AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 12, 19 March 1892, Page 278

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, March 8. The Choral Hall presented a bright, gay and animated scene upon the occasion of the opening conversazione of the Auckland Society of Arts Exhibition. The walls were lined with the pictures, the result of the year s labours, many being of a high order of merit. The centre of the floor was occupied by a fountain surrounded with greenery, which plashed most refreshingly, while seats were carelessly placed about for the convenience and comfort of the visitors. The front of the stage was hidden by evergreens, behind which the band were seated, who, during the evening, enlivened the time with excellent selections of music. In the

anti-room the photographic club exhibited their pictures, but 1 must confess my time and attention were principally devoted to the large assemblage of living figures present. The pleasure of viewing the pictures I have reserved for a subsequent visit. Sir William box,

in a short speech, opened the Exhibition. Amongst the ladies present were Mrs Thompson, in a lovely reseda green silk gown trimmed with plush a shade darker ; Mrs Archie Clark, handsome gown of soft cream silk ; Mrs .1. M. Shera, eiffel-coloured gown, the bodice trimmed with gold passementerie, bonnet to correspond ; Mrs J. L. Holland, rich brown merveilleux gown, and bonnet to match ; Sirs Nashelski, very handsome gown of brown merveilleux the front of the skirt and bodice beautifully trimmed with brown iridescent beads on cream ground, small black bonnet relieved with a touch of cardinal ; Miss Nashelski wore a gown of cream cashmere and silk, and large hat trimmed with ostrich feathers ; Miss Birch, pretty cream flowered delaine gown trimmed with lace; Miss Gorrie, cream gown trimmed with gold : Miss Masefield, stylish cream flowered delaine gown with crushed strawberry trimmings ; Miss Hardy, cream gown trimmed with silver braid; Miss Claudia Hardy, white dress and dark green sash ; Mrs Payton, black merveilleux and lace gown trimmed with jet; Miss M. birth, stylish light grey costume, the bodice finished with pale yellow chiffon ; Miss Russell, dainty pale pink evening dress ; Miss Von Stunner, pink silk evening dress finished with cream lace; her sister wore a crimson gown ; Mrs Taylor (Parnell), pretty black evening dress trimmed with jet and knots of pale green ribbon ; Mrs Shirley-Baker, costume of eiffel coloured brocade and cashmere, fawn and gold bonnet; Mrs T. Ching, rich black silk gown, cream and gold bonnet; Miss Evans, stylish black evening dress, the shoulders and sleeves of lace unlined; Miss Lilian Edger, white finished with pale blue ribbons; Mrs Edger, ruby merveilleux, the front of

the bodice and sleeves finished with cream lace : her sister, Miss Lelia Langsford, looked well in a pretty white muslin gown and large white hat; Miss Tye, rich black mervei - leux gown, small black bonnet relieved with pale pink flowers; Mrs D. B. Cruickshank, handsome black silk gown, metty little black bonnet with wreath of pale pink flowers; Mrs Honeyman, handsome black silk evening dress, and lovely gobelin blue opera cape trimmed with silver and gold passementerie ; a lady with her wore a lovely gown of reseda green plush and silk ; Mrs T. VV. Leys, handsome black moire silk and lace gown : Misses Shirley-Baker (3), wore, respectively, black pompadour flowered costume, pale blue combined with cream silk, and eau-de nil green silk; Miss Devore, handsome gown of cream bengaline silk trimmed with gold ; Mrs H. Brett, beautiful dress of black moire silk, the front of the skirt and bodice trimmed with gold, black and gold bonnet; Mrs Garrard, wine coloured merveilleux trimmed with pink and cream lace ; Mrs T. Finlayson, dark costume ; Mrs J. R. Hanna, grey costume, the bodice trimmed with giey passementerie; Miss Lusk, black net evening dress, and her lovely white feather boa ; Mrs Seymour Thorne-George, black silk gown relieved with jet; Miss Thorne George looked well in a cream evening dress ;

Miss J. Mackay, pretty silver - grey costume ; Miss Madill, slate grey costume ; Miss J. Eaton also wore grey ; Mrs •!. C. Macky, brown merveilleux combined with rich brocaded silk, small hat to correspond ; Mrs T. Cotter, handsome black silk gown ; Mrs Neill, rich black merveilleux gown; Lady Fox wore, I think, brown merveil-

leux ; Mrs Carr, biscuit-coloured Tussore silk gown trimmed with ruby plush ; Mrs Lyell, black silk costume ; Mrs Jones, pretty white muslin gown ; Miss Moses, heliotrope silk and cream lace costume; Mrs (Prof.) Thomas, black silk and lace evening dress trimmed with jet; Mrs (Dr.) Knight, pretty biscuit-coloured gown with trimmings of dark green velvet: Mrs D. Goldie, black and white flowered silk gown, bonnet to correspond ; Miss M. Purchas looked well in a black evening dress ; Mrs Cruickshank, grey satin with black velvet; Miss Horne looked very well in pale blue silk ; her sister, fawn ; Mrs Kenderdine, mauve - coloured cashmere ; Mrs Thomson, elegant black velvet gown with white lace ; Mrs Dignan, black satin skirt, and old gold coloured jacket; Mrs Binks, black; Mrs Hitchcock, black and grey delaine, black hat with red ; Mrs Gamble, black ; Mrs A. Clark, white China silk ; Mrs A. P. Wilson looked well in dark green silk skirt, velvet bodice en suit e, black lace bonnet; Mrs Boodle, fawn and red velvet: Misses Kerr Taylor (2), black grenadine with pink roses ; Miss Binney, fawn Indian silk ; Miss Herrold, white; and her sister, grey ; Miss F. Binney, prune ami white lace ; Miss Roberton, white muslin ; Miss Binks, white ; Miss Stuart, blaek lace ; Miss George, white. Miss Stewart (Mount Eden), white; and her sister yellow, The afternoon tea the next day was a great success. Amongst those present I noticed Mesdames Baker, SeymourGeorge, Morrison, A. Taylor (Parnell), A. Clarke, Ware, Murray, Nashelski, Carr, Gamble, Kerr-Taylor, Goodhue, Misses Anderson, Horne (2), Nashelski, Mobray, Baker, Russell, George, Slartin, Purchas, Wilkins (2), Sir G. Grey, Professor Pond, and Dr. Purchas. The principal prize takers of this season are by no means confined to Auckland. The silver medal for the best work in colour falls to Miss Budden (Christchurch), the second liest to Mrs Walrond (Auckland). The best work in mono chrome in the whole exh’bition is that of Alice Denison, whr wins a bronze medal, the silver medal for the same falling

to Miss E. M. Rochfort, Nelson. Other prize-winners are Shaded Study of a Head : R. Pheney (Mr Wright’s studio; ; A Kidson (Christchurch), honourable mention. Shaded Study of Figure : Eleanor M. Rochfort (Nelson) ; J. P. Giambonini, Elam School, honourable mention. Shaded Study (antique, hands or feet): E. M. Newton, Elam School ; Ethel Rees, Elam School, honourable mention. Shaded Study from the Round : Alice Denison, Nina Jones (Nelson). Still Life (oil): E. M. Walrond ; ditto, water colour, Miss Violet Kingsford. Problem in Perspective : Eva Ellen Matthews ; Geometrical, E. E. Brunsdon (I hristchurch). From Nature—Landscape : Miss E. R. Budden (Christchurch); Study of Native Tree, Miss E. R. (Christchurch). Original Bust or Medallion: Miss G. VV. Purchas, honourable mention; special prize (Mr Hanna), Edith M. Mannings (Christchurch), also Miss E. R. Budden (Christchurch). I will tell you more in another letter. The marriage of Mr T. Whitelaw and Miss Peacock comes off, lam told, immediately. Mr Whitelaw comes up from Napier for his bride, and the ceremony is to take place in

St. Stephen’s Church, Ponsouby. , Invitations have been issued for the wedding of Mr Fred Kenderdine and Miss Diddams this month in St. Matthew s Cll l' l met the young bride, Mrs A. Lang (net Miss Kathleen Hill) in town the other day, looking exceedingly pretty in a gobelin blue gown and small hat to match. The young couple, I hear, leave shortly for a trip to Europe to visit Mr

Lang’s relatives. . , . . The warehousemen’s annual picnic took place this year at Waiheke. The weather was perfect, and the day was spent most enioyably. An excellent programme of sports was arranged by the committee and successfully carried through. A very pleasant day was spent at St. Helier s Bay by Professor Pannell’s pupils with their parents and friends. The weather was most enjoyable, and the ferry steamers, which left in the morning and afternoon, conveyed a large number of picnickers laden with baskets, kits, etc., to the very popular pleasure resort. The pupils taking part ln the swimming sports were principally children, and the Professor was assisted by Mrs Pannell in the exhibitions, which were most interesting. Later in the afternoon 1 rofessor and Mrs Pannell, assisted by friends, amused the young people with foot races, etc., for which prizes were awarded. Some slight discomfort was occasioned by the tardy arrival of the steamer from town to convey the picnickers home, the party not arriving in Queen street until after 8 p.m. An invitation to a garden-party this lovely weather is accepted with enthusiasm, provided always that tennis or any other form of hard work is not compulsory ! So Mrs Peacock’s garden party at her pretty residence in Ponsonby was largely attended, about two hundred being present. They

have charming grounds, and the seats were arranged under the shady trees, so that one could have a seat and watch the fresh arrivals. The band played delightful music all the afternoon. Amongst the dresses black was the predominant colour. Our hostess wore a handsome grey lustre, black lace bonnet with yellow butterflies; Miss Peacock looked very well in a dark shade of pink, with the same shade of ribbons, tied in lover’s knots, white hat with silk ; Miss Campbell, grey cashmere, black lace bonnet with pink roses; Mrs Brigham, handsome dress of heliotrope, bonnet en suite ; Mrs Whetman, fawr striped silk dress, bonnet en suite ; Mrs A. Carrick, grej dress, white gem hat; Mrs Richmond, grey plaid, grej

hat trimmed with white ; Mrs Carr, white Indian silk ; Mrs Ching looked very well in puce with black lace ; Mrs Stevenson, black silk and black velvet; Mrs Upton, grey brocaded satin with blaek velvet; Mrs Thomson, grey silk; Mrs Gorrie, black; Miss Gorrie, white and black velvet ; Miss M. Gorrie, stylish dress of white with gold braid ; Mrs Kerr-Taylor, white with black ; Miss Devore, elegant white braided with gold ; Miss Stevenson, white, and her sister looked very pretty in a blue-grey ; Miss Brigham,

white ; Mrs Moss-Dav’is, stylish pink delaine trimmed with fawn lace and claret velvet; her daughter wore white ; Mrs Masefield, black lace; her daughter, grey ; Misses Hooper (2), dark pink ; Miss Ella Stuart, brown trimmed with gold ; her friend in pink and white delaine; Miss White, grey cashmere, black bonnet ; Miss Conolly, white delaine ; Miss Hughes, grey, and charming white hat ; Miss Russell, grey; Mrs (Prof.) Thomas, fawn; Mrs M. Clarke, in a pretty white and grey muslin, trimmed with grey silk, Swiss belt, grey tulle bonnet, parasol en suite ; Mrs Hardie old gold satin ; Miss Hardie, white and grey; Miss Evans, white ; Mrs Devore, black lace, black bonnet; Mrs Hales, pink, with preen velvet; Mrs Cotter, black, white vest ; Miss McDonald, grey trimmed with black ; her sister, white ; Miss Coleman, pink with white lace, her sister,

grey ; Mrs Young, brown with white ; Mrs Young (Symondstreet), grey and black lace; Miss Horne, pretty pink Liberty silk with white lace ; her sister wore cream ; Miss Mobray, cornflower blue delaine with white lace; Miss Whitelaw, grey with white hat; Mrs Brown, handsome green delaine ; her sister, Miss Bleazard, white: Miss Kerr-Taylor, white ; and her sister, blue. Dr. Rowley, who was at one time in Bombay (up the Waikato), has now come nearer town, in the Avondale district, I believe. As there is no medical man near, he should do well. There have been two accidents recently in the neighbourhood, though 1 do not know whether the sufferers knew of his presence. Mr Haigh, the lay-reader of the Avondale Anglican Church, fell the other morning and cut his head ; and Mrs George Taylor's little daughter, Winnie, bumped her forehead against her brother’s. She was insensible for some time, but is now better, though ordered extreme quiet. The Tennis Clubs are working hard. The members of the

Onehunga Lawn Tennis Club paid a visit to the Eden and Epsom Club, and played off’a series of matches. The home players were successful in four out of the five events, the Onehunga Club winning the Ladies’ Single, Mrs Walrond gaining rather an easy victory over Miss Hall, who was not playing in her usual style. Mr Zinzan, though unsuccessful, made a very good stand against Mr Sykes in the Gentlemen’s single, his half volleys evoking a good deal of applause. The other events went as follows :—Miss E. Bull and Mr Paton beat Miss Bassett and Mr Allen ; Miss E. Hesketh and Miss C. Hardie beat the Misses Picken ; Messrs Mclntosh and Hudson beat Messrs Eliott and C. Suttie. Tea and refreshments were handed round during the afternoon, and were very acceptable, as the afternoon was extremely warm. Auckland has contributed one polo player—Mr E. Gilmore—to the match at Christchurch. We are hoping he will be crowned with laurel.

Dr. E. Koberton and his sister were driving down Queenstreet in their pretty new buggy the other morning, when the axle broke. The horse bolted, ran into a cart, was overturned, the doctor and his sister being thrown out. Fortunately neither was much hurt.

Muriel.