CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue X, 7 September 1895, Page 301

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, august 29. Those of us who have girls and boys of our own. or are distinctly interested in someone else’s are the only people there is any excitement for this w r eck, breaking up for the holidays and football matches having been the gaieties of the week. On Saturday a great crowd of spectators assembled AT LANCASTER PARK to witness the contest between the Canterbury and Wairarapa representatives, which was won by the former after a good game, by four tries to nothing. On Tuesday another matc h was played off on Christ’.? College ground between Wanganui Collegiate School versus Christ’s College, the result being a grand win for the Northern school by 21 points. Mr J. I*. Firth, of Wellington College, came down with the boysand was warmly welcomed by his old friends. The parents and friends of the boys mustered 111 strong force, the day being nice and mild. Amongst those present, were Miss Irving and her brother. Judge and Mrs Denniston and Miss Bathgate, Mrs and Miss Moorhouse, Mr and Mi-s Ainger. Miss Malet and her brother. Mrs and the Mi-ses Cunningham (two), and Buchanan (Little River), Mrs Henry Wood. Miss Bullock, etc. On Thursday afternoon Mrs Arthur Reeves ’ Yatton,'Opawa, gave a very pleasant AFTERNOON TEA to her friends. The guests wandered in and out. of the pretty drawing-room and into the garden, listening to some very enjox able music, and picking violets, a very delightful pastime; Mrs Reeves looked well in a tweed coat and skirt, with blue waistcoat : Mrs J. D. Hall, wore dark blue and tan ; Miss Wynn-Willi tins, a smart, navy cloth; Misses Cowlishaw. grey and cherry velvet; Miss Reeves, dark green braided with black and stylish black and green hat; Miss FL H el more, velvet blouse and dark skirt, large hat with violets ; Misses Guy, Beswick. Cotterill, Malet, Ros.* ami Ned will were also there. TENNIS AT ( RANMEH SQUARE COURTS was very jolly on Friday. It was a lovely warm day and there was a good gathering of both players and onlookers. We hnd what they call a ‘scratch tea' as the list of tea giver? has gone the round. Among those present were Mrs W. (fllivier and Miss Thompson. Mro Mannoring and Mis? Lean. Mr* Henry Wood ami Miss Bullock, Mrs Hill. Dr. and Miss Nedwill. Mrs Russo’.l and her daughter. Miss Garrick. Misses Van Asch, Mr ami Mrs Wilding, Mr Garrick, etc. On the same afternoon quite a gathering of ladies assembled at the Art Gallery to see the DANCING of Miss Luw’s pupils al a kind of breaking-up party. The graceful skirl dancing was beautiful to watch, a lithe little fairy in green accordion pleated <lr s* with black velvet bands was followed round the largo room by eight or ton girls, the many coloured a cordion-pleatcd Empire frocks waved backwards and forwards in twidve different picturos<|ue and graceful dam es. The Mi-ses Douglas in bright joliow and red looked very striking ami Miss N. Matson’s dainty primrose gown with tan shoes and stockings, her tambourine strung with heliotrope ribbons, looked very well. Miss Townend’s gown, I am told, was an English made costume, but when all were so gracefully attired, the pretty step* no accurately done from the Irish jig to the Snow Hake Gavotte, P is difficult, to particularise. Among the guests 1 noticed Mr* Wildng, Mrs and Miss Malet, Mi* A. Anderson. Mrs J. Anderson. Mrs

Sec re tan, Mrs and Mi<a Ruasell. Meeson. Mi>< Henry. Mrs Julius and her da*iehter>. Mrs Rmbling. Miss Ronalds and many others. On Friday evening there was A CONCERT AND I.KCTI KE at Fendalton in aid of the Vicarage Repairs' Funds. MrG. Harris gave -onie interesting information about the West Coast, Mr Hurst S» ager some good limelight views. Misses Davie. E. Heltnore. and Langard Messrs Simms and Merton contributed several pleasing musical items. A very successful entertainment was given at Christ’s College on Wednesday for the games' fund. The room was artistically decorated and the stage particularly so. The first part consisted of songs by Messrs Hugh Reeves. A. Merton. G. March and Masters Bunz. Lake and Vincent. In the second part some scenes from 'The Rivals' were well given by the boys, and some selections by the school band were very well played under the direction of Mr A. Merton. The North Canterbury Jockey Club held the ANNUAL BALL at Amberley on Thursday evening after the races. A number of Christchurch residents journeyed up as usual—Mr and Mrs Pyne. Mr and Mrs G. Gould, the Hon. E. W. Parker. Mr and Mrs Campbell, and others. Among those who attended the races were Mr and Mrs Scott. Mr and Mrs Wilder. Mr and Miss Crossley. Miss M. Greenwood. Mr and Mrs Thomson. Mr and Mrs A. McFarlane. Mrs and the Misses Courage. Misses Wilson. Mr and Mrs Chapman. Mr and Mrs Starkey. Mr and Mrs L. Lane, the Messrs F. and H. Lance, both driving four-in-hands, Mrs I-ance, Mrs < Jreenwood, etc. During the week the Rev. Mr and Mrs Parker have been holding services in the Congregational Church, giving some interesting details of the missionary’s life in China, doubly interesting just now since the dreadful massacre at Kucheng. PERSONAL. Mr G. G. Stead and his eldest son left for Sydney by the Talune to be present at the races there. Mr and Miss Cowlishaw have also gone by the same boat for a trip. Miss K. Gray left by the Tainui for a trip to England. It will be rather a dull voyage—there were so few passengers. The most important, at any rate the most valuable being Mr Gollan s race horses, our old friend ‘Norton’ being I believe amongst the nu mber. Mrs H. H. Pitman and family returned to Wellington hy the Gothic, where Mr Pitman met them, and came on to Christchurch the following day. Mrs Meeson. of Fendalton, returned from Melbourne last week after several months’ holiday. Miss Dora Meeson remains behind with her sister. Mrs Alan Scott returns to England by the Gothic, having received bad news of a favourite relative s health at home, OBITUARY. Another of our old colonists has passed away this week, and numbers will read with regret of the death of Mrs Robert Struthers, of Lichfield-street. Probably many of .those to whom she has been a friend in need may not have even beard of her illness, which, though severe, has only been of a few weeks’ duration. Mrs Struthers has resided in the colony over thirty years, and has ever been a vigorous worker in connection with St. Paul s Presbyterian Church and in any good cause. Many have reason to bless the day their misfortune came to the knowledge of Mrs Struthers, who without undue sentiment, always had a ready heart and hand for the relief of the suffering. Her death will cause a great blank, and universal sympathy has been expressed for Mr Struthers in his sad bereavement. Next Sunday a special memorial service will be held in St. Paul’s Church.

Dolly Vale.