CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 47, 22 November 1890, Page 11

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, November 11. How can I concentrate my thoughts and cast them back to last week when we are in the midst of so much excitement ? The house is full of visitors, as every one else's is, and every hotel in Christchurch is more than full. An unusually large number of visitors have come to town for our carnival week, and so far the weather has been atrocious —more wintry than in June, but, as every one remarks, • Show weather,’ for this is our usual luck. The High School boys' sports were stopped by the rain, but were finished in HagleyPark.whentheirfriendsturnedup i n great nn mbers. Mrs Bevan Bro wn presenting the prizes. The Cathedral school boysheldtheirsona lovely day.and hadquite an assemblage of interested spectators, amongst them Bishop and Mrs Julius, the latter remaining to the end and presenting the prizes, and some of the boys looked so happy to walk off with a fishing rod, tennis racket, or bat. Mrs G. Merton entertained a very large number at afternoon tea in the schoolroom after the prize giving. Mrs Merton is going to England on a visit after Christmas, but only for a shoit stay, I believe. Toole has left us, and Miss Achnrch now occupies the theatre, but the memory of Toole is very fresh, and the hearty laughter still rings in one's head that he called forth from his numerous audiences. He. with various members of his company, were right loyally entertained—boating, tennis, parties,'suppers, and sundry. Mrs Tabart gave a tennis party. The garden looked so fresh and pretty. Miss A'aubrugh and several members of the Toole company were present, Mrs AA*. Reeves. Mrs AA ilding, Mrs Burns, Miss Robison. Miss AA’ynn-AA'illiams, Miss Thomson, Miss Maude, and others. Airs Humphreys had a boating picnic, when Miss Vanbrugh, Miss Johnston, and several others were amongst the party, Mrs and Miss Studholme, Mrs Pitman, and Airs Bums. It was a most enjoyable time. The day was perfect, and the river looked so pretty. Mrs Stevens also entertained some members of the Toole Company with a few other friends in the same way. I think every one in Christchurch has been to see Toole, and the downstairs houses have been complete packs, and now the strike is over people feel at liberty to laugn, so we hope soon to resume our usual cheerlul temperament —I mean Christchurch generally. Miss Lohse has left us and returned to Europe after seventeen years' stay in New Zealand, and a great many of those years’have l>een spent in training and educating our young girls, many of whom have reached womanhood, and now in their turn’ are doing their part on the world's stage. A large gathering of ladies and gentlemen— parents, friends, and former pupils—assembled in the Provincial Council Chamber to bid farewell to Miss Lohse and ben voyage. The proceedings commenced by Mrs R. J. Scott, one of her first pupils, presenting Miss Lohse with a very handsome album of New Zealand views, and a silver jug and paperknife. In returning thanks she spoke very feelingly of her work here, and gave some very good precepts and maxims to remember. One was ‘Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle ;’ another was, ‘ One lie must be thatched with another or it rains through.’ Mrs C. C. Bowen has taken up her work here, and from all we hear will make an excellent successor. Mrs and the Misses Rhodes returned to Elmwood last week, the latter looking particularly bright and jolly after their trip. It wiil ;eem very quiet to them here for some time. Mr. Mrs, and Mis- Studholme are leaving for England shortly, and have let their house. Merivale Lane, to Mr Perceval for a short term. I don't like to think what we shall be next winter without Mrs Studholme’s afternoons, they were such a delight. There was a sort of farewell garden party, when a great many friends were present, many strangers too. I quite forgot, when talking of Toole, to tell yon of the supper given hint at the Christchurch Club, and one of the

delicacies indulged in was an ostrich egg omelette, the egg supplied from Mr John Matson Springfield. It was pronounced sjiecially good. He was also presented with the shell mounted in silver. It weighed four and a half-pounds, anti as the shell was not to be broken, it had to be sawn with a very tine saw, and took three quarters of an hour to accomplish. The one egg made a gigantic omelette, being enough for every one to partake and some to spare. Mr and Mr- Stead have moved into their new residence, Strowan. and have made great alterations since Mr Parker left it. Many of their friends are hoping -oon to test the qualities of the ballroom. Good-bye for the present. I should l>e able to give you a very long story next w eek. Dolly Vale.