CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 33, 16 August 1890, Page 10

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, August 7. I have come to the conclusion that man is born to grumble as surely as the sparks Hy upward. A little while ago we had it clear, cold, and dry—very cold I admit • now it is wet and warm, and has been for some time • still the same discontent at the weather. I am happy so long as it is a little warm ; so are the spring Howers. Thev are coming out fast every day. The first sniff of the narcissus is delicious after so many months. We have had rather a full week, and visitors from north and south. Die wool kings have been rubbing shoulders with one another from all directions, and, let us hope, brought lots of money with them. b ‘ J a s- be^eM’ ldly 'r I K ViI J take two nice little aß ernoon teas. The Misses Tabart gave one and the Misses Gieenwood another. At the latter I noticed Miss Dy mock, Miss Cowhshaw, Miss Reeves, Miss Robison, and Miss Kimbel] and a very pleasant time we had. ’ The Rowing Club dance was a decided success, but unfortunately on this occasion the ladies were too numerous tor no girl likes being a wallflower, though she may wear it’ and admire it and praise it. A number of the same people were pieser.t as at the last. It was very jolly, and dancing was kept up with great spirit. b One of the prettiest little weddings I have seen took place at Menvale Church, the perfoimers in this ceremony being Dr. Jennings and Miss Hodge (at least the principal r !u n^ rS \ <- fi ,e 1 ? 1 ? de n !? de , a n,osfc e’egant centre-piece as she stood at the altar rails, her bridal costume suiting her to perfection. The dress was of soft striped white silk, with full train edged with inching of silk, the front prettily draped with a panel on one side caught here and there with bridal floweis, the sleeves with high puffings let in, and the bodice trimmed with crystal spangled net and bouquets ot flowers. A wreath and long tulle veil completed a charming costume ; she carried a lovely bouquet. Mr I. Gibbs, her guardian, led her in and gave her away The bridesmaids were the Misses Haywood (Milly anti Alai y), of Auckland. They wore cream nuns’ veiling, the bodies being trimmed with ruby velvet, dainty head dresses of tulle and velvet with cream feather, and beautiful bouquets, mostly composed of Chinese primula, and tied with long streamers of ruby ribbon. Mrs Gibbs wore a very handsome green brocade <ll ess with velvet front, black bonnet with cieam roses ; Mrs Flavell, a rich trained moire (black), black bonnet, and Maltese lace cape ; Mrs Edward Deacon in black merveilleux with white satin front covered with black lace, bodice trimmed to match, Paul Jones hat with crimson roses. Theseseemed to be the only ladies taking part in the ceremony, though thechurch was filled with spectators I he bridegroom s gift to the bridesmaids was a gold bracelet t°one,with L , nck -’ her name, and the date, and a gold rolling-pin biooch with the same words, her name, and the date to the other, and to the bride a beautiful hoop diamond ring. There was no best man, so the maids had no one to coquette with after they had finished with the

bride ; at any rate until they got back to Mr Gibbs’s, where the cake, champagne, and all kinds of good things, with tea and coffee, were handed round to the many friends who ‘ just called ’ to offer congratulations, as there were no set invitations and no wedding breakfast. The presents,, and there were a great many, were on view in the drawing room. Amongst the number I saw a lovely silver gong, a set of half a dozen apostle-spoons and sugar-tongs, a set of silver jam-spoons and butter-knife, a pair of silver napkin-rings, a very handsome buckhorn handle set of carvers, a crown derby and silver sugar and cream set in stand, a crown derby jar, ditto jug, several ornaments in china, a . very handsome bracket of plush applirjued with N.S.W. flannel daisies and wattle worked with it, fans in plush and silk, and photograph peeping out, cushion, handkerchief satchel, and various things that busy fingers had made. The travelling dress was navy blue, with panel of plush, a quaint and pretty mantlelette to match, hat also to match with white wings. Another dress was deep red with velvet collar and cuffs, and a third grey snowflake tweed with brown velvet Medici’s collar and cuffs. The happy pair left at four o’clock in a shower of rice and old shoes for Governor’s Bay, where they intend to stay for a week. The Rev. T. Flavell officiated at the marriage ceremony, and Mr C. Turner at the organ. The service was choral, as Miss Hodge had been a member of the choir for some years, and the church was very prettily decorated. The concert tendered by Mr F. M. Wallace to the Musical Society was one of the best ever given in Christchurch. It consisted mostly of instrumental music, and that was a real treat. The quintette by Schubert, ‘ The Trout,’ was even better then when we heard it a short time ago, and we ought to feel proud we possess two such pianists as Mrs Loughman and Mrs Wilding. The former played in a quintette, and the latter a sonata with Mr Wallace. We heard Mr Weir for the first time, and we could not get enough of him. He sang two songs by Franz, both so short they would not make an ordinary song. He was encored, and gave us one shorter still, and we had to go away longing for more. Miss Spensley was in good voice and sang ari Italian song in the first part and two songs in the second', and the one by Mendelssohn was verysweet. She wore a dress, ala Grecian, of some soft cream stuff, and had the Greek gold key pattern round the bottom. The Oddfellows’ Hall was well filled, and there were a great many strangers amongst the audience. I saw Mrs Rhind in black with crimson plush wrap ; Mrs Embling, with very pretty gold striped wrap ; Mrs Burns; Mrs Cunningham, with very handsome white brocade mantle down to her toes ; Mrs W. Milton ; Miss Fairhurst; Mrs Kaye, in sage green merveilleux with gold lace on the the bodice ; Mrs Scott ; Mrs Common ; Mrs W. D. Mears ; Mrs C. W. Hill ; Mrs J. Gibbs, in apple green brocade with velvet front; Mrs Wilson, in black with white mantle ; Mrs H. D. Carter; the Misses Turner; Miss King ; Mrs J. Matson, in pale blue and blue aigrette ; Miss Gallaghan ; Miss G. Aikman, in pale pink, and numbers more. The clerk of the weather smiled on the Grand National this year, though it was cold enough, and no onecould think of parading up and down without one’s thickest wrap. There was a really good crowd considering the time of year, and a most enthuiastic one, I’m sure. (Ireat interest was taken in the ladies’ bracelet race, and the first prize was won by Mrs D. Rutherford. The" Hunt Club steeplechase had their usual wind up to finish the week, and at night a smoke concert to bid farewell to Mr P. Campbell by the Caledonian Society, when he was presented with a silver salad bowl by the Scottish Rifles, of which company he was captain. This was a wedding gift, as he is to be married immediately. I have not time to tell you of the Hunt Club performance, so will begin with it next week.

Dolly Vale.