WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 35, 29 August 1891, Page 323

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, August 14. We have certainly enjoyed one of the best concerts given for a very long time this week—that of the < >rchestral Society. Their new leader—Mr Conolly, the former conductor, having gone to Australia —Mr Otto Schwartz, was very warmly welcomed on entering for the first time on his duties ; indeed, most of the great success of the concert was due to his energy and untiring zeal in the promotion of the good of this valuable society. Until a town is without a high-class society of this kind, one can hardly appreciate the great and lasting value of it. The great success of this last concert was a well merited reward. There were no less than forty-three instrumentalists, some of them being young ladies. Amongst them I noticed Miss Richardson, wearing black velvet, slightly trained, and trimmed with rutiles of white chiffon ; Miss Hirchberg, black lace ; Miss Henry, black satin ; and Miss M. Kennedy, also a black evening dress. Mr W. Widdop sang twice, choosing ‘To Anthea,’and ‘Remembrance.’ Miss Mabel Hill, who was dressed in black lace, with low corsage and short sleeves, and long tan gloves, sang two exquisite little gems of Greig’s ; and Packer’s ‘Listening.’ The piece de resistance was undoubtedly Mozart's ‘Jupiter, the overtures being ‘ Fierabras' (Schubert), and ‘Anacreon’ (Cherubini), and besides these they played some beautiful ballet music from ‘ Le Cid ' and other operas. In the large audience I saw Mrs Valentine, Mrs Fisher, Mrs McClean, Miss McClean, Mrs Parfitt, Miss I. Cooper, Sirs A. Bell, the Misses Carr, Mrs Ed. Richardson, Mrs Rous Marten, Mrs Brown (the Lady Mayoress), and the Misses Knight, Dransfield, M. Reid, Tuckey, Black, Graham, and Wilford, but as I need a great deal of space to describe the fancy dress ball, I will not dwell longer on this.

Mrs T. C. Williams gave a very large fancy dress ball, there being fully two hundred and fifty if not three hundred guests present, many of them being visitors for the session, and others again coming; down from the country especially for it. A great attraction during the evening was a minuet danced by about a dozen ladies and gentlemen, all dressed in quaint Watteau costumes. It took place about the middle of the evening, when the ballroom was cleared for the performers, and chairs and forms placed so that a good many could remain seated, the rest standing round the room. Of course, the best place to see from was the gallery overlooking the ballroom, which was crowded with eager sightseers, and indeed it was truly an exceedingly pretty sight, and seemed to carry one back into another generation to see the tall stately ladies with their powdered hair, patches and rouge, and the courtly gentlemen with their white wigs, knee-breeches, and beautiful lace ruffies. All the gentlemen were dressed in the same fashion, but with different colours, as were also the ladies, everyone of them wearing the becoming Watteau train coming from the shoulders. Mis Arthur Russell wore a magnificent gown, the train of pink satin brocaded with a paler shade, the petticoat being of white satin richly embroidered with pearls, the bodice and petticoat both being trimmed with pink roses, and pink plumes placed high on the top of her powdered hair, and wore beautiful jewels ; her sister, Miss Williams, looking particularly well with her Watteau train of lovely pale blue pompadour silk brocaded with flowers, the front of white silk handsomely draped with exquisite lace sparkling with jewels, ami Miss E- Williams wore also pale blue with a pretty pink flower pattern over a petticoat of palest pink trimmed round the hem with cream lace and jewels. Miss Rhodes, of Christchurch, was in pale yellow brocade with quantities of lace ; Mrs (Dr.) Coliins, in cream brocade with front of striped gauze; Miss Hawkins and her sister both wearing mauve brocaded with a darker colour, with lace and ribbons : Miss Duncan, pale blue flowered silk over a pink frilled skirt ; Miss Buller, all in cream, the train caught with huge pink roses ; Miss M. Grace, cream satin, with train of bright green satin trimmed with pearl embroidery ; and Miss Cooper, in a pink flowered train over a plain pink petticoat. Amongst the gentlemen dancers were Mr Walrond, in pale blue velvet with lace ruffles and and diamonds, Mr A. Cooper and Mr C. Pierce being dressed very much alike in crimson velvet braided with gold ; Mr Prideau Tancred, in fawn-coloured satin and silver lace, Mr H. Williams, Mr W. Williams, and Mr H. Vogel being almost dressed alike in black velvet, silver buttons, and lace ruffles ; Mr A Rhodes, in drab satin and lace ruffles ; Mr L. Tripp, crimson satin breeches and stockings, and black satin coat, and long white satin waistcoat ; Mr G. St. Hill, crimson satin braided with gold, white and gold waistcoat. I hardly know where to begin and whereto end telling you about the rest, but I will do my best. Mr and Mrs Williams received in the drawing room, the former wealing his ordinary dress suit with large scarlet lapels, and the latter dressed as Mother Hubbard, in a scarlet satin quilted petticoat, white fichu, and tall pointed black velvet hat, with white frill round the face, and lace mittens. Miss Eila Williams wore a pretty shepherdess dress, and large hat with flowers and ribbons, and her small sisters looked very dainty in pretty Kate Greenaway dresses of white muslin right down to the feet, and huge pink and blue sashes high up on the waist, and mob caps ; their wee brother was a prince in crimson velvet tunic and cream silk tights ; Mrs Izard wore a sort of Mother Hubbard dress with a cap (splendidly carried out); Mrs Fell, as an Apple Woman, in a huge poke bonnet and basket, was good ; but perhaps the most amusement was caused by Gobo (Mr W. Moorehouse) in a huge clerical hat with his face capitally ‘made up ;’ Mrs Moorehouse was Queen of Hearts; Mr Frank Allen was one of the liest, being half white and half black, which had a very ludicrious effect, his wife being a peasant. Mrs Rhodes wore a magnificent turquoise blue velvet gown of last century, the paniers trimmed with cream lace, ami quantities of diamonds, Mrs (Judge) Richmond and Mrs Ackland wearing Spanish dresses. Lady Buller wore powdered hair and black velvet train over a pink quilted satin petticoat, the time of Maiy Queen of Scots, Lady Hall representing Mary Queen of Scots, Lady Hector being an old English lady with mob cap, ami pink ami blue gown ; Mis Still was I’haraoh’s Daughter, in an Egyptian dress halt' covering her face, the Rev. Mr Still wearing his I niveisity gown ; Mr H. D. Bell made a capital baker, Mrs Bell lieing an old fashioned lady in lovely white brocade and fringe, ami ;>ow<lered hair ; Mr J. Swainson was also a baker, and Mr Elkington also a cook or baker. Mrs C. Izard was Red Riding Hood, her

husband being an American Planter. Mrs Russell was a Spanish lady ; Miss Russell was Priscilla, in mauve, with a spindle in her hand. Captain Russell being in uniform ; Miss St. Hill representing a Daflodil, in yellow draped with art green, and carrying a huge artificial Daffodil. Mrs J. G. Wilson wore powdered hair, and black and mauve dress, Mrs Grace wearing her Court dress of the present dav. Miss Grace having her pretty Japanese dress. Miss Richardson was a Dutch Peasant, Miss Lysaght and Miss Seal both being Grecian Ladies : Miss Ruth Atkinson, a Primrose, a pretty dress with a lovely artificial primrose on her head ; Mrs H. Beetham, Poudre ; Mr Beetham, Courtier ; Mr G. Beetham. a Bishop -. Mrs Beet ham, an Italian Pea-ant ; Miss Willis, Mrs Barron and Mrs Burns all represented Night, in black, with silver stars ; Mrs D. Riddiford, Poudre : and her husband an American Lasso Man : Mrs Adams, a French Waiting Maid, with large black hat covered with white feathers, and her husband, a very handsome dress of crimson velvet and steel, and coloured silk sash ; Miss Studbolme, Music, a cream dress with bars of music, the notes in red : Mrs J. Mills, Lilac, a handsome mauvish satin embroidered with lilac, and quantities of lilac blossoms, and powdered hair : her busband, Negative, that is white dress suit, black shirt, etc., Mr Young choosing the same character; Dr. Jeffcoat, Old English : Mr Robison, Cavalier dress, large hat with feathers; Mr McGowan, Early English : Mr Boddington, a Courtier; Mrs J. P. Maxwell", Poudre : Mr Maxwell, Lord Nelson ; Mrs H. Crawford, Marquise de Miramir; Mrs W. Percival, cream lace Spanish dress : Mrs C. Pnarazyn, a last century lady, in pink brocade with velvet shoulder cloak, and large hat with feathers ; Miss Pharazyn, a Milkmaid, carrying a three-legged stool; Mr C. Pharazyn, a Cavalier dress of black velvet, large hat with feathers : Mrs Newman, a Spanish Peasant ; Mrs Travers, Olivia Primrose. and her husband, a Courtier; Mrs Coleridge, black velvet and fichu, and mob cap ; Mrs P. Hunter, a Nurse ; Miss Carr, a Red Cross Nurse ; and her sister, Ophelia ; Mrs Harding, a Magpie ; Miss Harding, a Chatelaine ; and her sister, Lady Betty ; Miss Izard, a Watteau dress; and her sister, Elsie, Mr E. Izard being a Chinaman ; Mr M ilford made a capital Pooh Bah ; Mr B. Richmond was Aladdin, of lamp fame, in a lovely pale green dress trimmed with pearl embroidery, and a pink and green high-pointed straw hat : MrT. Richmond being well got up as a Turk in white figured material with turban, and beads round the neck ; Miss Reynolds, old English short pink dress and powdered hair : Miss Dransfield, Joan of Arc, in a handsome dress almost covered with silver sequins, silver helmet with white plumes ; Miss Hadfield, M inter ; Miss Hail, EltzaIrethan dress ; Mr E. Hadfield. Oliver Ciomwell ; Mr H. Hadfield, a barrister ; Miss Holmes, Poudie ; Miss Gore, Liberty; and her sister, Inion Jack: Mr H. Gore, black velvet tunic over tan tights; and his brother, a Courtier, in black and red satin, and lace rutties : Mr Jackson, a Nigger, with huge collar and hat ; Mr L. Buller, a Toreador costume; Miss Aciand and Mrs Cooper were dressed alike as Students, Miss R. Aciand being a Rose; Mrs R. Hart, Helen McGregor, with tartan sash ; Miss L. Williams, Tambourine Girl; Miss Bennett, French Drummer ; Miss Johnson, a beautiful old-gold and brown brocade ; Miss H. Moorhouse, Little Miss Muffit, carrying a huge spider ; Miss Barron, Satanella; and her sister, Matitana ; Mr W. Barton, a Turk, as was also Mr H. Gully: Mr G. Bethune, a Druid ; Miss Rolleston, a kind of Shepherdess, with large hat with flowers ; Mr Avis, Scotch dress : Mr Gardner, a very good Turkish dress, with pointed shoes; Miss Hector. Minstrel Girl ; and her brother, a Red Indian ; Mr Rate and Mr IKemp were sailors : Mr M . Turnbull, a white suit ; Mrs Parfitt, Poudie : Mr Parfitt, a French Court dress ; Miss Darley, au Egyptian dress of scarlet and white ; Miss McLean, a boating suit of blue and white stripes, with silver oars in her hair; Miss Knight, Elsie; and among the gentlemen in uniform were Mr Werry, Captain Duncan, Mr Anson, Dr. Collins, Dr. Martin, Colonel Pearce, Mr W. Wardell, Mr McCrae, Mr J. Leckie; Mrs Werry, Poudre, in red satin and white fichu ; Mrs A. Bell, Poudre : Mrs Riddiford, Mrs Beetham, Mrs Hawkins, Poudre ; Mr T. Cooper, a Yokel : Mr A. Cooper and Mr Biss, boating suits ; Miss Medley, Normandy Peasant ; and her brother, Admiral, with powdered hair and three-cornered hat : Miss Menzies looked like one of Sir Joshua Reynolds' pictures in black velvet with curls all over her head, her younger sister being a French Peasant ; Miss M. Rhodes, Poudre, in white, with bright scarlet ribbons : Miss > Percy Smith, Italian Peasant ; Miss Weiford, old English dress ; Mr C. Johnston, a handsome Lord Nelson dress, his son wearing very much the same kind of dress : MrC. Cooper, a Sailor ; Mr S. Ludbrook, a Mexican ; Mrs Fulton, a beautiful Russian dress, and her husband was in uniform; Mr E. Brown, an Italian dress ; Mr Blackett, Student ; Mrs Hawkins, Poudre, in lavender satin and pearl embroidery ; and her husband, a Courtier, in red satin and gold lace: Mr G. Knight, Bunthorne; Dr. Fell, Mr C. Pharazyn, Mr J. G. Wilson, and many others, but it is quite impossible to remember everyone. The house was most beautifully decorated, the ballroom decorations being chiefly carried out in flags draped with greenery, but the billiard-room was a work of art, the table being a delightful profusion of drapery, greenery, and flowers entirely lit with pink, yellow, and blue fairy lamps, and a few Chinese lanterns. The supper decorations were carried out with pink azaleas and hanging fairy lamps, and the drawing room was bright with flowers, ferns, and toi-toi. The Earl and Countess of Onslow came about eleven o'clock, and stayed to see the Minuet, the tiny Kate Greenaway children presenting her ladyship with an exquisite bouquet of violets and snowdrop-*. The Countess wore plain white satin with a long train, profusely trimmed with lace and diamonds. The Minuet was performed twice during the evening, and the ball was not over until half past two, so you can imagine how tired we felt the following day. As you will see by my description, more than half wore the same dresses as before, ami this was at Mrs Williams' special request, for some of the dresses were so handsome it seemed a pity that they should only be worn once. Did you hear about the gentlemen after the last fancy dress trail! enfre nous they were all in a state of intense excitement awaiting the arrival of the GRAPHIC, and then there was a rush for copies. We found them out beautifully, for they could not help showing that they were as plea-ed a- Punch at being mentioned. I really think I must mend my ways and mention some of the gentlemen at the ordinary balls. I do not see why I should not, as I have had proof positive that they like being taken notice of.

in spite of the indifferent way in which they pick np the Graphic and turn their eyea first of all to the ladies letters. Next week you will again be inundated with news for I shall have the Star Boating ball to describe, and also Lady Onslow's afternoon reception at Government House Later on we are to have Mrs Robt Pharazyn's large ball, and some private theatricals given by Dr. and Mrs Grace in the Theatre Royal.

Ruby.