FAREWELL RECEPTION BY THE ACTING-GOVERNOR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 24, 11 June 1892, Page 596

FAREWELL RECEPTION BY THE ACTING-GOVERNOR.

LADY PRENDERGAST held a very large reception at Government House last Friday afternoon from 4 till 6 p.nr. Shortly after 4 o’clock the carriages began to arrive by dozens, and continued driving to and fro until six o’clock, when the last visitors left. The day was gloriously fine, but very cold, so that everyone came wrapped up in the thickest of clothing and furs, and most of the carriages were closed in consequence of the cold and wind. The rooms were delightfully warm and cosy, huge bright fires burning briskly, and hot tea, coffee, and cakes of every description waiting to refresh the guests. The gas, too, was lit all the time ; indeed, when once indoors, friends chatting together found it so comfortable that they could hardly tear themselves away. Hot - house plants, Howers and ferns were dotted about the room, mostly in huge draped jars or stands, and looked very homelike and pretty. The guests experienced quite a pang of regret at the thought that it would be the last time they would have the pleasure of meeting Sir James and Lady Prendergast in Government House as host and hostess. Both Sir Janies and Lady Prendergast received as the visitors were announced in the drawing room, and after chatting there for a while passed on into the dining-room, where afternoon tea was served.

Lady Prendergast wore a handsome black merveilleux gown, trained, with a waistcoat embroidered with gold, velvet mantle, and bonnet to match with ostrich tips. Mrs Knight, the Misses Knight, and Mr C. Knight, (Private Secretary) were helping to entertain. Mrs Knight wore a handsome claret ottoman silk gown braided with the same colour, plush mantle trimmed with fur, and small black and pink bonnet ; Miss Knight wore navy blue, large feathered hat ; and Miss Daisy Knight, a light tweed gown striped with brown, cream silk vest, felt hat to match ; Mrs Ballance and her niece (Miss Griffiths) were present, the former in ahandsome black three quarter cloak with pointed yoke of gold braiding, and black and gold bonnet. The prettiest costume in the room was worn by Mrs W. P. Reeves—of tobacco coloured tweed checked with darker brown, the long bodice edged with beaver, and opening here and there over a waistcoat of crimson silk, wide beaver cuffs, and felt hat to match ; Mrs (Justice) Richmond was handsomely dressed in black ; and Miss Richmond looked well in black, with a touch of red in her bonnet, and a fawn feather boa ; Miss Johnstone wore black, and grey feather boa ; Miss Maude Grace (who has just returned from Hawke’s Bay) wore a brown costume, long bodice, and brown hat, her sister wearing black and red ; Lady Campbell wore a threequarter black cloak and gold bonnet; Lady Buckley was handsomely dressed in black ; Mrs Fell wore a long sealskin jacket and brown bonnet; Mrs Tolhurst black and mauve bonnet ; Mrs Travers, a long black braided jacket; Mrs Coleridge, the same, and velvet bonnet; Mrs Jellicoe, a sealskin jacket, and black and gold bonnet; Mrs Williams, black ; the Misses Williams, pretty black hats trimmed and edged with feathers; Mrs Collins, longsealskin jacket, brown bonnet with sable tails; Mrs Izard ; Mrs C. Izard, fawn trimmed with fur, brown hat with terracotta flowers ; Mrs Turnbull ; Miss Turnbull, a handsome black three quarter cloak, brown velvet hat; Miss Hadfield, grey tweed, black hat with feathers ; Mrs Burvett; Miss Burvett, a long brown cloak edged all round with white goat, large brown hat with feathers ; Mrs and the Misses Burnett; Mrs W. R. E. Brown, black, grey bonnet ; Mrs Parfitt, sealette jacket with lapels of beaver; Mrs and Miss Fisher; the Misses Izard ; Mrs and Miss Gore ; Miss Shaen; Mrs Charles Johnston, sealskin jacket, small bonnet; Miss Holmes; Mrs and Miss Dransfield, the latter in fawn and brown ; Miss Cooper,black,and hat trimmed with grey feathers ; the Misses Brandon ; Miss Krull, terra-cotta cloth, long basque, and brown hat ; Mrs Edwin ; Miss Bridgen ; Mrs and the Misses Harding ; Mrs L. Reid ; Mrs Barclay, the Misses Barclay ; Mrs and the Misses Allan ; Mrs and Miss PercySmith ; Mrs Medley ; Miss Hart; Mrs Friend ; Mrs H. Crawford ; Mrs Morision ; Mrs Wardrop, in fawn tweed, and pretty little fawn and white hat ; Mrs Hislop; Mrs Ross, in fawn ; Mrs and Miss Ross ; Miss Wise ; Miss Wright ; Miss Williams (Dunedin), dark slate tweed with an irregular pattern of white, small hat to match ; Mrs Anson; Miss Greenwood ; Miss Chiffereil; Miss Quick; Miss Laishley, blight red, trained, long black jacket, black and red hat ; Miss Henry, grey ; Miss Gibson, brown shawl cloak ; Mrs Rawson ; Miss McKellar, dark blue jacket with beaver collar, hat with grey feathers; the Misses Graham ; Mrs S. Kennedy; Miss M. Kennedy; Mrs Samuels, a combination of fawn and red ; Mrs Fitzgerald ; Mrs Richardson ; Mrs Pharazyn ; Mrs Holmwood ; the Misses Heywood ; Mrs Pollen ; Mrs Gillon and Mrs F. Allen.

A few of the many gentlemen were the Hon. R. Pharazyn, Mr Jellicoe, Mr G. Knight, Mr Rous Martin, and Messrs A. Cooper, Tripp, G. Johnston, Baldwin, Turnbull, St. Hill, Brown, Dasent, etc. Enough cannot be said of the kind hospitality which has been received and thoroughly enjoyed by so many during Sir James and Lady Prendergast’s short reign over society, for besides all the balls, a great many dinner parties have been given at their private residence in Bolton-street,