WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 51, 20 December 1890, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, December 8. We are still in the very midst ot gaiety of every description, and it is a long time since Wellington has been so gay at this time of the year. The cause of it all (except the Show, which always takes place in November) is, of course, the presence of Admiral Valois and the German Squadron in our harbour. The first ball given to them since I last wrote was that of Mrs Coleridge, which was much enjoyed by some fifty or sixty young people, including a good many officers. Unfortunately, it turned out a pouring wet night, quite the worst we have had for months and months, but very few disappointed, so that on the whole it was a great success. Mr Travers, as usual, was indefatigable in his efforts to entertain his daughter’s guests. The hostess received in a black velvet gown, and wore garnets as ornaments. Lady Campbell had black with wreaths of flowers, and Miss Barclay’s gown of deep ecru silk, covered with gauze, and ornamented with tan-brown bows, looked very well. Mrs G. Beetham wore black with diamond stars ; Mrs Newman, salmon pink ; Mrs Mantell, pink ; Mrs Thompson, pink brocade ; Miss Russell, white and mauve silk ; Miss Grace, cream, with accordion lace skirt ; Miss E. Williams, white ; Miss Bennett, black; the Misses Tuckey, buff net with scarlet flowers ; the Misses Izard, turquoise blue and black velvet ; Miss Gore, white with panels of green and gold gauze ; Miss L. Haise, pink net prettily striped with ribbon and bouquet of pink roses ; the Musses Cooper, white ; Miss Moorhouse, white ; Miss Krull, blue silk with white front; Miss Lord, black. The Misses Harding, Knight, Graham, and Cowper (Wanganui) were also among those present. Two rooms were occupied by the dancers, and the verandahs were covered in, so that all unpleasant crowding on a hot night was avoided. The party broke up at 1 o’clock, amid many regrets, for their kind host and hostess have done so much lately to entertain our young people. The next day was Show Day, the public holiday, and, would you believe me, it poured with rain until about eleven in the morning, by which time nearly everyone had given up all hopes of being able to attend. However, the sun came out, and raised our hopes occasionally, but only to be dashed to the ground again in a few minutes by a sharp shower. Notwithstanding the threatening aspect the Hutt Park at midday presented quite a lively appearance, there being no less than 4,000 people on the ground, and during the afternoon a good many more appeared, but everyone was glad enough to don their winter clothing, and most took the precaution of carrying a macintosh, and wise, indeed, were they, for the rain towards six o’clock again came down in torrents. His Excellency the Governor was present both days, and among others I saw the Mayor and Mrs Johnston, Mr and Mrs Levin and their little daughter, Mr and Mrs H. Beetham, Archbishop Redward, Mrs Foster Pratt, the Misses Cooper, the Misses Izard, the Misses Bennett, Mrs Thompson, Miss Krull, Mrs A. Pearce, Dr. Martin, the Misses Williams, Mrs Riddiford, Mrs and the Misses Gore, Miss Cave, Mr Pharazyn, Miss Moncton, and Miss M. Bunny (Wairarapa), and among the lady equestrians were Miss Wardell, the Misses Webb, Mrs Dan. Riddiford, and Miss McKelvie. The Show in itself, it appears, was far superior to that of last year, and had the weather been fine, a very much larger crowd would have assembled, butl suppose we ought not to grumble, as the Show days all over New Zealand seem to have been, if anything, worse than ours ; hut it was so aggravating to have a perfect week just before, and a lovely day just after it. I think the next excitement was St. Peter’s Army and Navy Bazaar, which opened at the Garrison Hall amid a very large number of people; indeed, there was hardly standing room when the Governor arrived and was escorted to a dais by the Rev. Mr Walters and the churchwardens. The hall looks —for it is still going on—very pretty, one side being taken up by stalls belonging to the navy, and the other to the army —that is to say, the stallholders are dressed to represent both. I think I liked the red coats the better, for all bad red waistcoats and blue skirts and jackets with gold eqaulettes and cord and gold buttons, and some wore powdered hair and three-cornered hats, which brightened up the room greatly. I saw Mrs E. Richardson and her daughter serving, also Mrs Jellicoe, Mrs Leckic, Mrs Cooper, the Misses Bethune, Buller, Gore, Johnston, Blair, Trimnell, Barron, Nancarrow, Didsbury, Tripe, Holmes, and Milward, and Mrs England, Mrs Melville, Mrs Hardy, Mrs E. Rawson, Mrs Heywood, Mrs Tripe, Mrs Blundell, Mrs Miles and

many others. The naval dress consists of a blue skirt and sailor blouse and hat, and all the stalls on one side were in the shajte of ships, boats, and yachts, and one stall, presided over by Mrs Hardy, is at one end of the hall, and looks quite the best of all, being made to represent fortifications. All round the top of each are tiny canon, which are filed by small boys in soldier dresses. As for the rest, well, it is just the same as any other bazaar, just the same raffles, side-shows, refreshment and produce stalls, etc., all of which are doing a flourishing trade, and I daresay will continue to do so until it closes. Each night there are special attractions, such as the Maypole dance, St. Peter’s bellringers, Christy minstrels, singing, recitations, and so on, so that a substantial sum should be realised for St. Peter's Church. The afternoon chosen for the dance on board the Leipzig proved the very worst you could imagine, so it was postponed until the following day, which, unfortunately, was not at all what it should have been, for though the sea was calm there were occasional showers, just sufficient to keep about half of the guests away. However, fully forty, or perhaps fifty people went out, mostly ladies, and a more enjoyable afternoon could hardly .have been spent by anyone, for the Admiral and officers are such admirable hosts, and under their care I am sure no one felt neglected. A good many people arrived late, as the weather improved, and dancing was vigorously kept up until 7 o’clock in the evening, when we all had to hurry home and dress for the ball given by the German residents to the squadron in the evening. A most delicious afternoon tea was provided on board the flagship, and the decorations were beautiful, the whole ship being covered in and lined with flags, and decorated with flowers and huge branches of evergreens, and the whole was lighted by electric light. Sir Walter and Lady Buller were there and their daughter, who wore a light brown silk shot with green, and a moss green velvet yoke and trimmings, and a small violet bonnet. Mrs Napier Bell was handsomely dressed in black with floral bonnet, and Mrs G. Knight had a black silk with zouave jacket embroidered in black jet. Mrs Gore a pretty little peacock blue velvet and gold bonnet, and Mrs Mantell wore a combination of light and dark blue. Miss M. Grace had a black gown prettily striped with narrow watered silk, large hat with feathers ; the Misses Cooper, grey gowns and sailor hats ; Miss Gore, blue with white silk front, and her sister a pretty creme dress with blue sash tied at one side; Mrs Menteath, white satin covered with black lace ; Miss Lord, black ; the Misses Quick, both in pink gowns and white hats ; and amongst the visitors to Wellington I saw Mrs Foster Pratt (Palmerston), Mrs Lindo Ferguson (Dunedin), Miss Moncton (Wairarapa), Miss M. Wardell (Wairarapa), Miss Cowper (Wanganui), the Misses Krull (Wanganui), and Miss Cave (Auckland). Then came the ball in the evening at the rink, when there were fully 800 people present, including a great many German residents. His Excellency the Governor and his private secretary, Mr Boscawen, were there, and also Mr and Mrs Levin, Mr and Mrs Duncan, Mr Krull and his two daughters, Mr and Mrs C. Johnston, Mi- A. W. and Mrs Brown, Mr and Mrs Castendyke, Colonel Pearce, Mr, Mrs, and Miss Toxward, Admiral Valois, and a large number of officers from all three ships, the Misses Harding (2), K. Johnston, Richardson, Quick (2), E. Williams, Russell, Hadfield, Miss Knight, Miss Cowper, Mrs T. C. Williams, Mr and Mrs Perston, Mr and Mrs O’Connor, Mrs Thompson, Mrs Coleridge, Miss Barclay and Mr Travers. I do not think there were any new gowns, although all looked very well. White predominated, and brocades seem to be having their day by the number that were worn. Trains, and very long ones, too, seem to be coming in, I am sorry to hear, for they are a great nuisance, especially in a crowded ballroom, such as it was at the German ball. The band from the Leipzig supplied the best of music, but, unfortunately, the floor was rather heavy, and the air at times was full of particles of chalk, or something very like it, which had evidently been employed in polishing the floor. The decorations were most elaborate, and one could hardly’ recognize the rink at all. There were about twenty-five dances on the programme, including a barn dance, and the party was kept up with great spirit until about 3 „a. m., supper being served at midnight. In the viceregal set of lancers Lord Onslow danced with Mrs Levin, who was handsomely dressed in crimson plush with soft pink silk introduced in the long train and elsewhere, their vis-a-vis being Admiral Valois, wearing his handsome uniform ami medals, and Mrs Castendyke, our German Consul’s wife, who wore an elaborate costume of pale blue figured with pink flowers, with long train and Medici collar. In the same set were also Mrs Newman, Mrs Focke, Mrs Mantell, Mrs H. D. Bell, Mrs Kohn, and Miss Krull. Miss Elfie Williams wore a pretty maize-coloured net gown with satin bodice, and a broad folded maize silk sash brought round the waist and tied at one side. Miss Russell had a soft gauze gown figured and trimmed with ribbons, and Miss Knight wore a {>retty soft white silk gown trimmed round the hem with ace and large sash. Portraits of the Emperor and Empress of Germany, also one of our Queen, adorned the wall as well as bunting, mirrors, and Chinese lanterns. Messrs Fahrenbach and Kohn carried out all the numerous arrangements in connection with the afl’air, which our German visitors seemed to highly appreciate. There is still another dance to be given on board the Leipzic by the officers of that vessel, but this will not be as large as the previous one, the guests being only the personal friends of the officers. I quite meant to have told you about the Athletic Sports whieli took place at the Basin Reserve, which was crowded with people, but I am afraid if I linger I will miss the mail. Ruby.