CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XIV, 2 April 1898, Page 421

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, March 23. I think I have once before made the remark that we are a church-going community in Christchurch, and now during this time of Lent social functions are not, and a large contingent of our citizens have betaken themselves to Dunedin to share the festivities of the Otago Jubilee. The train leaving on Saturday, the first of the excursion ones, was crowded (many have since left by boat), and I hear that the main street of Dunedin might easily be confused with our own Colombo-street. so numerous are the Christchurch people. In the meantime our shops are very enticing, and the weather quite sharp enough to make one study the desirability of inspecting the new and the state of the old winter garments in our wardrobes. Boat-shape felt hats, and a touch of plaid on the costume will, I imagine, be almost like a uniform this winter; a little plaid can be used with excellent effect on most dark gowns, while for the longer pockets velvet and fur are so rich and comfortable, or even velveteen, which is most admirable for wear. The appearance of the meeting house of our City Fathers was completely changed on Wednesday last, when His Worship the Mayor and Mrs Louisson held an ‘AT HOME’ in the Council Chambers. Mrs Louisson, wearing a handsome gown of shot silk in heliotrope and grey, with hat to match, received the numerous guests in the library, which was much beautified and adorned with pot plants and flowers for the occasion. The visitors then passed on into the Council Chamber, where afternoon tea was served, this handsome room looking its very best with the addition of floral decorations. A string band played a few selections, and there was much chatter to enliven the proceedings, as about 300 people were there during the afternoon. Some of those present were Colonel and Mrs Gordon, Mr and Mrs C. Louisson, Judge and Mrs Denniston, Mr and Mrs W. D. Meares and the Misses Meares, Mr and Mrs F. Waymouth, Dr. and Mrs Manning, Dr. and Miss Irving, Mr and Mrs Embling, Mr and Miss Connal, Mrs and Miss Cowlishaw, Mr and Mrs G. Humphreys, Mr and Mrs Appleby, Mr and Mrs Barkas, Mr and Mrs T. D. Barker, Mrs Chas. Cook, Mrs F. Trent, Mr and Mrs E. W. Roper, Mr and Mrs Fereday and Miss Macpherson, Mr and Mrs O. Archer, Mr and Mrs Kettlewell, Mr and Mrs P. Laurie, and many more. Mr and Mrs Cranstone Wigley have taken a house in Onslow-street, off Papanui Road, and have returned to it after their honeymoon trip, and are now settling down to the commonalities of everyday life. Mr and Mrs V. Hargreaves are living in Hewitt’s Road, off Merivale Lane, and are now quite prosaic old housekeepers. The Thornton Comedy Company open at the Theatre Royal on Friday night with the ‘Strange Adventures of Miss Brown’; it is said to be the funniest thing ever written, but if it is more diverting than ‘Charley’s Aunt’ those who see the humourous side quickly had better take some one to hold them while they laugh. Of course, for those who wake up in the middle of the night and see the joke, they are safe enough. Madame Sherwin has promised to make a return trip to Christchurch in about a month, and any who neglected to hear this charming singer will, 1 hope, make up their loss. DOLLY VALE.