WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VI, Issue 38, 20 September 1890, Page 11

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, September 12. Mrs Bahnson’s matinee was a real treat, and St. John’s Schoolroom, where it took place, was well filled with a delighted audience. Her singing was exquisite, and she looked so well in her pretty pale blue silk dress, which suited the very fair wearer admirably. Auber’s ‘Laughing Song’ was a marvel to us, each note of the laugh being perfect, and the ‘Romance’ by Heise, too, was beautiful. Her highest note was E flat, which was exceedingly sweet, and taken with the greatest ease. Mrs Bahnson also sang ‘ With Verdure Clad,’ and what took more than anything else was ‘ The Carnival of Venice,’ which she sang with variations, and her voice sounded like a lovely Hute in the head register. We were prepared for a treat, but not, indeed, for such a great one as Mrs Bahnson provided for us. Mr J. B. Conolly played some violin solos, Miss Hammerton accompanying him on the piano, and both Mr Waters and Mr E. J. Hill contributed solos, the latter gentleman choosing Tosti’s ‘ Beauty’s Eyes,’ which suited him well. The parents of the boys belonging to the Wanganui College gave a large ball to the visiting football teams at the Masonic Hall. There were about two hundred and fifty guests, so that you can imagine that the hall was taxed to its utmost capacity, and at times it was very crowded in the ballroom, but the floor was in excellent condition, the music of the best, and everyone in the best of humours, the natural consequence being a most enjoyable evening. Very few of the Wellington gentlemen were there, as there were about sixty strangers altogether, including the teams from Christchurch, Wanganui and Wellington, and a few friends and masters who came with them. The Star chamber was opened for supper, and the large room next it was used for coffee, etc., during the evening, and the large gatheringbroke up shortly before one o’clock. Mrs (Capt.) Russell wore a rich-looking black velvet gown, and Lady Hectorlooked well also in a handsome black gown. Mrs G. S. Cooper was there, ami also Mrs Charles Johnston, Mrs T. <’. Williams, Mrs Melville, Mrs Higginson, Mrs Brandon, Mrs Baron, Mrs Elliott, Mrs Friend, Mrs Izard, Mrs Hadfield, Mrs Walker, Mrs J. Mackay, Mrs Duncan, Mrs Coleridge, ami Mrs Hawkins. Mrs Johnston’s gown was very handsome, of crimson satin, trained and trimmed with velvet of a deeper shade, and coffee lace. Mrs Melville’s was a combination of crimson and black lace, and coral ornaments, and Mrs Elliott’s a lovely moss green satin with Medici collar of beads. Mrs J. Mackay's was a wonderful gown of pale blue and black, the train of black velvet, and the front of blue covered with black lace, and ornamented with blue bows ; the sleeves were puffed. Among the visitors were Miss I. McDonald (Auckland), in pink gauze and watered silk ; Miss E. Richmond (Nelson), in black ; Miss St. Hill (Hawke's Bay), pink and green ; Miss Tanner (Hawke’s Bay), cream, with pink flowers; Miss Walker (Christchurch), cream; Miss K. Willis (Rangataki), black, with pink flowers ; Miss Whittaker (Auckland), black ; Miss Krull (Wanganui), white with drapings of green net; Miss Fell (Nelson),white ; Miss Larnach (Dunedin),black. Miss E. Richmond wore a pretty pink gown ; Miss E. Williams, white net with lilies of the valley ; Miss Russell, ecru gauze spotted with pink and green, and pink and green satin ribbons ; Miss Tolhurst, black ; Miss Izard, a pretty pale (blue silk canvas trimmed with black velvet, and blue shoes; her sister, pink fishing net ; Miss Elliott, a pretty pale pink brocarle ; the Misses George, white; Miss Cooperi black and her sister, pink ; Miss Hadfield, cream; and her sister, blue striped gauze ; Miss Barron, white ; Miss Blair, black ; Miss Mortal;, black, with lovely bouquet of blue and white violets. The Misses Harding were there, and the Misses Turkey, Miss Charlock, Miss Rose (wearing a blue ami coffee-coloured gown with roses round the hem), Miss Haise, the Misses Brandon, Hawkins, Duthie, Menzies, Fairchild, Blundell, Garrett, and among the younger girls who were trot ‘out’ were the Misses Hector, Gore, Parker, Tolhurst, Fancourt, Kebbell, Butts, Wilford, O’Connor, McKellar, Friend, Marchant, Edwin, Knight, Simcox, and of course all the sisters or daughters of the ladies I have mentioned above. The extras were played by Miss Russell and Miss I. Cooper, and Mr Ormond Cooper was secretary to the affair. The footballers have not had good weather, at least only one of the three days was good, the other two being unpleasant. The ladies’night at the Savage Club took the form of a conversazione, and was really a good one, but I felt sorry that it took place just at the gavest time of the year, for I am afraid it was not appreciated quite so much as it would have been at any other time. During the session we get very fastidious, and entertainments have to be very good indeed to be enjoyed. Mr Long, a tenor singer from Christchurch, sang some solos very well, and Mr Lyon was good. The instrumental trios and quartettes were lovely, but people did not listen to them, and talked nearly all the time, the music being quite lost to them, and one could not but feel Sony that good musicians were devoting their valuable time to so little purpose.

The entertainment at the (Jiris' High School was certainly the best they have ever given as regards decorations and subjects chosen for the tableaux. It was got up in honour of the two former pupils, the Misses Morrah and Nyers, who eanie out so remarkably well in the recent examinations, and who were presented with exquisite bouquets. The tableau, ‘Joan of Arc,’ was by far the best of all. Miss F. McKellar taking the chief part, being tied to a stake by ropes and chains, and surrounded by soldiers. Next, I think, came the statuary, and then ‘ The Message from the Sea' (a child examining a broken bottle she had found on the beach), and then ‘ The Seasons,’ the best sustained character in this being Father Christmas (Miss H. Davy). The last tableau was ‘ All Nations,' which has so often been seen lately. Mrs (Captain) Douglas greatly assisted the teachers and girls with the entertainment, and the whole affair reflected great credit on Miss Hamilton and her energetic pupils. The Rowing Club’s ball is the last on my list at present. The Columbia Rink was the hall chosen, but one would hardly have recognised the building, so beautiful were the decorations. Indeed, the rink has never before showed itself off' to advantage. The floor was splendid, and the music-stand near the entrance was in the form of a boat, from whence Herr Mosch’s string band sent forth lovely music. The (lovernor was not able to attend the opening, but arrived with Mr Walrond at about 10 o’clock, and joined in the dances which followed. Lady Onslow was not well enough t» appear ; indeed we have hardly seen anything of the Countess lately owing to illness, and even at some of the dinner parties at Government House she has not been able to dine with her guests. But to return to the ball. Pictures were hung round the room illustrating the various races won by the club, and numerous photographs of triumphant crews excited some interest. Boats in which races were won were hung in the room, and further decoration was made with oars, Chinese lanterns, Chinese umbrellas, flags, evergreens, mirrors, etc., until one could almost imagine themselves in fairyland.

Ruby.