WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 24, 13 June 1891, Page 62

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee. May 29. You will, of course, expect to bear all the news about the holiday—the Queen's Birthday. The chief event in the social world was the reception held by Lady Onslow. Some seven or eight days before we all received our cards of invitation announcing that Lady Onslow would lie 'At Home to us on the Queen s Birthday, and few noticed that the cards were different from the usual birthday tall invitations, so you can imagine the consternation especially among the young people when rumour hinted that there was to be no tell at all, but merely a recep.tion. Most people refused to believe such a thing possible, but, alas 1 it e roved only too painfully true. for. on arrivingat Government [ouseat So clock, we were ushered into the carpeted ball-room. Throughout the evening, I think, there still remained a lingering hope in the heaits of some of the more sanguine that they would wind up with a dance. It seemed hard on the fair 'Zr&wMrtMs, of whom there were several. I did hear some talk of adjourning to the Masonic Hall to dance after the reception, but it was evidently not taken up with much spirit, psartly owing to the late'hour and difficulty about cabs. Although it was a pdeasant affair of its kind, there certainly was a certain sense of disappointment that we had not celebrated Her Majesty's birthday in the ever favourite and usual way. The Earl and Countess received at the entrance to the first ballroom, the Countess looking particularly well tn white satin, the front of the skirt being draper! with beautiful lace, and caught here and there with bows of pink and green ribbon, and her shoulders and train were trimmed with dark brown fur—squirrel rajU, I think. She wore her necklet and tiara of diamonds, and gold and diamond bracelets, and pale tan gloves, and carried a feather fan. There were some lovely gowns worn, most of them being new, and especially made for the occasion. Sir James and Lady Hector were there, the latter wearing a very handsome trained gown of crushed strawterry silk with broad satin stripes of the same colour, the front being of pale biscuit-coloured lace. Among the guests were also the French Consol an.’, his wife? Madame de Lostalot, wearing white silk veiled with black lace. and trimmed with bright red and white ribbons : Judge and Mrs Richmond, Sir AA alter and Lady Buller, the latter in black silk : Sir James Prendergast, Mr and Mrs J. E. Fitzgerald, Judge anc. Mrs AA illiams. the Premier, and all the Ministers w*ho were in town. The Governor entertained at a dinner the same night all the Judges and Ministry. But I am straying. Mrs Charlie Johnston wore a pale blue gown trimmed with the new jewelled embroidery, her sister, Mrs Newman, wearing one of the handsomest dresses — deep terracotta silk, the long bxdice edged with sparkling jewelled embroideiy, and the train lined with ruffles of pale pink silk, the puffed sleeves being of openwork silk exactly matching. There were two brides making their first appearance as such. Mrs Larnach, in white brocaded satin, ami Mrs AA . T. I. Travers, in creamy merveilleux trimmed with lace, and both wore very long trains. Mrs Izard wore white silk coveted with black lace: Mrs C. Izard, white satin and mauve silk ; Mrs Grace, black and White striped silk, and diamonds: Mrs Hadfield, black silk ; Mrs Robert Pharazyn. a handsome crushed strawterry silk, trained, the high collar being embroidered with sparkling jewelled passementerie : Mrs H. D. Bell, black brocade with white chiffon ruffles : Mrs Williams, p>ale grey brocaded with white, and embroidered with steel beads : Mrs bell, pink si.k. trained : Mrs Adam-, white silk, with train and high collar : Mrs Werry, black satin : Mrs Loughnan, terra-cotta, with long bows of black velvet : Mrs Ed. Ricbani-on, black velvet and white lace : Mrs Duncan, black : Mr> < ooper, black ; Mrs Collins, cream brocade : Mrs t oleiidge, tdack : Mrs AA'. Moorhouse, black lace; Mrs Castendyke. Mrs Maurice Richmond, Mrs George Beetham, handsome black velvet and diamonds; Mrs Barron, black velvet with Medici collar : Mrs De Castro, white silk : Mrs Hislop, M s Gore. Mrs Harding. Mrs Edwin. Mrs Haise, Sirs 1_ Reid, Mrs Graham. Mrs Hawkins, Mrs Mantel], Sirs Alorrah. Mrs Black. Mrs C. Hickson, Mrs Lvon in red satin . Mrs Allan, Airs Trimneli. Airs Lee. Airs Dtdsburv, Airs Rose. Airs Holmwood. Airs Friend, Airs Pvwles. Al'rs Simprson, Airs T. K. Macdonald, Airs Tripe, Airs Tringham, Alts Beete, Airs AA . Crawford in moss green satin with tews of a darker shade . Airs Stevens, .Mrs Levi. Airs Bristow, Airs Boyd, Mrs Tregeat. Mis Alport, Airs .Mason, Airs Bull, and numbers more, but I cannot think of anv other married ladies who were there, so I will tell you about the pretty dresses worn by the single ladies Miss Johnston, daughter of the late Hon. John Johnston, who has only just returned from her visit to England, wore one of the handsomest dresses—of a lovely shade of bronze velvet with train, and p»a!e blue covered'with thick white applique introduced on the front of the skirt. The bodice was prettily trimmed with pate blue and white, and steel embroidery, the up-tan.iing euaulettes being of steel and diamond ornaments. Miss Williams, who has also lately returned from the old conntiy. wore an English gown of pink soft material, made with crinkled

chiffon sleeves extendinjtalmost to the knuckles'.fashionable I dare say, bat hardly becoming , while her youngest sister wore a pretty white gown with a gold Swiss belt and girdle : Miss M. Richardson wore white chiffon, with a sort of broad belt of gold and silver embroidery : Miss M. Grace, white with mauve, and large mauve fan ; Miss Moorhouse Christchurch*, black; Miss Holmes Dunedin', black, crossed with a white sash : Miss Hamilton, blaek and white : Miss Cooper, mauve : her sister, white ; Miss Willis, white : Miss K. Hadfield, white, and Miss Amy Hadfield, a pretty turquoise blue gown; Miss Hawkins,* a pretty blue and white gown, and flowers in her hair; Miss K. Reader, black, with angel sleeves of lace, and white velvet in her hair: Miss Gore, pale blue silk and silver butterflies; Miss Brandon, pink and white : and her sister, black : Miss Buller, white covered with black spotted gauze : the Misses Izard, very pretty simple white dresses : Miss Duncan, pale blue ganze spangled with silver : Miss Duthie, a handsome white silk with chiffon ruffles : Miss Tuckey, a very uncommon gown of pale mauve, with folded front and sash of black moire, and black gloves. There were three drbHta»tfi —Miss May Gore, in white silk with pearl embroidery and chiffon ruffles; Miss S. Graham, white net and white silk sash, the bodice trimmed with white cord : and Miss Eva Haise, in white net with large silver circles embroidered on it, and silver butterflies on the shoulder ; and, of course, they all carried bouquets, as indeed did almost everyone else. Miss Rarron wore red satin and gold tinsel, and her sister, pink net trimmed with pearls; Miss Connie Richmond Nelsom, the Misses Harding, white; Miss Barclay, cream : Miss Graham, dark blue; Miss Haise, pink covered with black lace ; and pink aigrettes ; and her sister, pink net ; Miss M. Reid, lemoncoloured gauze : Misses George, white with chiffon frills; Miss Rose, bright pink : Miss Elliott, pale heliotrope silk and chiffon : Miss Morrah, white ; Miss Dranstield, a frettv black net go»n with deep gold embroidery round the hem": Miss K. John-ten, black, with stripes of many - hued embroidery, and her bouquet was tied with narrow ribbons of every colour : Miss Knight, white net ; Miss Quick, pink satin, and her sister cream : Miss Black, pink satin ; Miss J. Malcolm, red satin; the Misses Allan, cream : Miss Tritnnell, mauve : the Misses Mason, pretty white dresses ; Miss Hammerton. Miss Powles. Miss Haywood. Miss Wood, Miss Pickering. Miss C. Brandon, Miss Koch, Miss Bendall. Miss Bishop, Misses Old, Miss Davy, Miss Zorab, Miss Fairchild, blue ; Miss E. Fairchild, pink velvet and white chiffon ruffles : Miss N. Fairchild, pale green : Miss Nancarrow, white, with ruffles of chiffon : Miss Gurr, etc., etc. The reception rooms, and. indeed, the whole house, were very prettily decorated, chiefly with greenery, for there are so few bright flowers available just now. The conservatory looked so pretty with fair? lamps and Chinese lanterns among the fems and flowers, but it was too cold there to be patronised very much. Both the billiard and dining-rooms were open all the evening, and light refreshments dispensed by the servants, wearing their livery of red and pale fawn. Captain Guthrie was in full uniform, as were all the military officers, consuls, etc., the effect of the bright uniforms ani gay dresses being very pretty. The usual formality of announcing the guests was dispensed with, so that I "am sure neither His Excellency or Lady Onslow knew who many of their guests were, to whom they all the same extended such a gracious welcome. The affair was all over at about 11 o clock, or shortly after, all the carriages in town being very busy at that hour. At the Basin Reserve the same nicht there was an electric light display, and literally thousands of people witnessed it. In fact, I heard a gentleman say that he had never been in such a mass of people in Wellington before. In the morning, too. theie was a large assemblage at the Thorndon Esplanade, it leing Arbour Day. when the Lady Mayoress planted the first tree. Two bands occupied the new Rotunda, and altogether it was a most imposing sight. Of course, the u~ual excursions took place, the weather being simply perfect. • lolanthe * delighted the Theatre - going public at the Opera House, and the Artour Day ball went off successfuiy at the Drill-shed. The town was very gay in the early part of the evening, too, while the torchlight precession marched through the town, accompanied by the Chinese band. The Hon. Matthew Holmes and Mrs Holmes celebrated their golden wedding at their residence in Hawkestonestreet a few days ago. when nearly all their relations from far and near were present to congratulate them. I shall baye another ball to describe next week — the bachelor s ball, which will have become a thing of the past ere this reaches you. From hearsay. I should imagine this will be quite a gay session. The next wedding is that of Miss Kathleen Reader and Mr Hoskings, of Dunedin, of which you shall also bear next week from

Ruby.