CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 41, 11 October 1890, Page 12

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, September 27. I have not yet told you of the ball given by the Mayor and Mrs Manning in the City Council Chambers in honour of their son’s marriage. The Council Chamber is a charming room fora dance, and with the addition of some handsome drawing-room furniture and pot plants looks perfection. All the arrangements were admirably carried out, and two brides were present, Mrs Leslie Manning and Mrs E. Jennings, both doctors’ wives. The former looked very nice in rich buttercup yellow dress with side panels of pearl embroidery, and Mrs Jennings in her handsome bridal dress of rich white corded silk. Mrs Manning wore a handsome trained dress of moss green and pale pink satin broche, a lovely combination ; Miss Manning, a very pretty pale green dress; Miss L. Manning, white frock with bebe bo< lice; Mrs C. Louisson, a very handsome grey and pink brocaded gown; Mrs SV. Stringer, a very rich dress of reddish brown broche; Mrs G. Merton, very pretty dress of pale pink net with moss green trimmings ; Mrs Thomson, handsome black silk velvet, trained skirt and Medici collar ; Mrs Bickerton, crimson silk with Medici collar, and high comb in the hair; Mrs Marshall, pink plush with high collar of old golu embroidery ; Mrs. Kinsey, black silk and jet with Medici collar; Miss Bonnington, a very pretty dress of cream merveilleux trimmed with lace and sprays of maiden hair fern ; Miss Stratton looked very nice in white silk with black ribbons, and she played some lovely extras. Then came the College Rifles' dance in Hobbs' Building, which we all look forward to so much, and, in spite of strikes and servants’ unions, was quite as good, if not better, than any of its predecessors. The floor this time was in perfect order, and the decorations very pretty, red being largely used for the diapings, and with the evergreens makes such an effective appearance. One end was furnished as a drawing-room. Amongst the chaperones were Mrs W. B. Common, who looked extremely well in vieux rose merveilleux, trimmed with vandyke point lace, Mesdames J. Matson, \V. C. Nicholls, C. Cook and Tonks. There was such a crowd of dancers it was difficult to see the dresses well. Miss L. Lean looked nice in white silk and net, with pale blue aigrettes on the shoulder : Miss Cunningham had a lovely white broche dress, with white ostrich plumes on the shoulder, in her hair, and beautiful fan of the same; Miss St. Martin, handsome black silk and net dress with scarlet Howers, and velvet streamers from the left shoulder ; Miss Way, black dress with garland of yellow Howers round the skirt ; Miss N. Way, pale pink ; Miss M. Heywood, a pretty pale pink dress; Miss Guise, handsome vieux rose silk with train, and trimmed with velvet of a deeper shade, Medici collar ; Miss Hopkins looked very nice in black net ; Miss K. Torlesse, cream silk ; Miss L. Torlesse, pale blue cashmere, feather fan to match ; Miss Withnall, white silk with terra cotta streamers from the shoulder; Miss Meeson, white silk with black velvet trimmings ; Miss Beswick, black net, with panel of natural daffodils, bodice ami fan trimmed with the same ; Mrs Snow, Mrs Tyree, Mrs Chynoweth, Mrs Hurst, and many more, and all looking very nice. Then the uniforms always make a ball-room look so much gayer, and there seems more go in anything military. Flemming’s band, too, gave delightful music.

St. John’s Ambulance ball is to come off next month, fancy dress or otherwise, just as you feel inclined. The Governor is to be present, and he is fond of dancing, so I hope this will go off well. The committee of the Association hope to raise funds from this to provide a horse Ambulance conveyance. There is no doubt of the good work being done by the Association, and how we often see that Ambulance pupils have rendered assistance when accidents have occurred. The other day a little girl broke her leg at Sumner. Mrs G. Roberts, Mrs M. and Mrs R. Gardner happened to be there, and were able to be of the greatest use in preparing the child for removal to the hospital, and a short time ago a man was run over by a tramcar and his leg fearfully lacerated, and but for the timely aid of Ambulance pupils would have bled to death before he could have been conveyed to the hospital. This year a large number have passed their examinations, and at present Dr. Jennings is giving a course of lectures at the Y. W.C. A. Rooms, which are largely attended, and several medallion ladies give their assistance in teaching bandaging. The other night we went to hear ‘ Les Cloches,’ and did not get a bit tired of it as we did before. There was a really good house, and the performance went splendidly. Miss Buchanan and Mrs Edgar each got several lovely bouquets. Gobo, too, came in for his share, and caused no end of fun when he in reality let the cat out of the bag. rhe Bishop, Mrs Julius and party were there, Mrs Julius looking very nice in black lace dress V-shaped bodice with folds of white lisse, and white camellia in her hair; Mrs ?\lan Scott, a lovely heliotrope dress, Medici collar, epaulettes on shoulders ; the skirt was covered with black net embroidered with handsome white silk flowers ; Mrs Thomson, black evening dress, the bodice trimmed with pink : Mrs J. Aiken, black moire and cream vest, peacock plush mantle ; Mrs Denniston, blackdress, longwhitemantle; Alts W. D. Mears, crimson satin and beige lace; Miss Robison, black lace dress trimmed with pink silk, pretty mantle of pale pink lined with heliotrope ; Miss Reeves, Miss N. Reeves, Mrs G. Roberts, Miss Lightfoot (Nelson) Mrs and the Misses Greenwood, Mrs I. Gibbs, and many others were present. The dress circle has not looked so gay for some time. Miss Reeves had a few’ friends one afternoon to meet Mr and Mrs Thomson, mt Miss G. M. Reeves, who are here’on a visit from Southland, ami the Misses Murray-Aynsley entertained the ‘Waihenes’ at Riverton, when a most pleasant afternoon was spent.

Dolly Vale.