GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 10, 11 March 1893, Page 234

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WELLINGTON.

BRILLIANT RECEPTION TO THE EARL AND COUNTESS OF HOPETOUN. (GRAPHIC SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, March 2. THE Earl and Countess of Glasgow held a large ‘At Home ’ last night at Government House, the guests being invited ‘to meet His Excellency the Governor of Victoria and Lady Hopetoun,’ and the assemblage, which was not a very large one, was perhaps the most brilliant ever seen in the Empire City. Everyone wore their best frocks without the least fear of their being trampled upon and torn to ribbons, as usually happens at a large ball, and everyone looked fresh the whole evening. U ndoubtedly a reception, although perhaps not the acme of bliss for young people, has its advantages, and this particular reception was much enjoyed. The Earl and Countess of Glasgow stood at the entrance to the drawing-room and shook hands as each one was announced, after which each one was introduced by Lord Glasgow to Lord and Lady Hopetoun, who stood next, and when all the announcing was over a great many of the guests were introduced to the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos and the others belonging to the house party. A band was stationed in the conservatory and played beautiful music during the evening, and people strolled about the large rooms admiring the exquisite decorations, and chatting or partaking of light refreshments, which were served in the dining-room. At one end of the drawing-room was a bank of greenery and flowers lit with fairy lamps of different colours, and pretty little bowers were cunningly contrived everywhere with seats, etc. The conservatory was thrown open and prettily lit, and the long corridor and staircase were chiefly decorated with greenery and coloured shaded lamps, altogether the effect being very pretty. In the drawing room one mantelpiece was covered with lovely china asters of every colour, another with bright yellow flowers and so on, every available place being effectively decorated with Howers and ferns.

I do not think (says our correspondent) I ever saw so many beautiful dresses, and nearly all were new—in fact it was quite entertaining just to sit still and watch the gaily dressed ladies wandering about.

The Countess wore a magnificent gown of white silk brocaded in Pompadour fashion with tiny pink and blue buds, the train was yards and yards Jong, and the huge short puffed sleeves were composed of old rose velvet, the long Watteau streamers being of old rose and turquoise blue velvet ribbon. The low corsage was softened with lovely lace and caught with diamonds, and Lady Glasgow wore her coronet and necklet of diamonds.

Lady Hopetoun’s gown was of a lov-dy palest grey shade of satin brocaded with variously tinted Howers, the basque and front of the corsage being trimmed with very deep gold fringe with touches of pink about it, diamond ornaments and a pink band in her hair, and long train. The Duchess of Buckingham wore a magnificent gown of thick cream silk richly brocaded all over with a Grecian pattern in gold, the bodice trimmed with old lace, and she wore lovely diamond

and pearl ornaments, and also wore a black fine lace headdress held by a diamond ornament in front and falling on the shoulders at the back. The Ladies Augusta, Alice and Dorothy Boyle were all dressed alike in cream soft silk and tan shoes and stockings. Miss Hallowes wore a flowing gown of pink material trimmed with white lace and ribbons ; and Miss Wolfe Murray wore a lovely gown of white silk and satin, being arranged in broad stripes, the corselet embroidered with coloured Howers, the Watteau bow also of flowered ribbon, huge white chiffon puffed sleeves and moonstone ornaments. Miss Wauchope wore pale blue silk spotted with black, black moire Empire belt and puffed sleeves. The house party also included Lord Northesk, the Hon. Mr Ralston, Col. Boyle, Capt. Hunter-Blair and Capt. Clayton.

Amongst others present were. Sir James and Lady Prendergast, the latter wearing a handsome claret brocade much trimmed with cream silk Maltese laze ; also Sir Patrick and Lady Buckley, the latter in a lovely moss green silk with Watteau train trimmed with jewelled embroidery; Sir Osborne and Lady Gibbes, the latter in a handsome silk and velvet gown with Medici collar ; Lady Douglas, of Christchurch, in black silk ; the Hon. R. Seddon, the Hon. W. P. and Mrs Reeves, the latter wearing pale green silk with big sleeves of bright pink silk ; the Hon. A. J.Cadman, Sir Kenneth Douglas. General Schaw. M and Madame de Lostalot, the latter in grey silk trimmed with black lace: Mrs (Justice! Richmond, in black silk and lace ; Mrs Robert Hart, in black, with long shawl of cream silk Maltese lace; Mrs Rhodes of the Grange, black, and diamonds; Mrs Fitzgerald, of Clyde Cliffe, black moire antique; the Rev. and Mrs Sprott. the latter in black velv. t softened with white feather trimming; Mrs Newman. a lovely gown of sage green watered silk, trimmed with pale pink, blue and white embroidery ; Mr and Mrs Tolhurst, the latter in black ; Mr Duthie. M.H.R.: Miss Duthie, green velvet with pink frills; Mr and Mrs G. Hutchison, the latter in black satin ; the Hon. C. J. Johnston, and Mrs Johnston in pale grey Pompadour satin ; the Hon. W. Johnston, and Mrs Johnston in a handsome, black gown, with broad flounce of cream silk lace caught with bows of ribbon; Mr and Mrs Levin, the latter in pink corded silk, with big sleeves of deep wine coloured velvet; Mr Menteath. and Mrs Menteath in rich white brocade, and diamonds ; Mrs Izard, black silk and velvet; Mrs C. Izard, pale blue silk; Mrs T. C. Williams, dark blue velvet with cream lace and Sanel: Mrs A. Russell, pale grey silk, with Empire belt; Mr and trs Werry. the latter in black brocade : Mr and Mrs Cooper, the latter in black: Mr and Mrs Ferguson, the latter in lemon brocade and black velvet; the Hon. Dr. Grace, and Mrs Grace wearing white silk striped with black velvet: Mr and Mrs Castendyk, the latter in black ; Mr G. Beetham. and Mrs Beetham in cream Pompadoursilk with grey velvet sleeves: Mrs Turnbull, black lace and silk, and diamonds ; Dr. Adams, and Mrs Adams in white brocade, the bodice and portion of the skirt edged with white ostrich feathers ; Mr and Mrs Travers, the latter in black trimmed with white lace: Capt. Barclay, and Mrs Barclay in black velvet, trained, and trimmed with Maltese lace ; Mr and Mrs J. Duncan, the latter wearing a lovely English gown of pale grey watered silk trimmed with white lace ; Dr. Collins, and Mrs Collins in a pretty lemon silk with Watteau train, trimmed with mauve frills and gold braid ; Mrs Parfitt, pink silk, trained and trimmed with dark velvet; Mrs L. Stowe, black ; Mr and Mrs Robinson, the latter in black and yellow ; Mrs Fancourt, black; Mr and Mrs Stocker, the latter in cream brocade with Empire sash; Mrs Coburn-Hood, cream brocade ; Dr. Gillon, and Mrs Gillon in a pretty grey velvet gown ; Capt. Edwin, and Mrs Edwin in black moire embroidered with flowers ; Mrs McGregor, black : Mrs Tregear. pale pink silk trimmed with lace; Mr and Mrs Graham, Mrs Douglas, Mr and Mrs L. Wilson, Mrs Willis, the Hon. Ed. Richardson, and Miss Richardson in white with epaulettes of pale blue velvet and chiffon frills : Colonel and Miss Babbington, the latter in white silk; Miss K. Hadfield, a prettv lemon silk gown trimmed with gold fringe, and -her sister black with yellow sasb ; Miss Brandon, black tfim’med with jet; Miss A Brandon, red trimmed with white lace ; Miss Holmes, black and mauve ; Miss Turnbull, maize silk ; Miss E. Johnston, a handsome Searl coloured satin brocaded with silver, and mauve sleeves ; iiss Richmond, lilac silk, draped with black and lilac lace; Miss E. Richmond, palest grey broche ; Miss Williams, a lovely pale blue satin with black velvet sleeves and jet epaulettes; Miss M. Grace, black and white striped gown ; Miss A. Grace, white ; Miss Izard, white with lemon-coloured sleeves; Miss L. Izard, white with pink puffed sleeves ; Miss Ida Johnston, pink brocade with Empire belt; Miss H. Johnston, white silk with huge yellow sleeves much trimmed with lace ; Mi-s Cooper, dark blue velvet and white lace ; Miss Douglas, grey silk ; Miss Gore, pale blue and white ; Miss M. Gore, a pretty mauve gown with huge pink silk sleeves ; Miss H. Moorhouse, black ; Miss Henry, black and white silk ; Miss Barclay, cream ; and her sister, white trimmed with pink and blue; Miss Fancourt, black; Miss Tennant, black ; Miss Chaytor, a pretty cream broche ; Miss Willis, red sbot silk with frills of white lace; Miss Graham, black: and her sister, black velvet with pink Waiteau bow ; the Rev. H. Van Staveren, the Rev. Lyttleton Fitzgerald, the Rev, Father Devoy, Messrs Pynsent, W. Reid. Gillon, Wilson, Mantell, McNeil, Todd, Woolridge, Turnbull, Butterworth, Cooper. Rolleston, Brandon, Gore, Anson, etc.

Nearly all the ladies wore their hair dressed low on the nape of the neck, and most wore nets, and everyone had huge sleeves and trains, and some of the newest dresses were slightly draped, whilst others were simply gathered round the waist just like an old-fashioned petticoat. Diamonds, pearls, and moonstones were the favourite jewels.

Ruby.