DUNEDIN.

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

DUNEDIN.

Dear Bee, January 13. Again I am sorry to say that I have a most uninteresting letter for you, but unless I indulge in romances I cannot tell you of parties, because there have been none—not one. The town is growing emptier and emptier, while at Portobello, Broad Bay, and other seaside resorts they are having concerts and all sorts of fun, for everybody is out of town and getting sunburnt and altogether rustic. At the theatre the Walter Bentley Company are still drawing good houses. Walter Bentley himself is superb ; one never gets tired of him. He seems perfect in every character he takes, but above all others I think I liked him best as Shylock in the ‘ Merchant of Venice.’ You have a treat in store. For a few days the town was all alive with the Tarawera's excursionists bound for the West Coast Sounds. A big crowd went to see the first boat load away, and everything aboard looked as inviting as ever. The deck was prepared for the dances, and down below the dear little theatre was all fitted up with its stage and drop scene, footlights, carpets, and all complete. There was every prospect of a good time. It is scarcely strange the fascination these trips have, for combined to the magnificence of the scenery, and all the charm that the unspeakable grandeur has, is the social life, and as many pleasures are crowded into those few short days as are usually spread over a month or two. After once going there is an unsatiable desire to go again. The Rhodes, of Christchurch, went this trip — Mr and Mrs G. E. Rhodes, Miss Amy and Miss Emily, Mr T. A. Maitland (Dunedin' and Miss M. A. Maitland, Mr and M rs F. E. Joseph (Sydney) Mr R. W. Kane (Adelaide), Mr J. Peele, artist (Melbourne), Mr Perrett, artist (Dunedin), Mr Perry (Tiinaru), Mr F. A. Pitt (Timarni, Mr and Mrs Penden Steel (Sydney), Mr J. Smith (Melbourne), Miss Studholme (Christchurch), Dr. W. Hislop (Palmerston), Mr and Miss Hay (Temuka), Miss A. and Miss M. Harrison (Ashburton), Mr J. G. Findlay, Mr D. M. Findlay, and Dr. Fleming (Balclutba), seven of the Crespins (Melbourne), Miss Allan from the Taieri, and others nearer home. Mr F. Young has again been given the management of the concerts and stage, etc., and under his management the evenings are sure to be a success. Mr Timson presides over the musical department, and a quartette party also go.

Ab there is nothing doing in town, perhaps you would care to know what is going on in the country districts. The Caledonian Society gave the annual ball at Berwick, about two hundred guests being present. Mr R. Gibb and Mr G. Mathieson acted as M.C.’s, dancing being kept np till daybreak. Some of tbe dresses were very pretty. Among these were Mrs A. Sinclair, white cashmere ; Miss Sinclair, pink nun’s veiling with swansdown ; Miss Mary Mitchell, also a pretty pink dress trimmed with lace, with low neck and short sleeves ; Miss Mackay, white embroidered muslin ; Miss Davies, pale blue; Miss Crossan, light grey; the Misses Cossan, white muslin trimmed with embroidery ; Miss Kempshell, white and pink ; Misses Robinson (2), pink fisherman’s net over pink ; Miss McLean, white ; Miss Rattray and Miss Mclndoe, blue and white ; Miss Sanderson, white striped muslin ; Miss Shenan, cream delaine : Misses Farqnharson (2), pink ; Miss Murray, white muslin with pink ; Miss M’Donald, white checked muslin with embroidery. The Miller's Flat Cricket Club held a ball at the Kidd Bros.’ Hall at Hogmanay. Among the ladies present Miss Young, of Beaumont Station, looked nice : Miss Cavendish, blue cashmere ; Miss N. Pringle, white muslin ; Miss Kerr, white Indian muslin : Miss M’lntyre, brown ; Miss Steven son, white with rose-pink sash ; Miss Agnes Kerr, also white ; Miss M’Combe, pink llama with white lace ; Miss C. Kerr, white Indian muslin relieved with salmon pink ; Miss Thompson, black ; Miss Phillips (Beaumont) black : Miss M'Rae, white; Miss J. Stevenson, brown ; Miss M. M’Combe, flowered delaine; Mrs Hand, brown; Mrs J. Piingle, black silk with velvet trimmings ; Mrs Christie, pink; Mrs Laffey, also pink ; Mrs J. Bennett and Mrs Hastie, white. By next week. Bee, I hope our people will be back again. Anyhow, the February races will make the town lively again, and I expect we shall have more excitement crowded into a week or two than we shall care for.

Maude.