AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 35, 30 August 1890, Page 11

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, August 22. The weather during most of last week was exceptionally fine, and delightfully enjoyable signs of spring are everywhere visible, the mild weather causing the young leaves to shoot forth, and making the gardens gay with spring flowers. Although we have bad a good deal of rain, the winter on the whole has been a very mild one, and I am told we may therefore expect a good peach season. I sincerely trust such may be the case, for the peach is certainly our most delicious fruit, and last year the season was practically a failure. As a proof of the mildness of the winter I may mention tha I noticed in an orchard a peach tree, situated in a sheltered position, covered with blossoms, fully a month ago. Amongst the stylish walking costumes I nave noticed lately were Miss Firth, very neat and tasteful myrtle green dress made with zouave bodice and trimmed with braiding to match, green felt hat; Miss Owen, pretty terracotta cashmere dress, hat to match ; Miss Buddle, stylish myrtle green velveteen dress with deep collar and cuffs of lace, myrtle green hat ; Miss Harrison (Franklin Road), handsome black silk dress, small black hat ; Mrs Cattanach, very pretty eifl'el coloured dress, with rich silk embroidered border, hat to match.

At Mrs Bahnson’s farewell concert at the City Hall, I noticed the following dresses : —Mrs Bahnson wore a handsome trained dress of crenre merveilleux, with high •collar of velvet; Mrs Coates also wore a rich creme silk trained dress made with low neck and without sleeves, long kid gloves ; the corsage was finished with a cluster of dark crimson flowers; Misses Chew wore heliotrope and pale blue dresses respectively ; Miss Harding pretty green dress with elbow sleeves of lace. Evening dress was not very generally worn in the circle, the majority wearing dark costumes. I noticed there Mrs Stewart, Miss Stewart, Mrs Whitelaw, Miss Peacock, Mrs T. Cotter, Mrs Knight, Miss Stevenson, Mrs E. Parsons, Miss Owen, and a great many more. Mrs Bahnson was presented with a very handsome and valuable gold bracelet set with diamonds from a number of friends as a small token of their esteem and kindly regard. The last meeting of the Ponsonby Musical, Social, and Literary Society was an unusually successful one. There was a large attendance of members and friends, and the programme provided for the evening’s amusement and entertainment was a particularly choice and attractive one. The vocal selection, beautifully rendered by Mrs Bahnson, was certainly the gem of the evening, and an enthusiastic encore was graciously complied with. Another excellent selection was the violin solo splendidly played by Miss Edith Whitelaw, a little lady of nine summers. The selection, which was played from memory, was Farmer’s arrangement of ‘ Love Let us Cherish,’ and at the close the young performer was obliged to submit to a very hearty recall. Professor Carrollo’s pupils gave an interesting exhibition of dumb-bell exercises, and listening to other selections of music all well rendered passed a very pleasant evening. The members of the Amateur Opera Club are now busily engaged rehearsing the ‘ Sorcerer/and the public performance is expected to take place shortly. I do not think the precise date has yet been fixed, at least it has not been announced. The chorus and orchestra will both be very large, and judging from the rehearsals they will be very efficient also. The selection of principals has been an excellent and judicious one, so I think a very prosperous and successful season may be anticipated. The cast is as follows:—John Wellington Wells, Mr Archdale Tayler; Sir Marmaduke, Mr C. Chambers ; Alexis, Mr T. M. Jackson ; Mi- Daly, Mr Percy Dufaur ; Lawyer, Mr P. Hamerton; Aline, Miss Annie Buckland ; Lady Sangazure, Miss Clara Steele ; Constance, Miss L. Warren ; Mrs Partlett, Mrs Clutsani. A friend in Wellington writes me that the Wellington Amateur Opera Club is also engaged rehearsingthe ‘ Sorcerer,’ and their performance will also take place soon. There have been quite a number of weddings lately. Mr Herbert Gentles, well known in aquatic circles, and secretary of the West End Rowing Club, was united to Miss Edie Edwards, youngest daughter of Captain Edwards, of Ponsonby. The ceremony took place at the residence of the bride’s parents in the presence of the immediate relatives, the Rev. Mr Lewis being the officiating clergyman. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Ria Edwards, as bridesmaid, and Mr Bemby acted as best man. Captain and Mrs Edwards entertained a large number of friends at their residence during the evening in honour of the event. The newly-wedded couple left soon after the ceremony for St. Heber’s Bay, where they spent the honeymoon. On the same afternoon Mr R. H. Hopkins was united to Miss Odium, eldest daughter of Mr J. J. Odium, Wood-street, Ponsonby. The ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride’s parents by the Rev. T. F. Robertson. The bride wore a beautiful dress of rich creme merveilleux made with long square train, wreath of orange blossoms, and tulle veil

beautifully embroidered, long kid gloves. She carried alovely bridal bouquettied with ribbons, and also woreapairof pretty gold bangles set with diamonds, the gift of the bridegroom. Misses M. Burningham and Wright acted as bridesmaids. Their dresses were very tasteful and pretty ones of soft creme veiling. Mr Andrew Jackson was best man. Mr ami Mrs Odium gave a ball in honour of the event in the Ponsonby Hall, at which between fifty and sixty couples were present. The evening was spent very enjoyably, Mr G. H. Powley making a very efficient M.C. Mrs Odium, the bride’s mother, wore a handsome dress of brown silk ; Mrs Patrick, pretty dress of myrtle green silk ; Mrs Parish, grey silk gown ; Mrs Lush, lovely creme silk evening dress, ruby plush mantle ; Mrs Laurie, handsome dress of faded rose silk ; Mrs J. Laurie, pretty dress of pale blue and creme silk ; Mrs La Hoche, pale grey silk ; Mrs Watson, ruby satin ; Miss Clark, pretty blue and pink evening dress ; Miss Tomlinson, white dress prettily trimmed with salmon pink ; Miss Thompson, white dress relieved with pale blue ; Miss Mui ray, lovely dress of creme silk and lace ; Miss Gilmers, pretty black lace evening dress ; Miss Topham, pretty white muslin and lace dress, long fawn gloves; Miss Walker, stylish dress of white lawn prettily trimmed with grey ribbon, long grey gloves ; Miss O’Dowd, handsome creme silk dress tastefully trimmed with gold plush ; Miss K. O’Dowd, pretty white silk dress relieved with sprays of lilac ; Miss Wright, very becoming pale blue dress ; Miss White, tasteful dress of white veiling ; Miss Knight looked extremely well in a pretty black evening dress. Mr James Hammond, teller in the Bank of New Zealand, was married to Miss Annie Braithwaite. The ceremony was performed in St. Sepulchre’s Church, Kyber Pass, by the Rev. Archdeacon Dudley, the service being fully choral The bride looked lovely in a handsome dress of rich creme silk, made with very long train and the orthodox wreath of orange blossoms and tulle veil, and carried a large and very beautiful bouquet of choice flowers. She was attended by six bridesmaids, attired in pretty white dresses relieved with different coloured ribbons. After the wedding the bridal party ad journed to the residence of Mrs Garland, Mrs Janies Hammond’s aunt, where a large number of guests partook of a very nice afternoon tea. The happy couple left by the Monowai for Melbourne and Sydney, via the South, to spend the honeymoon. The marriage of Mr Frank H. Phillipps to Miss Margaret C. Tennant, youngest daughter of the late Dr. Tennant, took place at the residence of the bride's mother, Wynyardstreet. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. A. Carrick. Mrs H. J. B. Sellers gave a large party at her residence, ‘ Rosemont,’ Mount Albert. There were about forty couples present, and dancing was indulged in till a late hour. Amongst the prettiest dresses we noticed Miss E. Halyday, pretty pink cashmere trimmed with satin ; Miss Beale, black fish net ; Miss Upton, elegant white cashmere ; Miss Devore, cream net ; Miss Masefield, amber tulle trimmed with satin ; Miss Sellers, a very becoming white dress edged with white moire ribbon ; Miss Dixon, pretty fawn dress, blue sash; Miss Ada Dixon, lovely pale blue Liberty silk trimmed with white lilac; Miss Hamlin, handsome dress French grey silk ; Miss Philips, stylish dress of black net ; MissG. Kempthorne looked nice in 1 Jack lace. The hostess, Mrs Sellers, looked exceedingly well in a handsome dress of black velvet.

Muriel.