CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue VIII, 23 February 1895, Page 187

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, February 14. As I write the date it occurs to me what day it is, and I wonder is the postman as eagerly a looked-for person as he was ten or fifteen years ago, and I think not, but all of us are so clean swept out at Christmas time, we have not had time to recover, so good old St. Valentine and his sentimentality are forgotten. And perhaps it is a sign of the times, too. What would the New Woman feel like posting such a frivolity as a valentine when she has perhaps to speak at several meetings and inspect an institution or two before her work is done for the day I Heigh, ho! We thought the sign of the times was not felt during the Opera season, but in the way of entertaining it most certainly is, as there is very little being done. Then a wave of mortality seems to have rolled over us and taken a great many with it, leaving only mourning and sorrow behind, and added to that the weather never was more capricious. I don’t think much of the locum tenens in Wellington. It has been much worse since Captain Edwin left, and our tempers are becoming ruined. On Wednesday Mrs C. Clark gave a GARDEN PARTY AT ‘ THORRINGTON,’ their charming home in Colombo-street South, when everything, as usual, was most thoughtfully and beautifully arranged—tea and refreshments of various kinds in the summer-houses and inviting nooks. The weather behaved perfectly until all the guests had arrived, when the electric button must have been touched, so quickly was a southerly storm upon us compelliing instant removal of everything portable and ourselves to the house and verandah, which fortunately is very capacious. But what a disappointment to hostess and guests to be treated in such a hasty way, and all tennis and outdoor games had to be abandoned, the grass being too wet after the first shower. This is enough to make people hesitate over issuing cards for a garden party, but it was a very pleasant gathering in spite of all. Mrs Clark was gowned in a handsome black silk, and velvet mantle trimmed with jet, small black and yellow bonnet; Mrs Cunningham. sage green and vieux rose figured dress, vieux rose silk trimming the bodice, small floral bonnet to match ; Miss Cunningham. pale blue costume and white lace insertion, picture hat; the Hon. Mrs Parker, pretty costume of pale fawn and pink; Mrs P. Campbell, black dress and bonnet relieved with yellow; Miss G. Cowlishaw, pale green and white striped crepon, lace fichu, black hat and feathers ; Mrs J. Hall, pale blue crepon daintily trimmed with lace and pale blue ribbons finished with pink rosettes, black nat with spray of pink roses; Mrs McPherson, a spotted petunia silk with lace epaulettes, small black hat; Mrs Otterson, white serge gown with full pink silk vest; Mrs R. McDonald, brown crepon trimmed with black moire; Mrs Gould, rich black brocade ; Mrs G. Mannering looked very pretty in fawn, the bodice daintily trimmed with pink silk and cream lace ; Mrs G. Harper, black dress with vest of heliotrope, bonnet to match; Miss L. Harper, white costume; Mrs A. Reeves, dark green cashmere, vest and sleeves of black moire; Mrs Palmer, in black • Miss Palmer, green velvet skirt and dainty white bodice; Mrs Westmacott, tweed gown, electric blue vest; Miss N. Reeves, white piqu6 costume; Miss Lean, cream veiling striped with heliotrope, black hat; Mesdames Wynn Williams, Tabart, Lane, Lomax-Smith. Reeves, Turrell, Wilding W. Reeves. H. Murray-Aynsley, Rhind. Mears. Buller. A. M’ Ollivier, Misses Russell. Greenwood, Wynn-Williams, MurrayAynsley, Hutton, and others were among the numerous guests. The

AFTERNOON TEA given by Mrs Stud holme on Monday afternoon was only very small in comparison to some of the large functions there, but in reality there is much more sociability than at a large one. Mrs Stead, Mrs R. Macdonald, the Misses Reeves, and one or two others were there. DEPARTURES. Mr and Mrs Chynoweth and children leave for England by the next ’Frisco mail, and during their stay of five years in the colony Mrs Chynoweth has made many friends and been a very active member of Merivale parish, where she will be much missed. On Monday last Mrs F. Way mouth gave an afternoon tea that a few friends might meet her and say good-bye, amongst whom were Mrs Hare, Mrs and Miss Mcßeth. Mrs Cowper. Mrs C. H. Coxton, Mrs Martin, Miss Smith, Mrs Gordon, and several more. On Tuesday Mrs H. R. Webb gave a luncheon party for Mrs Chynoweth, and a few more good-byes were said. The MERIVALE PARISH GATHERING this year took the form of a garden party in the lovely garden and grounds at Elmwood, permission being kindly given by Mr R. H. Rhodes, and which proved an immense success, the day being all that could be desired. Afternoon tea was provided in charge of Mr Jas. Freeman, a band stationed on the lawn gave the festive sound, and two lawns for croquet and two for tennis gave ample amusement, with the delight of roaming through an exquisite fernery and greenhouse. Most of the parishioners attended, and those who did not may be sorry for a whole year, with the hope it may be repeated next. THE CRICKET MATCH, Christchurch verttus Fiji, was very poorly attended, the advertised native costume not being so great an attraction as really good cricket. The visitors were very easily disposed of, thougn some are remarkably fine-looking men. The • New Bov ’ arrives this week, and he must be very good indeed to take Miss Nash’s and Lauri’s place, for the sounds of their mirth-provoking nonsense is still ringing in my head.

Dolly Vale.