WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XX, 6 November 1897, Page 626

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, October 28th. The Earl and Countess of Ranfurly entertained the following guests at a delightful LITTLE DINNER on Monday evening last : —The Hon. Mr Arkwright, Mrs Arkwright, and Miss Arkwright, Mr Justice Conolly, Mr Justice Dennison and Mrs Dennison, Mr Justice Williams. Mrs Williams and Miss Williams, and Mrs Rhodes. Lady Ranfurly wore an exquisite gown of rose coloured chine silk, the berthe and long stole ends, which hung from the shoulders, being composed of soft pink chiffon, and she wore diamond and emerald ornaments. The table decorations consisted of white Arum lilies, and were very tasteful. Lady Ranfurly generally adopts the pretty fashion of wearing gauze wings in her coiffure, composed of soft wired lace or chiffon to match the colour of her gowns, and generally fastened with a diamond clasp. In spite of the thunderstorm and drenching rain a great many guests assembled at the LARGE AFTERNOON TEA given by Mrs T. C. Williams at her lovely house in Hobson Street, which proved to be one of the most enjoyable afternoon entertainments given this season. Tea, coffee, and delicious fruit salads and cakes were dispensed in the large hall, and Mrs Burns, of Christchurch, delighted every one present with her charming singing. The floral decorations were unusually lovely, the large mantelpieces in the drawing - rooms being exquisitely deeorated, one with vases and sprays of soft blush tea roses, and the other with yellow laburnum. Mrs Williams wore an exquisite gown of black brocade and old lace ; Miss Hilda Williams looked sweetly pretty in a dark green cloth gown, the bolero opening over a dainty waistcoat of white chiffon ; Miss Elzie Williams wore a green cloth gown, with white and gold chiffon waistcoat ; and Miss U. Williams wore a simple but effective gown of checked blue and white silk. Among the very many guests present were Mrs Williams and Miss Williams (Dunedin), Miss Pearce, Mrs

and Miss Napier Bell, Mrs and Miss Walter Johnston. Mrs Beddard. Miss Moorhouse, Miss Cooper, Mrs Warren, Mrs Baldwin, Mrs Travers and the Misses Coleridge, Miss Bell (Nelson), Mrs Pynsent, Mrs Goring. Mrs Burns (Christchurch), Mrs and Miss Barron, Miss Blakeney, and a great many gentlemen including Messrs Higginson, Hadfield, Duncan, Goring, Cooper (2), Rev. Mr Fancourt, and very many others. Mrs Pynsent gave a large " EVENING PARTY last week. Among the guests were Mr and Mrs Goring. Miss Blakeney, and the Misses Williams, Fitzroy, Izard. Medley, Coleridge, and Horden, and Major Madocks and the Messrs Hadfield, Webster, and Higginson, and many more. A PANIC was narrowly averted at the Garrison Band Fancy Fair on Friday night. Some small boys, while playing about the stage, loosened the screen above it. bringing it into contact with one of the gas jets, which instantly flared up. setting alight to some other inflammable material near it. Some excitable, but injudicious person, raised a cry of ‘fire,’ causing a wild rush for the doors, and for the space of a few minutes the scene was one of extreme excitement, the men in vain endeavouring to calm their more excitable sweethearts and wives, as the frightened mothers endeavoured to collect their children. Several members of the band, however, with commendable promptitude pulled down the flaming articles and extinguished the fire, Bandsman Goodchild severely burning his left hand while doing so ; while another man. who had climbed on to the rafters to pull down some of the flags, stood

upon a gaspipe, which collapsed with his weight, precipitating him to the floor with a resounding erash , but, fortunately, he escaped with no more serious result from his fall than a swollen wrist. Bandmaster Herd assured the people that the fire was extinguished from the stage, and the band soon after played a lively air, which seemed to assure every one that all danger was past, and the services of the fire brigade were not required when they arrived on the scene soon after. But it took some time for the anxious mothers to ’sort’ their respective olive branches when the excitement had subsided.—

CLARISSE.

Dear Bee, Wellington, Oct. 29. At Mr Maughan Barnett’s concert at the Opera House there was a very LARGE AUDIENCE, a party from Government House being present. Lady Ranfurly looked very well in a black satin skirt and pretty, but peculiar, sort of tea jacket made of accordion-pleated silk, trimmed with lace. In her hair she wore an aigrette of white lace, and also wore lovely diamond ornaments. Lord Ranfurly, Captain Alexander, LieutWard, and the Hon. Mr Hill Trevor were also present. Others I noticed were Lady Stout, wearing a handsome black silk gown, trimmed with jet and lace; Mrs Rhodes, also in black, with handsome velvet opera cloak bound with fur ; Mrs Adams, black gown and long red velvet cloak, trimmed with black fur; Mrs Barron, black silk gown, the bodice trimmed with pink; Miss Barron, yellow silk trimmed with black lace: Mrs Napier Bell (Dunedin), black figured silk, trimmed effectively

with jet; Miss Bell, pretty cream flowered silk dress, trimmed with lace, white cloak; Mrs Biss, black silk and lace, with pink roses on the bodiee; Miss Bell (Nelson), pretty black and pink gown, and red cloak; Mrs Barraud, black silk with a little white lace on the bodice; Miss Coleridge. pale pink crepon with berthe of coffee lace: Miss I. Coleridge, black velvet, with epaulettes of deep white lace: Miss Douglas, soft white silk gown and cloak bound with white feathers; Mrs Harrison, yellow silk with jet on the bodice; Mrs Fancourt, black silk with fichu of white lace: Miss Fancourt, grey silk; Miss M. Fancourt, black silk gown with white lace on the bodice: Miss Friend, sky blue silk blouse and black skirt, white cloak trimmed with feather; Miss Hareourt, pretty soft white silk gown, trimmed with chiffon, and long brown cloak with beaver trimmings: Miss Cox (Christchurch), black silk skirt and pretty pale blue silk blouse; Mrs Holt, black silk gown, the bodice trimmed with white lace and pink flowers; Miss Holt, soft white silk and lace: Miss Hammerton, dark silk skirt and pretty evening blouse ; Miss Hislop, black crepon. with bodiee of pale blue silk, trimmed with black chiffon; Miss Moorhouse, black silk gown, trimmed with lace, and white opera cloak : Mrs Reid, handsome black brocade, trimmed with jet embroidery ; Miss Reid, black velvet, trimmed with jewelled passementerie; her sister was wearing a pretty white silk gown; Mrs Rhind, black satin, trimmed with jet and red roses; Mrs (Judge) Williams (Dunedin), blaek velvet, with berthe of deep white lace; Miss Williams, white brocade, with rucked sleeves of white chiffon ; Mrs Malcolm Ross, black silk gown and white opera cape ; Mrs Seed, black silk gown, trimmed with white lace; Miss Seed, dark silk skirt and pretty pompadour silk blouse; Miss M. Seed, pale blue silk gown and white cloak trimmed with fur; Mrs Stowe, black silk, with fichu of white lace; Miss M. Stowe was wearing a pretty yellow evening gown; Mrs Oliver (Dunedin), grey brocade finished, with white lace; ' Miss Gore, blaek silk gown and opera cape of old rose satin bound with grey feather; Mrs Travers, black silk gown and a pretty brown cloak, trimmed with green velvet; Mrs Denniston (Dunedin), black silk gown; Mrs Wardell, white silk gown trimmed with lace; Mrs Whital], black silk skirt and pretty pink evening blouse, trimmed with passementerie: Miss Reynolds (Dunedin), black silk skirt and pale yellow evening blouse: also. Mrs and Miss Mrs and Miss Mee, Mrs and Miss Simoson, Mrs Shortridge, Mrs and Miss Widdop. Mrs Donn, Mrs Pilcher. Mrs Foster, the Misses GiH. Sprott- Margots. Martin. Richardson and others. ' The ENTERTAINMENT which was organised by- Lady Douglas took place in the Opera House on Wednesday night. There was a veryfull house, and everyone seemed contented with their evening’s amusement. The chief feature was the bicycle riding, performed by twelve young ladies, namely the Misses Page (2), Harcourt, Cox, Powuall, Reid, Edwin, Hislop, Simpson, Rose, Bannister and Mrs Bristow. The effect of these on the large stage, which was well cleared for the occasion, and the back ground arranged as a garden, was very charming. The ladies mentioned were dressed in white pique costumes, and alternately wore red and blue hatbands and belts. The riding was most gracefullv and cleverly done, and their teacher (M. de Mey) deserves great credit for this very effective item. One of the best tableaux put on the stage during the evening was queen Semiramis (Miss Seddon), seated in stately- grandeur among her princesses and maids of honour, who were gracefully reclining around her. The dresses in this scene were most gorgeous, and must have taken some time and thought to prepare in such splendour. A fencing display was most cleverly performed by the Misses Q. Elliott. M. Douglas. L. Edwin and Sprott, which was greeted with much applause and had to be repeated. A number of other items were successfully gone through, and I may truthfully say that every one on the programme was well worth going to see. I also think that Lady Douglas deserves great praise for the way in which she carries out these performances. I do

not think there are many who have the great energy which is required for entertainments of this kind. What with the endless rehearsals and designing of the many dresses for the different tableaux, it makes it a very difficult task to undertake. Among the audience were Lord Ranfurly, Lady Constance Knox, accompanied by Captain Alexander, Lieutenant Ward and the Hon. Mr Hill-Trevor. Lady Constance Knox, who was presented with a handsome bouquet of flowers, was prettily dressed in white muslin, trimmed with lace and ribbon. A few others I noticed were Lady Stout, Mrs and Miss Keid, Mrs and Miss Grace, Mrs Stewart, Miss G. Johnston, the Misses A. and Z. Johnston, Mr and Mrs Oliver (Dunedin), Mr and Mrs Pearce, Mrs and Miss M. Seddon, Mrs Goring, Mrs Hislop, Mrs and the Misses Rose, Mrs Harrison, Mrs and the Misses Quick, Mrs and Miss Napier Bell (Dunedin), Mrs Eliott, Mrs Beddard Mrs Watson, Mrs Somerville, Mrs and Miss West, Mrs Waldegrave, Mrs A. Smith, Mrs Edwards, Mrs and Miss MacGregor, Mrs and Miss Edwin, Mrs and the Misses Harding, Mrs Mee, Mrs Butt, Mrs Ewin and many others. Mrs Judge Edwards entertained a large number of guests last Friday afternoon at tea. The whole house was thrown open to the guests, it being most effectively decorated with pot plants and large bowls of arum lilies. The most tempting tea was laid in the dining-room, the table being artistically decorated with lovely flowers. Mrs Edwards, with her daughter, received the guests in the drawing-room. Mrs Edwards was wearing a beautiful gown of fawn corded silk, the bodiee trimmed with green velvet, cream chiffon and handsome jewelled passementerie; Miss Edwards looked nice in a pretty figured muslin dress, finished with a ribbon sash. Among the guests I noticed Mrs Denniston (Dunedin), in black costume; Mrs Herries (Tauranga), a neat black tailor made costume and becoming red and black toque; Mrs A. Smith, a blue tailor

made suite, and very pretty pink and green floral toque ; Mrs Wason (Canterbury), fawn jacket and skirt piped with white, and white boatshaped hat with white tips in front; Mrs Wardell, black crepon gown, trimmed with white silk under black lace, and large hat to match ; Mrs (Judge) Williams, black tailor made suit and black and white toque; Miss Williams; Mrs Friend, grey tweed costume, and black bonnet with white ospreys; Miss Friend, blue serge and white sailor hat; Mrs Watson, blue tailor made costume and black velvet bonnet with scarlet flowers; Mrs T. Wilford, neat tweed dress and becoming black and green toque; Mrs Menteath. neat blue braided blue costume and yellow floral toque; Mrs Waldegrave, fawn costume and becoming green and yellow toque; Mrs Longdon. brown dress with zouave of open lace, hat to match; Mrs Seddon, green jacket and skirt, and black bonnet with jet and pink flowers; Mrs Bothamely. handsome black satin gown trimmed with jet fringe, and black and pink bonnet; Mrs Fisher, black silk with panels of white satin under black lace, black bonnet with red roses; Mrs Montgomery (Wanganui), brown costume and brown bonnet with yellow flowers; Miss Montgomery, grey jacket and skirt and fawn felt hat ; Miss Tuckey. green and red shot lustre costume with cream chiffon front, black hat; and others.

OPHELIA.