CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 36, 5 September 1891, Page 347

CHRISTCHURCH.

iDeab Bee, August 20. The Cathedral spire has been tnined into the tableau of .the old nursery rhyme of * Dickery, dickery dock, the mouse ran up the clock,’ all the week. The price lor the aerial journey has been reduced to eighteenpence, and the chair goes up and down continually, being frequently occupied by the gentler sex. I like a good view myself, but have not felt a craving for a bird's eye one of Christ- ■ church. The cross is to be placed in position this week, and in about a fortnight all the scaffolding will be away, and we shall forget the unsightly blemish the earthquake of 1889 left us.

The other day a pleasant little afternoon tea was provided by Miss Cane for a lew friends, among whom were the Misses Cholmondeley, Harley, Tabart, Withnall, Kimbell, Fenwick, and a few more. There was some delight’ful music, and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves. In the evening the final rehearsal for the Musical Society’s concert took place, and as I was very interested in Comala’s three attendants, who were all debutantes, I went to see how they promised for the concert, and felt quite proud of them.

The last of those pleasant gatherings (for this season), under the name of the Kilburn work party, took place at Mrs Alan Scott’s, when, in addition to the usual work and amusement, our hostess was presented with a small memento of the many delightful afternoons we had spent there. It was a pretty gold brooch in the form of the letter ‘L ’ set in pearls, made by Petersen and Co. Ihe amusement part was most interesting, and Mrs Scott’s two little -children recited so prettily. Jackie gave one of Lindsay Gordon’s poems in a wonderful way, and his little sister - Queenie, * The Two Little Kittens,’ so sweetly and intelligently. Mrs Scott and Miss Greenwood were very success>ful in the little play, • A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush the Hon. Mrs E. W. Parker gave a reading, recitations from Mrs Scott and the Misses Greenwood, and a song from Miss A. Greenwood closed the afternoon with much regret from all. Miss Normington, sister of the popular and well-known organist of St. Luke’s, was married at St. Mark’s, Opawa, to Mr Mclntosh, of the Railway Department. The mar- • riage took place from Mr Embling’s, Opawa, where a few -intimate friends assembled after the ceremony. The bride looked very sweet and graceful in a simple soft white silk and long tulle veil. Her chief bridesmaid, Miss Turner, of •Kirwee, wore a pretty light grey tweed, and two little girls, daughters of Mrs Rouse, Lyttelton, wore charming frocks •of pale blue with cream hats. Mr Blyth supported the bridegroom ; Mr Sydney Cooper, a pupil of Mr Normington’s, proved himself very efficient on the organ, giving the ‘ Wedding March ’ most brilliantly. Among the guests were Mrs Rouse, in navy blue dress'and bonnet, and threequarter black cape handsomely braided ; Mrs Cholmondeley, in handsome black dress and mantle; the Rev. and Mrs Mackenzie Gibson; Miss Lingard, in'a pretty pink dress, with maroon hat and pale pink tips; Mr and Mrs Burnett; Miss Milton, in brown costume ; Miss Rowbottom, in grey. The railway employees presented Mr Mclntosh with a handsome marble clock and lamp. The week has been a chapter of accidents. Mr Helmore was thrown from his horse, breaking his leg, and one or two of his ribs ; he is progressing favourably. Mr J. T. Ford was thrown, when riding home, j ust at his own gate. Mrs Ford heard the horse galloping in, and she and her daughter ■ ran to the gate, where they found Mr Ford in an unconscious state. Dr. Moorhouse was soon in attendance, and he found the upper jaw badly injured through several teeth being broken away, the mouth and tongue much cut, and face and body badly bruised. He is getting better, but will be some time invalided. And on the following day a more serious one still as Mrs Walter Knowles and Miss Comerford, of Prebbleton, were driving into town. When in Cashel-street the horse took fright and ran away, going clear a short distance, but finally colliding with an express, and threw them both out. Mrs Knowles escaped with a few bruises and a good shaking, but Miss Comerford had severe concussion of the brain, and was lying for days in the hospital unconscious. There are hopes now of her recovery. Now comes the charming spectacle of the children’s fancy dress ball, and long will Mrs E. W. Humphreys be remembered, not only by the children, but some of their elders. From half-past three to four o’clock the arrivals were fast and furious, and Tuam-Street looked surprisingly animated as cab after cab discharged its freight of little people, all so • quaintly attired. The hall was prettily decorated with flags, curtains, and Liberty silk, one end arranged as a drawingroom, and one side screened off forming a corridor, where a sumptuous tea was charmingly laid. In the drawing-room were Mrs Julius, Mrs Ronald Macdonald, Mrs G. P. Williams, Lady Wilson, Mrs Stevens, Mrs Murray-Aynsley, and several more. Mrs Humphreys, gowned in a handsome black velvet relieved with soft white silk, received all her little guests at the entrance of the room, where they were announced by Mr Evan Macdonald and Mr Dryden Hall. The Oriental band headed by Mrs Michael Campbell, included the Misses B. Campbell, Cowlishaw, I. Cowlishaw, Hutton, E. Rhodes, Q. Campbell, Hellmore, Worthy, B. and Alice Greenwood, all grouped on the stage, and assisted by Miss F. Wynn-Williams and the Italian band, supplied the music for the Grand March. It was truly a quaint and brilliant sight. Nearly three hundred children in endless variety of costume, headed by Britannia (Noeline Baker), marched in twos round the room, the Oriental band singing * Rule Britannia ’ with great vigour. I can scarcely pick out any for special notice, they all looked so sweet and pretty. ‘ A friend from Donnybrook’ (Errol Guthrie), with his tiny cousin as a bride, aged about three, in a perfect bride’s dress with train, were a most taking couple. Miss Nellie Burns as a Butterfly Fairy, and Gladys and Nora Merton, also as Fairies, and Queenie Scott as a Spider, in black net and silver, with a large web, were nry special fancy. Mrs Humphreys was well supported in her duties by Miss Greenwood and Miss Macfarlane, while Mr G. P. Williams made a capital General. Soon after the march round and a little dancing came the * Sleeping Beauty,’which had been actively rehearsed by a few of the bigger children. Mr Arnold Izard was the King, in a lovely suit of heliotrope slashed with a darker shade of velvet, and glittering with silver, and a violet velvet train hanging from the shoulders edged with fur. The Queen (Miss Gladys Wilson)

also wore a gorgeous dress of white corded silk embroidered with Howers, edged with band of red velvet, a gold girdle and red velvet train, and jewelled crown. Two little at* tendant pages, Archie Burns and Bertie Izard, in cream satin and gold braid, were on duty to look after these long trains. The Sleeping Beauty (Miss Ella Julius) looked very much the part in a soft white silk frock. The Maids of Honour were the Misses Dorothy and Joan Harper, and the Misses Ethel and Polly Julius ; the Courtiers, Masters Harry Bullock, Maurice Harper, Stanley Bell, and Claude Black ; and the Prince (Master Tristram Harper), was magnificent in blue and silver. The piece was prettily acted, and crowds of bouquets rewarded the little performers. Then came more dancing and refreshments, and some of Mr Seager’s * mirth and magic ’ that children love so much. Both Bishops Julius and Harper were present some of the time, and at the request of Bishop Julius the little ones gave three hearty cheers for their * good fairy,’ Mrs Humphreys, who had done so much for them. Later in the evening a surprise party was given to Mrs Humphreys, she lending the Hall for it, by a committee of ladies, consisting of Mesdames Cowlishaw, Stead, Rhodes, Kimbell, Greenwood, Palmer, Tabart, Denniston, and R. Wilson. Tea, coffee, and light refreshments were provided by Freeman, and no programmes made quite a change, and made a little more excitement, I think. Among those present were Mrs Cunningham, Mrs Hutton, Mrs Tanner, Mrs Otterson, in a very pretty pink gown; Mrs Willock, in heliotrope satin and darker shade of velvet, Miss Harley, a primrose satin with three lovely panels of Virginian creeper in velvet of the shade when in autumn tint; Mrs R. Wilson, soft white silk, the bodice trimmed with bands of black velvet embroidered in white ; Miss Lean, maize, with bands of black velvet on the bodice : Miss Harper, a pretty soft silk of mignonette green ; Miss M. Helmore, cream fisherman’s net with narrow ribbons ; Miss Marian Moorhouse, MissM. Tabart, and Miss L. Muray-Aynsley, all wore pretty black dresses; Miss M. Murray-Aynsley, soft white silk with chiffon frills; Miss A. Greenwood, pink and white striped silk, with straps of velvet on the bodice; Miss Sanders, a white dress tiimmed with moss green. One or two of the elder ones of the afternoon dance were present in their glittering robes, and two middies from one of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s ships, in uniform, helped to make it very bright and pretty. I must tell you of the conversazione at the College next week, as I have run on to such a length already. Mrs Rhind is on a visit to Dunedin, and at present staying with Mrs Reynolds, Montecillo.

Dolly Vale.