DUNEDIN

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 1, 3 January 1891, Page 12

DUNEDIN

Dear Bee, December 10. I have not the gay doings to record this week that I had last. After the storm conies a calm. The weather seems to be aware that we do not care very much whether it is hot or cold now there are no races or garden parties on, and so it is perfectly fine. The members of the Ladies’ Liedercranz met together recently to present Miss Popplewell with books, jewellery, and several pieces of plate on the eve of her wedding. Mrs Edwards, the President, made the presentations in the name of the club, wishing the bride-elect all the good wishes possible, Miss Popplewell responding. The ladies of the club wore their Grecian costumes. Miss Jennie West’s present was a pair of hand-painted vases. A few gentlemen were asked to meet the ladies, and the social ended with a dance. Miss Annette Wilson’s fourth annual pupils’ concert was held in the Choral Hall. The pupils were advanced, and many played pieces of great difficulty. Most of the young ladies appeared in white, relieved with a little colour. Miss Marshall, who kindly assisted, was attired in black and gold ; Miss Lo Keong wore green. Messrs Gully and Barratt also assisted, so that the concert was relieved of monotony. The Rev. G. W. Jork, who is leaving here soon, sang ‘Will o’ the Wisp.’ There was a new song sung by Miss Marshall, * Give Place,’ the words by A. Proctor, the music by Miss A. E. Wilson. The pupils were the Misses Chalmer and Martin, Miss Young, Master P. Haggitt, Miss E. Scott, Master E. Gibson, Miss Mackay, Miss F. Fenwick, Master G. Fenwick, Miss Grindley, Miss M. Chalmer, and the Misses Bartiemen, Master J. Haggitt, Miss Fenwick, Miss Z. Dale, Miss Ada SievWright, and Miss Watson. The Dunedin Amateur Athletic Sports came off at the Carisbrook grounds. The Secretary, Mr Thomas Kerr, is to be complimented on the excellent arrangements made for the comfort of the ladies, their afternoon tea, with other nice things, having been provided, and it was a pleasure to see that they appreciated this attention, and put in an appearance in large numbers. Another attraction, too, was the fact they had subscribed for the prize for the two-mile race, and when the sports were over Mrs G. L. Denniston presented the prizes, Mr P. J. Ness carrying off the first prize, a handsome silver inkstand, Messrs Le' Cren and W. Kane coming in in a dead heat for second, and both received a silver - mounted dunking horn. All the events were well contested. The first and second of the Long Jump were H. L. Postlethwaite and J. Taiaroa. The Half-Mile Flat Handicap : P. J. Ness, 1 ; G. Turton, 2 ; A. Bauchop, 3. The 100yds Flat Handicap : J. Tararva, 1; J. P. Kalangher, 2. The One Mile Bicycle Race was very pretty to watch. Mr S. R. Steadman, the Irish champion ’cyclist, who competed at the sports, complimented the club on their track. T. Rallinshaw was fiist; P. Mitchell (Oamaru), 2. Mr Steadman was. of course, very much scratched. The Flat Race for the High School or other college boys was won by J. Landels. E. Macassey, J. Mcßride, W. IL Cork, W. C. Crane, H. A. Le Cren, F. Mitchell, A. Bain, C. Gardner, J. P. Kalangher, were other names among the winning first and seconds. I noticed among the visitors Mrs G. L. Denniston, Mrs W. Dymock and the Misses Dynjock, Dr. and Mis Roberts, Dr. and Mfs Jeffcoat, Mr and Mrs Twopenny, Lady Stout, Mr and Mrs James Mills, Mrs H. Le Cren. Mr and Mrs E. C. Reynolds, Mrs Oatway, Mrs ami the Misses Rattray, Mrs and Miss Fulton, Mrs and the Misses Spence, Mrs and Miss Maunsell. Mrs Janies Mills was wearing one of her lovely home dresses —a dark green check fitting to perfection. One hip and shoulder was slightly draped, the draperies edged with fringe. It looked so stylish, like an Highland costume. A lady writing from Melbourne tells me she saw Mrs Mills at the Cup looking lovely. Madame Burton’s concert company have arrived with Stockwell and Miss Colebourne-Baber, and we are all looking forward to a treat. December 17. We spent a very pleasant morning at Girton College on the occasion of the breaking up for the vacation. The pretty hall was turned into a bower of roees, so many and so lovely were the bouquets. Miss Freeman is to lie

congratulated on the success of her young ladies. They went through the usual morning’s wore with a great degree of proficiency, and afterwards a number of recitations were given, including one from Richard 11., in which the various characters were letter perfect. Miss Freeman, in her address, said that her sympathies were with several girls who had all but won honours, but school prizes, like other prizes in the world, did not always fall to those who had worked the hardest. Miss Freeman gives a special prize each year for the girl, not who has won the greatest number of marks, but for the one who has behaved the best, and this was awarded, ’mid loud applause, to Miss Violet Farquhar. Professor Sale then addressed those assembled, among whom of the visitors I noticed Mrs Sale, Mrs Shand, Mi s I’lric, Mrs Reynolds, Mrs Denniston, and many more. JThe visitors then strolled round the room looking at the numerous drawings, maps, etc., upon the walls, all of which were a credit to the instructress, Miss Fodor. Another evening the French pupils gave a delightful entertainment, the proceeds of which were presented to Mrs Reynolds for the benefit of the Kindergarten. The hall was crowded. I noticed Lady Stout, the Hon. Mr and Mrs Reynolds, Mrs Denniston, the Rev. Mr and Mrs M’Kerrow, Professor and Mrs Ulric, Mrs and Miss Gibson, Mrs and the Misses Sievwright, the Misses Webster, Miss Henriques, Mrs Adams, and Mrs Maitland—in fact, a very large number of well-known faces. The French play was called ‘ L’lncognito.’and afteracapitally-played piano solo by Miss J. Wilkie, the curtain drew up on a pretty scene of French ladies in their quaint costumes. Miss L. Joel, as La Duchesse de Baufel, wore a robe of blue and white; Madame de Krakofman, Miss W. M’Kerrow, in white ; La Mere Gertrude, Miss P. Gilchrist, red and white; La Grande Gudule. Miss S. Bartieman; Claire, Miss L. Roberts; Lina, Miss C. Bartieman; Annette, Miss J. Brown; Jeanne, Miss E. Haggitt. The group of pretty peasants were Misses M. Reynolds, L. Wilson, B. Farquhar, A. Sharp, N. Gibson, I. Mills, M. Haggitt, L. M’Kellar, E. Gaulter, and M. Waddell. The play was splendidly gone through, and reflected the greatest credit upon Miss Fodor. The second half of the piogramme everyone could understand—Tableaux. After a song from Miss J. Brown, who looked like a picture in white, the tableau ‘ Summer ’ was given, the figures being the Misses V. Farquhar, V. Reynolds, E. Arndt, J. Grey, and J. Wilkie. They were all dressed in white, and •wreathed in roses. Miss Fodor, looking very nice in white silk relieved with pink roses, sang, * Should he upbraid ?’ There were several recitations, then the tableau, ‘ The Three Fates,’ Misses E. Brown, N. West, and V. Farquhar being the figures. The third was ‘ Spring Pelting away Winter -with Flowers,’ by Misses V. Farquhar and A. Sharp. Amusements have been plentiful. Mr Bath gave a splendid organ recital, and Mr Leech a concert of hispupils, who did excellent work. These were Masters G. Harty and Miss Rosa Hutton, Master Alick Roberts, Misses Howell and Mosely, Miss Mary Watson, May Donaldson, George Thompson, Miss Ruby Roberts, Miss Nellie Hutton, May Howell, Bessie Sparrow, Miss Muriel Maitland, Miss Emily Gillies, Miss Lena Hutton, and Master George Donaldson. The Flower Show was a very good one. Of the amateur exhibitors Mr Cook took a prize for roses. Mrs John Roberts opened the show, and was presented by the president’s daughter, Miss Kimplin, with a lovely bouquet. Madame Burton received a warm welcome, which has grown more and more. I will not tell you about her, because you know how lovely these concerts were, and are probably going to have her again. Mr Stockwell and Miss Colboui ne-Baber both received an enthusiastic welcome.

The Union-street School is the first public school which has started cooking classes as part of the school work, and one room has been fitted up as a kitchen, with range, sink, cooking utensils, etc. The girls who attend the weekly lesson are from the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Standards, the youngest being about eleven. Forty have availed themselves of these instructions, and have gone into it most enthusiastically. They bring their own material in rotation, then carry home the dishes cooked. On the closing day of the term they invited the School Committee, teachers, Dr. Stuart, the Mayor and Mrs Roberts, and other fi iends to partake of afternoon tea. Nearly all the invitations being accepted, a busy day the forty cooks bad. Each girl brought material for one variety of cake or bread, made it, and also brought a cup, saucer, and plate. The room and tables were prettily ornamented with flowers. They had three small tables with fancy covers for the tea equipages, and the odd cups made up a fashionable Harlequin set. The large centre cooking table was literally covered with a variety of cakes from Neapolitan down to humble buns, the centre ornament being a short cake with ‘Welcome, Dr. Stuart ’ in sugar, flanked on either side by a plate of scones and oat cake. It was a pretty sight, the bright busy maidens, so full of importance, watching the kettles so that they should only boil up once ; then the care about the right proportion of tea, and waiting upon their visitors, who seemed to highly appreciate the efforts made. The chairman, Mr Gillies, asked a blessing. Mr Roberts (the mayor) spoke to the girls very nicely on the high value of proficiency in domestic work in the home, and complimented them on the progress they had made.. Mr Solomon also spoke on the same subject, and so did others. The proceedings closed with the usual vote of thanks, the last being one given by Mr Stuart, headmaster, by request of the girls, to Mr Cohen, who had been instrumental in getting these classes started.

MAUDE.