WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 33, 15 August 1891, Page 276

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, August 1. St. John’s Schoolroom presented a very animated appearance a few evenings ago, when the Wellington Guards’ annual concert and presentation of prizes took place. There must have been between five and six hundied people present, for the large building was crowded to the doors. The prizes were presented by Mrs Newall, wife of Major Newall, who commands the district. The Company belt for the highest aggregate made during the past season was won by Mr A. Ballinger. Captain Patterson gave a recitation, * The Old Grenadier’s Story,’ and Sergeant Hales recited * The Showman. ’ Mr Hugh Wright sang, and also Mr Kilner, Mrs Macintosh, Miss J. Wilson, Miss Kennedy, and Miss Fisher, and Mr Macintosh played a snrusophone solo. The accompanists were the Misses Wilson (R. A. M.), Gardiner, Yeomans, Cimino, and Kelly. Mrs (Dr.) Collins is going to give another small dance shortly, as the last, which I had barely time to mention last week, was given especially for the young lady visitors who have come tor the session. Mrs Collins herself had two guests at the time—Miss Dailey, who has been here for some weeks, and Miss Neil, of Dunedin, who had just arrived. Miss Georgie McLean, also from Dunedin, was there, and the only Wellington ladies I can remember were the Misses Holmes, Grace, Cooper, Harding, Knight, Williams, Izard, and Buller. Mrs Robert Parker’s twelfth annual concert was, as usual, a great success, taking place in the Opera House in the presence of a large and fashionable auaience. Herr Puschel, from Christchurch, sang ‘ Adelaide,’Miss Williams accompanying him, and he also sang a serenade by Schubert. Miss Spensley sang ‘ Ah, perfido,’ and was to have sung a second time, only ner cold was too bad. Lady Campbell sang, ‘ Knowest Thou the Land,’ and another, and Mr Mc-Duff-Boyd played a violin solo, the remainder of the programme consisting of orchestral works, the finest perhaps being ‘ From Foreign Parts,’ by Moszkowski. Lady Campbell wore a magnificent heliotrope satin gown, made with a long basque and train, the former being trimmed with pleatings of white lace, and tied with a pearl and silver girdle. The high collar and elbow sleeves were of mauve covered with white lace, and she wore a filigree gold necklet and long white gloves; Miss Spensley, who came up from Christchurch on purpose for our concerts, wore a becoming pink gown (some soft material), which was trimmed round the hem with bands of dark green velvet libbon ; the short train was of pink striped with green velvet, the low corsage being trimmed with bunches of pink crushed roses. Miss Maude Williams, who accompanied Mr Puschel, wore a very plain black velvet gown, slightly trained, and with full ruffles of chiffon round the long sleeves, and round the high collar and open front. Miss Hammerton, who wore a cream dress, played some of the accompaniments. I saw Mrs Buckley there, and also Mrs and the Misses Izard, Mrs Acton Adams (Christchurch), Miss R. Acland (Christchurch), Mrs James Mills, Mr and Mrs G. Beetham, Mrs Menteath, in black velvet; Mrs Russell (Hawke’s Bay), Mrs J. G. Wilson, Mrs George, Mr and Mrs Rous Marten, Mrs Valentine, Mrs Parker, Mr Tanner and Miss N. Tanner, and the Misses Hadfield, Hall, Cooper, Stowe, Duncan, Gore, Rees (Auckland), Empsom (Wanganui), Trimnell, Carr, Mrs A. Bell, Mrs Elliott, Mrs Irvine, and the Misses Quick, Allan, Kemp, Friend, Johnson, etc. ‘ The Rose of Sharon,’ given by the Harmonic Society in the Opera House, came next, a few days later, Mr Parker again conducting. Miss Spensley and Miss Myers took the solos, assisted by Mr Puschel and Mr A. Gray. I suppose I am not educated up to the music—l am afraid very few among the audience were—for it seemed dreadfully heavy and classical, but we were assured chat if we heard it half a dozen times —more or less—we should then begin to see the beauty. I envied the performers, for, in consequence of their long and arduous rehearsals, they fairly revelled in the beauty of the music. Miss Spensley again wore pink and green, and a red fur cloak bound with white fur; Miss Myers wore a deeper shade of pink trimmed with chiffon, and white opera cloak with Medici collar. Amongst the audience I saw Mrs J. G. Wilson, in a black evening gown ; Lady Campbell, white fur cloak ; Lady Hector, white cloak embroidered with steel; and her daughter, white gown with pink silk front ; Miss Rhodes, from Christchurch, a handsome peacock blue velvet gown, with loose front of white silk tied with black jet girdle, and turned back with yellow silk; Mis Acton Adams (Christchurch), in black lace; Mrs Black (Christchurch), fur mantle; Miss L. Izard, black velvet dress and white cloak; the Misses Gore, white plush cloaks ; the Misses Acland (Christchurch), in black velvet; Mrs W. Reeves (Christchurch), white silk trimmed with black velvet, and white ostrich boa ; Miss Moorhouse (Christchurch), black with low corsage ; Miss Butterworth, Mrs Adams, Mrs Cooper, Miss Cooper, black gauze with pink feathers ; Miss Swainson, black ; Miss I. Cooper, pink opera cloak ; Mrs C. Izard, Mrs Travers, white cloak with brown fur ; Miss Graham, black, with red cloak; Miss S. Graham, white ; Miss Harding, red cloak, and her sister, white; Mrs Edwin, black; Miss Fairchild, black, long white gloves; and her sister, a red plush cloak; Miss Friend, Miss Hart, Miss Rolleston (from Christchurch), Miss Rees (Auckland), Mrs Harcourt, the Misses Elliott, Miss Haise, the Misses Quick, the Misses Johnson, Jolly (Patea), Old, etc. Mrs W. R. E. Brown is giving a small dance, and later on comes a small dance at Government House, and then Mrs T. C. Williams’ fancy dress ball, and after that the Star Boating Club’s ball, besides numbers of small private affairs, so we shall be well provided for for some time to come. We expect two quiet weddings soon—those of Miss H. Bennett and Mr A. Crawford, of Miramir ; and Miss Willis and Mr Cox.

Ruby.