CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 48, 2 December 1893, Page 475

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, November 23. • What’s in a name?’ Well, I’m sure the name of Mr Prouse. of Wellington, helped greatly to till the Tuam street. Theatre on Thursday evening when THE MOTETT SOCIETY gave Mendelssohn’s ‘ Elijah,’the ‘New Zealand Santley ’ taking the title role, a part he seems to have thoroughly made his own. I hope my heathenism may be forgiven when I confess Ido not think his study of * Elijah ’in England has improved his rendering of it. His pathetic and reverent performance of it with his glorious voice was particularly charming, and there are now signs of tricks which before were entirely absent. It is still a masterpiece, and his long and arduous task was a pleasure to listen to from beginning to end. Miss Spensley looked and sang charmingly ; she wore white silk with green velvet puff sleeves ; Miss E. Davie looked w’ell in white silk with white lace and ribbon, and sang her two solos beautifully, gaining an encore, the only one of the evening, for ‘O Rest in the Lord,’ to which she bowed her acknowledgments. Mrs C. M. Gray, also in white silk, sang some of the alto recitatives, etc. Miss Bonnington appeared to advantage in white silk, and Miss Shanks in grey with blue silk front, both ladies assisting in the double quartettes. Among the numerous audience were Bishop Julius and three of his daughters. Rev. and Mrs W. F. Knowles. Rev. and Mrs Baumber. Mrs Garland, Mrs Denniston in black evening dress and pink cloak ; Mrs M. Wallace, in black ; Mrs C. Cook, black evening dress ; Miss Hitchings (Napier), pretty dress with a quantity of electric green velvet trimming ; Misses March, Mrs Prouse (Wellington), Mr and Mrs Gard’ner, the latter in pretty black evening dress and grey cloak lined with pink; Mrs J. S. Guthrie, grey silk with black lace; Mrs Baber, Mrs Aiken, black silk and jet with peacock plush cloak; Miss Mcßae (Wellington), cream surah silk with green velvet zouave fronts and trimmings; Misses Cox, Mrs Anderson (Melbourne), pink floral silk with sage green ribbon velvet trimming; Mrs Kirkpatrick, Mrs Wynn-Williams, Mrs Mathis, Mrs Robison, Professor and Mrs Cook, the Misses Cotterill. Mrs Westmacott. Mr Loughnan, Mrs A. Roberts, Mrs J. Williams, Mr and Mrs Buller, Mr and Mrs Burns, Misses Greenwood, Mrs and Miss Turrell, and many others. Mrs Bowen gave A GARDEN PARTY AT RICCARTON. The long road out—and such a dusty one too—made one feel a little anxious as to the state of our toilettes on arrival, as there was considerably more than a zephyr blowing. But once inside the pretty grounds, discomfort was quickly forgotten, tennis was soon being fought out merrily, ship’s quoits, etc., with the accompaniment of tea and light refreshments. Mrs Bowen received on the lawn in a pretty dress of grey and black, small bonnet to match, dark red silk mantle covered with black lace ; the Misses Bowen were most kind in looking after the guests, and were neatly attired in serge skiits and pretty blouses; Mrs Boyle looked well in a nut brown costume with heliotrope floral bonnet; Mrs Pyne wore a pretty gown of black relieved with yellow ; the Hon. Mrs Parker, navy silk with floral design in white, white hat ; Mrs J. Williams, handsome black silk trimmed with twinecoloured lace ; Mrs Eastwood, a striking and stylish gown of pink and green shot moire with velvet trimming, small bonnet to match ; Mrs Wieram. blue linen costume trimmed with white braid ; Miss Studholme, bright blue drill costume with bands of white braid, large hat with flowers ; Mrs Banks, dark green crepon with lighter trimming ; Mrs Neave, dark silk gown and black lace mantle; Misses Neave, pretty grey dresses; Mrs Palmer, a very handsome gow nof black watered silk and lace trimmed mantle; Miss Palmer, navy costume, the bodice prettily trimmed with silk and lace, a small toaue to match ; Miss Banks, a pretty terracotta crepon ; Mrs Dennison, tawn corded silk trimmed with black; Mrs J. R. Scott, pretty pale cream crepon; Mrs Vernon, in grey and brown; Misses Sanders both wore black and white silks; Professor and Mrs Haslam, Mr and Mrs Bourne, Mr and Mrs G. P. Williams, Mrs Tancred, Misses Wigram, Reeves, Tripp. Campbell, Elw orthy, Stack, Worthy, Grey, and several of the officers of H.M.S Lizard were among the guests. Before my next letter reaches you the great election battle will be over, and the women of New Zealand will have helped to choose the law makers of these fair islands of ours. I only hope the women will not neglect the duty to vote now it has been conferred upon them It is childish to say they take no interest in politics, and much better to exercise the brain than let it wither

away for want of food.

Dolly Vale.