CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 10, 7 March 1891, Page 10

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, February 19. We have had some intensely hot weather again ; the few showers only seem to make the sun feel more scorching. How unevenly things are divided in this world is only more apparent every day. In Wanganui they have had a terrible flood, carrying haystacks, cattle, sheep, etc., out to sea, and we crave only a little of this rain ; but it is no use moralising, so to more pleasant subjects. Mrs Maude gave a garden party, and though we have had so many, and one is very much like another, there were a great many present, and all spent a very pleasant time wandering about in the pretty garden, or playing tennis, others watching. The fruit garden, laden as it is, was a most interesting spot to visit, and the day was not insufferably hot. A large drag conveyed a big party to and from town. Among others I saw Mrs and Miss E. Rhodes, Miss Clark, Mr and Mrs Bowen, and a visitor from England with them, Mrs and Miss Harper, Mrs Lance, Mrs Boyle, Mrs anil Miss Stanford, Mrs and the Misses Wynn-Williams, Mr and Mrs Kimbell, Miss Kimbell, and Mr George Kimbell, Mrs T. Barker, the Rev. W. Winter and Mrs Winter, Miss Arndt, Mrs J. T. Brown, Mrs and the Misses Fraser, Miss Clepham, Mrs and Miss Davie, Mrs R. Wilson (Compton), Mrs Robison, the Misses Reeves, Mr and Miss Wilson (Comberton). Miss Alexander (of Dunedin), Mr J. Gould, and Mr A. Rolleston. The same day great interest was taken in a wedding at St. Luke’s Church—that of Miss Gertrude M. Strange, third daughter of Mr E. Strange, with Mr William Goss, second son of Mr James Goss. The church was nearly filled with ladies, and Mr Wells played some delightful music from the wedding music in Mendelssohn’s * Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ and afterwards the * Wedding March.’ The Ven. Archdeacon Lingard, assisted by the Rev. W. E. Gillam, performed the ceremony, the choir singing ‘ The Voice tnat Breathed o’er Eden,’ as the bride entered the church with her father, who gave her away. Her dress was simple, but she looked very handsome in white cashmere trimmed with broche silk, long tulle veil, and wreath of myrtle and orange blossoms. She was attended by four bridesmaids, two of them little children—the Misses Ravena and Madeline Strange, and Miss Edith Strange and Miss Alice Goss. The two latter wore heliotrope dresses braided with silver, white aerophane hats with heliotrope trimming, and carried beautiful bouquets. The two little girls wore white smocked nun’s veiling frocks, white drawn hats, and carried baskets of flowers. The bridegroom was attended by Mr Broughton as best man. The wedding party adjourned to the residence of Mr Strange for breakfast, after which the newly-wedded pair started on their honeymoon trip. The bride’s travelling dress was navy blue serge with astrakan trimming.

Mr D. Wynn-Williams gave a river picnic the other afternoon, Mrs Wynn-Williams acting as chaperone. Mrs J. H. Lee was there, the Misses He)more, Rhodes, Wynn-Wil-liams, Reeves, Hutton (who, by the way, has just returned from England), Tabart, Delamain, and others —about thirty in all. It was a most enjoyable outing, and after a refreshing repast, rounders, singing, etc., we returned about ten o’clock.

Mrs Wynn - Williams’ third *At Home ’ has taken place, and was quite as successful as usual. A shower of rain came on late in the afternoon, but, fortunately, did not spoil our pleasure. Such a number of S’rls wore pretty white dresses, amongst them the isses Harper, Reeves, Maude, Stoddart, and WynnWilliams. Mrs J. Lee was wearing a very handsome and becoming gown of terracotta Liberty silk trimmed with guipure lace, bonnet to match; Mrs < Itterson, whom every one is pleased to see back once more, looked charming in a white Indian linen costume, and bonnet of white lilac; Mrs J. R. Campbell, soft grey cashmere embroidered in selfcoloured silk, the sleeves and back drapery being of dark brown ribbed plush ; Miss Hutton wore a pretty coral pink zephyr trimmed with lace; Mrs Perceval and her niece, Miss Grace, of Wellington, was with her, and wore a lovely white silk, and large hat with honeysuckle; the Misses Rhodes wore dark skirts and blouses ; Mrs Maude, Mrs and Miss Cowlishaw, Mrs Fenwick, and a gieat many others that have been at the previous ones. Later in the week the mid-day train took a merry cargo to Lyttelton in the shape of picnic parties bound for the yachts. The Neva took a party up to some of the bays at the top of the harbour, and the Fleetwing and Zephyr went Purau Bay way. The opening of the Polo was a great attraction that day. The weather was beautiful, and a great number visited the ground, but not many of the players turned up. Mrs Archer ispensed afternoon tea, and was ably assisted by a bevy of young ladies.' Mrs Strachey was there, Mrs Leonard Harper and her daughters, Kirs Harley, Mrs Humphries, Mrs Tabart, the Misses Rhodes, Williams, Reeves, and a number of others.

Mrs Maling, a daughter of our dear old Bishop, with her husband and family, have just returned from England to take up their residence once more amongst us. lam delighted to be able to record some returns to the colony, as with the present exodus raging things were inclined to be melancholy. There are also one or two engagements spoken of, and these are cheer ful subjects. I hear Mr Heaton Rhodes is engaged to Miss Clark, whose brother married Miss Edith Rhodes about two years ago, and Miss Ethel Harley and Mr J. Milton. I regret to have to tell you of two more deaths from among the old residents of Canterbury—that of Mr R. A. Barker, who died at the • >rari, his late residence, and Mr Bowron, of Heywood, Christchurch. There is to be a Bowling Tournament next week, when ladies are invited. A lot of the bowlers have arrived, and are busy practising. I hope the green has a little colour left in it; usually it is perfection, but we are not allowed to even peep during practices, and though I do not understand ‘ bowls,’ I like going on open days to meet friends and discuss the Club’s delicious tea, which they always provide well. The Ven. Archdeacon Lingard, who has had charge of the parish of St. Luke’s for twenty-four years, is about to leave for a few months’ change. He is going to Akaroa, and will do duty on the Peninsula, but no doubt he will find it rest compared with his late duties. The Rev. McKenzie Gibson will have charge of the parish during his

Dolly Vale.