CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue IX, 21 August 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, August 12. At the Temple on Thursday evening the scene was so much changed as to render the interior quite unrecognisable. A capital Maori house had been set up on the stage amid surroundings natural enough to cheat almost anyone into the idea they were attending a real Savage meeting, and not one only of a Club of that name. The decorations round the house of tussock, manuka, flax, and cabbage trees were most effectively blended, and Mr Norman Smith displayed great taste over it all. An ode of welcome to the icaAines, specially composed by Mr G. P. Williams, was exceedingly funny. There were recitatations, songs, koriros, and other diversions, besides most tempting refreshments during the evening. Some lightning sketches by Mr Rayner caused much amusement, the likeness to the original being unmistakeable, and Mr Menzies Gibb in a few minutes produced a very prettyseascape. Altogether the evening was one the best of its kind. Among the many ‘squaws’ I noticed Mrs Roper, in a very handsome black moire relieved with pink and trimmed with jet; Mrs W. Stringer, in cream trimmed with black ; Mrs Broham, deep yellow silk ; Mrs A. J. Merton, dark red velvet; Judge and Mrs Denniston, Dr. and Mrs Thomas, Mr and Mrs C. Hood Williams, Mrs G. Deamer, Misses Gardner, Ainger, Nalder, etc. Among the numerous audiences during the BROUGH SEASON I noticed Mr and Mrs Duncan Cameron, Mr and Mrs G. Rhodes (Elmwood), Mr and Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes, Mr, Mrs, and Miss Parsons, Mr J. Paton (Auckland), Mrs Clifford. Miss Wynn-Williams, Mr Inman (R.M.S. ‘Gothic’), Dr. and Mrs Jennings, Mrs Wason, Mr and Mrs Ogle, Mr and Mrs Lee, Mr and Mrs G. Gould, Mr and Mrs Russell, Mrs Quane, Colonel and Mrs Gordon, Mrs G. Deamer, Mrs Alan Scott, Mrand Mrs Roper, Mrs Cotterill, etc. Theatre parties are being made up for the coming week, and very enjoyable they are.

Dolly Vale.