SOCIETY ON DITS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue XXVI, 18 December 1897, Page 817

SOCIETY ON DITS.

That the trustees of the Mackelvie Collection in Auckland have done well to secure the two new pictures which now adorn the walls of the gallery. Waterlow's ‘Autumn Floods’ and ‘Refuge,’ by E. Blair Leighton, are both valuable and representative paintings, beautiful to look on and calculated to cultivate the artistic taste in the public generally, and to be instructive for our artists. The trustees did well to drop the Glasgow School this time. That some alarm was caused to the passengers of the special Parliamentary train from Wellington to Woodville on Saturday owing to the guard’s van being partly disrailed owing to the expansion through heat of the railway lines. Two rails were badly bent and twisted, delaying the following train for some time. The passenger cars were much shaken, but only one window was broken. Mesdames Blow, wife of the Under-Secretary of Public Works: Mrs Donne, wife of the District Traffic Manager: and Mr Holland, M.H.R.. all received some nasty bumps. The accident might have been a very serious affair. Mrs Grace gave a garden party on Thursday afternoon in Wellington, which will be described next week. That the choir boys of St. Peter's Church, Caversham, presented Mr William Bridger with a very handsome morocco leather pocket-book on the occasion of his twenty-first birthday. That whilst riding to the Show on Wednesday. Master Noel Adams, Nelson, was thrown from his horse and had his left ankle rather badly hurt. That Mrs (Judge) Conolly, of Reniuera. Auckland, gave a large afternoon tea in the garden on Monday. That Mrs Fitzherbert has issued invitations for an At Home on the 18th of December in Wellington. That the Pollard Company is about to visit Blenheim, and will open there on Dec. 10.

That it is earnestly hoped a large corps of enthusiastic mounted volunteers will soon be formed in Auckland and other New Zealand cities for the defence of their colony. That Miss Milly Heywood and her pupils give an At Home in St. Luke's Hall, Remuera, Auckland, on Wednesday, Dec. 15th. That Mrs Wason, Christchurch, who is staying in Wellington, at Mrs Malcolm’s, Tinakori Road, is giving a small dance on Friday night. That an Industrial. Art and Curio Exhibition was opened at New Plymouth on December 9. and was well patronised. That the Countess of Ranfurly has consented to open the bazaar which is being given in connection with the Melanesian Mission, on the 17th, at the. Art Gallery, in Wellington. That Mrs John Roach gives a large At Home on Thursday afternoon, the 16th December, at her Auckland residence. That the subscriptions for a stained glass window, to be placed in Holy Trinity Church, Devonport, Auckland, to the memory of the late Rev. Canon Bates, total the handsome sum of £ 150. The Devon port ladies have, in addition, collected £27 towards placing a stone over the grave of this greatly esteemed Anglican clergyman. That by some blunder His Excellency the Governor was allowed to leave Wellington before his signature to the Imperial Supply Bill had been obtained. The Clerk of the Legislative Council had to leave Wellington in haste on Thursday afternoon, and pursue Lord Ranfurly on his line expedition. The capture of His Excellency’s signature was effected at three o’clock on Friday morning near Inglewood, the operation being effected by the Governor in undress uniform. Mr Stowe was most hospitably treated byLord Ranfurly, and at once returned to Wellington. His Excellency has had a comfortable sleeping carriage fitted up, and he can thus fish near the railway when trout streams are

obtainable. He had also more lines in hand, being on his way to open the bush section of the railway- between Napier and Wellington, via Wairarapa That Mrs Linton is giving up her school in Picton and going to live in Masterton, near her married daughter (Mrs Kummer). That Maori education is progressing. Three pupils of Mr McDonald, Waikawa, Picton—two girls and a boy —won scholarships at the recent examination. Mr Pope, of Wellington, inspected the school. The successful candidates—Marv Love. Eva Henry and Levi Love —will probably- go to the Hawke’s Bay Maori Colleges. That Mr Hayman, of the St. JohnHayman Company, scored a point in the favour of Picton folk by referring to the take-it-eosy mantner of the Awaruas. who were playing in a cup match at Pieton on Saturday. ‘You’re as slow as the Spring Creek cricketers in the second innings, Sarah,' quoth he to his wife. The remark brought down the house. That the Blenheim Bowling Club will have an open afternoon next Wednesday, to which their friends are invited. It is understood that Mrs R. McCallum will dispense afternoon tea. That the pupils of Mr M. A. Cheek, Blenheim, will give a breaking-up concert on Monday, December 13. That Mrs Lucas’ pupils will render the Cantata ‘King Rene’s Daughter’ on Tuesday, December 14, in Blenheim. That the Summer Show of the Blenheim Horticultural Society will take place on December 8. That Mrs T. Cottle, of Maunsell Road, Parnell, has issued invitations for an afternoon tea on Wednesday, December 22nd, to be given as a farewell to her daughter, Miss Bursil], whose marriage to Mr Vernon Coney, of Auckland, will take place shortly after the new year.