WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 5, 30 January 1892, Page 110

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, January 15. There has been hardly anything going on since you heard from me, but we always expect a dull month after Christmas, and generally get it. So many people are away that it would be difficult to pet up anything in the social world. The Stanleys have caused some pleasurable excitement by their recent arrival, and Mr Stanley has succeeded in interesting his large audiences at the Opera House, w here he has given a series of lectures on Africa. In the way of entertainments this has been absolutely the only thing with which to beguile an evening last week. The first two evenings the building was crowded, but lately the audience has been falling ofF. I fancy the charges are rather high for this time of the year, and therefore wonder, considering how much of one's income is spent in travelling at Christmas time, that he had so many listeners. Lately we have been more fortunate, as we have had a splendid concert by Madame Bahnson and troupe. Madame Bahnson was most cordially welcomed back amongst us, for she is an old favourite of ours. She brought with her another old friend in the person of Miss Katherine Hardy, who left Wellington some time ago in order to join Madame Bahnson. Fraulein Von Hoyer is also of the company, and is quite new to us. Mrs (Dr.) Collins has returned from Dunedin, and has brought with her Miss Gibson, of Dunedin, for a visit to Wellington. The Misses Williams have returned from Christchurch. Miss Chiffenel, a young lady lately from home, is staying with Mrs Izard. On New 3 ear's day Mrs Charles Izard chaperoned a picnic party to Khandallah, but the weather was horrid, the rain making everything miserable, and causing the party to break up and return to town much earlier than was intended. The Oreti trip to the Sounds was very pleasant. The party, which was chaperoned by Miss Holmes, have now returned, and included Miss Izard, Miss Chiffenel, Miss Hodgkins (Dunedin), and Messrs Field, Symons, Jackson, Vogel, Seed, etc. Miss Menzies has returned from Invercargill, and her sister is visiting in Blenheim. Mrs H. D. Bell and familyhave gone to their summer residence in Lowry Bay. Miss Cooper is visiting her sister, Mrs I'ratt, at Palmerston North. Mr Robert Parker has taken the lesidence of the late Sir William Fitzherbert at the Hutt, and a few days ago Mr and Mrs Parker gave the first of a series of garden parties.

a delightful amusement being music in the oj>en air. The weather did not behave quite as it should have, but it is to be hoped it will be better next time. Mr and Mrs P. Buckley gave a large garden party in honour of Mr and Mrs Stanley and Mrs Tennant, who is travelling with them. Their lovely place at the Hutt is admirably suited for this sort of thing, and although the threatening weather was very annoying on such an occasion, everyone seemed to s|>end a delightful afternoon. The delicious afternoon tea, cakes, fruit, sweets, etc., were done ample justice to, and the lawn tennis ground was occupied the whole time. Mrs Buckley received in a handsome black gown and large black hat, being still in mourning for her father. Mrs Stanley is a tine-looking tall lady, and looked remarkably well in a handsome blue gown figured with Howers. Amongst others —and there were a great number —were Mrs E. Richardson, Mrs Cooper, Sir Janres Hector, Miss Hector, Mrs Kemp, Mrs and the Misses Grace, Mrs Tolhurst, Mrs Fitzherbert, Mrs Keddiford, and the Misses Dransfield, Wilford, Brandon, etc. A capital band played during the afternoon in the garden, and the afternoon tea was served in a marquee erected in the grounds. With such an admirable host and hostess you can well imagine that everything was perfectly appointed and arranged. Many rested in the drawing room, and even there found plenty of amusement. What a pretty room it is and so artistically decorated, the long room being partially separated into two by an arch draped with curtains, and at the extreme end of the inner room a large mirror is placed with a border of plush, on which are shewn up all sorts of rare china with very good effect, and everywhere the eye rests it will see dowers, ferns, or palms in gracefully draped pots. It is a homely room, too, and every chair, though beautiful, looks as though it were meant for use as well as ornament. You must know what I mean. Some otherwise beautiful rooms are so stiff, and always look as though they’ had never been used except on state occasions. But, dear me, lam digressing, and before closing would like to tell you about the only concert I have heard of Madame Bahnson’s. After hearing this one I should like very much to go again, and hope she will prolong her short season. Madame Bahnson sang ‘ Dove Sono ’ exquisitely, and also gave her now famous interpretation of ‘ The Carnival of Venice,’ besides several others, but I think I enjoyed the duet * Mira Norma' more than anything, sung by Madame Bahnson and Miss Katherine Hardy, which was given with true artistic skill. Miss K. Hardy chose ‘ Ask me no more ' and ‘ Ihr die ihr Triebe.’ Both these ladies were encored for everything. Mr G. A. Pearson sang two songs, but was not heard to advantage in either. Fraulein Von Hoyer, the pianist played two pieces very brilliantly, and Mr F. A. King played two violin solos extremely well. He is one of our most promising violinists. Miss Hardy, sister of Miss K. Hardy, played the accompaniments. By the lonic we have had several distinguished visitors—the Earl and Countess of Meath, General Shipley, of Her Majesty’s service, and Colonel Wethered, of the Buckinghamshire Volunteers. The Earl and Countess have for the benefit of the Countess’ health, the English winter being too severe for her. They intend visiting the hot lakes almost immediately. General Shipley and Colonel Wethered are on a pleasure trip, and hope to see the West Coast Sounds before completing their short tour in New Zealand for they intend travelling back to London by the lonic in about three weeks. It is forty years since General Shipley was in New Zealand, so it must be very interesting

indeed, to him to see the changes.

Ruby.