‘AT HOME AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue III, 21 July 1894, Page 67

‘AT HOME AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, WELLINGTON.

THE ‘At Home’ given by Mrs Johnston Stewart at Government House last week was a great success, there being about eighty guests, and dancing was the order of the evening from nine till twelve. The decorations, as usual, were beautiful, quantities of greenery being employed for the mantelpieces, combined with huge scarlet flowers and maidenhair. The long corridor was banked on either side with tall palms, ferns, bamboo, etc., and all the lamps there were shaded with red, giving a pretty cool effect. The snpper-table and drawing-room were also beautifully decorated, and the conservatory was prettily arranged as a cool retreat, being carpeted and lit with Chinese lanterns. His Excellency the Governor, Mrs Stewart, and Lady Augusta Boyle all stood together at the entrance and received, and Captain Stewart, Major Elliott, and Captain Clayton were in attendance. THE DRESSES. The number of lovely gowns worn was quite a feature, and was remarked by everyone. Mrs Stewart looked exceedingly well in palest grey satin brocaded all over with a black running pattern, the bodice, which was trimmed round the waist with passemen terie. being softened about the corsage with palest grey and pink chiffon, and she wore a diamond star in her hair, and diamond brooches in the corsage; Lady Augusta Boyle also looked particu larly well, wearing a rather bright pink satin gown, slightly trained, and trimmed with epaulettes of ecru lace: Miss Holroyd wore cream brocade. The Ladies Alice and Dorothy Boyle were not. as is usual, present. Lady Hector wore a hand some grey silk gown with lapels covered with white lace; Miss Hector, white; Mrs Bell, a handsome gown of cream watered silk, the train trimmed with bright green and pink draping, and the front embroidered to match; Mrs (Dr.l Adams, a rich white brocade: Mrs Newman, a beautiful pale grey satin and brocade gown trimmed with white insertion; Mrs (Dr.) Collins, a lovely sage green satin with a petticoat of rose pink surah silk crossed with bands of sparkling embroidery ; Mrs Werry, a very handsome sage green, brocaded long train, over a Setticoat of shaded green embroidery, and velvet sleeves of a eeper tint; Mrs W. Johnston, a magnificent shaded black and white brocade, and diamond ornaments; Mies Williams, yellow brocade caught up over a petticoat of white silk embroidered with pearls; Miss Palmer (Christchurch) a lovely pale grey brocaded satin with clusters of velvet pansies; Miss Coleridge, a pretty pink veiling with pink satin sleeves; Mrs H. Crawford, crushed strawberry silk trimmed with green velvet ■ Miss (Sidney) Johnston, a pretty pink crepe with trails of daisies on the skirt; Miss Williams (Dunedin), slate grey satin with a bodice of pink silk; Mrs Maxwell, black; Miss Duthic, pink silk ; the Misses Harding, white : and there were also present Mr and Mrs. A. Pearce, Mrs and the Misses Grace. Miss Pearce, the Misses Gore. Miss Tripp (Canterbury). Miss H. Moorhouse, Miss Duncan. Mr and Mrs Travers, and many others. The dance broke np punctually at midnight, when all seemed very sorry to depart, it having been one of the best dances of the season. I hope the rumonr that there are to be two more of the same kind during the session be true. It is also said on her return from England, or rather Scotland, that Lady Glasgow will give a large ball to make up for the want of one on the Queen's Birthday.