AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXI, 21 May 1898, Page 645

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, -May 18. The politically-inclined women of Auckland had the opportunity last week of hearing MR SCOBIE MACKENZIE. M.H.R.. who gave an address in the Chora’. Hall. There was nothing of any great social importance going on. so we wended our way' to listen to one of the New Zealand orators of the day. The great disadvantage of these long speeches—from a woman's point of view—is that she cannot ask questions just when she thinks of them. However. Mr Mackenzie’s address was sufficiently interesting and eloquent to enable all present to listen in comparative silence, sandwiched with applause. T fancied more ladies would have been present, but probably they feared the great crush in this comparatively' small building. Amongst the audience T noticed the following:—Mrs (Col.) Burton. Mrs Myers. Mrs Leo. Myers. Mrs J. M. Shera. Mrs Daldy. Mrs Main, Mrs Tibbs. Mrs McDonald, Miss Flora McDonald. Mrs (Dr.) Beattie. Mrs 11. B. Morton. Mrs (. Buddle, Miss Thomson. Mrs Alfred Morton. Mrs Peacock (Ponsonby). Miss Sturtevant. Miss Aicken. Mrs E. Morton. The Auckland ART SOCIETY’S EXHIBITION

was brought to a close on Wednesday' evening with a concert, in which Miss M. Davies. Messrs G. M. Reid, G. Higgott, Cyril Towsey, Trenwith, etc., and the Waiata Quartette took part. There was an excellent attendance, although during the last few days of the exhibition the interest had flagged considerably. It is difficult to say to what cause this was due, because the Committee worked very assiduously. The general opinion, however, seems to be that the exhibition as a whole was not equal to some in former years. There were, however, many counter attractions, which no doubt had an unfavourable effect on the attendance. Mrs Hope Lewis was attired in black; Miss Towsey. red and black stripe velvet gown: Mrs Buddle wore a combination of black and pink chine silk; Miss Peacock looked pretty in all white; Mrs Douglas, black, with touches of red: Mrs de Montalk, grey tweed; Miss Gorrie; Mrs Atkinson, black, light blouse; Mrs Hart, black gown, seal plush jacket; Miss Hewin, fawn; etc. THE SERIES OF CONCERTS given this week by Madame Sherwin have been really charming and I am sorry' that, their excellence was not more widely appreciated. The, inability of the management to secure a larger hall was no doubt a great, disadvantage. The leasing of the City Hall to the D.S.C. as temporary premises will. I suppose, prove very’ awkward for many entertainments At the opening concert Madame Amy Sherwin, that most gifted of artists, who has a bewitching manner besides being the happy possessor of an exquisite voice, looked charming in an elegant white satin gown, train lined with rose pink silk, hem edged with chiffon frill, the square-cut. corsage, to which a cluster of natural flowers lent a touch of colour, being charmingly arranged with silver passementerie, transparent sleeves of shirred silk : her gown at the last concert was a pretty tone of pink moire, with bodice trimmed with silver garniture, and on

bertha were nestled a syray of pink chrysanthemums. Miss Kitty Grindlay was very winsome in ,>ale blue satin gown, corsage ami short puff sleeves, edged with a wreath ot pink roses anil a trail of the same flowers fell over the shoulders; a white sash completed this pretty toilette. Among the audience I noted: — Mrs -Brett, handsome black silk, cream laee hehu, Mrs Cotter, rich blaek satin gown, cream laee jabot.; Miss M. Cotter, blue silk striped grass lawn blouse, with tiny frills, edged With white laee and black telvet bebe ribbon, dark skirt; Miss Winnie Cotter, pale green silk blouse, with rucked sleeves, dark skirt : Mrs Harold Wilson-Smith looked pretty in an orchid mauve striped silk blouse, collar ami ceinture of heliotrope satin, epaulettes edged with laee. dark skirt: Miss Dunnett wore :l combination of fawn ami brown: Missi Percival, black, with light blouse: Mrs Alfred Nathan looked pretty in a cy’clamen-coloured silk crepe blouse, with tucked sleeves and laee yoke, dark skirt; Mrs Hay, handsome black silk gown, black chiffon cape: Miss K. Ha.v looked stylish in a purple gown: Mrs F. Kenderdine, smart blaek gown: Miss Kennedy, black .skirt, white blouse; Miss Dudley, gobelin blue costume: Mrs Peacock, electric blue and black brocade, trimmed with jet passementerie; Miss Peacock, pink and green stripe silk blouse, green skirt; Miss M. Peacock, pale yellow blouse, with frills edged with white pleating, dark skirt: Miss Mary Maenieol. black; Mrs Gilfillan, silver grey gown: Miss Whitelaw, yellow silk blouse, trimmed with black velvet, dark skirt: Miss I'owsey, black; etc. . Mrs R. J. Ross, of Sarstield-st.. gave a most enjoyable AFTERNOON TEA last Friday as a farewell to Mrs Atkinson. who is leaving shortly for Dunedin. Unfortunately’, heavy rain set in ami prevented a good many from being present. The tables were very prettily decorated with autumn flowers and grasses. Among those present were Mesdames Atkinson. Caldwell. Paterson. Parkinson, Houston, Winks. T. F. Robertson. Hanna. Marks. Morion, ('. Calder. Miss Robertson, etc. etc. KING'S COLLEGE DANCE. On Friday evening the officers of the King’s College Cadet Corps entertained the boys and their young lady triends with a breaking-up dance. We were all the more eager to go because we understood that the boys were to appear in their new sailor uniforms. And very neat they looked, with their blue sailor blouses and white collars. Besides the College boys, a number of the Old boys were present in the Kharkee uniform of the Old Boys' College Rifle Corps, of which two of the masters, Mr Major and Mr Mackay, are officers. The gymnasium was used to dance in. It is a lovely large room, and the floor was splendid. The boys must have worked hard to have had it decorated so beautifully. It was just a mass of ferns and flags. The walls and roof were completely' covered with ferns and other foliage; glittering stars of bayonets peeped out from the masses of green, strings of flags of all nations hung from the roof. At the upper end of the room the Union Jack and the American flag were entwined. symbolical of the friendly feeling existing between the two great Anglo-Saxon nations. Under each gasalier was suspended a large Chinese umbrella, which softened the light and lent additional colour to the scene. The decorations with the uniforms of the cadets and other volunteers present, and the bright dresses of the ladies, formed a brilliant picture. which we have seldom seen excelled. The class rooms and dining rooms were fitted up for sitting out places, and the old ball room made a perfect supper room. Burke’s music, as usual, was lovely . During the evening the beautiful silver shield which Mr Duncan Clerk presented to the Corps in honour of their successes at the Military Tournament, was handed

over to Captain Major by Major Murray. Among those present were Major Murray and Brigade Surgeon Lieut. Col. DawAon. Mrs Bruce, who was acting as hostess, received her guests in a costume of black lace, with cardinal flowers; Mrs (Col.) Banks, handsome black silk evening gown; Mrs Murray, black silk relieved with white; Mrs Duncan Clerk looked exceedingly well in rich white satin, with salmon pink sleeves and trimmings; Mrs Beatty, black skirt, effective yellow silk blouse; Miss E. Macfarlane looked very pretty in black skirt and pink silk blouse; Miss F. Macfarlane, white silk; Miss M. Cotter, white silk, trimmed with red; Miss Winnie Cotter looked girlish and pretty in white silk gown; Miss D. Ware, very effective costume of cardinal, made Kate Greenaway style; the Misses Sylvia and Lily Thorpe both looked well in cream evening gowns; Miss H. Morrin wore white, with red silk sash; Miss K. Lennox, white gown, with Empire belt of white satin; Miss O. Tilly, white silk; Miss Ruby Skeet was in a white soft material, with gold sash; Miss K. Shera, pale blue; Miss M. Peacock looked very well in a pretty blue frock; Miss Isabel McCaw had on a very becoming frock of soft white silk; Miss B. Gorrie, white silk; Miss N. Gorrie, white, with canary-coloured sash; Miss B. Heather looked chic in cream silk; Miss S. Cruickshank wore pink; Miss E. Dawson, becoming white gown; Miss M. Frat er, soft white material, with chiffon on corsage; Miss Ella Qooper had on a turquoise blue frock, with white lace; Miss K. Brown wore cream gown of soft material: Miss N. Brown, white skirt, pink silk blouse. Miss Cameron, becoming pink froek, with apple green ribbon trimmings: Miss M. Cameron also wore pink, with green; Miss Kitty Clark, very pretty gown of shimmering white silk; Miss Mabel Dawson was in pale primrose, trimmed with white satin and chiffon; Miss C. Draper and her sister both wore white; Miss B. Mitcheison, pink; Miss E. Pierce, white; Miss Myra Reid looked sweet in a pretty frock of soft white silk, trimmed with chiffon; Miss Ivy Ruddock wore a blue flowered silk frock, trimmed with ecru lace; Miss Waller, becoming pink gown of soft silk; Miss D. Rice, black velvet, with corsage of handsome cream lace; Misses Walker were both in white. There were many others whose dresses I had not time to note. Gowns worn at

THE THORNTON COMPANY during their season. In the audience I noticed Miss Seccombe, dark skirt, terre blouse; Miss Thorne George, white; Mrs Robert Browning, black, and her daughters wore cream and white respectively; Mrs Harry Bloomfield, low black lace evening costume; Mrs Lucas Bloomfield, black costume, trimmed with buttercup silk; Miss Dolly Davis, dark skirt, green silk blouse; Miss Sybel Nathan, dark skirt, white silk blouse; Mrs Arthur Nathan, black, and her daughter wore a dark costume with opera cape; Mrs Buck, black silk, with red cape; Misses Mulvaney, dark skirts with pink and cream blouses respectively; Mrs McArthur, black silk, with Sutan red plush cape; Mrs Copse, black silk, lelieved at decollete with canary; Mrs Niccol, dark skirt, pale green silk blouse; Miss Philips, black lustre trimmed with blue, veiled in black net; Miss Batger, dark skirt, electrique blue silk theatre blouse; Mrs Sherricker, dark skirt, geranium pink blouse, relieved with white lace bertha; Mrs Robert Lusk looked very pretty in a dark skirt, becoming coral pink blouse with chiffon; Mrs Robert Dargaville, black silk trimmed with white satin, veiled in black; Miss Dargaville. handsome black silk skirt, velvet blouse profusely trimmed with silver passementerie; Mrs Alfred Morton, dark skirt, blue silk blouse; Mrs Archdale Tayler black costume, relieved with white; Mrs Noakes, black silk, richly trimmed with black beads; Miss Noakes looked sweet in a stylish pink satin evening costume, with blue silk trimmings and white lace: Miss Shuttleworth, dark skirt, eanary silk theatre blouse, and her niece (Mrs Booth, from South), black silk with red flower on shoulder; Miss Mona Thompson, black; Miss Dennison, lilac; Mrs Thorne George, white costume veiled in black tulle: Miss Wilson, dark skirt, canary blouse profusely trimmed with chiffon; Miss Lisa Whitson.

The former girls of the HIGH AND GRAMMAR SCHOOLS having formed themselves into an association (called the Grammar School Old Girls’ Association) for the purpose of promoting social intercourse among themselves, a feeling of goodfellowship with the present girls, and an interest in all matters relating to the school, a general meeting in connection therewith will be held at the. Grammar School on Thursday,' May 19th, at 4.30 p.m., when i't is hoped there will be a large attendance. The Secretary, Miss Ettie E Myers, of Sunnyside, Symondsstreet. will be pleased to receive names of intending members. The PAKURANGA HOUNDS met last Saturday at Mangere Pound and from here we went on to Mr Henwood’s farm, near Ihumafta. The sport was not of a brilliant character, as the day, though beautifully fine, was scorching hot, and of course the scent did not lie very well. After jumping from paddock to paddock drawing for pussy, we at length found and away we rattled for five minutes, then a check on a Toad where we lost our quarry. Whether we ‘ride to hunt’ or ‘hunt to ride’ the latter class, by the by, are becoming far and away the larger in these days of rattling gallops and desperate breathers. Who cares to potter after a fat and wary hare who dodges about and makes the hounds pick the scent slowly and wretchedly? Who would not have the glorious twenty or thirty minutes of racing over fence and through fields in a clipping rush without a check to find or finish. Amongst those present were Mr McLaughlin (our Master, mounted on Dad), Mr and Mrs Willie Bloomfield, Mrs Kelly (Playboy), Miss

M. Buckland (Villiers), Miss Phoebie Buckland, Miss Tribley, Miss Burns. Miss Gorrie (Jimmy), and Miss Gorrie (Forella), Mr Tonks, Mr Buckland, Mr Harrison, Mr Carminer, Mr Burns, Messrs Kinloch (two), Messrs Ivan Creagh, T. Morrin, J. Philips, Ellett, Elliot, Skipwith, Marshall, etc. Driving were Mr and Miss Otway, Mr and Mrs C. Buddle. Dr. Maurice Purchas, etc. STREET DRESSES. Mrs McLaughlin, slate grey tailormade costume, bonnet with red rosettes; Miss Atkinson, moss green tailormade gown; Miss Wylde-Brown, very striking serpent green skirt, green plaid blouse, spring green straw beefeater hat; Miss Yonge, navy blue skirt, striped blouse; Miss Snell, dark skirt, shot red and green lustre blouse, hat of shot silk en suite, finished with bunches of violets; Miss May Wright, grey cheek tweed; Miss Dolly Scherff, navy serge, red tie, sailor hat; Miss pink flowered Oriental silk costume, edged with spring green tulle, black chip high crowned hat with pink roses and dash of pink silk; and her sister wore a fawn tailor-made gown; Mrs Woodroffe, stylish grey tailor-made gown, with black braid, charming toque of ruby and black feathers; Mrs Digby Tonks, black; Mrs H. Gorrie, brown; Misses Wilkins, white pique; Miss Suttie, black costume, white sailor hat; Miss Sybil Nathan, absinthe green gown, black Empire sash, violet straw hat with lilac primroses; Miss Dolly Davis, pine green tailor-made gown, pink tie, hat with yellow ribbons; Miss O. Lusk, black alpaca coat and skirt, pink vest, lettuce green straw hat with white roses; Mrs Robt. Browning, black tailormade gown, black and white striped vest, blaek hat with violets; Mrs

Jervis, white pique skirt, blaek and white striped blouse;, bonnet wUth fawn rosettes; and her sister, Miss G. Buddle, black costume; Mrs Tewsley, white muslin, with ruby ribbon round neck, large black picture hat with ruby lining and black ostrich plumes; Mrs Myers, flowered black silk; Mrs Younghusband, green tailor cloth gown; Mrs Donald, black silk, blue bodice veiled in white embroidery, toque en suite; Mrs (Dr.) Scott, black costume, yellow vest, bonnet with yellow’ flowers; Mrs Keogh, dark green fancy cloth flecked with black, with Vandyked epaulettes, edged with black beads, black bonnet with red flowers; Miss Mildred Purchas, grey costume, handsomely trimmed with black braid, black Irigh crowned hat surmounted with ruby ostrich tips; Mrs H. Tanner, grey lustre, white boat shaped hat; Mrs Jackson, grey tailor-made gown, white collarette, white sailor hat. My Paeroa correspondent says: — Last Wednesday the Misses Wight gave a progressive euchre party, which went off with much vigour. Euehre seems more the rage than ever th ! 3 winter; it certainly is a very easy way of entertaining people, or rather they entertain themselves. Miss Wight was looking particularly well in pink Liberty silk; Miss Mary Wight, cream corded silk blouse, cream lustre skirt; Miss Gibbons, white silk; Miss Ella Gibbons, cream nun’sveiling relieved with green plush; Miss Grace Anderson, stylish green velvet blouse, blaek silk skirt; Miss Kate Anderson, petunia silk trimmed with cream lace; Miss Forster, white; her sister wore pink; Messrs Mair, Pollen, Conolly, Mueller, Nicholls, Anderson, O’Halloran, Williams. The tables and partners were arranged and chosen with flowers, which was certainly both a novel and a pretty idea. The supper was most recherche. Miss Forster and Mr D. Anderson won the first prizes, and Miss Anderson and Mr Pollen the •booby.’

PHYLLIS BROUN.