CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 35, 29 August 1891, Page 322

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, August 11. Everything is frightfully quiet but the weather, and that is variety itself, with the one exception—it cannot rain. The clouds blow up, and all looks black and promising, but the next morning is frosty as usual, and old Sol, with as broad a grin as ever, quite having the laugh at us for being so simple as to expect a rainy morning. Then I hear the menkind of the family talking in the most doleful way about the dull times, nothing doing, and so on, till really but for the brilliant sunshine one would feel quite miserable. It is just the time for long walks, and numerous parties are organised, principally for the two favourite ones —to Lyttelton via Dyer’s Pass, or to Lyttelton via Sumner, and vice versa. The view on these lovely clear days is charming, and well worth the walk up the hill. A few young people spent a very pleasant evening at Mrs Stack’s, Fendalton, including a little dancing. A South Canterbury wedding was celebrated at St. Michael’s Church. The bride was Miss Islip, of Albury, and the bridegroom Mr T. E. Goodwin, of Fairlie Creek. The bride’s diess was a pretty and simple one of white nun's veiling with silk stripe, a spray of orange blossom on the bodice, and wreath of same fastening the long tulle veil on her hair. There were four maids in attendance. Miss Islip and Miss Peache had dresses of cream nun’s veiling braided with gold, hats to match with primroses. The two little girls, the Misses Rutherford, of Mount Nessing, wore ruby velvet frocks with broad sashes of white pongee silk, and ruby hats with large white ostrich feathers drooping over the brim. Each bridesmaid wore a gold safety-pin brooch with peail initial, the gift of the bridegroom. The wedding party drove to the residence of Mr and Mrs J. D. Peache (the bride’s uncle and aunt), where many good wishes were expressed for their future welfare. Mr and Mrs Goodwin left by the afternoon tiain for Ashburton. The bride’s travelling dress was a grey Cheviot tweed. At the meet Mr Lyon was able to be in charge again, having recovered from his accident. Aylesbury was the chosen spot for this day, and they had fairly good sport. The rehearsals for ‘ Creatures of Impulse ’ are going splendidly, and we are all looking forward to this pretty play, while the juveniles have almost been off their heads with excitement over Mrs E. W. Humphrey’s fancy dress ball. That will be a charming sight to witness, but I doubt if these great festivities are very good for the children. Like the age, I suppose, they live too fast now, and will have nothing to look forward to, but my mission in life is not to set the world to rights, and I am carried on with the great tide. Almost every member of the Kilburn work party met at Mrs Alan Scott’s, as usual. They are so soon to be discontinued that no one likes to be absent for an hour, the time is so pleasantly spent. Mrs Boyle, Mrs Julian Scott, and Miss Worthy gave short readings, Miss Robison recited, and the Misses Robison and E. Rhodes performed the little play of ‘ Ninon and Ninette,’ and Miss F. Wynn-Williams played some very pretty violin solos. Mrs Walters, Christ’s College, had a very pleasant afternoon gathering. Among the many present were Mesdames Blakiston, Harper, Bowen, Worthy, Cox, Hennah, Izard, Banks, Neabe, and Scott. Songs were sung by Mesdames Burns, Andrews, Misses Helmore and Loughnan, and a recitation by Miss Worthy. The ‘ Parnell Memorial ’ demonstration took place one evening at Lancaster Park, and all went well for a time. Crowds assembled in the park, and the procession was a great sight, but when about half over a real old-fashioned ‘southerly’ came up and dispersed the people pretty quickly, and put out the electric lights, and by the time the fireworks were due there was no one left to see. But I notice, with all the crowd, there are only a few pounds to hand over to the fund. That magic word, ‘expenses,’ runs away with so much. Mrs Worthy had a large party for tennis and badminton. Among the players were Mr and Mrs Harrison, Mr and Mrs Weston, Mr and Mrs Andrews, Mrs and Miss Campbell, Mrs and Miss Loughnan, Mrs and the Misses Cowlishaw, Mr and Mrs Walters, Mrs Burns, the Misses Helmore, Messrs Mannering, Stewart, Maxwell and Gordon. In the evening the Dialectic Society gave another of their enjoyable concerts in the University Hall, which was, as usual, crowded, but that failed to make it warm. It was a bitterly cold night, and people are not very enthusiastic somehow when cold. However, it was an excellent concert. Mesdames Burns and W. P. Townend sang charmingly, and Mrs Wilding played most brilliantly. Mrs Burns looked very sweet in her simple black lace dress ; Mrs Townend had a handsome dress of pink brocade, with ruby velvet bodice and tiain ; and Mrs Wilding wore black velvet trained dress with cream brocade front and vest. Mr Wallace's violin playing gave great pleasure, and the trio by Mrs Wilding, Mr Wallace, and Mr H. H. Loughnan was perfectly played. Mr Izard and Mr Maitland Gardner sang. Anmng the numerous audience I noticed Mr and Mrs Bevan-Brown, Mr and Mrs Purchas, Miss Cox, the Misses Robison, Mrs and Miss Cane, Mrs Hennah, Miss Clark, Mrs MacDonald, the Misses Hennah, Miss B. Tanner, the Misses Thorpe, Mrs and Miss Kinilrell, Mrs J. I*. Firth, and many others, and crowds of sweet girl graduates.

Bishop Julius laid the top stone of the Cathedral spire one morning between eight and nine o’clock. There we're not many |>eop)e astir, as it was not know n he was going to do it, and being so early. His son was also on the platform

at tbe top with him. A silver trowel was presented to the Bishop with an inscription, by Mr Stocks, the contractor. A chair attached to wire ropes was used for tbe ascent, and when on the journey, about half way up, a halt was made, and a very good photograph taken, so no one can deny now our Bishop has been suspended. The cross is not quite ready to be placed in position, and Mr Stocks has been making hay in the meantime by elevating those of an adventurous spirit at half-a-crown each. The Rev. W. B. Stanford, our late canon, is not likely to return to New Zealand, as he has been appointed headmaster of St. Maik's School at Windsor since being curate-in-charge of a parish in Lincolnshire. Massage has become quite tbe fashion here, and is highly recommended by the faculty. Mrs S. Palmer, from Wellington, has been here some months giving lessons, and also treating patients. She is generally recognised as a competent masseuse, and has instructed Mrs Macpheison, of tbe Rhodes’ Convalescent Home, where patients are now received for the treatment; also Miss Rowan, of Mrs Rowan's Nursing Home, and in a number of cases immense benefit has been experienced

Dolly Vale.