CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 1, 3 January 1891, Page 11

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, December 18. The fortieth anniversary of our City of the Plains, and for those early settlers who now, alas ! are so rapidly passing away, the change must seem wonderful. When they walked over the hill fioni Lyttelton, and beheld the vast; plain stretching almost as far as the eye can reach, just backed by the snow-capped ranges, and nothing but tussock and a small bush, the remains of which has been carefully preserved on Mr John Deans’ property, Riccarton, and to see now the large city, and the prosperous and well-culti-vated look of the surrounding district, for looking backwards the time seems veiy short, the years fly so quickly. Of the way we inhabitants of this city are going to spend its anniversary I shall tell you anon. The opening of the llagley Park Tennis Club was greeted with fine weather this year, and a great crowd of friends assembled and discussed much tea and cakes. Quite a bevy of girls was engaged in looking after the welfare of the guests. As usual, grey of different shades was the prevailing colour amongst the ladies. Mrs T. S. Baker had a pretty grey dress and sailor hat; Miss Nedwill, an indescribable grey, and white hat with wild roses ; Miss Davie, grey dress and hat to match ; Miss Stanford (Dunedin), grey dress trimmed with black velvet, black hat with white flowers ; Mrs Robison was wearing a handsome lace mantle, and bonnet of black and pink : Mrs Kimbell, in black and green ; Miss L. Kimbell, in white ; Mrs Cowlishaw, dark green dress and long lace mantle ; the Misses Cowlishaw, one in a very pretty grey costume, the other dark skirt and pink blouse ; Mrs May, pink zephyr dress, and bonnet with yellow roses ; the Misses Tanner, dark skirts and bright coloured blouses, and sailor hats ; Miss E. Rhodes in white ; Miss A. Rhodes, dark skirt, striped blouse and fetching little tie, and sailor hat; Miss Rowland (Sydney), blue and white striped dress ; Miss Robison, blue check dress ; Miss N. Reeves, dark blue costume ; Miss Potts in white ; Miss L. Lean, a very pretty crushed strawberry dress, and white hat; and a great many others I can’t remember. A number of the gentlemen that would have been there were engaged in a cricket match of past and present Christ’s College on the College grounds, so attentions were divided. There was also a tennis tournament going on at Mr Worthy’s, of ladies only, which was played off one Saturday afternoon, when Mrs Alan Scott and Miss E. Rhodes beat Miss M. Helmore and Miss Rhodes. The winner’s got very pretty gold and pearl brooches, and the second a piece of choice china.

Madame Burton has gone to charm the Dunedinites with her good little Company and her own rich singing, to return here and give the ‘ Messiah ’ conjointly with Mr Wells and his Motett Society. This will be a treat we have not had before to have such artistes as Madame Burton, Miss Colbourne-Baber, and Mr Stockwell in that grand and everfresh masterpiece of Handel’s. The pity of it is the Musical Society’s concert comes off' the night before, but it could not be helped. Mr Wells had to alter his date to a week earlier to secure the Burton Company. The fete at Ham for St. Peter’s Church, Riccarton, was charming, and would have been an immense success in every way but for the rain coming on, which frightened many from going, and hurried some away that were there. Tire grounds at Ham are worth visiting alone, and with the numerous attractions to be found there, and, of course, each attraction had to be paid for, and the entrance money, I believe they did very well. The little play, ‘Creatures of Impulse,’ was performed in the open air under the management of Mrs Alan Scott, and was a charming performance. A stage was erected under some trees, which were so thick they formed a lofty bower. Mrs Alan Scott and Miss Kimbell took the leading parts, while the Misses Greenwood (3) and the Misses Rhodes (2) were the chorus, ably assisted by the same number of gentlemen, Messrs Maitland, Gardner, E. R. Anderson, and I). P. Williams being the principals, and Mrs Lomax made a lovely witch. I think it would be more properly styled an operetta, as it is nearly all singing. When we came from under this leafy bower, we found it raining, and without waiting for strawberries and cream we made tor the first conveyance tor town, which, luckily, was a covered one. It was so maddening after getting everything into full swing, for tilings were going merry as a marriage bell, and then the misery of it—only to rain for about an hour, not enough to do any good, but just to spoil pretty garments. I saw Mrs

Reeves, of Risingholme, Opawa, there, and Mias Reeves helping at a stall. The strawberry and cream stall looked so pretty. It was draped with apricot muslin, with long trails of lycopodium all over it, and the girls in charge were dresser! in white, their white hats trimmed with large marguerite and lycopodium. The lanes were full of these marguerites out atllam, and nearly everyone took a bunch back to town. A band was playing all the afternoon on the lawn, and there was jtalmistry, an organ recital by Mr G. Normington in the house, and sundry other modes of disposing of shillings and sixpences. I saw Mrs G. Humphreys in creme dress, black bonnet with lilac in it, and fawn covert coat ; Mrs Du Vernet, dark blue sateen with white Howers, and Hora! toque of dark blue corn Howers ; Mrs Kimbell, Mrs Harrison, Mrs Worthy, Mrs Rhodes, Mrs Gibbs, a pretty brown and grey check tweed with brown velvet vest and panel; Miss Kilgour, Miss M. Heywood, Mre G. Merton, in a pretty light dress and Horal toque of heath ; Miss Nedwill; Mrs Cook, a very pretty grey costume, bonnet to match, and a good many more. Mrs Harley’s picnic to Dry Bush was very nice. A lot of us went up in the morning, most of the gentlemen coming in the afternoon, not being able to get away all day. So we had tea, and stayed on the hills till nearly dark. Yon know we have such long twilight now ; it is light till about half-past-eight. There has been no excitement this week. All mankind is worn out after the election ; no doubt they will ‘ bob up serenely ’ when the disappointment of it all has been a little overcome. Mr W. D. Bean, a prominent football player, and master of the Southbrook school, was married to Miss Thirza Mulcock, of Flaxton. There were eight bridesmaids, and it was a pretty wedding. The stationers’ shops have a grand display of Christmas cards and novelties this season, while the drapers have all kinds of tempting presents, including cards. ■We are reading aloud • Three Men in a Boat,’ by Jerome, and I hope we do not disturb the neighbourhood with the peals of laughter indulged in.

Dolly VALE.