AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XV, 11 April 1896, Page 413

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, April 7. There was not much news from Government House the last few days owing to it being Holy week, but there are several things going on now, especially the * At Home ' on Wednesday afternoon. Despite the large receipts from the Auckland Amateur Opera Club’s production of the • Mikado.’ £792. the expenses were more than this sum—£B34. But the very valuable stage properties will, when realised, speedily reverse this balance. It is suggested that the Wellington Amateur Opera Club should assist this year in the production of ‘ Gondoliers.’ Great interest and sympathy are generally expressed for the Bunnerton mining disaster, and subscriptions are pouring in. A very pleasant and sociable afternoon was spent last Wednesday at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms in connection with the NEW HEBRIDES* MISSION. A two-fold purpose was served by the meeting to introduce Nurse Phillips, of the Auckland Hospital, to the ladies who have so well and so diligently worked for this mission, and to take leave of her and the Very Rev. W. Watt before they set out for their labours in the mission field. Mr Watt is well-known as he and his late wife have long worked in the New Hebrides. In his speech on this occasion, the rev. gentleman feelingly alluded to the great loss he had sustained in her death, remarking how glad he was to find that the Auckland branch of the Association would still continue to work for his mission. Miss Phillips is going as a Medical Missionary, and she is eminently fitted, physically and mentally, for the post she is to occupy in charge of the Am brim Hospital. The Rev. Scott West was in the chair, and speeches were made by the Very Rev. W. Watt, Rev. T. F. Robertson. Messrs Macpherson and Brackenrig, both the latter bearing high testimony to the sterling qualities of Miss Phillips. Other gentlemen present were Revs. R. F. H. Macnicol, R. Sommervilie. Mr Matthew Clarke, etc., etc. After the meeting a good collection was made towards furnishing two rooms at the Ambrim Hospital for Miss Phillips. Refreshing afternoon tea with delicious cakes —compounded by the ladies of the Association—wound up the proceedings. I cannot give you anything like a complete list of the numerous ladies present, as they were all, or nearly all, strangers to me. Mrs Scott West looked nice in black silk, white flowers in her bonnet; Mrs Ker (the efficient Secretary) wore also black, relieved with white silk under black lace, black and white bonnet; Mrs Robertson, well-fitting black dress, black bonnet with touches of old gold; Miss Phillips, neat grey costume, white collar and cutis, black hat with white ribbon bows; Mrs Chapman, black silk, lace mantle, black bonnet with pink roses; Mrs Rattray (Grafton-road), black silk and velvet, black lace mantle and bonnet with jet and sequins; Mrs Logan, rA/c costume of mauve and black, bonnet eu suite; Mrs Donald Ross, Trilby figured dark green and black, silk sleeves and trimmings ; Mrs Andrew Stuart, black figured largely with white, bonnet with steel edging; Mrs T. W. Leys, pale figured crushed strawberry skirt and jacket, silk vest to match, black hat with long feather ; Mrs Arch. Clark (senr.), black ; Mrs Matthew Clark, Prussian blue costume with jet, black hat with shaded ribbon band; Mrs Entrican, white muslin, white straw hat with white ribbon and veil; Mrs Clark-Johnson, tabac-brown covered with a wide black net pattern, jet bonnet with upstanding shot rainbow ribbon; Mrs Whitelaw. figured black, black and white bonnet with steel passementerie ; Mrs Lindsay, pale mauve lilac, black hat; Mrs T. Macky, dove-coloured figured material, cream lace epaulettes, shot silk trimmings, fancy hat; Mrs Kcals, black satin and jet, black bonnet with flowers and touch of blue ribbon ; Mrs T. Brown, small black and white check, black bonnet with blue silk ; Mrs Murdock, drab, white sailor collar, white hat with narrow black ribbon; Miss Chapman, lilac print, black ribbons, straw hat wuth straw-coloured ribbon; Miss W’hitelaw, black and white check, beefeater straw hat with black ribbon; Miss Maggie Logan, fawn pongee silk, lace epaulettes, white straw hat with blue ribbon; Miss Elia Macky, pink frock, large fancy brown straw hat; Miss Emmie Young, black and white check frock with black ribbons, straw hat; Mrs R. H. Stevenson, grey dress, black mantle, white and black bonnet; Miss Rattray, black striped skirt, white muslin blouse, small fancy hat; Mrs Hewson; Mrs Utting, grey dress ; Mrs Hume; Miss Sorley, black dress flowered with amber pink, black bonnet with amber pink ribbon bows; and many others whose names I could not ascertain. At the same time, in the room below, another meeting was being held to meet Mr Cheong, who is a learned Chinese gentleman, speaking English fluently. Mr Cheong comes from Victoria, and said there were about 5,000 Chinese in this colony. He thought some efforts ought to be made to Christianise them. The Primate was in the chair, and a good many other Anglican clergy were present. I hear it has been found impossible, owing to the holidays, to get the photographs of the Mission and Nurse Phillips ready for this week, but they will appear at as early a date as possible. POLO. Polo was played last Saturday at Potter’s Paddock, which will be, I believe, the.finale Saturday of this season as next Saturday the Auckland Racing Club holds a race meeting, and the following Saturday, April 18th, the Polo Club have their annual sports and races. There was a fair attendance at Polo. The afternoon tea was given by the ladies connected with Polo, the table being prettily laid with autumn-coloured leaves, single dahlias to match the leaves, and white chrysanthemums surrounded with various cakesand fruit. Amongst those present were Mr and Mrs Mak gill, the latter gowned in a black mourning costume; Mr and Mrs W. Bloomfield, the lady gowned in white white toque with bows of white ribbons and pink flowers; and her little daughter wore pale lilac; Miss Griffiths, riding habit; Mrs Green way, orange green silk veiled in white muslin ; Miss Firth, pale pink cambric black picture hat; Mrs Markham, blue and white striped zephyr’ Miss Smith, blue cambric; Mrs Hope Lewis, fawn cloth with’ white vest; Miss Wilkins, white drill with heliotrope sleeves - and her sister wore a brown holland; Mr and Mrs Tonks, the lady wearing pale lilac cambric with black bands; Miss Reynolds (Dunedin), white pique; Mrs (Dr.) Scott, black s aweed crepon skirt, electrique blue blouse; Miss Shipherd grey cashmereMisses Bailey, Eaton and Bull were on horseback; Miss Ettie Ireland, white pique with white spotted blouse; her sister wore blue ; Miss Hesketh. black skirt, orange blouse; her sister, white* pique; Mrs Blair, pink striped cambric ; Miss Ainsley, black mourn mg costume; MissesChurton (two),dark skirts.lighL blouses ; Mrs Sydney Williamson, dark skirt, light blouse ; Miss Allie Buddle heliotrope gown, black hat; her sister wore white ; Mr and Miss Whitson, the latter gowned in blue veiled in white st riped net • Miss Edith Isaacs, cream sailor gown finished with navy spotted cambric; Miss Eva Isaacs, fawn lustre finished with emerald green; Miss Hay. wore a white costume ; and her sister a spotted muslin ; Miss Gypsy Walker, heliotrope; Mrs Rees, dark skirt, blue blouse ; Drs. Purchas and Sharman. Messrs McDonald, Whewell, Gordon, Clarke, etc., were amongst the gentlemen on the ground. Mrs Peacock, of ‘ Fairview.’ Ponsonby, gave a very enjoyable MUSICAL EVENING on Wednesday for Miss Grace Whitelaw. whose marriage to Mr Gray takes place on Thursday. The table, wit h all sorts of jellies, trifles, etc , was very uniquely decorated with grasses. Mrs Pea cock wore black; Miss Peacock, fawn; Miss M. Peacock, pale blue blouse, dark skirt; Miss G. Whitelaw, pretty pale blue pique trimmed with cream lace; Miss Winnie Leys, soft white frock, blue silk sash ; Miss V. Dacre. pale pink, black satin sash and neck ribbon ; Miss B. Devore, black crepon skirt, rose pink blouse; Miss Devore, cream blouse, black skirt; Miss A. Stevenson, handsome dovecoloured dress finished with satin and lace same shade; Miss Flo Stewart, pretty fawn cashmere; Mias N Stewart, pearl grey ; etc., etc. JOTTINGH. Mrs Edmund Mahoney has gone to Waiheke for a few weeks. The Rev. Canon (’alder has. I regret to say, been very unwell

for some months, and is ordered to England for the change of which he stands so much in need. Of him and Mrs Calder it can emphatically be said that they spend and are spent for their parish. * Fernlelgh,’Symonds-street. has again changed hands, having been taken by Mrs T. G. Sandes. of Hamilton. Under present management, it ought to prove a very attractive boarding-house. Mrs Joe Ansenne and her sister. Miss Gordon, are staying at Te Aroha. WEST END ROWING CLUB AQUATIC CARNIVAL. The pretty seaside suburb of Takapuna, owing to the construction of a substantial wharf, has attracted an unusual number of visuors this season. On Saturday afternoon some hundreds of people were conveyed to the Lake by the ferry steamer * Eagle.’ and gathered on the ground attached to the hotel to watch with interest the West End Rowing Club Aquatic Carnival on the which was carried out very successfully. The energetic Committ* c spared no pains to make the a success. At the conclusion of the sports three cheers were given for the President. Mr T. Peacock, when the visitors wended their way back to the steamer * Eagle,’ which arrived in town about half-past seven o'clock. The Newton band was in attendance, and deserves special mention. Some of the dresses I noticed were Mrs (Dr.) MacArthur, stylish black crepon gown with white silk sleeves veiled with black lace, black hat; Mrs Boardman. twinecoloured costume: Mrs Windsor, white blouse, fawn skirt, fawn hat with same colour shaded feathers; Mrs (Dr.) Knight, black crepon. light blouse; Mrs Hughes, grey, grey bonnet to match; Miss Devore looked stylish in cornflower blue, full white sleeves, hat with poppies ; Miss Bertha Devore, black and white costume ; Mrs (Dr.) Bedford, pale blue blouse, dark skirt; Mrs Rees, grey gown, lace cape, black bonnet with pink; Mrs Self looked pretty in fawn and brown, cream lace yoke, white hat with feathers; Miss Rees, white piqu6; Miss Gwenda Rees, electric blue, white hat; Miss Atkinson, pink blouse, brown skirt; Miss Preece, white; Miss M. Peacock, pale blue, brown hat with shot ribbon bows; Miss V. Dacre, pink muslin; Mrs C. Owen was much admired in fawn with golden brown silk slashed on skirt, white hat with wings: Miss Dunnett. twinecoloured lustre with vest and ravers of white moire, brown beefeater hat; Mrs Hanna, shot tweed, green silk sleeves, black chiffon bonnet with pale pink flowers; Mrs Sharland, muslin blouse, black crepon skirt, black chip hat with pea green ribbon bows ; Mrs Berry, black and white costume; Miss Kennedy, white muslin ; Miss B. Stewart, pongee blouse, black skirt; Miss M. Macindoe. pretty fawn costume trimmed with white silk, beefeater hat with wings; Miss Owen, pale blouse, black skirt, <7//c hat; Miss A. Owen looked dainty in pink gingham, white hat with white ribbon and wings: Miss Anderson, blue gingham ; Miss Eva Hughes, pink shower muslin, while hat with feathers; Miss Walmesly. white ; Mrs Crawshaw. green ; Miss Hart, pink crepon : Miss Butters, fawn trimmed with shot silk ; Miss Hemus, striped muslin blouse, grey skirt; Mrs Atkinson, cream muslin blouse, dark skirt, black hat with cream bows ; Mrs Caldwell, navy flecked with white, black chiffon hat; Miss Caldwell, becoming pink gown, black silk sailor collar and sash, beefeater hat; Miss George, white; Miss Muriel George, white; Miss Baxter looked stylish in white and black striped pongee, black chic hat; Miss M itheson. blue and white costume; Miss Main, fawn tweed; Miss L. Edmiston, muslin blouse, dark skirt, brown chip hat with upstanding bows of fancy ribbon and green wings ; Mrs Steadman, electric blue gown, bonnet rn suite ; Mrs Western (Wellington). white and black spotted muslin ; Miss Bach, white blouse, blue skirt, white hat with feathers ; Mrs Keesing. blue and white costume: Mrs Cowan, dark skirt, white spotted blouse: Miss Frater, pink floral muslin; Miss Goldie, white pongee; etc., etc. Mr and Mrs Draffin gave an ‘at home’ on Thursday evening to meet the Countess Wachtmeister, one of the leaders of the Theosophical cult. The evening was devoted to an intellectual and exceedingly interesting discussion on Theosophy and cognate subjects. Among those present were Judge Edgar and Mrs Edgar, Dr. and Mrs Lewis, Mr and Mrs Bold. Mrs Yates, Mrs Sinclair, Dr. Laishley. Mr T. W. Leys and Mr Battley. The Countess, accompanied by Mr and Mrs Draffin. left on Saturday morning for Rotorua. The Auckland Racing Club held their lirst day of the AUTUMN MEETING on Easter Monday. As the weather was decidedly showery, the majority of the ladies present donned their autumn costumes, though those who were still in dainty summer garments felt quite at home in them, the sun being very warm still. The Countess of Glasgow was present, very stylishly gowned in fawn tailor-made tweed, white vest, becoming black bonnet of black tulle and jetbeads; the Ladies Augusta and Alice Boyle were daintily dressed in white piqut 4 , the one with a pink and the other a blue tie. white gem hats. Lady Helen Boyle (sister of the Governor) looked rA/r in black silk, bonnet to correspond ; Mrs Stewart Menteah. grey check finished with black lace, black bonnet. The races were excellent though the ground being slippery, there were some awkward falls, fortunately unattended by any unpleasant results. Mrs (Col.) Dawson (the President’s wife), black seaweed crepon skirt, canary muslin blouse, black lace hat with white flowers; Miss Horne, black gown finished with magenta ribbons, black hat; her sister wore black with grey check sleeves, black toque; Mrs Goodhue, black silk with cherrycoloured bodice, bonnet en suite; Mrs Thompson, black silk finished with beads; Miss Thompson, navy serge with cape to match; her sister wore black relieved at the neck with royal blue, and a beefeater hat to match; Miss Wilkins, black crepon with cerise trimmings; Miss Maud Wilkins, black skirt, black velvet bodice with yoke of bouton d'or; Miss Dargaville. pepper and salt tweed finished with green ribbons; Miss Firth, black; Mrs Walker (Ellerslie), black silk; Miss Gypsy Walker, brown cloth costume and autumn green leaves; Miss Ettie Ireland, black tailor-made gown with large white masher collar; Miss Dunnett. neat-fitting brown gown; Mrs 1 Dunnett (nee Miss Macindoe) looked very pretty in a navy gown, toque en suite; Mrs Neil, black; Mrs Greenway, navy serge; Mrs Bamford, grey check; Mrs Lyons, very handsome lawn gown finished with bronze green ribbons; Mrs Holgate looked •hie in brown with toque to match; Miss Sage, navy skirt, brown jacket, fawn hat with feathers ; Mrs Chamberlin, black ; the Mi-ses Moss wore dark skirts, lilac silk blouses: Miss Percival, mode grey with red ribbons: Miss Edith Percival, brown; a younger sister wore dark skirt, light blouse ; Miss Beatrice Bull, a striking moss green and black striped skirt, moss green silk blouse with white lace, green toque with pink flowers; Mrs Churton. grey check tailor made gown, small hat en suite ; Mrs Willie Bloomfield looked well in a black crepon. black bonnet with lilac feathers; Mrs George Bloomfield, black gown relieved with white veiled in black lace, white collar with black beads; Miss Chambers, fawn tailor-made gown; Mrs Dufaur, black gown with old gold bodice veiled in ecru lace: Mrs Kilgour. grey lustre trimmed with electrique: Mrs Isidore Alexander, black silk with sleeves and trimming of brocaded silk ; Mrs Cottle. blacK silk; Miss White, black skirt, canary blouse, black hat. with yellow flowers ; Misses Dowell (two), dark skirts, pink blouses: Mrs Alfred Buckland, mode grey; Mrs Scott, dark skirt, electrique blue blouse; Mrs Ware, fawn gown trimmed with Italic silk; Miss Ware, grey; Miss Smith, white; Mrs Hague-Smith, beige gown, and her daughter wore blue ; Miss Ada Dixon, brown tailor-made gown, beefeater hat with goose quills ; Misses Tanner and Sellers wire riding habits ; Mrs Robison, navy tailor-made gown, shot navy blue toque; Mrs Nichol (nee Miss White) looked remarkably well in electrique blue fancy cloth, white vest; Miss Griffiths, green gown trimmed wit h velvet; Miss Ella Baker, dark skirt, dark heliotrope velvet blouse: I cannot say I admired Mrs Goodson (Hawera), but she made a striking picture with her hair divided in the centre, covering ears and half the face, magenta toque with two large wings placed butterfly fashion, fawn jacket with magenta collarette, black skirt; Miss Thorpe, buttercup-coloured drill; Mrs Browning, black ; Mrs Greenwood, navy silk with sleeves of flower brocade, striking pink floral bonnet : Miss Agatha Greenwood. black costume with large white nun’s collar : Miss Ruby Greenwood, blue skirt, black and white striped blouse ; Miss Nora Green wood, black skirt, azure blue blouse trimmed with white lace ; Mrs Masefield, black silk ; Mrs Markham, neat-fitting brown tweed; Mrs Reid Bloomfield, black silk with blue veiled in black lace ; Miss Churton. black fancy curl cloth skirt, electric blue blouse ; Miss M. Churton. navy gown with colours of the Polo Club; Mrs Hope Lewis, black silk with yoke of celery green; Miss VV’orap, black gown with shot grey bodice: Miss Trimmell (Wellington), mode grey tailor-made gown, grey felt hat ; Misses Kate and Eva Isaacs wore navy and fawn tailor-made gowns respectively ; Mrs Scherff. black ; Miss Nellie Scherff, dark skirt, light blouse, hat. with magenta ; Miss Eva Scherff, fawn gown with cape en suite ;

Mrs Haines, fawn tweed; Mrs Devore, nil green check trimmed with silk, bonnet to match ; Miss Devore, fawn gown with yellow at neck, brown hat with yellow bows; Mrs Ansenne. grey trimmed with electrique blue, brown hat; Mrs Duthie. bronze green silk, becoming bonnet to match ; Mrs Atkinson, rich navy silk : Miss Atkinson, biege with canary trimming, and her sister wore gray ; Miss Davy, dark, electrique blue blouse ; Miss Holmes, dark gown ; MrsSharland, bluey grey cashmere ; Mrs E. Buchanan, slate grey gown, white bonnet with white flowers and ribbons: Miss P. Buckland, black gown with heliotrope yoke and trimmings, hat to correspond ; Mrs Seccombe (nee Miss F. Buckland), slate grey tailor-made gown, white vest, green beefeater hat trimmed with nil green silk ; Miss Ray. fawn ; Mrs Smith, slate grey ; Mrs Ching, grey ; Mrs Ranson, black silk skirt, pale heliotrope flowered bodice ; Miss Elliot, dark skirt, electrique slate blouse; Miss Esme Elliot, navy serge, black beefeater hat; Miss Gordon, navy blue tailor-made gown; Miss Grey, brown gown, blue vest : Miss Heywood, grey check trimmed with black and white ribbons: Mrs Heywood (from South), dahlia coloured gown ; Miss Kate Hay. black crepon with magenta ribbon trimmings, and her sister, pale grey; Miss — Ireland, blue gown with terra trimmings, brown hat; Miss Jackson, dark skirt, pink blouse; Mrs Keesing, black gown with blue let in at the neck ; Mrs Alfred Nathan, handsome lizard green silk with magenta collarette, bonnet finished with magenta and green; Mrs Leathern, fawn; Miss Ledingham, black silk trimmed with shot terra; Miss Maud Martin, brown tailor-made gown; Miss Wylde Brown, grey skirt, white striped blouse; and her sister, grey tailor-made gown; Miss Nicholson, dark skirt, white blouse; Miss Walker (Parnell), fawn tailor-made gown : Miss Whitson, brown tailormade gown, hat en. suite ; Miss Peacock, fawn gown trimmed with brown ; and her two sisters wore dark skirts, light blouses ; Miss Yonge, navy tailor-made gown; Mrs Blair, fawn gown, black toque with white flowers ; Miss Rees (Gisborne), navy; etc., etc. Phyllis Broune.