CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXIII, 4 June 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, May 18. We seem to have passed into a new .'era, the days of little sociabilities have fled. There is golf, but we cannot all play golf; there is cycling, but that only includes a very limited number; but week after week goes by and is among the buried past and scarcely as small a thing as an afternoon tea to vary the daily round. Perhaps when we really settle into winter, and we have had a little taste of it this week, we shall once more hear that Mrs or Miss Blank will be glad of our company. The Mayor and Mrs Louisson are looked upon as the only people worth knowing this week, and their Birthday Ball at the Art Gallery is sure to be a brilliant success, every one lucky enough to be invited is sure to go, and moreover go with the intention of enjoying themselves, and not in a captious, satiated frame of mind. Our worthy Mayor and the Chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr Frank Graham, are in DIRE DISGRACE with His Excellency the Admiral of the Royal Arthur (and of our fleet) for not paying him proper respect and due etiquette; but we are very much inclined to take our ChiefMagistrate’s part, and think a want of respect was shown him in his official capacity in not notifying the movements of the Royal Arthur, so that he might have been able with all etiquette and no waste of time, to have paid his respects to His Exceleney as soon as they dropped anchor, even so far as Camp Bay. It is all one of those misunderstandings so often met with in life and causes no end of soreness. We had hoped great things from the visit of so celebrated a warship. Being so large she was obliged to lie such a very long way out that not many were able to visit her, and her stay was so very short that no civilities were interchanged in any wav. The DURWARD LELY SEASON closed on Saturday, and all who attended the concerts were more than surprised that one man could please and amuse without wearying his audience for two hours night after night. Mr Lely still has the power to charm with his voice, and is very clever with his humorous songs. His stories, too, are told in the most piquant and racy manner, always giving the point with great effect. Mrs Lely accompanies her husband very skilfully, and also is a pleasing soloist. On Wednesday Mrs George Gould had an AFTERNOON TEA for girls in honour of Miss Florence Mills (Dunedin), who is at present her guest, and who, with others, gave some charming music during the afternoon. Mrs Gould wore a handsome gown of rich black brocade, the bodice covered with sequin net; Miss Mills, a dull green with blue sash, the bodice finished with the same silk and white lace; Miss Cowlishaw, coat and skirt of green and black stripe; Miss G. Cowlishaw, navy skirt and red blouse; Miss Todhunter, who sang very sweetly, was in grey braid-

ed with silver; Misses Reeves (two). Misses Turnbull, Thomson, Hill, Ronalds, Murray-Aynsley. Harper, Nedwill, Beswick, Wynn-Williams, Wilson, etc. A WORKING ‘BEE,’ this time for gentlemen, I am told, took place at New Brighton on Saturday afternoon, in order to beautify the church grounds, a most laudable undertaking in any parish. This hive of bees was headed by the Vicar and his churchwardens, and a lady parishioner provided afternoon tea, which needless to say was much appreciated. Almost any day AT HAGLEY PARK on the Links a number of golf players are to be seen, the most regular in attendance are Mrs Ogle, Mrs G. Gould, Mrs Stead, Mrs Scott, Misses Palmer. Cowlishaw, Ainger, Reeves, and a few others. The formal opening- of this season of the Hunt Club takes place next Saturday, and now we have had some rain, the sportsmen are loking forward with great pleasure to that event. A preliminary run was held last week at Hornsby, but only a few were out. Dear Bee, May 25. This week has brought us the news of the close of a beautiful life. It was not unexpected, but we all deplore the death of so great and grand a man as Mr Gladstone. His whole life may be reviewed as a life with a purpose, and how much there is to profit us if we would but follow his principles. Of course we have not all got his wonderful talents, for by many persons he is considered the greatest statesman that ever lived; but we can all have his steadfastness, uprightness and charity. In the pulpits on Sunday reference to Mr Gladstone’s life was almost universal, and in many churches the ‘Dead March’ was played at the close of the service, the congregation standing. I find from my friends we are not alone in the matter of small gaieties. There is famine in other places of amusements. Indeed, this week, my own ‘cross’ seems the lightest, for there is quite a long list to tell you. The OPENING OF THE HUNTING SEASON, on Saturday was not enjoyable for the onlookers, being- cold and wet, though several ladies were amongst those who drove out to the meet at Islington. Among the riders I noticed the Master (Mr Lyon), the Hon. E. W. Parker, Messrs Rhodes, Murray-Ayn-sley, Haydon, Bassett, Cotterill, Neave, Reid and others. On Tuesday a gay party of about twenty-five guests left Christchurch at the invitation of Mr and Mrs Rutherford, Mendip Hills, to a BALL and other festivities to celebrate the coming of age of their eldest daughter. They travelled to Culverden, staying there the night, and on to Waiau, the following morning, where they lunched, and arrived at the homestead on Wednesday afternoon in time for a rest before the ball taking place at night. Everything was done for the comfort of the numerous guests, a large number, of course, coming from the surrounding district. Dancing was kept up with great spirit until five o’clock the next morning, when after a few hours rest a ramble was started over the hills and then home to lunch. A large marquee had been erected, which was used as a dining-room during the stay of the visitors. A cricket match occupied Thursday afternoon, and a progressive euchre party at night, finishing up with a dance, and a start was made for home early on Friday morning, all having spent a very jolly time. Miss Rutherford was the recipient of many handsome and useful presents, her father’s being a beautiful diamond bracelet. Among the guests from Christchurch were Mrs C. Cook, Misses Cook. E. Davie, Donald, Berkeley (2), N. Martin, Gibson. O. Rutherford, Murray (2), Messrs M. Meares, Rutherford, Newton, Northcote, etc. Mrs W. B. Common gave a SMALL EUCHRE PARTY on Friday, as a farewell for the Misses Meares, and was much enjoyed by all present, amongst whom were Mr and Mrs Burns, Mr and Mrs V. Hargreaves, Misses Meares (2), Cunningham, Graham. Kinsey, Garrick. Messrs Lennox, G. Cunningham and others. Miss

Kinsey was the lucky winner of thefirst prize, while Miss Garrick claimed the booby. On Tuesday Miss Kinsey gave a GIRLS’ AFTERNOON TEA for the Misses Meares, and a pleasant time of chat and music was spent. Among those present were Misses Meares (2), Cunningham, Brigham (2, of Auckland), Brett (Auckland), Garrick, J. Martin, G. Rutherford, and a few men. A very pleasant AFTERNOON TEA was given on Wednesday by Mrs S. Weetman, Papanui Road, to a few friends, amongst whom were Mesdames W. K. Macdonald, Wynn-Wil-liams, Blakiston, H. Airey-Watson, F. Watson, Kinsey, Adams, senr.. Misses Tripp (2), Kinsey, G. Rutherford. Cooper, Brigham (Auckland), etc. A small card party was given by Dr. and Mrs Jennings, Gloucester-st., on Thursday evening. Mr and Mrs Burns, Mr and Mrs W. D. Meares, Drs. Fenwiek and Campbell, and Miss Davison were some of those present. The Hon. J. T. and Mrs Peacock gave a card party on Friday evening, and last week a very enjoyable evening was spent by about fifty guests at Hawkesbury over some PRIVATE THEATRICALS, a medley of acting and music, got up by Messrs Mcßae (2), R. Cunningham and Babington. The hall was converted into the theatre, with stage at one end, with footlights and all complete. Among the guests were Mr and Mrs Meares, Mr and Mrs R. D. Thomas, Mr, Mrs and Miss Graham, Mr G. and Miss Cunningham, Mr and Mrs and Miss Webb, Mr and Mrs R. McDougall, Mr and Mrs V. Hargreaves, Captain Kidley of s.s. Gothic, Mr and Mrs P. Cunningham, Misses Newton, McClatehie, Louisson and others. This week another shooting party are enjoying themselves and the hospitality of Mr and Mrs Ensor, at Mount Grey. This time the members are juvenile ones, but if there is a real love of sport I do not think age dulls the taste for it. At the Addington Show Grounds on Thursday there was an unusually large attendance of the public, including a great number of ladies, at the Canterbury Trotting Club’s Winter Meeting, the attraction being the Australian horse Fritz, owned by Mrs J. A. Buckland and driven by her husband, with the result that Fritz has taken all the conceit out of our local owners, and has been the most discussed thing for some days past.

DOLLY VALE.