BLENHEIM.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XXII, 20 November 1897, Page 694

BLENHEIM.

Dear Bee, November 8. The- first day of the SPRING HACK RACE MEETING was very disagreeable on account of the boisterous wind, but in other respects was fine, though at one time rain seemed imminent. Fortunately, it soon cleared off, for as not only the races but several monster picnics took place that day the consequences would have been disastrous. The races were successful in everything but attendance, which was remarkably small; but the Spring Meeting is never so well attended as the Autumn one, and the reason is, I suppose, that shearing and farming operations demand the attention of many who cannot get away. Moreover, money is more plentiful after shearing and harvest. Some of the ladies present were Mrs Cleghorn, who wore a black dress, with white lace vest, grey felt hat; Mrs Mclntyre, handsomely dressed in blaek, becoming bonnet; Mrs Mclntosh, grey dress, with tiny pattern of pale green, shaded green ribbons, and smart bonnet; Mrs Arthur Green, black dress with deep rose pink spots, cream insertion over ribbon of the same shade, and stylish hat with upstanding loops of rich green ribbon and roses of pale and deep pink; Mrs Felix Ward wore blaek, with violet silk front, blaek bonnet, trimmed with knots of violets; Mrs Hubbard, black skirt, pale purple velvet blouse, ornamented with jet; Mrs Griffiths, navy dress, white front, and pretty black bonnet with pale pink roses and mignonette: Mrs Macalister, b lack; Mrs Salmon, fawn, golden brown iwinnet; Mrs H. Dodson, black; Mrs Jackson, black dress, black bon-

net, trimmed with violets; Mrs Browne, pale green dress, made with bolero fronts of dark green, faintly patterned with red silk, the same silk forming the trimming on back and sleeves, becoming hat, with mossy green trimming, on which rested most lovely and natural roses; Mrs Fuller, black ; Mrs Compton, black dress, green silk trimmings; Mrs Hiley, a smart and becoming grey costume, the revers and epaulettes of dark red and green shot silk, veiled with cream lace, very stylish toque; Mrs Lucas, grey tweed; Mrs Carey, black; Mrs Neville, black, touches of violet in small black bonnet; Miss Pitt (Nelson), navy dress and chic hat; Miss Ferguson, black skirt, very stylish blouse bodice of black with gold, and white satin stripe, and violet floral design, jet and sequin bolero fronts over violet silk, the same colour brightening a blaek hat; Miss Johnston wore a cornflour blue dress with white revers and epaulettes, white hat with soft filmy frill and sprays of forget-me-nots; Miss Cotterell, brown dress, peacock blue front; Miss Lilian Horne, navy dress, pale pink front; Miss Rees, dark green dress and floral toque; Miss M. Rees, white dress and hat, amber tie and hat band; Miss Compton, pretty pale green skirt and jacket; Miss Kate Sinclair, grey skirt and coat; Miss Martin, dark skirt and shot red and eream silk blouse; Miss Harding, green dress, white silk front; Miss L. Harding, grey flecked tweed, with green silk front; Miss A. Harding, navy; Mrs A. Mowat, Mrs Mills, the Misses Mills, Miss Neville, Miss Rayner, the Misses Ward, Bell, Carey, etc. The second day was a delightful one, but the number present was no larger than on the previous day. Mrs Black wore a smart tailor-made navy coat and skirt and sailor hat; Mrs Monro, dark skirt and jacket, small black bonnet; Mrs Carry wore a very tasteful dress of black silk, enriched with jet, and bewitching little bonnet, in which were inserted some purple violets; Mrs Horton, bluish grey dress and jetted bonnet; Mrs A. Farmar, navy skirt and coat, white silk front; Miss B. Farmer, navy jacket and skirt, white front, and sailor hat; Miss A. Williams, dark skirt, petunia blouse trimmed with white insertion, white sailor hat with blaek band; Miss Horton, dark skirt, cardinal blouse; Miss Pitt (Nelson), eream silk, patterned in pale brown, dark brown silk sleeves and ceinture, fashionable toque of brilliant pink; Mrs A. Green, black dress with trimmings of green striped black silk, green hat and pink and crimson roses; Mrs Carey, fawn dress, white bolero jacket, collar, cuffs and pointed belt of brown velvet, black bonnet, cream lace and primroses; Miss M. Rees (Wellington), navy coat and skirt, yellow silk front, covered with black lace; Mrs Macalister, blaek.

FRIDA.