AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue IV, 17 July 1897, Page 116

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee. July 12. A touch of frost in the air this morning has braced us up wonderfully after the humidity of the last few days, and we are now prepared to attack this week’s gaieties with glad hearts and light feet, inasmuch as they consist largely of dances. We expect a very pleasant evening to-night at Mrs Rathbone’s, particulars of which and of the other festivities you shall have next week. We still play cards, as did the happily invited guests at Mrs (Judge) Conolly’s LARGE EUCHRE PARTY last Thursday evening. The affair came off at their pretty residence in Remuera. These functions are always looked forward to with great pleasure. The same evening the first of the REMUERA SOCIAL UNIONS took place, which partook somewhat of the nature of an impromptu affair, the invitations being only issued three days prior to the dance. But that did not mar the pleasure of the evening, as there was both an energetic committee and hon. sec., who did all in their power to make the dance the thorough success it was. The hall having changed owners since the last Social Union of a year ago has been deprived of its gallery where supper was once arranged. It is now converted into dwelling-rooms where the owner and his family take np their residence. The stage being a very large and roomy one, the committee had divided it lengthways in two parts with curtains and sc?nery to form at the back a large supperroom with two long tables surrounded with forms and chairs. The front of the stage making a cosy little room for chaperones and sitters out, was decorated with pots draped in spring green art muslin and filled with arum lilies and their foliage and branches of red japonica. A rope of variegated camellias drooped over the platform. The music, supplied by Burke’s Band, was just perfection, and the floor was in capital condition, and not too crowded to dance, only about seventy guests being present, and the gentlemen in the majority. The supper (which is always a tasty affair in Remuera) was all that a gourmet could desire—oysters, tongues, trifles, jellies, salads, claret cup, etc. —so with all these how could a dance be otherwise than successful ? The committee were Mesdames Jackson, Rose, Cotter, Bamford, Misses McFarlane, Stephenson, Whewell, Lennox, Jackson, Hay, Messrs Jackson, Rose, Cotter, Marshall, and the hon. sec.. Mr J. R. Whewell. Amongst those present were Mrs Cotter, in a handsome black silk with bodice and sleeves of white satin veiled in rucked black chiffon and finished with bands of black beads, the skirt was trimmed with silver passementerie ; Miss Millie Cotter, white debutante silk with cherry-coloured bows and flower in her hair; Miss Jackson, maize-coloured silk, grey silk cape with maize ruchings ; Miss McFarlane, bright rose pink silk with red flowers on the shoulder ; Mrs McFarlane, black moire with red flowers; Miss Stephenson, Tuscan silk finished with yellow tulle ; Miss Daisy Stephenson looked very sweet in white ; Miss Me.a Aickin was pretty in white silk ; Miss Whewell, striking black lace costume relieved at corsage with old gold lace and black beads; Miss Lennox, orange silk ; Miss Hay, blue satin; Miss Kate Hay, pink satin with silver spangled net and white beads; Miss Jagger, white debutante frock ; Miss Brodie, white silk ; Mrs Finlayson, terre silk ; Mrs Harry Johnson, stylish black silk with white lace bertha; Mrs Andrew Hanna looked well in black silk skirt, mode grey silk evening blouse veiled in black chiffon with silver spangles ; Miss Alice Binney looked chic in white ; Miss Rose Bush, dark skirt, white silk evening blouse ; Miss Ryan, cardinal crepon relieved with white lace ; Miss Dowell, black gown, the low bodice relieved with spangled chiffon ; and her sister looked ehic in white ; Miss Worsp, salmon pink striped moire with silver net round the corsrge; Miss Daisy Worsp wore her debutante frock ; Miss Hender-on, lavender silk with primrose silk sleeves; Mrs E. W. Pevton, pink silk trimmed with green velvet ; Messrs Brodie, Finlayson, Cotter, Marshall, Johnson, Marriner. Hanna, Harrison, Dowell, Leckie, Gould, Daveney, Paton, Major, Whewell, Hume, and many others whose names I did not know. On a recent Thursday the Hon. Mrs Devereux held a LARGE RECEPTION at her residence, Epsom. Invitations were issued for 140 guests, but owing to influenza, colds, etc.. only abont 100 were present. Our hostess, and Miss Muriel Devereux (in whose honour it was given) received their guests in the front drawing-room, both looking very nice, the former wearing a costume of green and black plaid, elaborately trimmed with moire silk and petuniacoloured ribbons; her daughter in a stylish

black and white tweed trimmed with tartan and passementerie. The Italian musicians greatly added to the afternoon’s success, playing selections from various operas. Afternoon tea was served in the dining-room, where the table was prettily decorated with yellow narcissus and maidenhair fern. Among those assisting at the tea-table I noticed Miss Ware, in a pretty green dress, large black velvet hat trimmed with violets and black tips ; Miss Carr, tailor-made brown serge trimmed with military braid ; Miss Fitzroy Peacocke, black crepon skirt, pretty bine silk blouse ; Miss Otway, navy jacket and skirt, red tie, hat with red ; Mademoiselle Bouillon was wearing a brown tweed trimmed with velvet; Miss Devereux, in brown, pretty lace collar and bright ribbon ; and her younger sister in brown velveteen ; Miss Hull, black and pink costume trimmed with fur ; Miss Linnell, in electric blue. Among the guests I noticed Mrs (Major) George, in a handsome frock of black silk elaborately trimmed with lace and rose-coloured silk, dainty bonnet ; Mrs J. Russell, rich moir6 silk, bonnet with pink and pearls; Mrs R. Browning, black silk ; Mrs Ware forked dainty in fawn nicely trimmed with cream ; Mrs OwenJones, in black ; Mrs Kissling; Mrs Antony Carr, lovely blue frock trimmed with cream lace and fur; Mrs Hugh Campbell, black, large picture hat ; Mrs Seth-Smith, pink blouse, black skirt, bonnet ; Mrs Edward Russell, blue costume, rose straw bonnet; Mrs Alfred Nathan, fawn tailor frock, black velvet hat with green ribbon ; Mrs Henry Nolan in a stylish Sydney tailor-made gown of green with pink dickey, green hat with violets ; Mrs H. B. Morton, navy blue gown ; Mrs Francis Hull, black skirt, handsome brocaded blouse, b-.coming toque ; Mrs Alfred Buckland, brown; Mrs D. Clerk, green ; Mrs T. Brassey, black silk with handsome lace front ; Misses Kissling ; Mrs B. Noakes, pretty velvet cape, black skirt, picture hat; Mrs A. Bull, black ; Mrs Eliott, black, pretty bonnet with red ; Mrs Mercer, checked whi'e and black blouse, black skirt and toque ; Miss Shuttleworth, golf costume ; Miss Wilkins, fawn tailor-made gown, toque ; Mrs C. Buddle, fawn, pretty boa, bonnet with green and pink ; Mrs Lindsay ; Mrs F. Peacocke, black ; Mrs John Brown, black with violet ; Mrs Whewell, Miss Macdonald, Mrs (Pro'essor) Thomas, fawn and pink ; Mrs Baxter; Mrs M. A. C'ark, brown costume ; Mrs J. Whyte, Mrs Wynyard, Miss Todd, Miss Percival, Mrs and Miss Herrold ; Mrs Tom Morrin looked nice in fawn jacket and skirt, black hat; Mrs Gordon, black ; Mrs Heather, black ; Mrs Otway, b'ack ; pretty bonnet, and handsome lace cape ; Mrs Marriner, navy ; Miss Rice, fawn, fawn hat ; Mrs Cochrane, black and violet ; Mrs D. Hull, blouse and skirt ; Miss Firth, navy, military trimming ; Mrs Makgill, black, handsome cape ; Miss Makgill, brown skirt and velvet blouse ; Mrs and Miss Heywood ; Mrs Gillam, who seemed to have quite recovered from her accident ; Mrs Rice, and a great many more whom I cannot remember. On the following evening Mrs Devereux gave a TOLLY LITTLE DANCE. Forty couples were present, and the Italian musicians played in the alcove off the ball-room. Dancing was in full swing by 9 o’clock, and among some of the guests I noticed Miss Peacocke, looking bewitching in red silk relieved with white chiffon (some say the belle); her sister, pretty frock of pink ; Miss Carr, as usual, looking sweet m green ; Miss Muriel Devereux, being hostess of the evening, looked very nice in a handsome violet velvet relieved with pearl trimmings; Miss Devereux, amber silk covered with black net, black sash and jet; her sister Miriam looked chic in white silk ; her youngest sister also in white ; Miss Otway, as usual, in white trimmed with lilies of the valley ; Miss Bouillon, buttercup silk ; Miss Ware, in white with pink roses ; Miss Daisy Stevenson was much admired in yellow silk; Miss Minrett, very handsome brocaded silk ; Miss Eliott, yellow silk; Miss Brabant, dainty white, yellow sash ; Miss Gordon, yellow ; Miss Cochrane, white ; Miss Torrance, green silk ; Miss Whyte looked handsome in pink ; Miss Macdonald, black and white ; Miss Brown, pale blue evening blouse, black skirt; Mi«s Wynyar.l, blue silk ; Miss Little, white ; Miss B. Bull, black, rose-coloured trimmings. Among the gentlemen I noticed Messrs Wynyard. Eliott, Seivwright, Rutherford, Anson, Mitchell, Hull, Brabant, Wilson, Gordon, Otway, Bell, Paton, Pickering, Murray, Leival (two), Stevenson, Bull, Heather, Sykes, Herrold, etc.

Phyllis Broune.