AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 2, 10 January 1891, Page 9

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, December 31. We have enjoyed perfect weather for our holidays so far, Christmas Day being very pleasant, and the grand day for the Auckland Racing Club Summer Meeting all that could be desired. Notwithstanding the crowds —between six and seven thousand people — that streamed from all quarters towards Ellerslie, not a single accident, not even a contretemps of any description is recorded. Every available vehicle, from a gay four in-hand to an express, might be seen laden with happy, merry faces, all wending their way to the race-course. Admiral de Presmenil and a number of officers from the French warships now in port were present, and were entertained at luncheon by the Club. There was a goodly assemblage of fair dames, and it was remarked that previous Cup days were quite eclipsed by the beautiful dresses worn on this occasion. I think the colours chiefly favoured were heliotrope and white ; the materials differed greatly. Mrs Carrington (Miss Achurch) wore a lovely gown of heliotrope delaine, very stylish, with hat and sunshade to match. Another much admired costume was worn by Mrs Isidore Alexander. It consisted of a handsome grey silk brocade, elegantly made in the latest fashion. Mrs Levisohn, in white Liberty silk trimmed with bands of black velvet; Mrs (Major) George, in silver-grey merveilleux silk; Mrs Moss Davis, pale heliotrope; Mrs Thos. Mon-in, black silk with pretty pompadour trimming ; Mrs L. D. Nathan, very handsome sea-green brocade, costly black lace over-skirt; Mrs Male, pretty glove-fitting grey plaid, white faille leg-of-mutton sleeves; Miss Daveney, in a handsome grey satin, pale blue trimmings; Misses Kirkwood, tasteful black gowns; Miss Wilkins, pretty heliotrope gown; Miss E. Firth, French grey gown ; Mrs J. F. Churton, lovely black silk gown, blue sunshade ; Miss Percival, pale pink embroidered gown ; her sister wore a pretty pale green costume ; Mrs G. F. Brimblecombe, heliotrope delaine gown with band of ribbon velvet to match; Mrs (Dr.) Cremonini, stylish crushed strawberry gown, with black velvet sleeves and trimmings ; Miss Buckland, fawn gown, brown trimmings ; Mrs Chamberlain, rich black merveilleux gown; Mrs Laing, black silk, pretty grey bonnet; Mrs Cattanach, lovely pale pink delaine gown with cardinal velvet trimmings ; Mrs (Colonel) Dawson, handsome fawn silk gown, creme trimmings ; Miss Chambers, very pretty creme nun’s veiling; Mrs Keep, stylish grey delaine gown ; Mrs Aitken Carrick, beautiful combination of black and white silk; Miss Whitaker, stylish creme Liberty silk gown; Mrs Ching, very rich bronze silk gown ; Mrs James Philson, navy blue spotted silk; her sister, Miss Williamson, wore heliotrope delaine; Mrs Roche, pretty delaine gown ; Mrs (Major) Mair, pale pink gown, fawn silk dust cloak ; Miss Dunnett, grey embroidered cashmere; Mrs Joseph Hanna, very pretty grey gown, feather hat to match ; Miss Worsp, lovely green delaine with mervielleux trimmings ; Mrs (Dr.) Walker, bright blue satin gown ; Mrs Webber, pretty green silk gown, black lace mantle; Miss Tottie Pearce, lovely crime gown, with maize trimmings; Mrs J. Odium, brown satin gown ; Mrs Hopkins, creme cashmere, with crime trimmings, cardinal sunshade ; Mrs Tapper, pretty grey gown ; Miss Preece, eau-de nil nun’s cloth, floral toque; Miss Henderson, mauve delaine, black lace hat; _ Miss Tonks, silver grey gown, floral toque ; Mrs J. Armitage, pale pink costume, floral toque; Mrs Frankel (Sydney), white Liberty silk, floral toque ; Miss M. Firth, black cashmere ; Miss Eva Maxwell, electric flowered Liberty silk, Empire feathered hat (very c/iic). There were many others who looked very nice in pretty summer gowns, but I must hurry on with my letter. Our lovely harbour was crowded with ferry boats, steam launches, yachts, etc., all full of holiday folks. Here, also, nothing occurred to mar the day’s enjoyment. I think everyone in Auckland went somewhere. A very pleasant informal evening—a sort of surprise j>arty, in fact —was lately spent at Ferndale. Mr Garlick, in his cheery, good-natured manner, told the young folks to do what they liked so long as they enjoyed themselves. Some of them at once took him au fried du lettre, and began to dance. A few rather strait-laced individuals objected to this innocent and impromptu entertainment. Mr and Mrs Garlick were the recipients of a handsome silver salver and cruet-stand in celebration of their silver wedding. Some very pretty songs were rendered by various guests, and altogether the numerous visitors much enjoyed themselves. Supper was provided by the surprise-party, and was dis-

cussed with great relish. Amongst the pretty gowns was a handsome brown costume worn by Mrs Garlick ; Mrs Sellers, light grey check; Miss Sellers, blue check; Miss Milly Garlick, white bodice, and vieux rose cashmere skirt; Miss Laura Dixon, her bridesmaid’s dress ; Mrs Mcßride, dark brown silk ; Miss Priestly, terracotta ; Miss Thomson, white open work relieved with embroidery ; Misses Garlick, Chinese silk bodices, dark skirts. Christmas week was marked by quite a round of attractions in the way of public amusements, the series being inaugurated with Mr Sydnev Hoben’s pianoforte recital in the Opera House. Mr Hoben’s letters descriptive of * Student Life at Leipsic ’ have rendered his name familiar to us, and many were interested in seeing the progress he had made. Considering the distractions peculiar to the Christmas season, he had a very fair attendance. The programme comprised the names of many leading amateurs. Mr Hoben’s own contributions were Padesewski’s * Minuet in G Major,’ Rheinberger’s * Romance ’ for the left hand only, Schumann’s arrangement of Paganini’s ‘ Bell Etude,’ and Grieg’s ‘ Norwegian Wedding March,’ all of which were encored. Miss Freda Marsden played a couple of violin solos sweetly, and was also encored. Vocal selections wete rendered by Mrs Kilgour, Mrs J. M. Geddis, Mrs Hopkins, Miss Hilda Ruck, and Messrs Tapper and Maitland, and of these the best was undoubtedly * In Old Madrid,’ which Mrs Geddis sang most expressively. Mrs Kilgour likewise made a hit in the operatic aria, ‘ Robert toi que j’aime.’ Nor must I forget the recital of ‘ Eugene Aram,’ by Mr Herbert Fleming (a member of Miss Achurch’s Company), who gave it in really first-class style. Mrs Kilgour wore a handsome evening dress of rich ruby plush, opening in front over a petticoat of pale pink silk, diamond ornaments; Mrs Hopkins wore a gown of cardinal Russian net, the bodice cut low and sleeveless, aigrette of cardinal feathers on the shoulder and in the hair; Mrs Geddis, trained gown of creme flowered Indian silk ; Miss. Ruck, pretty creme evening dress ; Miss Marsden and Miss Ada Yates, who played the accompaniments, both wore white gowns. I am sorry I cannot speak in enthusiastic terms of the Choral Society’s performance of ‘The Messiah.’ On the contrary, it was inferior in point of merit to the performances of this favourite oratorio which we have had during many years past, and this fact was a matter of general comment. The number of performers was less than usual, but it was not with the choral portions of the work that the fault was found. It was with the soloists mainly. Mrs Charter’s voice was too light for the part of first soprano, and Miss Handyside, a debutante at the Choral Society, was very unfortunate in her rendering of ‘ How beautiful are the feet. ’ It were an unthankful task to enter into further detail. Mrs Charter wore her wedding gown of white moiri silk ; Mrs Archdale Tayler, pretty sky-blue silk gown; Mrs Burgess, lemon coloured brocaded silk gown; and Miss Handyside, white gown relieved with pale blue ribbons. Amongst the audience were Mrs (Dr.) Lindsay, wearing a pretty white gown ; Miss Upton stylish blue gown; Miss Hardy and Miss Claudia Hardy both wore white gowns trimmed with embroidery; Miss M. Slator, black evening dress, the shoulders ana elbow sleeves of lace ; Mrs Blair, black silk and lace gown; Miss Murray, bright pink gown ; Miss Binney, pretty creme flowered costume ; Mrs Haworth, black silk costume ; Mrs Gorrie, black gown ; Mrs (Dr.) Knight, pretty biscuit-coloured gown with steel embroidery ; Miss Goodall, pretty fawn-coloured gown ; Mrs Dawson, handsome black merveilleux gown ; Mrs Bennett, black silk gown ; Miss Pickmere, black evening dress. You have all read so much of Miss Janet Achurch in the Southern letters that I have absolutely nothing fresh to say about her, except that we are all greatly delighted with her, and Auckland has given her an enthusiastic welcome. She opened in * Forget-me-not,’ and won all our hearts by her winsomeness and grace. I will not attempt to criticise her acting. You have all seen and heard her, and have fallen under the magic spell of her beauty, of which her photographs give no correct idea. She is having delightful ‘At Homes ’on Wednesday afternoons. I saw her in a becoming lilac muslin gown with no high collar, but loosely made, and confined at the waist by a belt. Her manner is very ladylike and pleasing. She said that her relations had tried to keep her off the stage, but she had been drawn to it by an irresistible power. Fortunately for us that this was the case. Her beautiful gowns are described at length in the Graphic, so that I will not attempt them, but will tell you something about the audience. I noticed Mrs Tewsley, Mrs Applin (Tasmania), Mrs and Miss Baume, Mrs J. Alexander, Mrs Levisten, Mrs R. Blair, Miss Murray, and numerous others.

Before concluding my letter last week I quite forgot to tell you about another interesting and fashionable wedding which had just taken place, the happy couple being Mr Maitland Nicol, of the South British Insurance Company, and Miss Rose Jahn. The ceremony was performed at Bishopscourt Church by Bishop Cowie in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. The bride looked exceedingly pretty in a rich white silk gown, made with long train, wreath of orange blossoms and tulle veil, and carried a magnificent bouquetof choice flowers. She was attended by five bridesmaids— Misses Cowie, Connell (3), and Davey—all attired alike in tasteful white costumes, and each carrying a very pretty bouquet composed chiefly of white marquentes and fems. At the conclusion of the ceremony the bridal party adjourned to the residence of the bride’s parents, Symonds-street, where they were hospitably entertained. And now, dear Bee, I wish you and everyone a Happy New Year.

MURIEL.