WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue II, 3 July 1897, Page 53

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, June 25. Mrs Rose gave a VERY ENJOYABLE AFTERNOON TEA at her residence, Clifton Terrace, last Thursday. The great excitement of the hour was the presence, in an upstairs room, of a ‘ real ’ fortune-teller. Needless to say, this lady was steadily besieged till all present had had their past, present, and future laid open and their various idiosyncrasies brought to light. I think that the majority went away rejoicing in the fact that nothing very terrible had been revealed, and that all kinds of charming things were to happen soon. Mrs Rose wore a very rich black silk dress with a handsome chatelaine ;

Mias Rose, dark skirt, stylish blouse chiefly composed of rose coloured areophane with fancy corselet bodice and rucked sleeves; her sister looked well in a dark green skirt with pale green and cream blouse. Some of those present were Mesdames McTavish, Stafford, Simpson, Fitchett, etc., the Misses Macgregor, Tripe, Edwin, Trimnell, Gibson, Stafford, etc. The dramatic students opened tbeir season on Monday last with Pinero’s comedy, * The Hobby Horse.’ This was also played the following evening, which was, I think,', the ‘ fashionable night,’ as Sir James Prendergast was present with a large party. In this play Miss Nellie Newton wears some pretty gowns as Mrs Jermyn. One consists of a heliotrope cloth skirt, silk blouse of the same colour handsomely brocaded in scroll pattern of palest green ; the sleeves are rucked from the elbow, and a deep ruffle of lace completes this dainty costume. Another dress is of grey crepon with long stoles of silver embroidery, and the third is a pretty pink print with large white puffed sleeves. In ’The Magistrate’ Miss J. Newton, as Mrs Poskat, wears an artistic yellow velvet gown with scarves of mousseline de soir, front of jewelled embroidery and white chiffon ; she also carried a very pretty white feather fan. In the second act she wears the same with a cloak thrown over it. This cloak is particularly handsome, of dark olive green, lined with green silk and made with huge sleeves. With this is worn a dainty little bonnet of green with violets. Miss Hill, as Charlotte Vereker, wears first a very smart tailor-made gown, and afterwards a dark skirt, pale pink blouse with black velvet cape, becoming black hat with pink roses. It was during this last act that Miss Hill narrowly escaped serious injury. She was sitting down at a small table, on which a cigar light was placed, and without her knowledge the edge of her cape caught fire, and was smouldering for some minutes before it was discovered. Fortunately those in the wings came forward and crushed out the fire before Miss Hill had realised what was wrong. On Thursday afternoon, Captain Adams, of H.M.S. ‘ Pylades,’ gave A LARGE AFTERNOON TEA on board his ship. As is usual on such occasions, a very pleasant time was spent having tea and looking over the vessel. Some of those present were Mrs Booth (Nelson), Mrs S. Reid, Mrs C. D. Knight, Mrs Tolhurst, Mr and Mrs Travers, the Misses Montgomerie (Wanganui), Quick (two), Davy, Tolhurst’ aud others. Mrs C. Izard is giving a small ‘ At Home ’ next week. Dear Bee, June 25. THE BALL given by Sir James and Lady Prendergast at Government House on Wednesday night was a most brilliant success. There were about six hundred guests present, all of whom appeared to enjoy themselves thoroughly. The good management of the ball was due to the energies of the M.C.’s, Messrs C. P. Knight, M. Tolhurst, and F. Rolleston. The decorations were very elaborate and prettily carried out. The ballroom mantelpiece was a bank of lovely maidenhair fern aud huge scarlet flowers, and at one end of the room hung a picture of Her Majesty draped with flags. The long verandah was closed in and hung with flags and Chinese lanterns, while the various corridors were also appropriately decorated, huge pots of hot-house plants adding greatly to the effect. A number of rooms upstairs were arranged as sitting and card-rooms, and were greatly appreciated, so also was the conservatory, which proved a nice cool retreat for the dancers. The tower of Government House was ablaze with the illuminations, which were displayed on the previous night also. The supper deserves special mention. The table was laden with every good thing that one could wish for. and was prettily decorated with vases of different coloured flowers and grasses. Light refreshments were also to be had during the evening in the billiardroom. Dancing was kept up till after 2 o'clock, and even then the guests were loath to depart. King’s string band supplied the excellent music. Sir James Prendergast with his niece Msis Booth (Nelson) received the guests. Lady Prendergast, unfortunately, was not well enough to be present. In the first set of Lancers the following couples took part : —His Excellency and Mrs Hall Jones, Captain Adams (H.M.s. ‘ Pylades’) and Mrs Booth, Colonel Penton and Mrs C. P. Knight, Mr J. Duncan and Lady Stout, Dr. Grace and Miss Mackenzie, the Hon. W. Hall-Jonesand MrsC. Richardson, Sirjames Hector and Mrs Travers, Sir Robert Stout and Lady Hector. Now for the dresses. If I make mistakes I hope I will be forgiven, as in such a crowd one getsquite bewildered with the brightness of so many different gowns. Mrs Booth was wearing a handsome gown of sage green satin with sleeves of white satin caught in with steel passementerie ; Mrs L. Reid, black satin with sleeves of amber satin ; Mrs C. P. Knight, soft white silk trimmed with spangled net ; the Misses Davy wore very pretty white silk gowns trimmed with lace; Lady Buckley, handsome black satin, the bodice profusely trimmed with chiffon and jet ; Lady Hector, white satin gown veiled with black lace ; Miss Hector, sky blue silk, the bodice finished with chiffon to match ; Miss L. Atkinson, black gauze, the bodice finished with white chiffon; Miss Allen, black silk trimmed with chiffon and yellow flowers ; Miss M. Allen, white and pale blue brocaded silk gown trimmed with white lace ; Mrs Bothamely, black silk and lace ; Mrs Biss wore a pale yellow silk gown prettily trimmed with chiffon to match ; Miss Barron, blue silk, with chiffon fichu caught here and there with red poppies ; Miss Buller, very handsome cream satin gown; Miss Blundell, white silk trimmed with lace and silver passementerie; her sister wore pale pink silk ; Mrs Beddard, pale pink ami white brocaded gown, the bodice finished with white chiffon ; Miss Blair, black satin and white lace ; Miss Burnett, black silk and gauze, the bodice relieved with pink roses ; Mrs Barclay, bandeome black velvet gown ; Miss Barclay, white silk trimmed with lace and mauve ribbons ; Miss Cooper, black satin with epaulettes of cream lace ; Miss Chatfield, pale green silk trimmed with chiffon to match ; her sister looked nice in sky blue and chiffon

frills; Miss Coleridge, white silk and lace; Miss Edwards, cream corded silk trimmed with pearls and lace ; Mrs Eliott, handsome black silk gown ; Miss Eliott, yellow silk, the bodice trimmed with scarlet velvet and chiffon ; Miss E. Eliott (debutante) looked well in white merveilleux trimmed with lace and flowers; Miss Fairchild, bright pink silk gown with pearls and chiffon ; Miss N. Fairchild, white silk and chiffon ; Mrs Fulton, handsome black satin with berthe of white lace; Mrs Fisher, black silk gown with sleeves of white satin veiled with black lace; Mrs Findlay, black satin trimmed with lace and pink flowers; Mrs Friend, black silk trimmed with green watered silk ; Miss Friend, black satin with epaulettes of coffee lace ; Miss Fitzherbert, pale blue silk with chiffon bodice ; Mrs Fancourt, handsome black silk gown with fichu of white lace ; Miss Fancourt, cream satin ; Miss M. Fancourt, yellow brocade, the bodice trimmed with white lace ; Mrs A. Gore, very stylish fawn silk gown trimmed with pale blue velvet and scarlet roses ; Miss Gore, pale blue silk and white lace ; Miss A. Gore, white silk and chiffon ; Mrs Goring, pale pink corded silk finished with green chiffon ; Mrs Grace, grey satin trimmed with chiffon to match and bead embroidery ; Miss Grace, black merveilleux with sleeves of pink silk ; Miss Griffiths, oystercoloured silk trimmed with chiffon frills ; Miss Gibson, sky blue silk ; Miss B. Gibson, white silk trimmed with black rtbbon velvet and scarlet flowers; Mrs Hales, black satin trimmed with moonlight bead fringe ; Miss Haise, red striped silk, the bodice finished with pink silk ; Miss L. Haise, mauve watered silk with deep berthe of white lace ; Miss E. Haise, pink silk and chiffon ; Miss Harcourt, sky blue silk and chiffon ; Mrs Holt, black and yellow gown ; Miss Holt, pale yellow silk trimmed with red velvet; Miss — Holt, soft white silk and chiffon ; Mrs Hutchison, pink corded silk ; Mist Hutchison, white satin and chiffon; Miss Heywood, black silk gown, with bodice of pale pink silk and chiffon ; Miss E. Heywood, white silk and lace ; Mrs Hislop, black velvet gown; Miss Hislop, very pretty white merveilleux trimmed with embroidered chiffon ; Miss Henry, pale pink silk and chiffon ; Miss G. Henry, white silk, with bodice of chiffon ; Mrs Hickson, black silk with red flowers ; Miss Hickson, white chine silk prettily trimmed with chiffon and lilies of the valley ; Mrs C. Johnston, black and white striped silk skirt, pretty bodice of pale blue chiffon; Miss Johnston, sky blue brocade, with chiffon to match; Mrs S. Kennedy, black silk and lace ; Mrs Longdon, grey silk, the bodice trimmed with white lace and pink flowers ; Miss S. Johnston, pale yellow silk with chiffon to match ; Miss E. Johnston, black satin with epaulettes of white silk edged with pearls ; Mrs Macpherson, white satin trimmed with chiffon frills and pearl embroidery ; Miss Macpherson wore cream silk trimmed with beautiful

lace ; Miss Marchant, pretty gown of pale bine silk and white lace ; Miss F. Marchant, white silk and chiffon ; Miss Mackenzie, cream satin, the bodice trimmed with lace and sprays of red roses ; Mrs Morison, bronze figured brocade with pink roses on the corsage ; Miss McKellar, sky bine silk with quantities of chiffon softening the bodice ; Mrs W. Pharazyn, handsome black moird with old lace; Miss Pharazyn, cream merveilleux trimmed with lace ; Mrs Pollen, black silk gown with panels embroidered with red, and black lace trimming the bodice; Mrs Beard (Masterton), dark red silk trimmed with black velvet and lace ; Miss Beard (debutante) looked very nice in white satin, the bodice prettily finished with chiffon and white flowers; Miss Quick, pale yellow satin gown with folds of chiffon softening the bodice ; Miss D. Quick (debutante), very pretty gown of cream satin effectively trimmed with white flowers and satin ribbon ; Miss Lingard, pale green silk veiled with tinselled gauze ; Miss M. Lingard, blue silk and gauze, with clusters of bright red poppies ; Mrs Janisch, purple satin gown with coffee lace on the bodice; Mrs H. Rose wore a very handsome gown of black satin, with panels of light blue brocade, the bodice trimmed with most beautiful old lace ; Miss Rose, bright bine velvet trimmed with white chiffon frills and pink roses ; Miss A. Rose wore a very uncommon-looking gown, it being a combination of green and mauve trimmed with mauve chiffon ; Miss E. Richmond looked well in a black silk gown trimmed with jet, white lace over the shoulders ; Mrs Richardson wore a handsome gown of black and white satin trimmed with jet embroidery ; Miss Richardson, black merveilleux and chiffon; Mrs Rhodes, very handsome black moire, the bodice elaborately trimmed with jet and scarlet flowers; Mrs Ross, black velvet trimmed with fine white lace ; Miss Ross, pale pink silk softened with chiffon to match; Mrs Fell wore a beautiful English gown of rich black satin trimmed with jewelled embroidery and lovely lace; Mrs Simpson, black silk ; Miss Simpson, yellow silk trimmed with chiffon and flowers to match ; Miss Skerrett, white brocade srith bead fringe ; Miss J. Skerrett wore white satin, with deep lace and pearls on the bodice ; Mrs Seed, black satin trimmed with mauve silk and black lace; Miss M. Seed, white silk with pearl trimmings; Miss Stowe, mauve figured silk trimmed with white lace; Miss M. Stowe, yellow brocade with berthe of deep white lace ; Mrs Symons, white satin and lace ; Mrs Stafford, very handsome black gown ; Miss Stafford, black merveilleux, the bodice trimmed with coloured bead embroidery ; Mrs Samuells, sage green brocade trimmed with velvet of a darker shade and passementerie ; Mrs A. Smith, black satin with front of white striped pompadour silk ; Miss Young, blue surah silk trimmed with chiffon to correspond ; Miss Tuckey was weiriug a very

pretty gown of white brocade brightened with scarlet velvet ; Mrs Travers, black satin trimmed with jet ; Mrs Tolhurst wore a handsome black velvet and silk gown ; Miss Tolhurst, pretty soft white striped silk and chiffon ; Miss Tripe, white satin with frilled sleeves of chiffon ; Mrs R. B. Williams, bright red satin with black lace on the’bodice ; Mrs Waldergrave, white satin flounced with pearl-embroidered lace; Mrs Watson, black and white satin gown ; Miss Williams, pale pink brocade and white lace ; Mrs Macgregor, black silk and lace ; Miss Macgregor, yellow silk with bodice of white chiffon ; Miss S. Macgregor (debutante), soft white silk with deep frills of white chiffon ; Mrs Mackintosh, black velvet trimmed with gold braid ; the Misses MtacDonald, white silk and lace ; Miss Krull (Wanganui), blue and white satin gown trimmed with forget-me-nots and blue satin ribbon ; Mrs Lucas (Blenheim). black silk and lace ; Mrs C. Izard, yellow silk gown with shirred sleeves to the wrist of chiffon ; Miss Logan, royal blue silk veiled with black lace; her sister wore bright pink silk and white lace ; Miss Laishley, old rose pink silk trimmed with chiffon to match ; Mrs Field, pink brocade trimmed with ecru lace ; Miss Fox, soft pompadour silk gown with frills of white lace on the bodice edged with pale blue b£be ribbon ; Mrs Vaughan, handsome cream brocade trimmed with pearl embroidery and lace; Miss Noake, red silk entirely veiled with black lace ; Mrs Brandon, black silk with lace and red flowers ; Miss Brandon, pale blue silk trimmed with chiffon to match ; Mrs Hanna, white satin gown trimmed with feathers; Mrs Whitall, old rose - coloured brocade trimmed with velvet of a darker shade ; Mrs Wardell, handsome cream satin trimmed with pearls and lace ; MrsJHall-Jones, black silk trimmed with pink silk and roses’; Mrs J. King, lemon silk trimmed with chiffon ; Mrs Litchfield, pink brocade with panels of sage green satin ; Mrs C. Harris, black silk with slight trimmings of old lace on the bodice ; Miss Harris, cream silk and lace ; Mrs Powles, black silk gown ; Miss Powles, yellow silk trimmed with black velvet ; Miss A. Powles (debutante), soft white silk and chiffon ; Mrs Montgomery (Wanganui) wore a handsome black satin gown ; Miss Montgomery (debutante) looked well in white satin ; Mrs Fitchett, grey satin, the bodice trimmed with quantities of gathered rose pink chiffon ; Miss Loveday, green silk trimmed with white chiffon and pearl trimming; Mrs Batham, black satin with sprays of scarlet flowers ; Mrs Miles, handsome dark green satin gown trimmed with jewelled embroidery; Mrs Ewen, black silk, with bodice of old rose silk ; Mrs Molineaux, handsome black silk and lace gown ; Miss Molineaux (debutante), very pretty white silk trimmed with pearls and white flowers ; Mrs B Wilson, white chin 6 silk, the bodice frilled with chiffon ; Mrs Tregear, black moir£ with black lace epaulettes caught with pink roses ; Lady Stout, white brocade

with bead trimming. I think those are all the gowns I can remember. I daresay there were many more beanti ful toilettes worn, but by ladies I did not know. All the gentlemen who possessed uniforms wore them on this festive occasion, which added greatly to the brilliancy of the scene. Among them I noticed Sir James Hector, Sir' Robert Stout, Sir Arthur Douglas, Sir Walter Buller, and the Messrs Duncan, Hutchison, Harcourt, Watson, Field, Biss, E. Richardson, Travers, Laishley, Lingard, Beard (Masterton). Goring, Williams, Hadfield, Richmond, Tripe, Eliott, Henry, Rolleston, Gibson, Chatfield, Fulton, Gore, Hartmann, Symons, Dransfield, Marchbanks, Fitzherbert, Lees, Brooksmith, Pearce, Hodson, Branfill. Allen, Cooper, Reid, Barclay, Rawson, Colonel Penton, Major Maddocks, Drs. Cahill, Fell, Henry, Young, Captain Adams, and the officers of H.M.S.

* Py lades. ’

Ophelia.