AUCKLAND

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 30, 25 July 1891, Page 203

AUCKLAND

Dear Bee, July 14. Quite the most important event of the week, both musically and socially, has been the Auckland Choral Society’s third concert of their season in the Choral Hall. The large building was crowded with a fashionable and critical audience, a large number of performing members also being present. The works performed were Spohr’s ‘ Last Judgment ’ and Haydn’s ‘ Third Mass,’ and in both works the Society achieved considerable success, the choruses especially being throughout remarkably gord. In the ‘Last Judgment’ the solos were taken by Miss Battley (soprano), Mrs H. F. Edger (alto), Mr W. Martin (tenor), Mr Cornelius Taylor (bass). In the Mass the soprano solos were taken by Miss Francis Harding ; alto, Mrs Edger ; tenor, Mr D. Martin; bass Mr J. Worrell. Miss Harding made her debut as a soloist in the Society, and proved herself a decided acquisition. Professor Carl Schmit, as usual conducted, and Herr Tutschka led the orchestra. Miss Battley was gowned in soft white silk, the bodice high, with small Medici collar edged with swansdown, elbow white kid gloves ; Mrs Edger wore creme silk, and long white kid gloves ; Miss Harding wore a pretty gown of white satin, the bodice cut low and the sleeves short, long white kid gloves. The ladies in the chorus, as usual, wore white or creme gowns. Amongst the audience were Mrs Tennant Carre, wearing a very handsome black silk gown, gold ornaments ; Mrs Devore also wore black silk, with a fichu of lovely white lace; Miss Devore, black evening dress ; Miss Hailey, pretty gown of black silk and net; Mrs T. Cotter, handsome long crimson cloak bordered with fur ; Mrs P. A. Edmiston, black silk gown, terra-cotta plush mantle; Mrs Atkinson, black costume, gold ornaments ; Miss Johnstone, black evening dress, plush

mantle ; her sister wore creme and blue ; Miss Hamlin, black silk and lace gown, the low bodice ti ini med with jet; Mrs W. Simms, pretty creme evening dress, crimson opera mantle ; Miss Fenton, black silk and lace evenin" dress ; Miss Cohen, black, handsome crimson opera cloak embroidered with gold; Miss Russell (Remuera), pretty dove-grey gown ; her younger sisters wore dark frocks ; Miss Hesketh, very pretty pale blue silk evening dress ; her two younger sisters were, respectively, attired in pale pink and crimson ; Mrs R. H. Stevenson, black silk gown ; her two charming daughters wore dark gowns ; Miss Upton was also in a dark costume ; Mrs Kilgour, black silk gown ; Miss Kilgour, dark gown pretty pale blue mantle with revers of moss green ; Miss Hamilton, very pretty gown of coral pink veiling; Mrs Archdale Tayler, black evening dress, creme silk cape; Miss Culpan, pretty creme net gown ; Miss Henderson, becoming pale blue evening dress ; Miss Hall, black silk and lace gown; Miss Macdonald, black evening gown; Mrs Shirley Baker, black silk gown ; Miss Baker, very pretty pale pink gown ; Mrs Tebbs, black silk ; Mrs Walker, pale blue silk gown, plush mantle; Miss Burns, creme Liberty silk gown ; Mrs J. B. Brigham, rich black silk gown; her little daughter wore a pretty creme silk frock ; Mrs Donald, da-k plaid gown ; Miss Hall, grey costume ; Mrs Windsor, black gown ; Mrs Vincent Rice, dark blue and white flowered silk gown ; Mrs Harding black silk gown ; Mrs Murray, black silk ; Miss Anderson, black silk and lace evening dress ; Miss Owen, pretty pale green gown ; Miss Wilson, heliotrope gown, creme opera cloak ; Mrs Gribben, black silk ; Miss Watson, creme silk and gauze gown relieved with gold ribbons ; Mrs Cook, navy blue silk ; Mrs Davis, dark winecoloured silk gown ; Madame Tutschka, black. When the first of the district football cup matches was played the whole proceeds were devoted by the Rugby Union to local charities. The weather was gloriously fine, and consequently a large number of ladies were present, both at Potter’s Paddock and North Shore. Amongst the ladies on the grand stand at Epsom were Mrs E. W. Burton, wearing a stylish brown striped gown, short jacket, and brown felt hat ; Miss Spiers wore a black gown, stylish little jacket, and felt hat with grey birds ; Miss Firth, navy clothcostume, gem hat to match; MissC. Lawford, navy skirt, and masher jacketfaced withcrimson, and opening over a full blouse bodice of white spotted with crimson, gem hat and crimson parasol ; Miss Jervis, navy blue serge skirt and masher jacket, crimson blouse, gem hat; Miss Hilda Ruck, stylish navy costume, small hat trimmed with feathers ; Mrs Johnstone (Parnell), stylish dark fawn and brown checked tweed costume, brown hat ; Miss Devore, sage green skirt, fawn jacket trimmed with fur, fawn and brown hat ; Miss Bertha Devore, navy blue costume; Miss Evans, black gown, plush jacket, black hat ; Miss Macindoe, brown plaid tweed gown, gem hat : Miss Lusk, navy gown, gem hat, grey jacket; Miss Gould, brown tweed costume, fawn and brown hat; Miss Atkinson, navy tweed gown, pretty little hat trimmed with cardinal ; her sister wore a brown tweed gown, and hat to correspond ; Mrs W. J. Rees, checked tweed gown, handsome plush mantle, small black bonnet with scarlet bird ; Miss Rees, black gown, cardinal hat, fur pelerine; Miss Meldrum, black costume, fawn jacket; Miss Sellars, navy gown, handsome seal plush jacket, brown hat ; Miss Garlick, brown dress, black jacket, large fawn felt hat trimmed with brown ; Mrs Edger, myrtle green cloth gown, green hat with ostrich feathers ; Miss Upton was in brown; Miss Gorrie, black; and her sister, in brown plaid tweed; Mrs W. Sharland, very pretty navy gown, small navy hat with white ospreys ; Mrs J. Arneil, another bride, was attired in a neat cinnamon brown cloth costume, hat to correspond, and fur pelerine ; Miss Morgan, crimson costume, plush jacket ; Mrs Rice, dark brown costume, bonnet to match, mantle bordered with fur ; Miss Marsden, navy blue gown, jacket bordered with sable, and small hat composed of sable and scarlet velvet ; Miss Williamson, navy gown, fawn felt hat, fawn cloth coachman’s cape; Miss Russell, pretty grey tweed gown, grey felt hat.

The fourth dance of the season in connection with the Ponsonby Social Union was quite as successful and enjoyable as its predecessors. The attendance was large, the floor splendid, the supper excellent, the music lovely, and pattners plentiful, the gentlemen being in the majority, therefore it is not surprising the evening proved exceedingly pleasant. Mrs Drummond wore a very pretty pale blue evening dress, long tan gloves ; Mrs Rees, rich black silk gown; Mrs Cossar, black silk ; Mrs Morrin, black satin; Mrs Kronfelt, black and crfime ; Mrs Gentles, very pretty and becoming gown of white silk and tulle finished with maize ribbons ; Mrs W. J. Geddis, creme brocade and lace made with train ; Mrs Boak, blue tarlatan with blue ribbons ; Mrs C. Campbell, handsome black satin and lace gown, gold ornaments ; Mrs Laxon, becoming black evening dress ; Mrs Bartlett, black velvet and lace gown, with aigrettes of gold feathers and gold ribbons ; Miss Billington, coral pink veiling with panel and trimmings of ruby silk ; Miss Clara Billington also wore pale pink ; Miss Mary Edwards, pale green cashmere and net; Miss Maria Edwards, pale pink veiling ; Miss Court, pretty pink cashmere dress ; Miss Owen, white silk and tulle with gold crescents; Miss Johnstone, goldcoloured gauze over old gold silk ; Miss M. E. Geddis, primrose muslin with black velvet ; Miss Morrin, creme flowered muslin trimmed with ruby and gold ribbon ; Miss P. Cossar, exceedingly pretty and becoming pink cashmere gown ; Miss Scott, pale pink cashmere, trained ; Miss A. Scott, white dress; Miss Tapper, all white; Miss Laxon, white, with ruby ; Miss Warren, black silk and lace, the corsage finished with a cluster of pink roses, roses in the hair : Miss Wright, white satin and lace, with aigrettes of cardinal feathers; Miss Hayles, pale pink net ; Miss Davis, creme veiling ; Mrs Culpan, black.

The members of the North Shore ‘At Home ’ held their third dance upon the same night, and I am told a most enjoyable and agreeable evening was spent. There was a very good attendance.

The cast for the forthcoming performance of * Princess Ida ’ by the Amateur Opera Club has been alloted, but of course, is still subject to alteration. This title rd/c will be taken by Miss Staunton, or Miss Thompson, a young lady who has recently arrived from England ; Lady Blanche, Miss Reeves; Lady Psyche, Miss Harper; Lady Melissa, Miss Warren; Hilarion. Mr T. M. Jackson: Cyril, Mr W. Simms; Florian. Mr Chambers; King Gama, Mr Archdale Tayler; King Hil lebiand, Mr G. M. Reed. King Gama's

three sons h ive not yet bden selected. The rehearsals are progressing most satisfactorily. Miss Backland's farewell complimentary concert takes place this week, and promises to be a great success. Muriel.

Dear Bee, July 14. We are not wholly given over to gaiety in this fair city. Oar proximity to the Melanesian Islands continually brings before us some instance of the hard work being carried on there by Bishop Selwyn and his devoted band of helpers. An exceedingly interesting ceremony took place at St. Mary’s, Parnell, when a native of Florida of the Solomon Group, Reuben Bala by name, was ordained a deacon by the Right Rev. Bishop Cowie. The Rev. A. Brittain, who had brought the Floridan from Norfolk Island, interpreted, and also preached a most interesting sermon. He related how Reuben Bula had been taken from his home to study in Norfolk Island, and how, on his return journey to Florida in the Southern Cross in 1871, the muchloved Bishop Patteson had gone ashore in his canoe, and had been cruelly murdered almost in their sight. Reuben Bula had been working hard since then, and had been confirmed by Bishop S*»lwyn, who, unfortunately, is now too ill to ordain him. Hence the voyage to Auckland. The newly-ordained deacon read the Gospel for the day in his native language. The Rev. Mark Guy Pearse has received a warm welcome to Auckland, and seems much gratified with his large and attentive audiences. He lias come at a very good time, for, like the Athenians, we are always ready to hear anything new, and a little leaven like that to be obtained at the hands of this popular, earnest preacher will surely raise the moral aspirations of our perpetual theatre and operagoers.

To turn to matters mundane. Some dainty costumes enliven our pavements and appear in our carriages. I noted a few amongst many, to wit, Miss Aldis, in a brown dress, black jacket, crimson silk kerchief, hat trimmed with green velvet; Mrs H. Nichols, in a dark green dress, black jacket edged with astrachan, black hat with birds in the trimming ; her sister was wearing a somewhat similar jacket, check tweed dress, brown felt hat of a curiously-contorted shape; Mrs Hardie (Onehunga), tweed costume, black hat with a grey gauze veil ; Mrs C. Taylor (Ponsonby), a pretty navy blue costume ; Mrs H. Johnson, a stylish brown dress, bonnet to match, Mrs Ruck, black (mourning) ; Miss Scherff, chic plaid navy frock with hat prettily trimmed with red feathers ; Miss Power, black skirt, jacket, and hat ; Miss Jervis, a neat navy blue diess ; Mrs A nsenne, looked chaiming in black (mourning); Miss N. Russell wore a becoming navy dress, ami hat trimmed with white spotted navy silk ; Miss White (Parnell), pretty dark green dress with bonnet en suite; Miss Nathan (Karangahape Road), stylish red skirt, black jacket and hat.

Mrs Ching (Remuera) gave a very large afternoon tea last week when a great number of ladies were present from all parts. The Pakuranga Hounds met at Lnshington's farm, six miles from Otahuhu. Not many of our best jumping town friends turned upas it was such a distance. Amongst those present were Mrs Backland, Mrs Bewes, and the Misses Percival,Banks,Garrett, Kerr-Taylor(2), Buckland, Girdler, Dunnett, Young, McLaughlin, ami Messrs Garrett. Sinclair, Gilmore, McLaughlin, Banks, Kettlewell, Yonng(3), White, Goirie, Colonel Dawson, and Dr. Bewes. Many hares were started. The jumps were easy, over low walls, but very rough riding, being over rocky scoria land. Amongst the amusing events of the day I noticed that Miss Kerr Taylor, who was riding Premier, seemed evidently trying to play circus. She got the two front legs of her horse on a wall, and there both rider and steed surveyed the grandeur of the scenery for a few minutes, and then returned to their companions, highly elated, no doubt. The other event, which was extremely amusing to the spectators was that Mr Gould, somehow or other, got his whip, unknown to himself, stuck under the horse's tail, and he twisted his horse in every direction hunting for his whip until one of his laughing companions kindly called his attention to its peculiar position. Miss Dunnett came to the fore amongst the ladies this time. She rode a grey horse which jumped well. I heard that three young ladies were in at the death of a hare —Misses Garrett, Percival and Kerr-Taylor—who each received a trophy from a part of the poor little animal’s body. Just fancy, Bee, there is a village somewhere between < lamaru and Dunedin, where no rain has fallen for three years. The inhabitants watch the heavy clouds pass them by, but no drops descend on them.

Perhaps some of your readers in other cities may be interested in these changes of the thermometer which I noticed when we had two very frosty, cold nights last week. At 7.45 a.m. it was 38deg. in the hall, so I opened the front door and put the thermometer on the verandah in the shade. At 8 o’clock it stood at 32deg. there. Then I put it round the verandah in the sun. At 10 o’clock it had reached 80deg., and 88deg. was the highest that day. The previous morning it went up to 984eg. in the same place. Out of

the sun it immediately sank to 51deg.

Hinemoa.