CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue VIII, 14 August 1897, Page 246

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, August 4. Here we are into August, and our greatest desire is now for fine weather until after the Grand National next week, or at least to escape a flood, which we might reasonably expect after our exceptionally dry winter. The ground would really be all the better for a little rain, being too hard and dry for every pursuit but cycling. As for farmers, gardeners, in the hunting field, etc., the ground is found very hard and unyielding, as Mr A. Boyle, unfortunately, has reason to know. During the hunt on Saturday his horse fell at one of the fences, and Mr Boyle sustained a fracture of tbe arm just above the wrist, but is progressing towards recovery now. Mrs Buller gave a CHARMING LITTLE LUNCHEON PARTY on Monday to a few friends, amongst whom were Mrs

Reeves, Mrs Wynn-Williams, Mrs MacDonald, Mrs Russell, Mrs Broham, Miss Tripp, and others, and a very agreeable time was spent THE LADIES’ MUSICAL CLUB met at Mrs Alan Scott’s on Wednesday, at her residence,. Windmill Road. A large number of members were present. including Mrs Burns, who, I am glad to say, has quite recovered from her recent indisposition, and took her share of tbe programme to everyone’s great pleasure, with Mrs Alan Scott, Mrs Westmacott, Mrs Pyne, Mrs Vernon, and Mrs Kitson. Mrs Stevens, Mrs Lascelles, and one or two more visitors were present, and a delicious afternoon tea dispensed. The passion for dancing has much revived lately with the advent of ‘skirt dancing,’ ‘ Washington Post,’ the Fascinauion Polka,’ and other novelties. Miss Walker, a lady from England, making a short stay in our midst,, is passing her art on to our local professors, who are willing to take the benefit of her residence amongst us. The Misses Cox, always ready and up to date, give an evening on Saturday in the Art Gallery, which will nodoubt, be largely patronized preparatory to the balls next week, as it is for the speeial purpose of being, initiated into these new mysteries. Mrs Pitman gives a juvenile fancy dress ball at her residence, Armagh-street, next week, and I have also heard a second one talked of. The late dreadful news of the ‘ Tasmania ’ has created, the deepest sympathy here, and of course in Auckland it must have so forcibly brought back the ‘Wairarapa ’ calamity as to be intensely painful.

Dolly Vale.