CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VII, Issue 17, 25 April 1891, Page 10

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, April 9. The doings of the past week are not to be chronicled as brilliant. It is as proverbial of Christchurch as of the calm before the storm, that w e are veiy quiet before an unusual amount of gaiety. Mrs Harley (Opawa) gave a very enjoyable picnic. The party left town about four in the afternoon, and drove to the Heathcote Bridge, walking from there to the top of Mount Pleasant, a steady climb for two hours. Mr Mannering, of Mount Cook fame, was one of the party, and no doubt thought this very chilfijsh work, but to some it was a great feat. The provisions were sent up previously on a pack horse, and how truly we all enjoyed that meal anyone who has tried a good walk will know. The evening was delightfully mild, and the return journey by moonlight a charming finale, some walking on into Sumner, taking the tiain home. Among those present were Miss Clark, Miss Delamain, Miss HassaL Miss Lord, and the Misses Tabart. Mr and Mrs Stead had a dinner party the same evening. The Hon. E. W. and Mrs Parker were there, Mr and Mrs Boyle, Mr and Mrs Alan Scott, Mr and Mrs Rigne, and Mr Lascelles. Later in the week there was a big pigeon match at Mr Stead’s farm. Mrs Stead and Mrs Alan Scott gave the luncheon with several other ladies. Mrs Wilson Compton, Opawa, had a few to tennis. Mrs Wilder, Miss E. Lance, and Mrs A. Scott were there. A very pretty afternoon wedding was celebrated at St. Michael's Church, when Mr J. C. N. Grigg, eldest son of Mr John Grigg, of Longbeach, was married to Miss Alice Hutton, second daughter of Professor Hutton, of Canterbury College. The Right Rev. Bishop Harper performed the ceremony, assisted by his son, the Rev. Walter Harper, incumbent of the parish. Mr H. Wells presided at the organ, and played some fine voluntaries, including Mendelssohn's ‘ Wedding March.’ The church was still adorned with the Easter decorations, and had a charming effect as the party stood at the altar. The bride was led in by her father, who gave her away, and was attended by three bridesmaids—her sister, Miss Hutton, and the Misses Annie and Ettie Grigg, the bridegroom's sisters, Mr Tripp acting as best man. The bride’s dress was lovely, being of rich white silk with train, the skirt edged with full chiffon frill, the front of the bodice and round the basque trimmed with real lace, and semiwreath of orange blossoms. The long tulle veil was caught with gold and pearl sprays. She carried an exquisite bridal bouquet with long streamers. The bridesmaids’ dresses were very tasteful of heliotrope crepe or chiffon, made very simply with raised sleeves, white lace straw hats trimmed with chiffon and heliotrope flowers, and caught up at the back with bows of buttercup velvet. Their bouquets matched the costume, and had sti earners ot buttercup ribbon. Mrs Hutton wore a pretty electric blue dress, embroidered, black lace mantle, black and pale salmon pink bonnet ; Miss Mabel Grigg, a serpent green dress, hat to match. Among the guests were Mrs Rhodes (Elmwood) in a very handsome black broche, with richlyjetted silk and lace mantle, a pretty giey chiffon bonnet with white flowers ; Miss Rhodes, a pale grey dress with yoke and sleeves of beautiful white guipure lace, black velvet hat with birds ; Miss Amy Rhodes, a pale biscuit colour dress with yoke and sleeves of guipure to match laid over rose colour (a very effective costume), black hat trimmed with rose colour ; Miss Clark, a rich prune-coloured cashmere with darker velvet sleeves and collar, hat to match ; Mrs Arthur Bennett, a handsome dress of heliotrope broche trimmed with black velvet, bonnet to match ; Mrs C. C. Bowen, lavender silk and long black lace mantle, black bonnet with lavender flowers; Mrs Worthy, black velvet dress and bonnet; Miss Worthy, dark green dress and hat; Mrs Irving, grey dress, black silk and lace mantle, white bonnet and feathers ; Miss Irving, navy blue dress relieved with coffee laee, navy blue hat with feather trimming; her sister, a grey blue dress and daiker embroideied bands, a full bodice and ribbon sash to match, hat with ostrich feather trimming ; Mrs R. J. Scott, a becoming brown cloth dress with velvet bonnet to match ; Miss R. Reeves, a white dress and hat with sash and trimming of palest green ; Miss Robison, whitedressandhatwith trimming of pale blue ; Miss Lingard in white trimmed with narrow black velvet, black lace hat with eau-de-nil ribbon ; Mrs Tripp, in black. Mr and Mrs Garnett, Messrs C. C. Bowen, Arthur Bennett, Heaton Rhodes, R. J. Scott, A. E. G. Rhodes, Beswick, Rolleston, Professor Cook, and several other guests were present. Carpet was laid from the church door to the carriage, and flowers strewn on their pathway as the newly-wedded pair left the church. The bridal party drove to Armagh-street, the residence of Professor Hutton, where the wedding presents were on view, some of them being unusually handsome, notably a magnificent clock, presented by the employees on the Longbeach Estate, the future home of Mr and Mrs John Grigg, jun. It was a general holiday on the estate that day, and some six hundred people were entertained in a most liberal and hospitable manner. We went to a concert in aid of St. Luke’s Church, got up by Mr Normington, and given in the Oddfellows’ Hall, which was quite full. The instrumental music was of a very high class character, and beautifully played by Messrs Timson, of Dunedin, H. M. Lund, Miss C. Lingard and Mr G. H. Normington (piano), and Mr F. M. Wallace (violin). The two solos by the latter were a great treat. Mrs Wilson sang ‘ Caro mio ben * in good style, and wore a pale blue evening dress with train, the bodice ar<l skirt trim med with lace. Mrs Bums sang two Italian songs most charmingly, and looked very nice in black lace evening dress. Miss A. Sinclair Taylor

was very successful with two songs of Rubenstein’s, and wore a pretty heliotrope gown with Grecian drapery, and pearls in her hair. Messrs Millar, Barkas, and Maitland Gard’ner also sang songs, and a very pretty trio of Cnrschnian’s, ‘ The Daisy,’ by the Misses A. S Taylor and Beil, and Mr A. Applebey was very nicely given. I saw Mrs Julius and her daughters, Mrs Embling, Mrs Leonard Harper and some of her family, Mrs XV. D. Meares, the Misses Turner, Mr and Mrs A. Anderson, the latter wearing black lace over crushed strawberry, with butterfly bows on the shoulder, and Medici collar ; Mr and Mrs Groseman, the latter in white Liberty silk. Professor Cook and party, Dr. and Mrs Jennings. Mrs I. Gibbs, in apple green broche w’ith green velvet; Mrs and Miss Kinsey, Mrs E. P. Houghton (Dunedin), black silk trimmed with jet, crimson flowers and crimson feather fan ; Miss Cunningham, cream striped soft silk dress, with Virginia creeper sprays ; Miss B. Cunningham, pale pink nun’s veiling ; and many others. Next week I hope to have some nice danees to tell you of, and some of the costumes worn at the races.

Dolly Vale.