CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XXIII, 7 December 1895, Page 712

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, November 27. Rain ! rain ! rain! mackintosh and gaiter weather day after day! So good for the country, you know, but very depressing for the frivolous: ‘What charming weather, George!’ I really quite started to hear this original remark the other day from a bright little woman to her husband, who is a large runholder not two hundred miles away. ‘ Really! my dear! I'm glad you think so !’ answered the runholder, quite surprised. • Oh yes. George!’ continued my little friend with a winning smile, ‘if it rains hard, you can grow more grass.’ ‘Oh! of course, dear!’ ‘To feed more sheep,’ ‘Just so, darling.’ ‘To sell more wool.’ •Clever little woman.’ ‘To get more money.’ ‘Oh! that’s it dearie!’ ‘To buy more frocks!’ ‘Oh! the ,’andas things then took a very masculine turn we will pass on to the MUSICAL UNION CONCERT which took place in the Tuam-street Hall on Thursday night. In spite of continual showers throughout the evening the Hall was crowded to listen to that very tuneful cantata of Cowen’s, ‘St John’s Eve,’ the performance of which, it is perhaps not saying too much, that it was the most finished performance the Society has yet done. The soloists were Mrs Burns (soprano). Miss Lilian Smith (contralto), Mr Lovell (tenor). Mr Hugh Reeves (bass), the Binging of the whole quartette delighting the audience. The chorus did their work excellently, and the orchestra accompanied them in a most finished manner, reflecting the greatest credit on Mr F. M. Wallace. This cantata was produced some two and ahalf years ago, so some portions of it seemed quite familiar, but none the less enjoyable. Mrs Burns wore a (rich white satin, the bodice trimmed with chiffon and crystal trimming, electric cloak with beaver trimming; Miss Lilian Smith looked very pretty in a dainty fresh gown of pink crepon, the low bodice trimmed with chiffon and bands of jet, soft white cloak. Among the vast audience I noticed Judge and Mrs Denniston ana party, the latter wearing black silk with heliotrope trimming; Mrs Julius and daughters: Mrs Meares and daughters, Mrs W. B. Common, Mr and Miss Reeves, Mr and Mrs Gibbs, Mrs and Misses Gibson, Mr and Mrs Henry Wood Mr and Mrs Ollivier. Mrs Robison, and Mosdames Lascelles and W. Reeves. Mrs Fereday. and Miss Macpherson. Mr and Mrs J Little with a party of young people. Mrs Mathias and Miss Helmore. General Fulton and daughter, Mr and Misses Ainger. Miss Dorothy Rollcston. Mr W. Day, Mr and Mrs H. D. Carter, Mrs W. Wilson. Mr and Mrs J. Aiken. Miss Cox, Mrs F. Trent. Mrs Slater, Misses Gard ner, Mrs F. M. Wallace, Mrs Wilding, and numbers more. As for one suburb only the tram was converted into a train, seven cars being laden for Papanui. On Saturday it clearedonough to get out, and numerous parties went to New Brighton and Sumner, or up on the hills for a blow after the damp weather of nearly a fortnight. Polo was rather

tame, owing to the uncertain and cold weather. Mr and Mrs George Gould. Mr and Mrs Henry Cott erill and Miss Ronalds, Mr and Mrs Heaton Rhodes and the Misses Gerard were among those who visited the polo ground in spite of the damp. On Monday evening a DINNER AND PRESENTATION took place in the hall of the Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of the departure of Mr George Humphreys (Fletcher, Humphreys and Co.), who leaves for America by the outgoing mailon business of course—and it will also be a holiday, a much-needed one. for Mr Humphreys is a good citizen as well as an energetic business man. During the evening he was presented with a very handsome silver-mounted stick, suitably inscribed. On Tuesday afternoon a little crowd assembled in the Park to watch a DRILL COMPETITION for a Cup between the Boys’ High School and the College. Mr and Mrs Brown, Mr and Mrs Andrews and Miss Townend, Mr and Mrs C. Cook. Mr and Mrs Boyle. Mr and Mrs Ernest Tanner were among those present. On the same afternoon Mrs Irving gave a SMALL AFTERNOON TEA in honour of her daughter. Mrs Willis (Southbridge), who is in town with her children for a few weeks. Tea. talk, and a little music soon evaporated the afternoon. Mrs Murray-Aynsley, Mrs Henry Wood, Mrs Hutton, Misses Ainger, Ross, Grigg, Meeson, Fulton, and several others were present. To-day Mrs Julius has a large afternoon tea for girls and young people to meet Miss Tolhurst, of Wellington, who is at present their guest. OUR FOLK. A great number of people are out of town, which adds to the depression of the dull weather. Mrs George Harris and her sister are at Sumner with their children, as also are Mrs and Miss Foster, Mrs and Miss Mating, Mrs Nicholls (White Rocks). The Misses Hewitt are staying at New Brighton, and Mr and Mrs Hewitt are away in Dunedin; the Misses Buckley are camping out near Arden Forest with a party of girls. Miss D. Roberts is in Sydney, where we are sorry to hear she has been very ill with rheumatic fever. Mrs and Miss M. Webb returned from Sydney this week, looking immensely better for the change. Miss C. Hargreaves returned from Wellington on Sunday in the ‘lonic’ after a gay holiday. Mrs Mellish, Riccarton, has issued cards for a dance on December sth. We are looking forward with intense pleasure to the opening of the Brough and Boucicault season on the 4th. Rumour says we shall see some marvellous dresses, and that, added to the delightful acting of Mr and Mrs Brough, is a treat in store. We are all so glad Mr and Mrs Burns will still be with us under the new Bank regriwie. They would be such a loss musically and socially that it was quite a relief to hear of Mr Burns’ satisfactory appointment under the new management. Mr and Mrs Ernest Tanner (Napier) are staying with Mr and Mrs A. Boyle, Latimer Square.

Dolly Vale.