DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 37, 13 September 1890, Page 12

DUNEDIN.

Dear Bee, September 6. We are having the most glorious weather imaginable bright, soft balmy days, and all the spring Howers are responding to the gentle influence. Over the hills and valleys the ‘gowans ' are beginning to open their eyes, and by and bye they will be thick as a fall of snow. Unfortunately, enough rain has not preceded this to make the present state of affairs quite as desirable as it otherwise would be. and the farmers forget to enjoy the delightful sunshine in their desire for rain. Tennyson’s poem (in his new volume), ‘ Early Spring,’ is appreciated to the full upon such days. ‘The Heavenly power creates al) things anew.’ Last w eek the Masons held a ball in honour of the installation of a brother to some high office, but these things are far too mysterious for a woman to pretend to understand. The ceremonies ami honours, of course, I mean. The dance was within the comprehension of the weakest of woman’s intellect. Another nice little dance was given in the Choral Hall by the owners of the steam yacht Gleniti (Messrs A. S. Burns, l>. E. Hatton, and G. Gough). The festive occasion was to

celebrate the launching. The hall was very tastefully decorated, the stage being arranged as a drawing-room. Songs by Miss Robin, Messrs Hunter, Packer, Bums, and Hutton went further to enliven the evening. Mesdanies Burns and Hatton acted as hostess. There were about a hundred couples present, and among the dresses I noticed Mrs A. G. Burns, rich black satin gown ami a beautiful diamond bracelet; Mrs G. W. Hutton, handsome black lace relieved with red flowers; Miss F Hardie, very becoming black lace gown richly trimmed ; Miss Gordon, white satin with tasteful draperies ; Mrs Moor looked well in white satin ; Miss Burns, an ivory satin Court dress ; Miss J. Burns, black lace ; Miss Laurence, pink pongee silk, relieved with white lace and pink bows ; Miss Ettie Morrison, white cashmere ; Miss Crammond, stylish pink silk draped with pink net ; Miss D. Lawrence, pink satin broche with plush bodice with bead trimming ; Miss E. Burns, very pretty amber satin ; Miss Kircaldy, pale blue broche; Miss Bessie Muir, rich white satin ; Mrs Graton, drab satin relieved with pink; Miss Baxter, pretty white cashmere; Miss Robin, pale blue striped net; Miss Daisy Hart, prune plush with white silk sash ; Miss Clemy Burns, very pretty ecru silk ; Miss Muir, black grenadine with Medici collar. The Foresters held their annual ball at Milton a few evenings ago, about fifty couples being present. The Misses Seven and Miss Margaret Heid were among the best-dressed present. The former wore a rose pink silk, the latter white lace ; Miss Chalmers and Miss Jennings also wore white Miss Healy, cream ; the Misses Reid wore grey relieved with pale blue ; Miss Sanders, maroon. The St. Maur Company left us after a five weeks’ sojourn in our midst, anil after several attempts to kidnap one or two of our lady amateurs, have succeeded in running away with Miss Dora Ashcroft, who has joined the company, and is to travel with them to India. All the Society young ladies are divided between surprise and envy. *Oh fancy Dora Ashcroft going on the stage.’ and in the next breath, ‘ How nice ; picture travelling away from this poky Dunedin all the way to India.’ I throw in my vote with the envious ones. Monotony is worse than pain, and the rust is accumulating upon us inches thick. Mrs Henry McKenzie gave a private little dance at her house, which was enjoyed, as her parties always are. When telling of the tableau last week at St. Matthews I am afraid I omitted to desciibe the dresses worn in the little play by the two actresses, Mrs McKenzie and Miss Cargill. Mrs McKenzie’s was of pale blue Liberty with trimmings, etc., of black velvet. Miss Cargill looked splendid with an exquisite combination of pale heliotrope silk and purple velvet ; but I am wandering away from the St. Maur Company. Mr St. Maur took his benefit in Christie Murray’s new play of ‘ Gratitude.’ I think everyone liked it better than ‘ Chums. From the first to the last one was really interested. St. Maur had a part that suited him to perfection—a genial, trusting, generous, young man, full of faith in everything and everybody, as ready with his money (of which he has abundance) as he is with his trust. Mr Jerrold, as a hardened cynic, had a strong part, which he played well, and all through the play the dialogue is splendid. Little gems of thought and observation, truisims of human nature and life, drop from the actorslips so naturally, revealing, as theauthor, a man who thinks and knows. Miss Seymour as a wronged, unhappy, tired yet geneious woman was splendid. She wore in one scene a long black silk demi-evening robe, which set off her tine figure to the greatest advantage. She always dresses .so well, not so elaborate as with good taste. The iroman is not subservient to the costume, but the costume frames the woman. So many ladies look too much like a milliner’s model, and the art of dressing is simply to frame the figure, nottoextinquish it; but then every woman has not Miss Seymour's outline of figure. Everything in opera cloaks is fashionable—long, short, circular, or cut to the figure—so that just as ladies desire so they may do in this respect. The short stiff opera cloaks have never, to my idea, been half so pretty as the long graceful outlines of those of past days. The inauguration ceremony of the University students comes off, as also does the bachelors' ball. More of both anon. A muff cricket match was held at the Carisbrook grounds on Saturday afternoon. It was absurd in the extreme, and if our sex ever could look such objects in the game as we were represented, it will be a safe guard against the game ever becoming popular with the fair. I must not forget to tell you that Christie Murray is coming back again to deliver a lecture on ‘ Burns.’ It ought to be popular.

Maude.