miss McClean both sang songs, Miss Medley playing. King supplied the dance music in his usual good style, and a delicious afternoon tea was served in the dining room. Fortunately for the dancers, it was a very cold day, but as it was they all felt very warm in their thick winter dresses. Some of the ladies took off their hats, but most danced just as they would visit. There were no very startling gowns, and most were dark. Miss Grace looked well in a pretty combination of grey and black, and Miss Russell wore an uncommonlooking gown of golden brown cloth with yellowish sleeves and trimmings. Miss Hawkins looked very well in a pretty tan shade of brown trimmed with velvet and a light silk vest and brown hat. Miss A. St. Hill (Napier) wore dark green cloth and velvet, and Miss Whitaker (Auckland) wore a light brown costume, while Miss Tanner (Christchurch) wore a pretty terracotta cloth gown with folded vest. Miss Barron wore dark green velvet. Among others were also Lady Buller, Miss Buller, Mrs and Miss Acland (Christchurch), Mrs and the Misses Izard, Mrs Russell, Mrs and Miss Hilda Williams, Miss Studholme (Christchurch), the Misses Cooper, Madame Lostalot, and Miss Willis. There was a marriage a few days ago at Longwood, Featherston, when Miss Pluebe Worgan, of Wanganui, and niece of Mr Charles Pharazyn, sen., of Wellington, was united to Mi- Louis Parazyn. eldest son of Mr Chas. Pharazyn, jun., of Longwood, Wairarapa. The Rev. Mr Waters went up from town to marry them, and I hear that the wedding was a very quiet one, no one but relations attending. Mr Coleman Phillips officiated as best man, and there were no bridesmaids. The bride was attired in a dark travelling dress, and the couple left for their honeymoon in the North shortly after the ceremony. Mr Stratton Izard has determined to practice his profession in Greytown, Wairarapa, and with that object in view has dissolved partnership with Mr Travers and has given up his town house, and has instead bought that of Dr Spratt, of Greytown. Both Mr and Mrs Izard will be much missed by their many friends in Wellington. Mrs Charlie Johnston gave us an excellent little dance, there being only about twenty couples present. They danced in the billiard-room, the floor there being beautiful. The dance began at nine o’clock, anil lam sorry to see that the tendency lately has been to encourage late dances. All last year we were perfectly content to begin at eight and end at twelve o’clock, but this year we are much more fashionable, and do not get home until the ‘ wee sma’ hours,’ the natural consequence the following day being a weary jaded feeling and an utter inability to take the smallest interest in the usual events of the day. But lam straying. Mrs Johnston, as usual, proved a capital hostess, and the affair went off with great spirit, especially the new ‘ Barn-door Dance,’ which has been taken up with such enthusiasm by our young dancing people. The hostess looked well in her black gown, crossed with a lemon-coloured watered silk sash, and her niece, Miss Grace, wore a lilac silk with puffs of pink gauze. Mrs W. P. Reeves (Christchurch) wore an exceedingly handsome gown, the bodice being orange coloured silk with black velvet elbow sleeves, and the front was composed of folded draperies of orange silk and gold and black passementerie. Miss Tanner, also of Christchurch, wore a pretty white dress with pearl ornaments, while her younger sister wore a very handsome crushed strawberry silk gown, slightly trained, and trimmed with dark wine-coloured velvet. Miss Gore wore a lovely gown of white silk, embroidered with gold designs and a gold embroidered Medici collar. A pretty simple white gown was worn by Miss Tripp (Christchurch), and Miss Whitaker also wore a combination of white satin and lace. Miss Hilda Williams wore white and orange, Miss Acland (Christchurch) pale blue, and Miss A. St. Hill (Napier) black, with pale mauve sashes draped about the skirt and shoulders. Among the visitors I also noticed Miss Ormond (Napier) wearing a pretty white dress with pinked-out white silk sash, and Miss Ida Macdonald (Auckland) in pale pink. Miss Moorhouse wore a very pretty pink tulle dress, and Miss M. Grace and Miss Krull (Wanganui) white. The Opera House was simply packed from top to bottom when the Harmonic Concert took place. I think perhaps the reason for the more than ordinary amount of interest taken in it was the fact of the Society’s having chosen ‘ The (folden Legend ’ for the second portion of the programme. This wonderful work created such enthusiasm at our late festival that everyone seemed highly delighted to have the opportunity of hearing it again, and indeed, although the chorus was not nearly so large nor the orchestra nearly so powerful, anil in spite of the absence of the beautiful peal of bells we had last time, it was a real treat. The final chorus • Burn and Shine ’ will long linger in the memory of those .fortunate enough to hear it. Miss Fanny Porter, daughter

of Major Porter (lately of Gisborne), made her debut as a contralto singer, and created a great impression on the laige audience. She has a magnificent voice, and in that lovely unaccompanied solo, * Slowly up the Wall,' she seemed to roll out her rich deep notes like an exquisite organ pipe. She had a beautiful bouquet thrown to her when she had finished her part. I hope we shall very often have the pleasure of listening to this new acquisition to musical circles, and in time I should think Miss Porter would overcome the slight nervousness that was apparent that evening. Miss Katherine Hardy sustained the part of Elsie (soprano), and sang in her best style, although her voice, though very flexible and sweet, was hardly powerful enough for so large a building. But I was in a very good position, and was close enough to hear every word, so thoroughly enjoyed her highly-culti-vated singing, but I know that those who were sitting in the far ends of the dress circle did not hear her to advantage. Mr Izard, the tenor singer, came up from Christchurch especially to take the part of Prince Henry, and he did it quite as well, if not better, than at the Festival. Mr Waters had the hardest portion of all in Lucifer, but we all know that we can fully trust any music in his hands, so no one felt uncomfortable tn fear of a breakdown. Mr A. Gray had a small part, that of the Forester, and sang very nicely. The duet, ‘ The Wayside Inn,’ sung by Miss Hartly and Mr Izard, was lovely, and indeed the wholeconcert wasexceptionally good, and was thoroughly enjoyed. Mr R. Parker, as usual, conducted, Mr Connolly led theorchestra(amongwhichlnoticedseveral ladies- the Misses M. George, Sidey, Pilcher, and Henry), Mr Tallis Trimnell played theorgan, and Miss Hammerton officiated at the piano. Miss Hardy wor e a lovely gown of a pale lemon colour, the skirt being bordered with gold braid, and beautifully draped over a petticoat of pale blue and gold sparkling embroidery. The same embroidery was introduced into the corsage, and the sleeves were short and the neck cut low. Long tan gloves completed a very elegant costume. Miss Porter wore black net with small Medici collar, and finished with a cluster of bright scarlet flowers at the slightly open throat. Among the audience were some pretty dresses. Miss A. Hadfield wore a pretty pale pink gown and red plush cloak : Miss Tripp, black trimmed with coffee lace : Mrs Furguson and Mrs Izard, black ; Lady Campbell, dark wine brocade with real lace front ; Miss A. Moorhouse, black; Miss M. Moorhouse, red plush cloak; Miss Tanner, pink gown and white mantle, and her sister, bright red net; Miss L. Izard, blue silk, white plush cloak ; the Misses Williams, pretty white dresses ; Mrs (Captain) Rose, a handsome Paisley shawl pattern cloak embroidered with gold ; Miss Dransfield, red plush ; Miss Grace, pretty white silk and fur mantle ; Miss Whitaker, fur mantle ; Mrs George Beetham, a handsome red cloak. Among others were also Mrs Russell, Miss Russell, Miss St. Hill, Lady and Miss Hall, Mrs Swainson, Mrs Leckie, Mrs Jellicoe, Mrs Edwards, Mrs Friend, the Misses Harding and Mrs Edwin, and among the lady singers I recognised Mrs Levin, Mrs Barron, Miss Barron, Miss Campbell, Miss Cooper, Miss Norrie, Miss Graham, Mrs Parsons, Miss Haise, Miss Swainson, Miss I’pham, Miss Gray, Mrs England, and Miss Hammerton. The Governor and Mr Walrond were also there. There was a very good little surprise party given at Mrs Godfrey Knight’s, and I hear that Miss Noake had a large musical party later in the week.

Ruby.