DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 8, 20 February 1892, Page 182

DUNEDIN.

Dear Bee, February 3. Stanley has made as big a sensation here as he made in other places. The first large audience went to see him, but the following nights people went to hear him, so interesting did they find him. It certainly is an education to listen. One gets a better idea of ‘ Darkest Africa ’ from two hours of his discourse than in reading for months. I thought his description of the mighty river Congo very fine. Sometimes one seemed almost able to hear its rush and see its majestic glow. It is a pity all the school children of the city could not have been present. They are not likely to get such a geographical lesson elsewhere. At the Theatre the Amy Vaughan Burlesque Company are amusing people nightly, and from the reports they seem to be drawing. The second Tarawera excursion returned, and the trip proved, like all the rest, to be a most delightful one, no rain being met with until Milford Sound was reached, when heavy rain fell during the night—a decided advantage, for the Bowen looked magnificent, as well as other smaller falls being greatly enlarged. The usual boating, fishing, and walking excursions were indulged in during the day, and every evening there were concerts, tableaux, and dancing. The usual regatta was held in George Sound, the day being perfect for the event, there being no wind. The utmost excitement is always shown over the regatta. The excursionists have been long enough away from the world to have formed a community of their own, and it really seems as though the chief event of the world is the winning of the race. Mr Le Cren acted as Chairman of the Committee, and all the arrangements were perfect. Amid the most magnificent scenery the races came off. On board all is excitement, ladies and gentlemen wearing their distinctive colours, and with glasses watching anxiously. Every now and then cheers arise which echo among the silent mountains. The ladies’ race, of course, always excites the most interest. For this there were four crews. The crew of the boat winning first prize was Miss A. Grigg, Miss E. Grigg, Miss Evans, and Miss Hogg, with Mr Wheeler (cox). The second crew—Miss Murray, Miss Bull, Miss LeCren, Miss Benn, and MrHendry (cox). This was a splendid race, the second crew leading till they were close to the winning post, when they were overtaken, a few feet only dividing the first and second boats. The passengers’ race was between two crews Messrs Ryan, Coxhead, Young, and Jago, of Dunedin, winning with Mr Williams (cox.). This was also a closely contested race, and won by a quarter length. The race between the passengers and officers was won by the officers, the winning crew being Messrs Williams, Wheeler, Maxwell, Broad, and Hendry (cox.). The prizes were presented by Mrs Luke, and those given to the ladies were in the form of silver oar brooches, with the name of the ship and the date inscribed. The regatta ball was a great success, the ballroom on deck being a little bower of greenery and flags, the work of the sailors, who seem to take as much interest in what is going on as everyone else on board. Mr Marsden of Dunedin, upon several occasions delighted everybody with the limelight views he gave. Mr Timson presided over the musical arrangements, and Mr W. F. Young gave great pleasure as stage manager, the tableaux which he produced at a very short notice being remarkably pretty and effective. A very enjoyable dance was given in St. Matthew’s Schoolroom. It was got up by a number of girls for the benefit of the strangers then in town. The hall was very prettily decorated with flags, and the platform was arranged as a drawing-room. The chaperones were Mesdames Dymock, Rayse, Sievwright, Ogston, Roberts, and a number of others. Among those present were the Misses Rattray (2), Dy mock (2), Spence, Macneil, A. Roberts (who made herrfcftwf), Reynolds, Livingston, Keep(2, Sydney), Williams Roland (Christchurch), Mackerras, R. Neill, Maclaren

Sise, Macassey, Scott (2), Butterworth, Palmer (South Africa), Grierson, Gillies (Sydney), Rayse, G. Roberta, Ulrich, Sievwright, Reynolds, Wyat (Adelaide). Mrs Riding wore cream nun’s veiling ; Mrs Moore, handsome dress of ivory silk ; Mrs Hugh McNeil looked very well in a handsome dress of white figured silk trimmed with silver fringe; Mrs Eardley Reynolds wore white silk trimmed with chiffon ; Mrs Grey (Port Chalmers) looked very pretty in black lace over black merveilleux ; Mrs Pim looked well in black ; Mrs Lindo Fergusson, silver grey silk trimmed with white velvet and silver fringe ; Miss Sievwright, pale pink merveilleux with bunches of sulphur green feathers on bodice and skirt; Miss Roland, white figured silk trimmed with chiffon ; Miss A. Roberts wore a very pretty dress of white silk gauze with a satin stripe, made with a deep frill round the bodice and skirt; Miss Macneil, cream merveilleux under silk gauze ; Miss Dymock, brown merveilleux skirt and bodice trimmed with sprays of pink chrysanthemums ; Miss A. Dymock, silver grey satin ; Miss Sise, white merveilleux ; Miss Wyat, pale green Liberty silk covered with chiffon of the same colour ; Miss G. Roberts, cream merveilleux trimmed with yellow chiffon and roses ; Miss Palmer, very pretty white striped gauze ; Miss Gertrude Rattray, brown net over pink ; Miss Ormond, pretty pale blue nun’s veiling ; Miss Rayse, heliotrope satin and chiffon; Miss Keep, white and heliotrope ; Miss Scott looked well in cream fisherman’s net ; Miss McLaren, yellow Liberty silk ; Miss F. Hodgkins, pale pink Liberty silk; Miss S. Mackerras, white merveilleux and chiffon ; Miss Farquhar, cream merveilleux with sprays of cream roses. After such a spell of dnlness the dance was enjoyed more than ordinarily. Everybody unites in saying that there never has been such a quiet time in Dunedin as we have experienced lately. The visit of the Governor and Countess seemed to exhaust everybody, and then came the influenza, throwing a number into mourning. The Waitahuna race ball was quite an era in the township. The music, under the leadership of Mr Miller, was all that could be desired, and the hall was most tastefully decorated. There were a great number of strangers present, and some very pretty dresses worn, but I can only attach the names of a comparative few. Miss Rose McCorkindale wore a flowered Indian muslin ; Miss Macdonald, fawn ; Miss Danials, white, with white flowers ; Miss Chapman also wore white; Miss Hughs, white, with pink ribbon ; Miss Kirby, cream embroidered with pink, trimmed with cream lace ; Miss Oudaille, crushed strawberry; Miss A Ward, red velvet; Miss N. Ward, very pretty white with old gold trimmings, and a gold butterfly in her hair ; Miss J. Ryan, pretty dress of white nun’s veiling embroidered with gold, and finished with a gold girdle.

Maude.