WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 11, 14 March 1891, Page 10

WELLINGTON.

(Delayed in transmission.)

Dear Bee, February 21. The two chief events in Ze bean monde this week have been Lady Campbell’s grand concert and a farewell ball given to Captain and Mrs Russell, the former of which you shall hear first. It was given in the Theatre Royal, which large building was crowded in every part, especially so in the dress circle, where even the steps were occupied. Lady Campbell’s singing, of course, was Me feature of the evening, and she happened to be in splendid voice, and delighted everyone, and besides her three solos she joined others in duet, quartette, and trio. She sang * I will extol Thee,’ ‘ Solvej,’ and ‘ 0 Love of Mine.’ Mr R. B. Williams is always a favourite, but was even more so than usual on this occasion, and was particularly happy in his choice of Lohr’s * Margarita,’ in which he displayed his sweet tenor voice to perfection. Mr Charles Monro, son of the late David Monro, and brother of Lady Hector, sang two Italian songs extremely well, and another visitor to Wellington, Miss Matthias, of Christchurch, displayed a very pleasing voice. Miss Fisher sang, ‘O, rest in the Lord,’ and Miss Hilda Williams a German song of Schumann’s. Mrs Levin joined Lady Campbell in the duet, ‘ The Mermaids,’ and Mr J. E. Hill assisted in Leslie’s trio, ‘ Love,’ and sang a solo as well. Miss Medley played two pianoforte pieces very brilliantly, and that beautiful stringed quartette, ‘The Trout,’was given with very fine effect. Mr R. Parker played most of the accompaniments, and sang in some of the part songs. Lady Campbell wore a very handsome gown of pink satin with long train, and draped with soft white lace, and Mrs Levin crimson silk with panels and front of cream silk, the corsage cut square and trimmed with lace. Miss Medley wore cream silk with train ; Miss Matthias, soft pink gown with high sleeves; Miss H. Williams, cream soft silk with buncn of green leaves in the corsage ; Miss Fisher, all white, high to the throat, and large puffs on the shoulders. In the dress circle I saw His Excellency the Governor, Lady Onslow, the Misses Webb (one dressed in black and the other in a creamy gown trimmed with silk cord), and Mr Walrond. The Countess wore a peculiar shade of satin, a sort of mouse grey colour, curiously mingled with a red sash, and carried a lovely grey feather fan. In the audience I also saw Lady and Miss Hector, Mrs T. C. Williams, Mrs and Miss Cooper, Mis Grace, Miss Russell, Miss Buller, Mrs Coleridge, the Misses Brandon, Mrs W. Ferguson, Mrs Rose, Mrs Maskell, Miss McClean, Mrs O’Connor, Miss Barclay, Mrs Swainson, besides many others. Sir Norman Campbell was present, and received the Earl and Countess and escorted them to their seats. It appears this concert is to be the first of a series to be given by Lady Campbell annually. The stage was furnished as a drawing-room, and was artistically draped, and chiefly decorated with dahlias and pot plants. Now for the ball, which came off a few days later in the Masonic Hall. Both Captain and Mrs Russell have been so exceedingly kind and hospitable during their stay in Wellington that we all felt that we would like to show how very much it had been appreciated, especially by the bachelors and young people generally. Mrs Grace was asked to receive the guests, and Mr G. St. Hill proved an energetic secretary. The supper was delicious, and the table very tastefully decorated with wreaths of scarlet geraniums, and a few pink ones here and there, and fairy lamps between the wreaths. Mr Hugh Gully made a nice speech at supper, thanking Captain and Mrs Russell for their hospitality, etc., and then asked the assembled company to drink their health, which, you may be sure, we were all very glad to do, for even in the shoit time they have been with us we have got to know and like them so much, and I feel sure I express the general feeling of regret at their departure when 1 say that everybody who knew them will miss them. Captain Russell replied in his usual courteous way, and both he and Mrs Russell were made much of generally during the evening. The Hon. Charles Johnston, M.L.C., took Mrs Russell in to supper, and Captain Russell took Mrs Grace. Mrs Russell was richly dressed in black, with train, and tiny lace cap, and Mrs Grace wore black moire with Medici collar, and white satin front covered with blackopenwork net,and magnificent diamonds; Miss Russell wore a pretty cream gauze gown eml roidered all round the

hem with coloured chenille Howers ; Mrs Levin, maroon velvet and cream lace, and diamond necklet; Mrs W. P. Reeves (Christchurch), a combination of orange silk and black and gold passementerie, with velvet sleeves; Mis W. Ferguson, her wedding gown of white satin and moire stripes; Mrs Collins, white satin draped with black lace, and clusters of white feathers ; Mrs W. Moorhouse, cream satin ; Miss Marian Pharazyn (a debutante), a pretty soft white gown with narrow ribbons run through the hem ; Mrs Wm. Pharazyn, black with train; Mrs Werry, slate grey and pink silk ; Airs Menteath, blue silk ; Miss Medley, orange gown with gold embroidery ; Miss L. Krull (Wanganui), a very pretty white gown with ivy leaves as ornamentation; Miss H. Williams, cream ; Miss E. Williams, sky blue gauze, with ruffles of same; Miss Buller, black, with wreath of flowers down one side of the skirt; Miss Lord, soft white silk, high to throat ; Miss M. Grace, white ; Miss Studholme (Christchurch), pale mauve gown studded all over with gold spangles ; Miss Cooper, mauve; and her sister, pink net ; Miss Barclay, blue ; and her sister, black ; Miss George, white ; and her sister, pale blue veiled with white net; Miss Knight, all white with sash ; Miss E. Barron, pink fishing net; Miss L. Miller (Wairarapa), white net with silk bodice ; Miss Harding, cream silk embroidered with flowers; Mrs Mantell, iun., pink; Mrs W. Martin (Wairarapa), pale blue gauze ; Miss Duthie, pink ; Miss Borlaise (Wanganui), white ; Mrs Elliott, slate grey ; Miss J. Gray, pale blue ; Miss Dransfield, black ; Miss Lee, white ; Miss Brandon, black ; and one dress I admired was of pale bluish grey with crimson-worked sash crossing the bodice and tied at one side. Mrs Edwin was there, and Mrs Cooper, Mrs Barron, Mrs Coleridge, Mrs Harding, and the Misses Hammerton, Haise, Allan, Fairchild, and many others. A marked feature was the absence of gentlemen—not altogether, but what I mean is that there were at least twenty young ladies more than gentlemen, but, at this time of year, when so many are away from town, I suppose it can hardly be avoided. February 27.

With the exception of the Lawn Tennis tournaments at the Thomdon Courts, there is absolutely nothing of interest going on, but I do not think we ought to complain, for we have had, if anything, more than enough gaiety -during the last six months, and even now it only wants a month or two to the session, when I suppose we will begin again with renewed vigour. The tennis tournaments this year have been moie than usually interesting, and the weather has been so perfect that the competitors have hardly missed an afternoon’s practice for months. In the Ladies’ Double Handicap Tournament there was some excellent play, and in the final sets between Miss Maggie Kennedy and Miss Milly George against Miss Campbell and Miss Maude Grace, great excitement prevailed among the on-lookers, the former couple winning after a a well-fought game The next contest was for the firstclass champion singles among the gentlemen, and after some good play the competition last week narrowed itself down to three players—Mr Frank Kebbell, Mr H. Gore, and Mr Boddington. Then Mr Boddington beat Mr Kebbell, and had to play off the final with Mr Gore, which he won after a capital game. The gentlemen’s doubles and the ladies’ singles have yet to be played, and you shall hear later on about them. The new ground is looking very pretty, surrounded as it is by hedges of marigolds of all colours, and is in perfect order, chiefly, I hear, owing to the energy of Mr Frank Kebbell, who has interested himself greatly in forming the new club, and his time lately has been chiefly occupied in scoring at the tournaments. Among the lady players who are to be met there nearly every afternoon are Mrs Dr. Newman, Mrs R. Fitzherbert, Mrs and the Misses Barron, Mrs D. Irvine, Mrs and Miss Milly George, the Misses Kennedy, the Misses Izard, Miss M. Grace, Miss Russell, Miss Lord, Miss M. Reid, the Misses Cooper, Miss ■Campbell, Miss (Percy) Smith, Miss Trimnell, Miss Mason, Miss Knight, Miss Koch, and Miss K. Johnston, and all the lady members take it in turn to supply afternoon tea and cakes on certain days of each week, thus making the gatherings take rather the form of a garden party than a club meeting. Most of the lady players wear Garibaldi bodices with dark skirts and small low-crowned sailor hats, which ■dress is very sensible and useful for such purposes. Lady Hector has opened a new Tennis Court at Petone, and frequently gives tennis parties, and until quite lately Miss Buckley regularly gave parties at her beautiful country residence. Since the death of her father (Sir William Fitzherbert), of course they have been given up. I noticed a new court at Dr. Whitehead’s and at Mr Clement Kirk’s ■(both in Petone), so that tennis is by no means dying down. Some pleasant afternoons have been spent at Mrs E. Riddiford’s court at the Hutt during the summer. I cannot tell you how sorry we all are to lose Mrs Ferguson, who left for England last week by one of the direct steamers. She has lived so long amongst us, extending her kind hospitality in every direction, that we almost began to take it as a matter of course, and hardly realised how much we should miss the dear old lady. Her pleasant ‘ Monday evenings,’ and latterly ‘ Tuesday evenings,’ will long be remembered by her many friends in Wellington, who hope to see her again at some future time, for, I believe, her trip is to be regarded in the light of a visit to the old country, chiefly to see her son, Mr Reggie Ferguson. While on the subject of returning to England, I must tell you that I am afraid we are to lose several Wellington families almost directly. Mr and Mrs Edward Reid and their family are to leave in March, and Mr and Mrs Melville and family a little later on, and the Misses Webb, I hear, are going almost directly, and Mrs and Miss Black also leave us shortly for Germany, where Miss Black intends to still further pursue her study of music and singing. Then Miss Kebbell and Messrs F. and Mark Kebbell are going for a nine months’ visit, so you see we ai-e losing a good many all at once.

The Harmonic Society have begun their rehearsals again this year, and intend giving ‘ The Creation ’ for the first concert, and during the year have promised to produce Cowen’s latest work, ‘ St. John’s Eve/ and Dr. McKenzie’s * Rose of Sharon,’ the last mentioned having never been given in New Zealand. Admiral Lord Charles Scott and Lady Scott are expected here shortly, and are going to occupy Government House during the Governor’s absence. We are very glad, for it seems a pity to see Government House deserted for so many ■months out of the year, and the gardens are so pretty, and the beautiful tennis courts shut up almost entirely. The fact is, we are not used to this state of affairs and until now

hardly appreciated the frequent pleasant gatherings which used to be the order of the day at Government House some two or three years ago. Mr J. N. Blair, who has just passed through a long and very severe illness, is now recovering, and has been granted six months’ leave of absence in which to recruit his strength. The latest engagement is between Mr Thomas Lock Travers, the well-known lawyer, and Mies Barclay, eldest daughter of Captain Barclay. There is really nothing else of interest that I can think of, but being Lent, you will hardly expect much news, bnt I may as well tell you that the Ladies’ Christian Association gave a large tea to upwards of eighty orphans one evening, Mrs J. D. Fitzgerald, the president, Mrs Roberts, and others helping. The Christmas tree was loaded with toys and sweeties, and was presided over by the Rev. Van Staveren. Other amusements were also provided, and the little ones appeared highly delighted with their entertainment.

Ruby.