CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue VIII, 22 February 1896, Page 209

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, February 13. Mrs Charles Bowen's GARDEN PARTY on Tuesday afternoon was an immense success. The Middleton estate was looking its very best in spite of so much dry weather, and some lovely gowns were worn, and seen to great advantage on the pretty lawns. Tennis, croquet and ‘putting’ were the amusements of the afternoon, and Mrs Bowen was ably assisted by her daughters in entertaining the many guests. Mrs Bowen wore black with delicate lace fichu; Mrs K. J. Scott, a neat brown costume; Misses Bowen, pretty washing frocks; Mrs Rolleston looked well in a combination of heliotrope and black ; Mrs Neave wore black with grey bonnet, and lace at the throat; Miss Ainger looked well in a graceful cream gown : Miss Robison. black; Miss Walker, dainty white; Mrs Denniston, black and yellow; Miss Reeves, pink and brown; Mesdames Hennah, the Hon. Mrs Parker, etc. On Wednesday Mrs Wynn-Williams had a few friends for tennis and croquet. General and Miss Fulton. Mr and Mrs Hamer, Dr. and Miss Nedwill were of the party. In the evening Miss Lilian Edgar gathered a good audience at the Oddfellows’ Hall, who were both appreciative and critical. A later arrival in the interests of Theosophy is Countess Wachmeister, who is, I believe, the guest of Mrs Richmond. On Sunday at the Art Gallery the latter addressed a very large audience. and again on Tuesday. With a woman’s curiosity 1 ask you is it inseparable for advocates of the new religion to eschew corsets and take to a Watteau pleat I

THE HOSPITAL FETE on Thursday more than realised the most sanguine expectations from a financial point of view, the handsome sum of £126 being placed to credit of the fund for destitute patients. The weather was perfect—always a very important factor, then the ways of extracting coin were numerous. The baby show organised by the Hon. Mrs Parker was a gigantic success financially, but much dissatisfaction, of course, to all those who did not win the prize. The tea tent was presided over by Mesdames Malet, Secretan. Rhodes, A. W. Bennett. Manning, Stratz, Kohn, R. D. Thomas, Graham. Courtenay, the Misses Turner, Tabart, Thomas, Manning, Reeves, etc. Mrs G. Gould and several young ladies had ice creams, etc., and Mrs and the Misses Guise a stall with all kinds of cool drinks. A large fancy stall was in charge of the Girls’ Boating Club, who all looked so brisk and businesslike in dark skirts, white blouses, sailor hats adorned with their colours, and wearing rosettes. The Hon. E. Townshend, assisted by Messrs Raphael, Maude, and Mills, had a Richardson’s Show and other attractions, in the evening a very good concert was given in the Nurses’ Home. During the afternoon I saw there Mrs Alister Clarke, wearing a lovely blouse of blue and pink chine silk with dark skirt; Mrs Louisson, light fawn gown with burnt straw hat and pinx roses; Mrs Devenish Meares, nut brown moir6 with apple green velvet; Miss Meares. pale grey with chiffon and silk bodice, and steel trimming: Mrs Common, black and white chine silk trimmed with guipure lace, dainty bonnet; Mrs Cunningham, handsome black dress with terracotta silk bodice covered wilh chiffon ; Mrs Hargreaves, handsome black brocade and lace mantle, jet bonnet; Miss Hargreaves, white spotted muslin over pink, pretty muslin fichu with long lapels, large white hat with Sink and green shot ribbon and pink flowers ; Miss Graham, cornower blue crepon wi'h white lace, hat with cornflowers; Mrs Stead, black with green silk sleeves, bonnet to match ; Mesdames Palmer and Lee. stylish mourning costumes: Misses Palmer and Lee looked well in mourning; Miss Deamer, dainty grey with chiffon veet; Mesdames Wynn-Williams, Hall, Mannering, Wood, Mieses Buckley, Beswick, Bullock, Mathias, Gorden, Mrs and Miss May Maude. Mr and Mrs Morton Olllvier, etc.

On Saturday POLO was very interesting. Some good games were got off. and a number of spectators were present, who partook of afternoon tea kindly provided by Mr and Miss Turrell. Among the ladies were Mesdames Stead. Rhodes (two), the Hon. Mrs Parker, and Miss Baldwin. Mesdames Otterson, Clarke. Gould. 1-ee, loanee. Misses Reeves. Tabart. Gerard, Campbell. Cowlishaw. Murray-Aynsley, Messrs Gould. J. D. Hall. etc. In the evening Dr. Palmer gave a delightful little boating party, which terminated in a merry supper at his own house. The guests were Mr and Mrs Pat Campbell. Mr and Mrs F. Lance. *.he Misses Buckley and MichieOn Tuesday Mrs Henry Wood gave A FAREWELL TEA to Miss Tiny Hardy-Johnston prior to her marriage to Mr Mere dith. The Misses Meredith, Thomas. Hardy-Johnston. Lean, Way. Meares. and Garrick were among those who spent a pleasant afternoon in tea. chat, and music. On Wednesday evening a pleasant social gathering took place in the Opawa schoolroom to bid the Ven. Archdeacon Cholmondeley and his daughter bon royaye on the eve of their departure for a trip to England. The parishioners presented Archdeacon Cholmondeley with a substantial cheque, who thanked them in very warm words for their expression of goodwill. Miss Cholmondeley was the recipient of a very handsome travelling bag. The Rev. Fox was introduced as Zocum fcnrnx, and met a number of friends and future parishioners, amongst tnem Mrs and Miss Harley. Mr and Mrs W. Oliivier. Mrs A. Anderson. Mrs Grey (her sister). Mr and Miss Murray Aynsley. Mr and Miss Andrews, and others. PERSONAL. Miss Tiny Hardy-Johnston gave two farewell afternoon teas to her friends last week, on Friday to married ladies, amongst whom were Mesdames R Snow, G. Merton. Grierson. Bassett, Winter. Preston. Collins. Ferguson. Owen Cox, T. Garrard, Muridge, Thomas, etc., and on Saturday a host of girl friends assembled to bid her farewell from their ranks. Mr and Mrs Dilworth Fox are staying a few days in town, also Mr and Mrs F. Lance. Mr and Mrs P. C. Cunningham returned to the country last Saturday. We are all looking forward with pleasure to Mrs Neave's garden party next Tuesday. Dolly Vale.