AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue XXIV, 12 June 1897, Page 773

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bek, Junk 7. We are having a good deal of rain, scattered sort of rain, which, though perhaps necessary, is none the less unpleasant for pleasure-seekers. Whit-Sunday morning was very wet, and adversely affected the collections in the Anglican Churches for the Melanesian Mission. Whit-Monday was cold, but fine, and the Bank and many office holiday-makers had the chance and leisure to enjoy the races, leaving ordinary business people to grumble at the empty streets and closed Banks. Miss Dolly Davis gave a very nice little AFTERNOON TEA at ‘Mona.’ Symonds-street, last week to welcome Miss Sybil Nathan back to Auckland. An appetising ‘ five o’clock,’ only earlier, was served in little tables in the large dining-room, very deftly arranged, where trifles of sponge-cake and of fruit reigned amongst other dainties, and were much appreciated. Miss Dolly Davis was handsomely frocked in black silk, with black and white check silk blouse ; Miss Sybil Nathan, green and black dress of English design, large black plumed hat ; the Misses Thomson, who were ably assisting Miss Davis in attending to her guests, looked well, the elder dad in a pale blue blouse veiled in white muslin, black skirt; the younger in brown costume trimmed with yellow silk ; Miss Dixon, who wore navy tailor-made dress, brown hat with shaded poppies, looked very chic after her trip South ; Miss Burns, handsome costume of heliotrope cloth, large hat to match ; Miss Philips, tailormade grey dress, large white hat trimmed with bands of turquoise velvet and black feather ; Miss Lennox, green skirt and jacket faced with white cloth ; Miss Nation, dark red skirt, shot silk blouse ; Miss Hesketh, grey costume ; Miss Ire’and, black dress, large green hat; Miss Brigham, black dress handsomely embroidered in white; Miss Buckland, black costume ; Miss Isaacs, dark brown; Miss Hay, navy blue serge, large black hat ; Miss E. Brett, dark brown costume; Miss Morrin, navy blue, scarlet vest ; etc., etc. Amongst the gentlemen were Messrs Lecky, Daveney, Drs. Sharman and Parkes, Messrs Anderson, Gordon, Biss, Purchas, Molyneux, Chisolm. Miss Davis also had a musical evening, when many of the same guests were present, and music, games and dancing were enjoyed. Mrs Hudson Williamson gave a most

enjoyable afternoon tea at her residence, Carleton Gore Road, on Thursday last. Among those present were Mesdames Kallender, Snell, Alloway, (Judge) Smith, Keogh, Hay, Wylde-Brown, C. C. Baker, Reid (from South), Dacre, Sloman, Goodall, Goodwin, and others. The Misses Snell, Goodwin, and Slowman assisted Miss Williamson in waiting upon her mother’s guests during the afternoon. The Auckland Racing Club held their FIRST DAYS’ WINTER MEETING on Saturday. The weather was anything but pleasant, as it rained incessantly during the first part of the day, making the course very heavy, but happily cleared up during the afternoon. Alas I the rain left parts of the lawn which were much frequented by pedestrians ankle deep in mud, and I leave you to imagine the state of skirts and boots of the gentler sex, who by chance made that way one of egress from the stand, though I must confess it was amusing to see people wading about in the mud with such a charming expression marked upon their countenances. The attendance of the ladies was, indeed, large for the weather, though of course, many had donned their gowns of the prior winter, not daring to venture out in their new array, which would decidedly have been ruined. All shades of green were very prominent amongst the colours of the gowns worn. There was a sprinkling of red, which brightened up the otherwise darkened stand After green, brown seemed to be the next colour in favour. I will now give you a description of the gowns worn : —Mrs Thomas Morrin (President’s wife), light fawn tweed tailor-made costume, white waistcoat, white tie, black velvet hat with black ostrich feathers, and pink roses beneath the brim ; Mrs Welstead (nie Miss Chambers) wore her travelling costume of myrtle green cloth tailormade, white vest with bands of black military braid laid across in hussar style, black velvet high-crowned sailor hat with dash of rose pink silk on one side and standing very high ; Miss Buckland, navy serge tailormade gown, black straw hat with wreath of autumn roses beneath the brim at back ; Mrs Alfred Buckland (jun.), tabac brown costume, felt hat en suite ; Mrs Harry Tonks, dark skirt, sultan red silk blouse finished with black velvet, black fur tippet, black sailor hat ; Mrs Andrew Hanna, dark olive green tailor-made costume, white vest, sailor hat with Auckland Polo colours ; Mrs Black, black gown, cloth jacket with military braid, black hat; Mrs Charles Brown, dark costume with royal blue velvet trimmings, black straw hat with ostrich

feathers; Mrs (Colonel) Dawson, serpent green flecked tweed trimmed with velvet en suite, black Alpine felt hat; Miss Kilgour, stylish violet flecked tweed, black velvet Tam-o’-Shanter toque with violets ; Mrs Goodson (Hawera), bronze green cloth with fur trimming, green velvet Medici collar, green velvet toque with violets; Mrs Worsp, pale fawn tailor-made costnme, Nil green toque ; Miss Worsp, navy serge, red and black striped t'e, sailor hat; Miss D. Wotsp, fawn tailor-made gown, white felt hat; Mrs Thornton (Waikato) was much admired in buis tailor-made gown, brown straw hat with buis ostrich feathers, and autumn flowers beneath brim ; Miss Shepherd, gendarme green cloth with fox fur, toque of yellow flowers ; Mrs Willie Bloomfield, lizard green cloth gown with bolero ; the fulness at the top of sleeves was of moss green stripes let in the material, while the vest was of moss green, hat en suite with ostrich feathers and pink roses beneath brim ; Mrs Ware, navy serge, small bonnet of navy ; Miss Ware, emerald green tailormade gown, sailor hat with Auckland Polo colours; Mrs Devore, navy serge, black velvet jacket with black braid ; Mrs Collins, navy serge, with sealskin cape, pink chiffon bows, black velvet hat with upstanding black ostrich feathers; Mrs Bodie, black gown, black Alpine hat; Mrs Holgate, navy serge, brown cloth jacket, becoming red toque; Miss Sage, grey tweed with celery green silk flounces on shoulder sleeves, large black velvet hat with flowers and feathers ; Mrs Clifton, fawn tailor-made gown, blue vest, black velvet hat; Mrs Gorrie, black ; Mrs Markham, bro *n tailor - made gown ; Mrs Nelson Gamble, black gown with velvet jacket en suite ; Miss Hepburn, brown gown, cape and hat en suite : Mrs Selby, black ; Mrs Mercer, violet costume, Alpine felt hat; Mrs (Dr.) Scott, navy serge made with bolero, navy toque with flowers; Mrs A. Carrick, brown check coat; Mrs Ranson, paon fonce green cloth coat with fox fur, toque with flowers to match ; Miss Wilkins, beige tailor-made gown .pink vest, black Tam-o’-Shanter shape with pink bows; Miss Maud Wilkins, black crepon with old rose trimmings ; Mrs Wilfred Rathbone, very handsome b’ack crepon with white ruffle round neck, black ve'vet hat with feathers ; Miss O. Lusk, black gown, black feather boa, black hat ; Mrs Hope Lewis, fawn tailor-made gown ; Mrs Buddle, brown tailor-made gown, bonnet with pink roses ; Mrs Woodroffe, black gown, fur boa, black toque with magenta velvet trimmings ; Miss Cuff, navy serge, black Alpine hat; Miss Sellers, navy serge, hat with shot ribbons; Miss Dunnett, brown gown ornamented with large buttons, cardinal red straw hat; Miss Atkinson, navy serge with fur; and her sister wore brown with hat to match ; Mrs Greenwav and Miss Firth were similarly attired in navy ; Mrs Windsor, black costume ; Mrs Masefield, navy ; Mrs Broughton, very strikingautumn-coloured gown trimmed with silk to match, Nil green toque with autumn-coloured flowers; Miss Ansenne, tabac brown ; Miss Clayton (Sydney), navy serge gown, black velvet hat with striped Tam-o’-Shanter crown, one side black coque feathers and the other an upstanding pink rose ; Mrs Chamberlin, black gown, bonnet with violets; Mrs Ansenne. navy serge, white Medici collar, sailor hat ; Miss Henderson (Dunedin), brown tailor-made gown ; Miss Davy, grey gown and cape with fur en suite ; Mrs Elliot, black ; the Misses Elliot, navy serges; Miss Shirley-Baker, grey tweed, black velvet cape, and her sister wore navy with brown hat ; Miss Hay (Grafton), dark green trimmed with velvet, black straw hat with coque feathers; Miss S. McLaughlin, navy serge, white vest; Miss Philips, grey tailor-made gown ; Miss Ada Dixon, navy serge, brown hat; Miss Yonge, navy ; Miss Percival, green crepon, with cloth jacket and toque en suite ; Miss Edith Percival, black; Miss Ethel Percival, navy; Miss Devereux, brown ; and her sister, navy ; Mrs Seccombe, brown gown, felt hat en suite; Mrs Churton, greytweed with old gold cape and vest, brown Alpine hat; Mrs Thompson, black moire, black bonnet with butter-cup-coloured roses and trimmings; Miss Thompson, black gown, hat relieved with dome blue ; and her sister, chartreuse green gown with figured green silk vest, collar, and waistband, blacs. hat with gendarme green and red chrysanthemums ; the Misses Dowell wore navy, the younger wearing a vivid red hat ; Miss Snell, bronze moyen tailor-made gown, black hat with pink flowers; Miss Buil, navy gown with navy felt Alpine hat; Miss Beatrice Bull, navy serge, vivid red felt hat ; Miss Wylde-Brown, navy serge, black hat with bright magenta roses ; and her sister wore black ; Misses Hay (three), of Remuera, were studies in navy with white sailor hats ; Mrs Forbes, black gown, black Alpine hat ; Mrs Walker (Ellerslie), black silk ; Mrs Coleman, navytailor made gown, Alpine hat; Mrs Waddel, electrique blue gown, fawn cape, large black straw hat ; Mrs Buchanan, navy gown, floral bonnet ; Miss Roberts (Panmure), brown ; Mrs Sharland, black skirt, brown jacket, black boat-shaped hat with coque feathers and ribbons; Mrs Blair, dark green costume ; Mrs Dunwoodie, dark gown ; Miss Dunwoodie, grey gown, green cape with black braid ; Miss Cotter, Sultan red gown ; and her sister, navy ; etc. We had quite A PLEASANT EVENING at the annual meeting of the St. John Ambulance Association on Friday night in the Y.M.C.A. Rooms. Our new member, Mr J. J. Holland, was in the chair, and quite a large attendance gratified the hard working committee and energetic secretary, Mr W. Rattray. The latter's report showed a great improvement in attend-

ance at classes, funds, etc., from last year. This Association still owes a few pounds to the head centre in London for the beautiful new Ashford litter for conveying injured persons, and an appeal was made for honorary- members at an annual subscription of five shillings. Mrs Holland, wife of the M.H.R., verykindly handed the certificates and medallions to the successful pupils. Mr H. Connell’s Glee Club rendered extremely pretty glees, and Messrs Cousins and Kissling each gave a solo. Saturday- afternoon classes are being formed for teachers, which will l>e a great source of usefulness for country districts. Mrs J. J. Holland gave A EUCHRE PARTY

at ‘ Moana-Kitea,’ City Road, last Wednesday evening. There were seven tables arranged in the drawing-room for playing. At the King table, besides wafers, the winners received a tiny bell suspended by ribbon, to show how many games each one won at that table. Miss M. Ledingham was the winner of the ladies' prize, which was a silver-mounted pen with mother-of-pearl handle, which Miss Holland had brought from Sydney. The gentlemen’s prize wasa fitted pocket book, and was won by Mr Sims. The booby prizes were won by Miss Devore and Dr. Parkes. Play was continued till eleven o’clock, when an adjournment was made to the dining-room for supper, which consisted of oysters, trifles, jellies, cakes, sandwiches, ice-creams, wines, etc. In the centre of the table was a large basket of anemones and ferns, and specimen glasses of white camelias and anemones were dotted about the table. After supper there were songs and music by Miss Reeve, Mrs Mahoney, Miss Holland, Miss Essie Holland, and Mr Sims. Mrs Holland wore black silk, with black sequin net vest ; Miss Holland wore a pink chini silk evening blouse with bolero of butter-coloured lace, black skirt : Miss Essie Holland, blue silk evening blouse with cream lace vest, black skirt; Mrs Lusher, black brocaded silk evening blouse, heliotrope silk vest and collar, black skirt; Mrs Donald, maize shot silk evening blouse trimmed with jet, black silk skirt; Mrs Edger, white chine silk evening blouse trimmed with white chiffon, black skirt ; Mrs E Mahoney, shot lustre trimmed with black velvet and pale blue satin ribbon ; Mrs Hanna, black satin, iridescent jewelled trimming ; Mrs Ledingham, brown silk trimmed with butter coloured lace; Miss Donald, pink nun’s veiling relieved with white lace ; Miss J. Reeve, black silk evening blouse with white chiffon, black velvet skirt; Miss Ledingham, electric blue silk blouse, black skirt ; Miss Devore, pale blue dress, yoke of pink silk covered with white lace ; Miss M. Ledingham, cream silk evening blouse, black skirt; Miss Cardno, white silk evening blouse, black skirt; Miss Laird, white with buttercup silk belt; etc. Amongst the gentlemen were Judge Edger. Drs. Parkes and Pabst, Messrs Donald (two), Ledingham, Hanna, Mahoney, Holland (two), Rennell, Orbell, Mackay, McPhail, Sims and Houghton.

THE PONSONBY ' AT HOME ’ opened its winter season under favourable auspices on Friday evening last. The committee, and especially the secretary (Mr Norman Baker), had exer.ed themselves to good purpose, for all the appointments were excellent, and when the band, under the leadership of Mr Adams, sounded the call for the opening waltz, not less than thirty five couples answered to the welcome summons. Among the guests were Lieutenant Oldham, Lieutenant Bradley, Engineer Moorshead, and Assistant-Paymaster Babb of H.M. ‘ Mildura,’ who appreciated to the fullest extent this sociable gathering. Since the first ‘At Home ’ was given in Ponsonby more than twenty years ago children have in many cases grown up and taken the places of their parents, but the function has lost none of its popularity. These pleasant monthly dances have contributed materially to the unostentatious social harmony for which Auckland’s western suburb is famous. That stock of pleasant recollections which forms the chief treasure of middle life has received many additions in the case of past and present members from associations connected with the music, healthful exercise, and neighbourly gaiety of these sociable evenings. And then what shall be said of the indelible impressions left on the minds of debutantes —the choice of becoming dress, the eager preparations, the anxious toilet, the hopes and fears and conjectures about possible partners—who would not live over again these joyous, unsophisticated dreams of youth ! As usual at the opening of the season, Friday last was distinguished by the emergence of some young ladies from the juvenile chrysalis to the higher flights of full-grown butterfly existence. For such, perchance, the mention of supper may seem a prosaic detail unworthy of a moment’s thought amid such ethereal surroundings, but experience teaches a different lesson, and the Committee of the Ponsonby ‘ At Homes ’ have always made excellent cuisine a leading feature in their arrangements. The management of this department has always been the special care of the ladies of the Committee, who have entered into the work with enthusiasm, and always display great taste in furnishing an I decorating the tables. Mrs Devore looked exceedingly well in black satin relieved with white satin revers and epaulettes veiled with sequined net ; Mrs J. R. Hanna wore an effective black satin gown with beige rose silk sleeves, the low-cut bodice outlined with jet passementerie over pink silk fold; Mrs Dufaur was charming in soft cream crepon, cream satin sleeves, bodice trimmed with silver passe-

menterie ; Miss Dunnett, black satin gown, cerise satin sleeves with black lace frills falling over them ; Mrs Littler wore a pretty pale blue pin spot lustre, deep frill of white embroidered chiffon on front and back of low corsage, sparkling ornaments ; Mrs Andrews was much admired in a maize silk gown, low corsage trimmed with swansdown, pearl garniture on berthe, yellow wild roses on shoulder and hair ; Mrs Edgar, rich black metveilleux gown, pink satin bodice under black insertion lace ; Miss Boyd (Takapunai, white crepon, white satin sleeves, cream silk Maltese lace deftly arranged on bodice to form a jabot; Miss Devore looked charming in a gauzy gown of pink net over rose pink silk ; Mrs Oxley, dove grey, white satin and net sleeves; Miss Dacre was graceful in shell pink crepon, white satin sleeves, bodice veiled in white and tinsel gauze ; Miss Holland, white spotted net over white satin, pearl garniture adorned the front of corsage ; sprays of wisteria on shoulders; Miss Essie Holland, pink crepon, white lace frill on bebi bodice; Miss Percival wore white figured silk, yeFow silk sleeves, cluster of flowers on berthe ; Miss Florrie Hart (debutante), pretty white lustre, long sleeves of rucked white satin, satin corselet belt, low neck finished with crystal trimming ; Miss Morrin, white pin spot lustre, butterfly sleeves, jewelled garniture on bodice ; Miss Bertha Gittos, heliotrope silk, violet velvet sleeves, white net fichu with bebe ribbon ; Miss Laird, yellow silk, the sleeves were formed of accordion frills after the prevailing mode ; Miss Haven (debutante), pretty soft white dress, white silk bodice ; Miss Kennedy, pink lustre; Miss Preece, vieux rose veiling gown, bodice and sleeves adorned with cream lace ; Miss F. Preece, rose pink trimmed with white lace; Miss Lelia Langsford, all white ; Miss E. Atkinson looked very well in soft white spotted muslin, deep frill of lace on low corsage, lilies-of-the valley in her hair ; Miss Stephenson, white, forget-me-not blue silk Empire belt ; Miss Merritt, cream silk ; Miss — Merritt, striking rose pink gown ; Miss Campbell, white trimmed with chiffon, etc., etc. ‘ PONSONBY SOCIALS.’ Smart balls, ‘ At Homes,’ and socials follow one another in rapid succession just now. That of the Ponsonby fortnightly ‘ socials,’ which came off last Friday in the Oddfellows’ Hall, was among the most enjoyable. As usual, there was a good muster of members, and the dancing was entered into with great spirit.

Phyllis Broune.