CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 6, 6 February 1892, Page 136

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, January 19. What one person likes another can’t bear. The most delightful rain is falling—falling so softly that all the hedges and trees are as if strung with crystal beads, and the lawns and flowers look so fresh and Bright in consequence, but I imagine the farmers would like weeks of fine weather now. In driving out into the country the other day we passed acres and acres of gr ain of various kinds, some having suffered severely from the recent storm. But this is not news for you, only do not expect a long letter full of brilliant doings, for scarcely anyone is in town. In most households one or more members are missing. Those that are left do a little boating or tennis. lam glad to bear the Girls’ Boating Club is to be started again. Miss Greenwood and Miss Robison are both back in Christchurch, and were always very energetic, so there is some hope.

A new order of things has been inaugurated by our hardworking Bishop. Three ladies were admitted as probationers for the order of deaconess. It is a well-known, useful institution at Home, and no doubt will prove so here. Miss Torlesse, Miss Vousdem and Miss Pursey, a>e the pioneers of this order. The former has been Lady Superintendent of St. Mary’s Home, Addington, for some time. Miss Vousdem came out from England with Miss Torlesse some time ago to give her whole time to nursing sick poor and such works, and Miss Pursey is the Superintendent for St. Katherine’s Home of the Gills’ Friendly Society, so all three ladies have already had some experience in the work. The Bishop and Mrs Julius are now on tour, having started for the West Coast to be in Nelson about their jubilee time, arriving in Wellington for the General Synod. Mrs Rhodes, Elmwood, and party are back from Akaroa, but some of them leave again for the first Sounds trip. Mr and Mrs George Rhodes, the Misses Rhodes, Mrs Pitman, and several others are going. Mrs Westmacott gave a children’s party in Mrs WynnWilliam’s garden, kindly placed at her disposal. About forty little people were present, some of the mothers and elder sisters also being there to join in their frolics and make things go merrily. Among the young ones were the Misses Denniston, Harper, Williams, Burns, Campbell, Poulton, Hill, Macfarlane, and many others. After games of all kinds tea was served under the trees, and the young guests tired out, though they never admit it, returned home.

1 regret to say Mr Douglas Wynn-Williams is seriously ill in Auckland, whither his mother and one of his brotlieis have gone to nurse him. He went up for change and to try the benefit of the hot springs, but has become much worse. Miss Delamain was riding down Cashel-street one day last week, and met with an accident which might have been i ary serious. A dog flew at her horse and bit it on the hind leg, causing it to plunge heavily and throw her. She was unconscious for some time, but fortunately only suffered a severe shaking. The dog, I am glad to say, was destroyed, as it was constantly doing that sort of thing. Mr and Mrs Kimbell had a moonlight picnic to Snmner. The party drove to the rocks at the further end of the beach, as it was a tram excursion night with an accompanying band, so the Cave Rock was soon like a hive of bees. It was a lovely evening, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the outing.

At Hagley .Park a cricket match was played, and tea kindly provided by Mrs Mathias, assisted by the Misses Harman and Helmore. A good many spectators were present.

At the old Show ground polo was being played. The players are at work in real earnest now for the great match to come off shortly. The Misses Rhodes dispensed tea with their usual kindly hospitality to players and spectators.

We are all glad to see Mrs and Miss Reeves back in Christchurch again. A verv handsome headstone has been erected on the late Hon. W. Reeves’ grave by the employees of the Lyttelton Times. It is of dark granite, very massive, and bears a long inscription. Mr G. H. Normington leaves by the next ’Frisco mail steamer. A successor has not yet been appointed for St. Luke’s. A short time ago Mr Normington gave the choir and a few friends a picnic at Sumner, driving down and lunchingat Morton’s hotel. Whilein the parsonage grounds before separating the boys of the choir presented Mr Normington with a very chaste silver breakfast cruet and a large photograph of themselves. After cheers had been given for him, the Rev. Mackenzie Gibson and Mrs Gibson, Archdeacon and Mrs Lingaru, and Miss Lingard,the party bioke up. A few evenings after the Regatta a surprise party, numbering between forty and fifty, visited the genial Captain and Mts Dow on board the ship Ecclefecban, which had been the flagship for the Regatta. This was a real surprise party, and the Captain thought his visitors had made a mistake for some outward-bound steamer, they were armed with so many packages, and even a piano was being hoisted on board. But he soon found out his mistake, and after a hearty laugh entered most thoroughly into the fun, which was kept up until well into the next morning. One of our Bicycle Clubs owns two lady members, and they with two gentleman friends rode to Amberley, I think about fifty miles, in four hours. The gentlemen went as far as Waikari, returning to town the following day, the ladies remaining in the district for four days. It (wheeling) is becoming quite a popular amusement with ladies here. There is everything in favour of bicycle-riding here, and long distances are often covered by some of our wheelmen. A rather interesting wedding took place in Wellington the other morning, when Mr J. H. Bond, of Movnt Algidus, Canterbury was married to Mis.-, Adele Azemar, of Richmond, Surrey, who only arrived by the lonic the previous day. Mrs Adams. Langley, entertained a party of ladies at high tea, numbering about twelve, most of them very old friends. The town just now looks as if all the drapers’ shops were •to let.’ The summer sales have commenced. All the summer staffs are displayed, and the windows a mass of placards, which fill me with horrid thoughts of how soon the cold weather will be here.

Dolly Vale.