WELLINGTON.

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

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, August 22. An otherwise splendid ball at Captain Russell’s was greatly marred by the absence, through a very bad headache, of the hostess. Mrs Russell is such an excellent hostess, and we missed her very much, and although we could hardly have found a better substitute than her husband, who is so wonderfully thoughtful and energetic on such occasions, yet her absence caused a gloom in the ballroom, especially at the beginning of the evening. This was the one regret; everything else was just perfect, and it was certainly one of the best, if not the very best ball yet given. There must have been fully 200 guests, and yet there was room for everybody, and the ballroom did not appear to me to be uncomfortably crowded, There were numbers of pretty new gowns worn for the first time, so I must try and give you a glimpse of some of the most noticeable. Miss Russell looked remarkably well in her becoming tan brown shade of net, which was effectively relieved by long trains of yellow laburnum, and Mrs < ieorge McLean, of Dunedin, wore, I think, quite the handsomest gown in the room, being alovely gobelin blue silk, trained and ornamented with a side panel entirely composed of gobelin blue and pale pink ostrich feathers, and tips of the same colour were again introduced on the bodice, which w.as as well trimmed with fine white lace. Mrs Fergus (Dunedin) also wore a rich looking combination of terra-cotta plush and pale blue watered silk, the formei being used for the petticoat, which was dotted about with pale blue ostrich feathers, and the latter for the long train. Lady Hector wore a handsome black satin and jet, and Mrs T. < Williams black watered silk with long train. Lady ('ampbell's gown was also black, relieved by large yellow flowers, and among other handsome black gowns worn by married ladies were those of Mrs Werry, Mrs Gore, Mrs Maurice Richmond, and Mrs W. Moore-

house, jun., the last mentioned having a handsome steel embroidered panel arranged at one side of the skirt. Among the young ladies I think I admired Miss Hilda Moorhouse’s gown quite as much as any, l»eing a pure white tulle with long broad stripes of pale green watered silk on the skirt, over which trails of white ami green flowers were carelessly hanging. Then Miss N. Tanner (Hawke’s Bay) looked very well in pure white, and Miss St. Hill (Hawke’s Bay) also wore a becoming white gown. Miss Hall (daughter of Sir John Hall) wore a pretty pink satin covered with tulle and ornamented with claret velvet bows, and Miss Izard looked particularly well in pale blue silk with bands of black velvet, while her younger sister wore all white. Miss 11. Williams wore pink, ami Miss E. Williams white with lilies of the valley scattered over it. Miss M. Grace wore white, with a lovely shimmering silver and gold tinsel tulle sash, and * her sister was in pink, while Miss Gore wore a handsome cream silk with Medici collar, panel, and side sash embroidered with gold and finished with gold fringe. Another cream ami gold gow n was worn by Miss Tanner (Christchurch), but the gold was worn in broad bands. Mrs (Dr.) Collins wore a lovely heliotrope gown, trimmed with white lace ami stripes of heliotrope velvet ; Miss Cooper, white ami green ; Miss Medley, pink gauze ; Miss Hadfield, white ; Miss Acland (Christchurch), blue, and her sister white ; Miss Tolhurst, cream silk ; Miss Whitaker (Auckland), black; Miss Ida Macdonald (Auckland), white satin: Miss Ida Carew (Dunedin), pink; Miss Krull (Wanganui), white; Miss Bennett (Rangitikei), a stylish black gown tied with a large black and white sash; Mrs (Dr.) Fitchett, her wedding gown; Mrs (Dr.) McKenzie, bright red silk with high collar. An uncommon looking gown of yellow silk, covered or draped with green net, was worn by a fair lady I did not know, and also a plain pearl grey satin slightly trained. Among the visitors I also noticed Miss C. Larnach (Dunedin) and Miss E. Richmond (Nelson), but 1 cannot remember their dresses, or those, indeed, of a great many more who looked well. Miss Russell again played an extra on the violin, Miss I. Cooper accompanying heron the piano ; Miss Grace played the other extra. Being Saturday night, we all left a few minutes before twelve, and all agreed that it had been a most enjoyable affair. The next dance was a capital little one given by Mrs Gore at Aurora Terrace. There weie about forty or fifty people, all dancing folks, as both the draw ing ami dining-rooms were used for dancing. Between one of the dances Lady Campbell sang a song most beautifully. The hostess wore a handsome trained black gown, and her daughters were in white. Miss Russell wore a cream gown, and Miss St. Hill (Haw ke's Bay) a becoming black dress with red hows ; Miss N. Tanner (Hawke’s Bay) wore black ami yellow, ami Miss Richmond pink and green. The Misses Izard, the Misses Cooper, Miss Buller, Miss Tolhurst, and others weie also there.

I have yet another dance to tell you of, for we have been dreadfully dissipated this week. It was a small one given at Government House by Lady Onslow. It began at nine o’clock, and ended shortly after midnight, and there weie about sixty guests altogether, a few’ of these having been to dinner. Lady Onslow’s handsome black trained gow n suited her well, relieved, as it was, by white lace and her magnificent diamonds. The (lovernor is a most enthusiastic dancer, anti Mr Walrond, too, appears to thoroughly enter into the enjoyment. Mrs G. McLean wore her lovely grey silk gown, and Mrs Fergus pale blue and terra-cotta. Mis Thompson wore a becoming combination of white and amber, and Mrs Mantell, jun., a pale blue gown. Mrs D'Arcy Irvine was in white. Airs (Dr.) Collins, Mrs Garrett, and Mrs (Dr.) Gillonwere also among the married ladies there. Miss Russell wore her lovely cream gown with violet silk bonier ami sash, and Miss St. Hill looked very well in a white net dress with white satin bodice. Miss Tolhurst wore pale blue and black velvet; Miss Larnach (Dunedin), black; Miss Stephenson (Dunedin), black ; Miss Garrett, white ; Miss M. Richardson, white ; Miss Barrow, black ; Miss Whitaker (Auckland), mauve; Miss I. Cooper, white; Miss Porter, black ; Miss Krull (Wanganui), white; Miss Allen, purple. Amongst other guests were also Miss E. Williams, Miss M. Grace, Miss Hawkins, Miss Buller, Miss N. Tanner, Miss Medley, Miss Elliott, Miss Hadfield, Miss Brandon, Miss Holmes (Dunedin), Miss Richmond (Nelson), the Misses Fairchild. A delicious champagne supper was provided, and it was much enjoyed, although perhaps it would have gone off with more spirit had there been a few more couples, or even a few more gentlemen. Mrs Robert Pharazyn gave a large afternoon ‘ At Home,’ her large drawing-room being full of guests. Miss Haw kins recited a piece, ami both Miss Buller and Miss Gore sang. Mrs Pharazyn wore a handsome terracotta gown. Mrs Levin, Mrs Izard, Mrs Cooper and others weie there.

Every possible preparation has been made for the annual naval ball to be held at the Garrison Hall, and the Governor has promised to attend, so I expect it will be a great success. Mrs Fergus is giving a large party, ami the bachelors’ ‘ At Home ’ is also a fixture. The Amateur Dramatic Company’s performance was an excellent one, there being a very fatge ami most enthusiastic audience, including the Governor ami Mr Walrond, present. The pieces chosen were ‘ Daddy Hani acre ' ami ‘ A Blighted Being.’ Miss Letham scored a success among the actresses, ami also Miss Newton, while Mr Lyon, as usual, was inimitable. Mr Corliss and Mr Newton were also good, but as there is so much to report this week, I find it impossible to enter into details as I should otherwise have done. The organ recital at St. Paul's was just perfect, and the building was thronged. Mr Williams was the gieat attraction, his first solo, ‘ If with all your Hearts,’ being a real treat. He l also joined Mrs Parsons in a lovely duet, ‘ Love Divine,’ after which Mrs Parsons also gave some solos by Handel. Mr Kobert Parker's organ pieces, too, were beautifully played. The ‘ Bose bud ' ball at the Hutt proved a great success, a numlier of guests going out from town for it, among them Mrs ami Miss Tolhurst, Miss Hawkins. Miss Whitaker, ami Miss Blair, it was given by a committee of ladies, who all wore their hair powdered, and patches on their faces to distinguish them as hostesses. They were the Misses Webb, Johnston (2), Lakeman, ami Wilford. Amongst others were also the Misses Mowbray, Mrs Buckley, Mrs Fitzherbert, ami Mrs Kiddiford. There are even now some events of which I would like to tell you, but there is no more time, and if I linger 1 will miss the mail.

Ruby.