CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue VIII, 24 August 1895, Page 238

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, August 15. The festivities began the day before the races by a large AFTERNOON ‘AT HOME given by Mrs George Gould at her residence, ‘Avonbank.’ All one’s country friends were down, and many of them able to be present, and glad to meet the guest of the afternoon—Mrs Lance lane, who with Mrs Gould received in the hall. Mrs Gould looked particu arly well in black crepon with dull red silk blouse, and pretty lace collar and cuff's; Mrs L'ine. very becoming brown cloth costume and electric blue silk vest, hat en suite. Among the guests were Mrs R. H. Rhodes, in light brown brocade with large feat her* trimmed hat and handsome furs; her sister. Mrs Barclay, in green and violet colour; Miss Murray-Aynsley, black relieved with red; Mrs Buckley (Laghnior) heliotrope and white ; Mrs Cowlishaw, rich black silk and lace ; Mis Cameron (Methven), copper cloth gown and shaped yoke of paie green velvet with handsome fur on skirt and sleeves; Mrs J. Studholme, black silk Bown,8 own, velvet mantle with brown bear trimming; Mrs and Mbs erard ; Mrs Alan Scott wore a very handsome costume of brown velvet relieved with pink silk; the Hon. Mrs E. W. Parker in black and pale green ; Mrs Denniston wore black relieved with yellow: Mrs Stead, Mrs Gould, Mrs Wilding. Mrs R. Macdonald. Mrs Otterson, Mrs and Miss Garrick, Mrs and Miss Helmore, Mrs and Miss Julius, Mrs Bowen, Mrs and Miss Neave. Mrs J. D. Hall, Mrs P. Cunningham, Misses Reeves. Cowlishaw, Moorhouse, Baldwin, Thomson. Turton. Wynn-Williams, Campbell, Wilson (Culverden). Buckley itwo). Malet, Turner, Nedwill, etc. The tea table looked exquisite, dainty pink silk and delicate specimen glasses with sprays of ferns and hot-house flowers being the decorations amongst all the tempting cakes, etc. £ongs were much appreciated from Mrs Alan Scott, the Hon. Mrs Parker, Mrs Denniston, and Mrs Burns. No possible fault could have been found with the weather for the great event of the week, ‘the grand national,’ a spring-like balmniness lasting throughout the day. As a consequence, the course at Riccarton was better patronised than on any previous occasion, not only the well-known lovers of sport being present, but many of their friends tempted to accompany them by the glorious day. Some very elegant costumes were to be seen, but most of the tweed and cloth description with or without a mixture of velvet. Mrs G. G. Stead wore a very handsome gown of green cloth with velvet sleeves and trimming, white felt bonnet and green velvet bows; the Hon. Mrs E. W. Parker, black skirt and coat, pale green silk vest, pretty hat with shot ribbon bows; Mrs P Campbell, a neat grey tweed cost« me with toque of green and pale blue; Mrs Lyon, a check tweed and daik velvet toque; Mrs Studholme, a violet velvet gown, bonnet to match ; Mrs Alan Scott, a very handsome costume of brown velvet and pale pink silk vest, brown hat and feathers, and a touch of pink; Mrs Babington. rich black silk, with pale blue in her bonnet; Mrs P. Cunningham, jun.. white serge with gold galon. dark cape, brown hat with violets; Miss Cunningham, dark blue gown with black satin sleeves and trimming, large black hat and feathers; Miss B. Cunningham, a pale green with pink velvet vest, velvet toque to match ; Mrs Otterson, deep blue gown, fawn coat with fur, white felt bonnet and blue velvet bows ; Mrs R. Macdonald, skirt and coat of electric blue. Newmarket vest of fawn check, large black hat and feathers with red velvet bows; Mrs Sinclair Thomson, green gown with green and black striped sleeves, bonnet en suite; Mrs J. D. Hall, pretty grey costume with black velvet trimming, black and white hat; Miss Cowlishaw, in electric blue and becoming black hat; her sister, tweed costume; MrsG. Rhodes (Claremont), handsome costume of brown and gold and sable fur, large brown hat and feathers; Mrs Rhodes (Blue Cliff’s) was in black with touches of^blue; Mrs Cameron, an elegant dress of fawn cloth and green velvet, hat to correspond: Mrs Dalgety (Grassmerei. brown check tweed and handsome sealskin coat; Mrs E. C. J. Stevens wore black and white in her bonnet; Mrs Malet. black dress and bonnet with petunia flowers; Miss Malet, a pretty costume of light blue and velvet of a darker shade ; Mrs G. Gould, taiior-made brown tweed, toque of cornflower blue velvet and silk ; Mrs Harley, handsome black silk, black and white bonnet; Miss Harley, dark tweed flecked with green, green toque with violets; Mrs Murray-Aynsley, dark tweed with deep red velvet trimming, hat to match ; Miss Murray-Aynsley, pretty grey tweed, toque with black and white wings ; Mrs Denniston, tweed or a bluish shade trimmed with silk, bonnet en suite; Mrs McCrae, all black; Miss Garrick, black dress with folded collar of deep yellow, black and yellow hat; Mrs H. Wood, a flecked tweed of green and heliotrope ; Mrs Bickerton Fisher, costume of black and yellow, hat to match; Mrs Wason (Cormar), grey corduroy velvet costume; Mrs Burns, green dress and cape to match trimmed with feather trimming, hat to match; Mrs Wanklyn. brown tweed with velvet trimming, handsome fur boa. brown hat with electric blue bows; Mrs G. Roberts, green cloth dress trimmed with velvet, sealskin coat, black bonnet and crimson roses; Mrs F. Graham, black gown relieved with blue silk, bonnet to match; Miss Graham, navy serge with velvet blouse, large black hat and feathers: Miss Buckley, verv pretty costume of heliotrope, beaver trimmed, toque to match; Miss Wilson (Culverden), an elegant gown of grey with white re vers braided with black, black and white hat. There were a great many other equally charming costumes and some rather startling. No very serious accidents happened, though Mr Wynn-Williams and Mr Golian both gave us a great fright. On Friday night the ANNUAL BALL of the Merivale Tennis Club took place at the Art Gallery, and was a veiy enjoyable affair in spite of the pouring wet night and a small pool oh the floor from one of the ventilators. Everything was done for the comfort of the guests, and some very handsome dresses were worn, a number of country visitors also being present. The Misses Cunningham, both wore handsome cream satin gowns; Miss Hargreaves, beautiful pink satin with pearl embroidery the same shade ; Mrs Walcot Wood, an exquisite shade of eau-de-nil in rich corded silk, the bodice trimmed with pearl passementerie and braces of accordian chiffon the same colour, heliotrope flowers on the bodice and in her hair; Mrs Henry Wood, a rather darker shade of heliotrope satin; Mrs Malet. handsome black silk ; Mrs Tyree looked extremely well in a pretty shade of navy merveilleux trimmed with pointed lace: Misses Thompson (Auckland) were with her ; Miss Wilson (Culverden), a very rich gown of cream satin with yellow trimmings ; Miss N. Way. cream silk with rainbow chiffon on bodice ; Miss Kinsey, (•ream silk with pale blue velvet trimming, and forget-me-nots in her hair • Miss Jean Anderton, cream and deep yellow ; Miss Garrick, deep coral pink satin brocade; Miss C. Lingard, pink nun’s veiling; Miss Crossley, eau-de-nil; Miss Harley, palest slate colour silk; Miss K. Van Asch, pretty pink satin trimmed with jet; Miss Wright (Windermere), black and yellow; Misses Wynn-Williams wore white satin; Miss Malet, pretty cream silk; Mrs Embling, in black; Misses Julius, flowered silks; Mrs F. Graham. Mrs C Cook. Mrs R. D. Thomas, Mrs and Miss Allen, Misses Cowlishaw. Guy. Davie, Berkeley, Newlon, Ross, and many others were present. On Saturday evening a very SUCCESSFUL CONCERT was got up by the Dialetic Society in the large hall of the University, always a pretty room, and particularly so this time yith its arrangements of palms and pot plants in front of the platform. The programme was excellently carried out by Mr L. Cane. Miss, s Watson, Henry. Davie. Malet. and C. Lingard, Messrs Balfe and H. Reeves, the latter singing a song composed by Mr Cane’s brother in England, who is completing his musical studies there. A string quartette was amongst the items, and some of Gat toy’s pretty plantation melodies, sung by the Autokodiastic Club. Miss Davie looked well in black with pink yoke and sleeves; Miss Henry, handsome black velvet and j^t; Miss Watson, black lace and green satin ribbons : Miss Malet, very handsome black dress with gold trimming and lace on the bodice; Miss Lingard, wore pink Among the audience, which was a very large one, notwithstanding the cold night, were Judge and Mrs Denniston, Mr and Mrs Burns, Mrs and Miss Reeves, the Misses and Btoddart. Mrs and Miss Moorhouse, Professor and Mrs Haslem. Professor and Mrs Cook. Mr and Mrs Malet, Misses Ross, Mrs Ronalds, Miss Cotterill. etc. e ibb On Tuesday Miss Nedwill gave AN AFTERNOON TEA AT THE CRANMKR COURTB. and a large number of visitors were present. Miss Nedwill and

her sister both looked very nice in navy cloth gowns, and largesleeved buff coats with brown velvet collars; Miss Wilson (Culverden). the Misses Wynn-Williams, Mrs (Henry Wood, Mrs R. Macdonald, Miss Davie; Mrs A. Scott, in duh grey-blue with black satin revers, hat to match of felt with cock’s feathers, sable furs; Mrs Harley, Misses Harley, Hay (Temuka), Helmore, Guy, Beswick, etc. At Mrs Burns MUSICAL CLUB MEETING on Wednesday Mrs Wilding played a lot of Saint-Saens' music. Mrs Burns. Miss Baldwin, and Mrs Denniston were among those who sang. Violin music was given by Misses Wynn-Williams and Henry, and altogether a very enjoyable afternoon spent. Next Tuesday we are promised to near Mr F. M. Wallace on the violin again—a treat real lovers of music will hail with delight. Since his late serious accident numbers have feared what the result would be. Mount Herbert this winter has given a few people nearer home a little taste for mountain climbing. Twice when the snow was at its hardest a party succeeded in reaching the top for the pleasure of trying tobogganing, the sledges being of the mott primitive description—blades of flax tied together. On Thursday last Mr A. M. Ollivier and some of his walking party, including several ladies, got to the top, but the snow is now getting soft near the foot, out some grand slides were indulged in coming

down.

Dolly Vale