NAPIER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XVII, 26 October 1895, Page 519

NAPIER.

Dear Bee, < h torlr 14. The visit of the vice-regal party has been a pleasant one on both sides. Hawke's Bay was pro mi of the honour they conferred upon the district, and it tried it- best to entertain the party in the most Utting manner, and I think I may safely state that, the effort was not in vain, and that the gubernatorial party and the ollieers of the warships. Itingarouma and Goldfinch, have enjoyed the carnival gaieties. In my la-t letter I was able to tell you of the weeks engagements up till Friday, the second day of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society s Show. In the evening at the Theatre Royal a performance of ‘ SWEET LAVENDER' was given, and a bumper house rewarded the Amateur Dramatic Club. The circle looked bright with the uniform- of gold and scarlet, of the naval otHcers and aidcs-dc-cainps who were present. Lordand Lady Glasgow were accompanied by Miss Hilda Williams, of Wellington and Major Elliot L Captain Campbell Pre-ton. and Mr Gal horne-Hardy. Lady Glasgow wore a lovely silver grey brocade with revers of grey silk and lace on shoulder-. at-o an elegant grey satin opera wrap lined inside with shell pink -at in: Miss William- was gowed in black. Daintily printed special pro grammes of white satin booklets were bestowed upon the distinguished visitors, who seemed thoroughly to enioy the finished ami careful performance of the Club. The Misses Hitching*, as usual, did their work in a way to earn the plaudits of those in front, and histrionically speaking no amateur performance would seem com plete without, their talented efforts. Mr George Swan again ns Dick Phenyl made a tremendous hit. for his acting of this ditllcult character was marked with great spontaneity and consistency. MrC. D. Kennedy as the American, and Messrs Morton. Magin nity, Davidson Besant. and Finch, together with Misses Heath and Ringwood, in their various roles. were all painstaking, and to the performers Lord Glasgow expressed his surpri-e a* the

general excellence of the rendering he had witnessed of one of the most charming of Pineros plays. After the theatre. His Excellency went, on board the Ringa room a, and got away for We lington at early morning. Lady Glasgow and Ladies Augusta and Alice Boyle left by express train on Saturday for Wellington. Mr Gaythorne-Hardy, I believe, proceeds to Australia after his Napier visit. THE AMATEUR ATHLETIC SPORTS held on Saturday afternoon were largely attended, but a strong wind stirred up cloudsof dust, and made things a little unpleasant. The Garrison Band enlivened proceedings. The grand -stand was well tilled with ladies, and as the day was warm many spring toilettes were worn. Mesdames Hoadley, Jarvis. Hamlin. MilneThomson. Balfour. Norris. Jago, Carr. Parker, Kells. Tabuteau, Moeller, Mis«es Kennedy. Cotterill, Hitchings, Macfarlane, Ringwood. Heath, Hoadley. Jago. Birch, Margoliouth, Maginnity (Wellington). McVay, Lindsay, were amongst those present. The ladies’ bracelet was won by Mr Ingleton in fast time, considering the strong prevailing wind. The death of Mr John M.Crerar. book-seller, occasioned general regret, as he was an esteemed citizen, and much respected by all. On the bowling green he was a well known figure. His illness was borne with great fortitude, cancer of the liver being the cause of his death. He leaves a widow and grown up family to mourn their loss. Mr R. W. Jensen has also passed to his rest. He bore a high character, and was honest and just in all his dealings, and his decease was mourned by a large assemblage. HITHER AND THITHER. Mrs R. W. Gooch, who has been in Napier for several weeks has left for the Thames district, where Mr Gooch is starting business. Miss Simcox (Porangahau) is visiting ‘ Waitihrau.’ Miss Maginnity (Wellington) is staying with Mrs Moeller. Mrs F. W. Thompson (Christchurch) and children, who have wintered here, have departed for their home. Mr Thompson was in town several days previous to their departure. Miss Birch (Christchurch) is visiting Mrs Laurence. Miss Cameron (Dunedin) is the guest of Mrs Fielder. Mr Chas. Turrell (Christchurch) is in Napier. October 17. Gala weather prevailed at the SPRING MEETING OF THE NAPIER PARK RACES, and the attendance of ladies was considerably less than usual. The enclosures looked in perfect order, and two most successful days were spent. The City Band was in attendance. DRESSES ON THE FIRST DAY. Mrs Moeller, white cambric with deep collar of cream lace insertion and lace, white sash and sailor hat with wings; Miss Maginnity (Wellington), cream veiling with satin sleeves and rosettes, cream sailor hat and chiffon parasol; Mrs Arthur Gore, tweed with satin and golded braided vest, toque with pink roses ; Mrs Dixon, black and white check, black hat; Mrs Coleman, lovely lilac and black embossed satin with jet, bonnet of lilac and black ribbon and paraßol t n suite; Misses Watt, navy cloth, black revers and blouse bodices, one wore a white sailor hat prettily trimmed with tulle and roses, and the other a black chip with black plumes ; Mrs Fairfax Fenwicke, a dainty gown of pale pink crepon with lace insertion between pink silk bodice, and narrow black ribbon velvet outlining insertion, large bishop sleeves and picture hat, white parasol; Miss Dymock. cream delaine and black insertion, black velvet hat: Miss K. Hitchings, dainty blue and white muslin, with leghorn hat trimmed with roses; Miss Hilda Hitchings, pink and white crepon, white hat; Miss Williams (‘Ashridge’). grey beige and moire revers ; Miss Hobbs, grey corduroy silk and white lace epaulettes, pretty white hat with feathers ; Miss A. Ormond, grey, with large black hat; Miss Jago, navy serge, pink blouse, black hat and pink roses; Mrs Kinross White, black crepon; Mrs MilneThomson, navy drill with cream collarette, sailor hat; Mrs Bernan, grey, with black hat: Mrs Hoadley, black crepon and jet over heliotrope silk, becoming bonnet; Miss M. Lowry, dove grey crepon with vandyke cream lace; Miss A. Lowry, grey with lace yoke; Miss Heath, black; Mrs Lowry North, pink and blue delaine, with floral toque; Lady Whitmore, black, with bonnet of forget-me-nots; Mrs Jago, holland coat and skirt, and black moire vest: Mrs Close, black moire with handsome shoulder cape; Miss Ringwood, black with lace yoke; Mrs McVay, black ; Miss McVay, fawn, and sunflower hat trimmed with black wings ; Mrs Swan, black surah with heliotrope silk and becoming bonnet composed all of violets ; Miss Hallett, grey check and silk facings, white hat and pink roses; Mrs G'lberd, black with check vest; Miss Glendinning, cream; her sister in navy, and blue blouse, sailor hat; Miss Danvers, cream and pink; Mrs Herman, cream and blue delaine, small brown toque. SECOND DAV RACE GOWNS. Mrs Gore, tweed coat and skirt, pink blouse, sailor hat ; Miss Ormond, black crepon. large black picture hat; Miss Her rick, pink shot faille, sailor hat; Mrs MoeLer, grey tweed, black velvet hat with plumes; Miss Maginnity, tweed skirt, lilac surah blouse, hat with lilac ribbon ; Miss Dymock. black crepon and jet, black velvet hat with buckle and feathers ; Mrs Milne-Thomson, navy with cream lace; Miss Foster, brown tweed; Mrs Lowry Northe, white and blue delaine with facings of blue silk, blue forget-me-not bonnet; Miss Hughes, fawn and pink costume, with collarette of lace over pink, large straw hat plentifully adorned with pink roses and ribbon; Mrs Herman..tweed ; Miss Gray, dark striped gown with deep sailor collar edged with lace, black picture hat with cornflowers ; Mrs Hartley, black and pink ; Mrs G. Marshall, brown heather tweed ; Miss Heath, black with hat of black and white ribbon ; Mrs McVay, handsome black satin, with panels of yellow veiled with jet. (‘hie bonnet of roses and jet; Miss McVay, light brown summer tweed. Tlie production of ‘h.m.s. pinafore’ by the Hasting Amateur Operatic Society has been eagerly looked forward to, but the most sanguine never expected that the result would be so complete as it proved to be. The mounting and wardrobe was decidedly good, the costumes of the sisters, cousins, and aunts being conspicuous for their freshness and brightness, and the hearty way in which the choruses were rendered showed the evidences of careful training. The attacks were crisp, and the business was well directed. Mrs Boosey made a charming Josephine, and sang the music allotted to her with great fervour and expression. In the first act she wore an appropriate silk costume of blue braided in white, large sailor hat bordered with red. In the bridal scene she donned a dainty white silk with orange-blos some and long tulle veil. Mr Boosey. as Ralph Rackstraw, was well suited both vocally and histrionically to the part, and his solos and concerted music were a treat. To Mr Thornton, as ‘ Ruler of the Queen’s Navee,’ and to Mr Ridgway, as Captain Corcoran unstinted praise must be accorded. Both possess grand voices, and the latter’s rendering of * Fair Moon ’ was undoubtedly the gem of the evening. Mr J. G. Hughes contributed greatly to the success of the opera by his sketch of ‘Dick Deadeye.’the triangular forc’sle hand. His byeplay was effective, and his lines were well spoken ; Miss George was happily cast as ‘ Buttercup,’ and the minor part of Hebe was capably filled by Mrs Price. At the opening of second act two introduced items were encored—a song by Mr Nichol, ‘The Midshipmite.’ and a sailor’s hornpipe, by Mr Stuart. The orchestra, under the able conductorship of Mr George, rendered excellent service. Large and fashionable audiences greeted the amateurs, both in Napier and at Hastings, and the encores so frequently bestowed showed that the opera had ‘ caught on ’ with the public.

Gladys.