WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue V, 24 July 1897, Page 148

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, July 16. The weather lately has been most changeable and trying, and to this cause the many cases of influenza and cold are, no doubt, attributable, the frequent sudden changes from very cold South winds and rain to an almost summer mildness being very disconcerting, even to robust people. Owing to several counter-attractions in town, but principally to the very threatening appearance of the weather during the early part of the day, very few ladies attended the WELLINGTON STEEPLECHASE MEETING at the Hutt on Saturday, and the cold southerly wind blowing necessitated warm tailor-built gowns being worn, and in most cases either sealskin jackets or capes were donned in addition. However, the weather cleared beautifully about luncheon time, and those who went spent a very pleasant day, although there were agood many falls, which generally mar one’s enjoyment at steeplechases, but fortunately none of the jockeys were very badly hurt. Among those present were Mrs C Johnston and Miss Johnston. Mrs W. Clifford, Mrs Beddard, Miss Buller, Mrs McPherson, Miss H. Moorhouse, and Mrs Abbott, from Wanganui A very smart and most successful " AT HOME ’ was given on Saturday afternoon by Mr and Mrs Robert O'Connor at their charming residence, * Fountain Hall,’ in celebration of their silver wedding. The rooms were redolent with lovely spring flowers, and the tea-table and dining-room were most artistically decorated with daffodils and narcissus. The enormous wedding cake of four or five tiers in the ceutre of the tea-table was surrounded by a cordon of silver wire, which imparted a charming tinge of originality. The health of the bride and bridegroom was proposed in a felicitous little speech by the Hon. Dr. Grace, M.L.C., and most wittily responded to by Mr O’Connor, the very enthusiastic way in which the toast was honoured by the guests in bumpers of champagne testifying to the great popularity of the host and hostess. Although the wedding cake, of course, proved the piece de resistance, most delicious refreshments in the way of fruit salads, trifles, sandwiches, and cakes and sweets of every description were also provided, tea and coffee being served later in the afternoon. Mrs O'Connor looked remarkably well in a beautiful black satin gown with a bodice of black velvet, and a most picturesque fichu-like arrangement of white satin embroidered with black velvet applique, and edged with white chiffon, and white chiffon ruffles ; her sister, Mrs Tweed, wearing black velvet with a jabot of lovely old cream lace ; Miss O’Connor wore a black skirt, and very pretty blouse of white corded silk, with white chiffon ruffles at the throat and wrists, hanging over the hand ; Mrs Grace wore a charming dark green cloth gown, and a most becoming bonnet of the same colour ; Mrs Higginson, as usual, looked most distinguie gowned in black and white satin, with a very chic little bonnet embracing the two colours ; Mrs Baldwin looked very smart in a beautifully-built tailor gown of black cloth, with a scarlet velvet waistcoat, and a delightful black velvet hat, the crown being composed of

white satin, and a bunch of scarlet geraniums placed at one side ; her sister, Mrs W. Turnbull, wearing a black skirt, grey and black striped silk blouse, and a sweet little confection in the way of a toque composed of pink velvet, soft white lace, and black tips; Mrs Adams wore a brown tailor-made cloth gown, and large hat with pink roses ; Mrs Barron, a pretty grey and blue gown of some soft material; a most lovely French gown of black satin was worn by Miss Moorhouse, made with a dainty zouave worn over a rose and white pompadour silk bodice, with sleeves of the same slashed with black satin and a Parisian hat of black velvet with old lace applique, and an aigrette of black tips, and chiffon ruffles underneath the brim ; Mrs Tolhurst was in black; Mrs W. Moorhouse, in black, with revers and waistcoat of mauve eilk covered with black braiding, pretty mauve and black bonnet ; Miss Dransfield also wore black, relieved by a white silk waistcoat, and dainty black and white toque. Mr and Mrs O’Connor were the recipients of many lovely presents—silver-backed hair brushes, an exquisite cream ewer and sugar basin, salt cellars, and a case containing a silver button hook, and many dainty silver nick-nacks being among the number. The latest London craze in Society consists in being ‘ tattooed,’ the craze proving a most profitable one to a fashionable tattooer, who indelibly marks some device or motto upon the arm, or elaborately ‘ tattooes ’ lovers with each other’s initials, and it is quite de rigeur to belong to a ladies’ club, all the members of which are marked by some device or distinguishing motto, one young dandy showing me a flight of butterflies most artistically tattooed round his wrist. This really high art work is done by a Russian family of three daughters, who, he informed me, were among the first professors of the art when he left London, the operation having entailed a good deal of pain. ‘ Choeun & son gout,' I inwardly commented. The absence of our usual winter session is, no doubt, responsible for the very few dances given, and PROGRESSIVE EUCHRE PARTIES seem to be taking their place. Very successful ones have been given lately by Miss Grace and Miss O’Connor, that given by Miss O’Connor taking place on Monday evening last, and proving a great success. Euchre was played in the most animated manner by about forty players until n o’clock, when it was replaced by a most dainty supper. Miss Cooper and Miss Tuckey were the successful prizewinners among the ladies, and Dr. Young and Mr Watkins among the gentlemen. Some of the other players present were Mrs W. Moorhouse, and the Misses Quick, Tuckey, Young, Grace, Coleridge, and Johnston, and Messrs Webster, Moorhouse, Reid, Tolhurst, White, and Dr. Young. Afternoon teas have been given during the week by Mrs Baldwin and Mrs Tolhurst, and Mrs Pynsent, of Hobson-street, gives one to-day. There was a small, but most enjoyable, dance at Government House on Saturday afternoon. Clarisse. Dear Bee, July 16. The Art Gallery was filled to the doors last Thursday night, when Mr Robert Parker gave his ■ evening with Mendelssohn.’ This was quite the most enjoyable of these Chamber concerts yet given. Among the performers Mrs S. Kennedy was wearing a black silk skirt and biscuit-coloured silk evening blouse ; Miss G. Kennedy, white figured muslin ; Miss Upham, black silk skirt, and cream silk blouse trimmed with lace ; Mrs Parker, black silk trimmed with pink; Miss Parker, black skirt, cream silk blouse ; Miss Palmer, pretty red silk blouse, black silk skirt ; Mrs Barron, black and yellow; Miss Barron, salmon pink silk veiled with black lace ; Miss Swainson, white ; Miss Johnson, crushed strawberry silk blouse, dark skirt; Miss Barber, becoming peacock blue velvet gown with lace ruffles. Miss Pownall, pale blue crepon. In the audience I noticed Mrs and the Misses Quick, Mrs Whittali, the Misses Henry, Mr and Mrs Kenney, the Misses Marchant, Mrs and the Misses Rose, Mrs E. J. Riddiford, Lady and Miss Hector, Mrs Swainson, Miss Wardell, Mrs and the Misses Prouse, Miss O’Connor, the Misses Tolhurst, Maginnity, Stowe, Pharazyn, and many others. The attendance at the races last Saturday was much better than on the first day, although the weather was cold and damp. A few I noticed were Mrs E. J. Riddiford, who was wearing a claret-coloured tailor-made costume, small hat to match ; Mrs T. Wilford, in black crepon, large black velvet hat

with feathers; Mrs G. Hutchison, dark gown, sealskin jacket, black felt hat with wings; Miss Hutchison brown cloth costume, felt hat to match ; Mrs C Johnston, grey tailor-made costume, small red and black hat with ospreys; Miss Johnston, navy bine serge, picture hat trimmed with shot ribbon and quills ; Mrs Scales, grey jacket and skirt, black and red toque; Mrs G. Pearce, brown costume, black sailor hat; Mrs A. Gore, neat blue serge costume, red straw sailor hat; Mrs Montgomery, Miss Montgomery, neat blue cloth tailor-made costume, lawn waistcoat, felt hat; Mrs Macpherson, red gown, sealskin jacket, small felt hat with quills ; Miss Macpherson (Christchurch), green costume trimmed with fur, green and white felt hat with white wings ; Mrs Beddard, green costume, felt hat to correspond ; Miss Harcourt, grey tweed, black velvet hat with tips and scarlet poppies ; Miss Krull (Wanganui), black serge gown trimmed with red velvet, neat white vest, small black hat trimmed with red ; Mrs Macarthy, light fawn costume, becoming black and red toque ; Miss Mac Lean (Dunedin), black gown, fawn cape, pretty black chiffon hat with tips; Miss Trimnell, navy serge costume, white sailor hat; Miss Curtise, very neat black tailormade costume, small felt hat; Miss Buller, black gown and cape, small toque with tips and violets; Miss Fitzherbert, fawn cloth costume, felt hat to match ; the Misses Burnett and others, also the Messrs Harcourt, C. Johnston, Macarthy, A’Deane, Pearce, Fitzherbert", Skerrett, Coates, Ross, Gore, Drs. Cahill, Pollen and Purdy, Colonel Penton, Major Madocks, etc.

a most delightful ball was given last Friday night in Thomas’ Hall by Mr and Mrs John Ross, who were ably assisted to entertain the many guests by the Misses Ross. The usually bare walls of the hall were made to look pretty by being artistically draped and hung with art muslin, greenery and mirrors. The stage was arranged as a drawing-room, and was most comfortably furnished with cosy chairs and couches, while greenery, flowers (which are so rare just now), and fairy lamps added greatly to the pretty effect. A delicious supper was laid out upstairs, the table being prettily decorated with pot plants of various kinds and pale green silk. King’s string band supplied the excellent music, the extras being ably undertaken by Messrs Coneyand Moore. Ourhostand hostess received together, the latter wearing a very beautiful gown of black velvet and brocade, brightened with pink and jet embroidery ; Miss Ross looked exceedingly well in a pretty shade of pink silk finished with fine lace; her younger sister wore a soft pink frock with frills of chiffon. Among the guests were Mrs Henry Rose, who wore a very handsome black satin gown with panel and trimmings of pale blue and white brocade, and lovely white lace on the corsage; Miss Rose, bright pink brocade frilled with chiffon to match (very pretty); Miss Alice Rose, pale yellow figured silk trimmed with embroidered chiffon; Mrs Ewen, black satin gown, with bodice of old rose silk and jet embroidery; Mrs Malcolm Ross, black satin, both the skirt and bodice being trimmed with pink and red roses ; Mrs B. Wilson, white merveilleux with deep chiffon frills ; Mrs Fitchett, handsome gown of light sage green satin with trimmings and sleeves of pink chiffon shirred ; Mrs N. Reid handsome black brocade with jet trimming ; Miss Reid, white silk trimmed with lace and flowers ■ Mrs Butt, handsome black and white gown finished with jet trimmings ; Mrs Stafford wore a handsome jettrimmed gown, and her daughter pink silk softened with chiffon ; Miss Tuckey, very pretty white figured silk with epaulettes and trimmings of ruby velvet, rucked sleeves to the elbow of lace ; Miss Tolhurst, lemoncoloured silk veiled with gauze to match ; Miss McGregor, becoming black satin gown ; Miss S. McGregor, white moire antique with deep chiffon frills ; Miss son, pale yellow silk and chiffon ; Miss Toxward, black satin and lace ; Miss Molineanx, very pretty gown of white silk finished with chiffon and flowers; Miss Tripe, cream satin trimmed with silver passementerie, short frilled sleeves of chiffon ; Miss Parson, black ; Miss Phoebe Parson, pale pink silk; Miss Seed, cream men veilleux with folded bodice finished with lace ; her sister also wore white ; Miss Greenfield, green me’rveilleux with pearl passementerie and a little white lace ; Miss Luckie, white satin and lace; Miss Lovedayi sea green silk with chiffon frills ; the Misses Blundell’ pretty white silk gowns; Miss Harcourt, becoming black satin gown ; Miss Kempthorne, sky blue silk ; Miss Kissling (Auckland), white silk with bertheof white lace ; Miss McKellar, blue silk ; also the Messrs Tolhurst, Tripe, Tuckey, Reid, Harcourt, Adams, Cox, Young, Holmes, Smith, Luckie, Broad, Ross, etc.

Miss Grace entertained several of her friends at progressive euchre. The Misses Johnston, Mac Lean (Dunedin), Rose, Gore, Friend, and the Messrs Rolleston, Gore, Higginson, Williams, and Duncan were among those present. Mrs Gibson also gave a very enjoyable party of this kind last night. Ophelia. [Your last letter arrived too late for insertion.—BEE.) Dear Bee, July 15. Last Thursday Mrs Grace gave a most SUCCESSFUL EUCHRE PARTY, about thirty guests being present. The first prizes (books of poems) were won by Miss Harcourt and Mr Ross Gore, whilst the ' boobies ’ fell to Miss E. Richmond and Mr W. Higginson. Some people have said that these euchre parties have had their day, and that young people are wearying of them. This did not appear to be the case on this occasion, the game being followed with the keenest interest. Mrs Grace wore black; Miss Grace, black with coloured silk sleeves. Some of those present were the Misses Rose, Tolhurst, Richmond, Montgomerie, Johnston, Cooper, etc., the Messrs Rolleston, Gore, Richmond, Williams, etc. I see that our Women’s Social and Political League has decided to urge the City Fathers to erect hot fresh water baths and tepid salt water baths. This is, indeed, a step in the right direction. Water is, or ought to be, as necessary to everyone as air, and baths hot and cold cannot but promote in our town that virtue which we are told is next to Godliness. If this were really so it would seem that some of our fellows are a long way removed from it. When Mr Kirkcaldie’s new building is finished it ought to present a very fine appearance, commanding as it does such a long frontage to the Quay. I hear that the tea-rooms are to be particularly comfortable and are to be managed by Mrs Werry. To-night the New Zealand Veterans’ Association hold their annual meeting iu the form of a concert and social. It is very interesting to think that there are still those among us who fought in the early Maori wars, and who worked, in a way of which some can have no idea, for us as well as their immediate descendants. What a talk over old times these veterans will have ! There is nothing going on at the Theatre this week, and there are no dances to tell you of, so this is, indeed, a dull letter, but soon we shall have the new Governor to tell you about, and the Broughs ! Things should be livelier then !

Marjorie.