CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XXII, 28 November 1896, Page 118

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, November 19. We were only half way through the giddy whirl of our carnival week when I closed my letter to you. but the pace was so fast up to the very end of the week it has taken all the days since to recover, and it makes it seem already afar off. It has been the jolliesL merriest time we have ever had. The weather was perfect with one exception • Derby Day), when a drizzling rain fell, and that mostly in the morning and evening. It did not apparently keep many ladies from attending the races, but of course winter garments had to be resorted to. and the tailor-made gown was to be seen everywhere, and in most cases the freshness vanishes from one’s gowns at the end of a season, so there was no prettiness to fascinate one on the lawn. In the evening the Misses Buckley. Park Terrace, gave a DELIGHTFUL BALL, which was numerously attended, the house being a charming one for entertaining. The drawing-room and dining-room thrown into one made an excellent ball-room. The large halls, stairs and landings being all beautifully decorated, formed numerous cosy corners, and a really delightful time was spent- Miss Buckley wore a lovely heliotrope brocade with flowers of the same shade, the bodice trimmed with chiffon and jewelled trimming: her sister, a silver grey satin with pink chiffon and garlands of pink roses ; Mrs G. Buckley, pale yellow satin, the bodice trimmed with lace and pearl trimming: Mrs Gould, a deep shade of pink : Miss Cleveland (Melbourne), pretty white silk and chiffon: Mrs Wason. b ack satin and sleeves of whitJg tulle : Mrs W. Buckley, white bengaline, the bodice trimmed with pearl embroidery: Mrs G. Rhodes heliotrope and green brocade trimmed with green satin, diamond ornaments : Mrs J. D. Hall, pale pink bengaline trimmed with lace; Miss Cowlishaw. green and white silk; Miss Elworthy, pretty pale yellow silk : Mrs Burns ;white brocade : Mr* Wardrop, pale pink silk with accordion-pleated chiffon sleev es ; Miss Pa mer, while satin and pearl trimming: Misses Reid. Julius. Neill (Dunedin). Ovenden. Malet, Helmore. Grey. Hasiam. WynnWilliams. Messrs Buckley. Rolleston. Gore (Wellington!. J. Coa’es (Wellington). Baldwin. Musgrove. Lane. Palmer (two), Beswick. Srudho me. Day. Captains Preston and Feilden (Wellington), ard several other vi-itors were present. On Thursday the A. and P. Association began business on the SHOW GROUNDS. the judging taking place, numerous visitors also being present to get a good look before the crowd. In the afternoon the fashionable community wended its way to • Strowan.’ being bidden by Mrs G. G. Stead to a GARDEN PARTY. Here also were many strangers, hailing from Auckland. Dunedin, and across the ranges. The weather was delightful, and the pretty grounds with its sloping lawns down to the water’s edge, which runs through ‘Strowan,’ were very gay with well-kept borders of flo -vers, and the pretty dresses making quite a kaleidoscopic scene. The strains of a band floated on the air at intervals with a cheerful sound- Some long tables were arranged under the trees for tea and coffee, and numbers of pretty tents dotted about also with refreshments. For those gue-ts who remained indoors some charming music was provided by Mrs Burns and others. Mrs Stead received on the lawn, wearing a black satin skirt and pale blue satin and chiffon blouse, bonnet to match : Mrs Morrin (Auckland! wore a grass clo?h over pink, trimmed with pink and white silk insertion; Mr* James Mills (Dunedini. handsome black ar.d green costume: Mrs G. Rhodes, heliotrope gown, the bodice cohered with white lore: Mrs Babington. a grey costume: Mr- P. Cunningham Bibington). black skirt, and pink and black blouse ; Mrs Walcot Wood pale blue brocaded with pink and terracotta, toque to match : Mrs H. Wood, green and white muslin trimmed writh frills edged with lace, pink hat and trimming: the Bishop and Mrs Julius. Mrs and Miss Harley. Mrs and Miss Webb. Mr and Mrs Nathan (Auckland!. Mrs R. H. Rhodes. Mr* G Gould and Miss Cleveland. Miss Gould. Mrs Secretan. Mrs Wardrop. Mrs Ogle. Mrs R. D. Thomas. Miss Elworthy. Mr and Mrs J. D Hall. Mrs and Mis* Wynn-Williams. Mrs and Mis* Hill, Messrs Stead. T. Morrin. J. Coates. J. Mills. J. B. Reid. Wharton. Palmer. Captains. Feilden. and Preston. Hon. G. McLean. Judge Denniston. Messrs Adams. W. and H. Wood. Alpers, and many others. In the evening the much-talked-about and long-looked-for C. J. C. BALL came off. the arrangements for which excelled anything yer attempted. The Art Gallery was u-ed in conjunction with the Provincial Buildings, being connected across the street with an enclosed way. thus providing ample room for everything. The new gallery was used a* the ball-room, the old one as a spacious drawing-room, and down one side a convenient buffet with light refreshments, claret cup. etc. The neautiful Council Chamber was reserved for the supper, small tables for four occupying the whole of the space. This important item being in the hands of Mr Freeman left nothing to be desired. An electric bell in the corridor gave due notice when the next dance commenced, and the walks in the lengthy, beautifully decorated corridors were an item of enjoyment shared with dancing on a perfect floor to Flemings delightful music. The gowns, like the ball, distanced anything yet seen here. There was also a brave show of diamonds worn by some of the ladies. Mrs Heaton Rhodes looked very elegant in a lovely yellow brocaded satin with faint heliotrope flowers: pale mauve flowers adorned the corsage on either side, whilst diamond* at the neck, coiffure, and arms completed this beautiful toile: te; the Hon. Mrs Parker, a pale grey sheeny ailk with diamond stars : Mrs J. Mills ■ Dunedin), an elaborate toilette of white brocade, bodice profusely tritm.ed with deep chiffon: Mi*s Pitman, very handsome deep yellow brocade: Mrs G. Gould, rose-coloured brocade richly trimmed with jewelled straps and chiffon: Mrs R Macdonald looked sweet, as usual in a lovely pale primrose brocade ; Mrs Beddard (Wellington! looked well in a steel grey brocade with shoulder straps of pink roses : Mrs G. Rhodes, white brocade, the front of the bodice richly ornamented with pearl trimming: Mrs Gordon, of Napier tnce Campbell*, looked as charming as ever in a pure white gown : Mr* Baber (Timaru). deep lemon-coloured satin with handsome ornaments: Mrs Wason. black satin with white tulle sleeves : Mrs Wardrop a pretty gown of palest pink, the sleeves of tiny frills of pink chiffon ; Mrs C. Reid (Elderslie). rich white brocade; Mrs Ogle, pale yellow trimmed with white: Mrs Smithson, blue and pink brocaded silk; Miss Matson, blue *ilk and pearl trimming: Mrs W. D. Meares. black satin and white lace; Miss M. Meares cream silk; Miss Buller • Wellington!, black with sleeves of black chiffon frills edged with white, the front of the corsage trimmed with pink roses; Mr* Walcot ood. eau de Nil bengaline finished with accordion chiffon and lilies of the valley ; Mr* H Wood, pale blue silk and pink ro-es : Mr* Perston iTimaru). pale yellow brocade (indeed. I

think yellow seemed the favourite co’our ; Miss KI worthy looked remarkably well in deep cream, the skirt scalloped round the bottom showing handsome jewelled trimming, the bodice trimmed somewhat to correspond; Miss Campbell looked very pretty in rich grey satin, the bodice softened with grey chiffon; Miss Wilson (Cui verden), a becoming gown of deep orange coloured satin, the bodice partially veiled with cream lace, aigrette in her hair; Miss Buckley, a beautiful pale grey satin and tulle with long sprays of pale pink roses on the bodice and skirt: Miss R Buckley, a very becoming pale pink silk with soft chiffon ; Miss Cleveland (Melbourne), was admired in white silk with faintest suggestion of pale blue: Mi-s Courage (Amberley), slate Eey silk, the bodice trimmed with velvet the same shade; iss Reid (Elderslie). a pretty white silk: Miss Batchelor (Dunedin), a pale blue: Miss Palmer, white satin with scarlet flowers; Miss Neill (Dunedin*, while silk ; Miss Cowlishaw. a deep blue with cream sleeves; her sister, white: Miss Webster iDunedin), blue satin: Miss Harley, heliotrope trimmed with chiffon: her sister white. Others present were Mesdames Dalgery, CotterilL Rolleston. G. Buckley. Ronalds. Morrin (Auckland). Nathan (Auckland). Malet, Courage (Amberley). Haslam. Acton-Adams. Wharton. Nancarrow (Greymouth). McMaster (Oamaru), Misses Rolleston. Malet. Wynn-Williams. R. Wilson. R. Campbell. Tabart (two). Murray-Ay nsley. Ovenden. Stevenson (Dunedin). Turrell, Henry (two). Grey. Bowen. Has am. Ned will (two). Ronalds. Thom-on. Maude, and numbers more. The Hon. E. W. Parker. Captain Feilden (Wellington). Messrs J. B. Reid. J. G. Wilson. J. Mills. Wason. Gould. Buckley. Tripp, Macdonald. W. D. Meares. Professor Clark. Dra. Campbell and Moorhouse. Captain Graham (H M.S. 'Wallaroo'). Captain de Crespigny. Lieutenants White. English, and Swann (H.M.S. * Lizard ’). Messrs P. Adams (Nelson). Burns. Wood. Neave, Turnbull. Cowlishaw, Collins. Cane. Atkinson. Hay. Reeves. Williams. Rhodes. Teschemaker. etc., etc. The extras were played by Mrs Wason, Misses R. Buckley and Henry during the supper interval You would think this night of dissipation would have contented most of our society folks. Not at all. however, for on Friday evening Mrs Wason gave a most enjoyable little BOATING PARTY down the river, after which all adjourned to Dr. Palmers res dence for supper. Some of those present were Misses Wilson. Courage, Campbell. Palmer. Ovenden. Grey. Cleveland. Mesdames Wardrop. Lee, Drs. Palmer and Levioge, Messrs Lee, Rolleston. Clarke, Turrell. Capts. Feilden and Preston. Friday was the PBOPLK’S DAY at the Show, and being favoured with such perfect weather, they had the record attendance, being only £8 short of £lOOO in gate money. The stand is a great boon to the weary and footsore, and one can see the jumping to perfection. The Premier and party were on the ground most of the day, but it has been a great regret to us all not to have the Governor and party, and especially owing to such an unfortunate thing as the continued illness of Lady Glasgow. The various evening performances have been well patronised during the week, and now our Carnival of 1896 is over and only remains a very pleasant memory.

DOLLY VALE