CHRISTCHURCH.

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

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, November 11. As my letter was too late for the mail last week, I have one or two items to give you now which should have appeared then, besides the long description of the reception of His Excellency. Recently the Misses Buchanan, Aorangi, Hereford-street, were tendered a dance by their pupils, which took

place in Hobbs’ Buildings and was greatly enjoyed by all. Those who had charge of the arrangements were the Misses E. Watkins, Phillips, and Steeds, Messrs Barry, Williams, Bassett, and Reece. Supper, floor, and music were all that could be desired, and the evening simply fled. Among those present were Mrs Hood-Williams and her daughter, Mrs and Miss Barry, Mrs and Miss Brown, Misses Sandstein Wallace, Strange (2), Reece, Bates, Calvert, Tombs, Wilkinson, Wood, Black, Watt, and others. On the occasion of Miss Gertrude Ovenden’s birthday she organised a CYCLING PARTY to New Brighton, which was a very merry affair, one or two little spills only adding zest to the outing. A few others drove, leaving town about half-past 7, and returning to Dr. Ovenden’s residence, Hereford-street, for supper. Among the guests were Mr and Mrs Ogle, Mr and Mrs Wardrop, the Misses Palmer, Lee, Reeves, Cowlishaw, Cotterill, and Turrell, Messrs Turrell, Reeves, Rolleston, Allen, Wigley, and Dr. Palmer. On Tuesday evening Miss Cox’s assembly dance, in the Art Gallery, was very numerously attended and went off with great spirit. Mrs Cox received, gowned in black with white chiffon fichu. One or two theatre parties arrived a little late, having had an enjoyable time with the Bland Holts at the Theatre Royal. On Wednesday, Mrs J. J. Kinsey, wife of the President of the Metropolitan Cycle Show, gave AFTERNOON TEA in the President’s room, which was attended by about 70 ladies and gentlemen, amongst whom were Mr and Mrs R. D. Thomas, Miss Thomas, the Hon. J. T. and Mrs Peacock, Dr. and Mrs Anderson, Mrs (Dr.) Jennings, Dr. and Mrs Thomas, Mr and Mrs Embling, Mr and Mrs Ensor (Mount Grey), Mrs and Misses Meares, Mr and Mrs J. Gibbs, Mr and Mrs F. Waymouth, Mrs de Vries, Mr and Mrs Tyree, Mrs A. Kaye, Mr and Mrs Carter, Mr and Mrs Barns, Mrs and Miss Webb, Mr and Mrs Parsons. Mrs C. W. Hill, Mrs McLean (Gisborne), and Miss Stevenson (Auckland), Mrs Shields (Dunedin), Dr. Martin (Wellington), Dr. Hays (Geraldine). Misses Corder, Mr and Mrs J. H. N. Barnes, Miss B. Cunningham. Mr Moore (Dunedin), Mr and Mrs J. S. Guthrie, Mrs and Miss G. Martin, Miss Tripe (Wellington), Mr and Mrs Bright (New Plymouth). Mr Barkas, Mr F. M. Wallace, Mrs H. Nelson (Wellington), Mrs J. Garrard, Misses Hall, Mrs W. Stringer, Mrs Levy, Mrs Fitchett, Mrs Stafford (Wellington), Mrs B. Fisher, Miss Louisson. and others. The METROPOLITAN CYCLE SHOW, has surpassed all expectations in general appearance, and it is made very attractive during the evening with limelight views and music. Many of the lantern slides shown are the competitive ones, which lends much interest to them. The photographs are not numerous, but some excellent pictures are shown, and cycling should even become more than ever popular with such a choice of really beautiful machines. Tuesday, and Cup Day of 1897, leaves, it is said, any other Cup Day, as far as attendance and brilliance of costume goes, leagues behind. The weather, which has been more fickle than any maiden ever was, continued so on this day, finally settling down into an uncomfortably strong nor’wester, but cold instead of hot. The large Eiffel tower constructions known as hats were very roughly treated, as alsd the loose and shaggy coiffured ladies, and I am happy to say there were only a few. Green was very greatly worn, partly out of compliment to our Vice-Regal visitors no doubt, some daring the true Emerald green. His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly were driven past the grandstand and entered by the front gate, where the stewards received them and escorted them to their box, the band playing the National Anthem ; and as the occupants of the grandstand rose en masse, it was a very pretty sight, the stand and terrace, with the beautiful lawn in front, looking like a huge flower bed. The costumes could not be seen to advantage, for walking on the lawn was out of the question for more than the necessity to go and get some luncheon or a cup of tea. Lady Ranfurly wore a rich black costume, the bodice of horizontal white bands and jet, large black hat with plumes ; Mrs

Alan Scott, black skirt, green silk blouse, worn below the waist, black hat ;'Mrs G. Rhodes, pale blue, fawn and w'hite check silk, trimmed with chiffon, pale blue sash, hat to match ; Mrs Boyle, black skirt, bolero of black, jet trimmed, green silk cape sleeves, covered with chiffon frills ; Mrs Stead, black and white striped silk, the stripe going round the skirt, pale blue silk blouse, bonnet to match, with white osprey ; Mrs P. Campbell, black canvas over white satin, toque of black and white ; Mrs W. D. Meares, black satin, white satin square collar, jet trimmed, jet bonnet, with black and white feathers ; Miss Meares, white muslin lace, trimmed over yellow, the lace threaded with black ribbon ; Miss N. Meares. blaek and white striped silk, the frills and rucked sleeves trimmed with Valenciennes lace ; Miss M. Meares, white spotted muslin over green ; Mrs B. H. Burns, pale fawn, pretty lisse bonnet, with pink roses and foliage ; Mrs Ranald Macdonald, grey, with green stripe, deep pink vest, large hat, with feathers and pink chiffon ; Mrs Elworthy, brocaded silk, trimmed with petunia velvet, black lace mantle over coloured lining, black and petunia bonnet ; Mrs E. C. J. Stevens, black, the bodice relieved with white, black and red bonnet ; Mrs Moore, grass lawn, striped with white, finished with white satin, pretty bonnet , Mrs J. T. Peacock, black silk, the vest of pale blue, pretty toque, with lace wings, pink roses and foliage ; Mrs R. D. Thomas, green cloth, white cloth collar and cuffs, finished with braid, white pleated chiffon vest, black toque, with lace wings and pink roses; Miss Thomas, grey costume, pink silk vest, pink chiffon ruffle, hat with pink roses ; Mrs Jennings, grey cloth coat and skirt, white silk revers, white chiffon pleated vest, black toreador hat, black plumes and cerise chiffon trimming ; Mrs J. H. Burns, grey canvas, orange shot silk belt and neck trimming, black fancy straw hat and yellow roses ; Mrs I. Gibbs, dark blue cloth coat and skirt, gold and silver embroidered collar and cuffs, shaded fancy straw bonnet, trimmed with purple and blue flowers and bow ; Mrs C. Cook, brown lustre coat and skirt, slightly trimmed with yellow, white boat-shaped hat ; Mrs W. P. Townend, rich purple bengaline, yoke of fine ecru laee, bonnet of pale green and pink, white chiffon parasol ; Mrs C. Wood, pale blue fancy costume, trimmed with chiffon, floral toque to match ; Mrs G. Bennet, pale grey satin, trimmed with rows of white satin ribbon, the bodice and epaulets of white chiffon, and yoke of steel embroidery, Leghorn hat, with crumpled brim and pink flowers ; Mrs F. Thompson, pale grey, trimmed with white satin and steel passementerie, black hat, feathers and pink flowers, deep pleated chiffon collarette ; Miss Graham, white silk, trimmed with lace, black hat, with large pink bow ; the Misses Cowlishaw, pale green figured glace silk, white sashes and hats ;Mrs W. Stringer, black canvas over pink, small frills on the skirt edged with pink, the shoulder frills the same, large black hat ; Mrs H. Quane, fawn canvas over silk, terra cotta silk frills on the bodice, toque, with black chiffon and flowers ; Miss Fraser-Tytler, white satin and silk muslin, richly embroidered panel, white hat with foliage ; Mrs Ogle, bright blue glace silk, with white stripe and floral design, toque of forget-me-nots ; Miss Palmer, white muslin and lace costume, white hat, and lilies of the valley ; Mrs Wardrop, green and white striped costume, trimmed with lace, white hat, with violets ; Mrs Pyne, twine canvas over crimson, black hat and feathers ; Mrs J. S. Guthrie, black silk grenadine over lilac silk, blaek hat ; Miss — Guthrie, cream spotted muslin, trimmed with insertion and lace, cream hat ; Mrs McDougall, fine embroidered grass lawn over vieux rose silk, floral hat ; Mrs J. Matson, old China blue silk, with white design, black toque ; Miss N. Matson, dark blue coat and skirt, with velvet collar, cream hat and tips, and pale pink and blue chiffon ; Miss Garrick, grass lawn skirt, the biglice of lawn embroidery over vieux rose silk, epaulets of the silk, large hat, with flowers and foliage : Miss E. Tabart, pale pink costume ; Mrs C. B. Shanks, fancy green costume, black bolero edged with white and jet, bonnet to match ; Miss Wilder, white silk, white hat, with scarlet geraniums ; Mrs Cathcart Wason, blue covert - coating coat and skirt trimmed with white,

pink silk vest, floral toque; Mrs H. Meares, dark blue skirt, shot silk bodice trimmed with jewel trimming, shaded floral hat; Mrs Cameron, brown crepon and pink silk, cream lace epaulets, pretty bonnet; Mrs Harley, black brocade, black bonnet with violets; Miss Harley, grass lawn trimmed with pink, hat to match; Mrs 8. Gordon, black silk, white vest, and small bonnet; Mrs B. Fisher, black grenadine over silk, the bodice trimmed with crimson, large hat; Mrs F. Waymouth, tweed eoat and skirt fancy vest, floral hat; Mrs de Vries, pale green chine blouse, pretty light skirt, large white hat; Mrs A. Tyree, very pretty fancy silk blouse, plain skirt, floral toque; Mrs W. H. Derry, pale green, lined and finished off with pink, becoming toque; Mrs W. Studholme, cornflower blue, the trimming of white satin, white hat; Mrs C. W. Hill, black grenadine, black hat with yellow roses; Mrs Parsons, black grenadine, shoulder frills of deep yellow lace, toque to match; Mrs H. Nelson, slate blue cloth coat and skirt velvet collar, sailor hat; Miss E. Ross, white spotted muslin, white satin sash, white hat and feathers; Mrs G. Merton, black, with pale blue chiffon, hat with pale blue bows and violets; Mrs Westmacott, plain skirt, dark red silk blouse, bolero hat; Mrs Bland Holt, pretty grey with buttercup silk trimming, toque of brown and yellow; Miss Ovenden, cream, with heliotrope satin belt and ribbons, hat to match: Miss E. Davie, brown skirt, heliotrope silk muslin blouse, hat of the two colours; Mrs Pitman, black and white striped silk, bright blue and green toque; Miss Tolhurst (Wellington), white, silk, white hat trimmed with heliotrope; Mrs Davidson, blue and green shot costume, hat trimmed to match; Mrs J. Mills (Dunedin), black and white costume. There were numerous other costumes quite as dainty for muslins and frills, with plenty of lace (and there must have been miles of lace worn that day) means daintiness and prettiness. His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly had a very busy day following the races. They visited the Rhodes Convalescent Home at noon, and were received by Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, as representing the family of the late Mr Robert Heaton Rhodes, the members of committee, the matron, and the hon. sec. They went all over the building and expressed themselves as very pleased with it, also with the view of Christchurch from the Home. At 3 p.m. the ceremony of opening the Hyam Marks ward at the Hospital was performed by Lord Ranfurly, who was accompanied by Lady Ranfurly, Captain Ward, A.D.C., in uniform, Captain Alexander, and the Hon. Hill Trevor. They were met at the entrance by the Chairman of the Board, Mr 11. D. Thomas, Mr Miller (secretary), Drs. Fox and Gain, Miss Johnstone (matron), and Mr Strouts (architect). They were conducted to a platform in the large lower ward where a number of ladies and gentlemen had assembled, including the two trustees of the Hyam Marks estate, Messrs C. Louisson and A. Fergusson. The ward was beautifully decorated with bright flowering pot plants, and an exquisite bouquet was presented to Lady Ranfurly by Miss Thomas, from Nairn and Sons. After the ceremony afternoon tea was partaken of and a walk round the grounds, when the Vice-Regal party left. His Excellency then visited the Boys’ High School, the cadets, numbering between 60 and 70 saluting the Governor on arrival. Mr H. R. Webb welcomed Lord Ranfurly on behalf of the Canterbury College Board of Governors, and there were also present Mr C. E. Bevan-Brpwn (the Principal), Colonel Pole Penton, Colonel Gordon, Major Richards, several members of the Board, other masters of the school, and a number of ladies and gentlemen. Upon reaching the schoolroom the boys gave His Excellency three ringing cheers, and they in their turn of course got the usual grant—a holiday. A tour of inspection over the buildings, afternoon tea, and a short visit to Canterbury College, and the party drove off to Elmwood. Their Excellencies nttended the C.J.C. ball in the evening.

DOLLY VALE.