THE ACTING GOVERNOR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 13, 26 March 1892, Page 306

THE ACTING GOVERNOR.

LADY PRENDERGAST’S AT HOME. The garden party, or rather ‘ At Home ’ given by Lady Prendergast at Government House was,as usual with almost everything during the last ten days or so, given in honour of the Senate, which has assembled in Wellington for its session. The Chancellor Sir James Hector, and the ViceChancellor, the Rev. Mr. Andrews were present, besides most of the professors and other members. Both Sir James (the acting-Governor) and Lady Prendergast received in the large ballroom, which was carpeted and decorated for the occasion, Lady Prendergast wearing a handsome black merveilleux trained gown, and a heliotrope and gold bonnet with ostrich tips, and magnificent jewellery. It was so pleasant to have Government House thrown open to ns again, and in so hospitable a manner. Mrs Godfrey Knight, who, with her son, was helping to entertain, wore a lovely dress of maroon ottoman silk, trimmed with applique of silk cord, a pretty little pink and maroon bonnet with aigrette. The two tennis courts were occupied by the young folk all the afternoon, and the Garrison Band played on the lawn in front of the house at intervals. At live o’clock all the guests adjourned to the drawing - room, where a concert was given. Miss Gore sang the first song, and then Miss Ross, a new soprano singer from Dunedin, sang. Then Miss Medley played a piece, then Captain Barclay and Mr Mason, also a new singer, both sang. We were disappointed in not hearing Lady Campbell, whose cold was too bad for her to attempt anything. Miss Ross wore a pretty cream delaine figured with green and brown, and moss green silk sleeves, and a green and brown rustic hat with Howers ; Miss Gore wore cream cloth handsomely embroidered with pale pink and green, and large cream hat trimmed with green velvet and pink roses ; Miss Medley wore white figured with blue, and white hat with white feathers ; Sir Norman and Lady Campbell were amongst the guests, the latter in wine-coloured brocade and gold tinsel bonnet ; Lady Hector wore blue figured silk ; Mrs Fitchett, of Dunedin, a stylish dress of eream delaine figured with brick coloured flowers, and a corset-bodice of brick-coloured silk edged with gold passementerie; Mrs (Judge) Richmond, a handsome blackgown; Mrs Robert Hart, in black and mauve ; Mrs Charles Johnston, a very prettygown of blue figured with white, white lace sleeves, and Swiss belt of velvet, a pretty lit tie crinkled hat to match ; Mrs Grace, navy blue foulard figured with biscuit colour, bonnet of cornflowers ; Mrs Brandon, grey and black ; Mrs Napier Bell, black satin, with cream and gold front ; Mrs Tolhurst, black : Mis Brown, black, and pretty mignonette bonnet; Mrs W. P. Reeves, grey, white and black stripes, flat black hat with white flowers ; Mrs Cooper ; Mrs Jellicoe, a handsome bluish-grey silk, trained and trimmed with darker velvet ; Mrs Wardrop, grey tweed ; Mrs W. Moorhouse, brown trimmed with yellow silk ; Mrs Buckley ; Mrs Parfitt, in fawn tweed, and brown and fawn bonnet ; Mrs Duthie ; Mrs Fisher ; Miss Johnston i Fitzherbert Terrace), black silk, the long tabs edged with cut beads; Mrs Loughnan, pale grey prettily trimmed with white, black bonnet : Mrs Baker, old rose silk and brocade, bonnet of pink roses ; Mrs Medley, Mrs Gore, Mrs Anson, Mrs Harcourt, Mrs Fancourt, Mrs Coleridge, in black, with mauve bonnet : Mrs Travers, fawn tweed, brown and yellowbonnet: Mrs Barclay, Miss Noake, Mrs Whittali, fawn three-quarter cape and brown bonnet ; Mrs Stowe, Mrs Mantell, Mrs Elliott, Mrs Castendyke, Mrs Seed, Mrs Treadwell, in black and white figured delaine; Mrs Harding, Sirs Leckie, Mrs Menzies, Mrs L. Reid, black with maize chiffon frills ; Mrs Edwin, Mrs Robinson, Mrs Andrews, Mrs and the Misses Haise, Mrs Hislop, Miss Greenwood, Miss Williams in a lovely pearl grey crepe gown, the sleeves of brocade exactly matching, and a pretty white tulle bonnet covered with blue hyacinths; Miss Pynsent.pink figured with ruby, and trimmed with white lace and bands of ruby velvet, cream hat and long embroidered veil ; Miss E. Richmond, white, large white hat with huge bow of pale green ribbon ; Miss Hadfield, Miss Cooper, white muslin figured with black, black hat trimmed with grey feathers ; Miss L. Izard, M iss Krull (Wanganui), pale green silk with flounces of black lace ; Miss Hector, grey ; Miss M. Grace, pale blue dotted with dark blue ; Mtss A. Grace, a pretty grey costume, and grey feathered hat ; Miss Stowe, cream muslin figured with pink and green ; Miss D. Knight, grey tweed, white silk front ; Miss Menzies, grey ; Miss Quick, black with pink chiffon : the Misses Harding : Miss Brandon, terracotta ; Miss Bidgen, etc., etc. The weather was not quite perfect, but almost so, and the garden looked very pretty with tents, seats, etc., erected everywhere. Afternoon tea was served in a large marquee erected in the garden, and altogether it was an exceedingly pleasant and brilliant affair. Amongst the gentlemen I saw Sir J. Hector, the Hon. Dr. Grace, the Mayor (Mr Bell), Dr. Fitchett, Mr Pynsent, Dr. Newman, Professor Brown, Dr. Giles. Mr Tolhurst, Mr Martin Chapman, Mr Parfitt, etc. The drawing rooms were artistically decorated chiefly with pot plants, draped with yellow silk, and exquisite ferns and flowers.