WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXIV, 11 June 1898, Page 742

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, j, lne 2 . A very large number of guests were entertained by the Countess of Ranfurly at an ‘AT HOME’ on Friday afternoon. It was given in honour of Admiral Pearson and to allow’ everyone an opportunity of meeting him. At about a quarter past 4 ladies and gentlemen began to pour into Government House and continued to do so for about an hour. The scene in the drawing-rooms was verv much changed from that of the previous night, both rooms being carpeted with rich green carpets and furnished with arm chairs and sofas, with large light silk cushions arranged on them. The decorations were much the ~ame as at the bail already described, and the guests wandered ‘about the corridors and conservatory or paid a pleasant visit to the dining-room, where nice hot tea and coffee and dainty cakes and sweets were to be had. At one side of the stairease Minified Band was stationed and played during the afternoon. Lord and Lady Ranfurly and Admiral Pearson received together in the end drawing-room. The (ountess looked extremely well in a cerise pink chine silk gown, veiled with pretty coffee-coloured embroidered net. It was made very simply’ and tied at the waist with a broad pink sash, finished with a large bow at the back. Lady Constance Knox looked sweet in a soft pink Liberty silk frock, trimmed with insertion and frills of butter-coloured lace; little Lady Eileen wore a loose frock of white embroidered silk; Fraulein Schweiter wore a handsome black silk gown, beautifully embroidered with jet and trimmed with lace. Among the numerous guests I saw Mrs (Dr.) Anson, who wore a dark red gown, veiled with black canvas; and a black hat, trimmed with flowers; Lady Buckley, handsome blaek silk gown, trimmed with jet passementerie, and a blaek bonnet, with long drooping osprey’s; Mrs Alfred Brandon, brown gown, braided, and a black chiffon toque, trimmed with ecru laee and pink flowers; Mrs Butts, black; Miss Butts, in a cream serge coat and skirt and black hat, with flowers; her sister wore a brown serge jacket and skirt, and a small felt hat to match; Mrs Eustace Brandon, black costume; Miss Brandon, green flecked tweed, trimmed with velvet to match, green velvet hat, with ribbon loops; Miss Blackett, in a pretty’ shot silk blouse and black skirt, and a large black hat; Miss — Blackett, light grey gown, with white vest, toque to match; Mrs Biss, dark tailor-n ::de suit and black velvet hat. with white loops; Mrs 11. D. Bell, black braided coat and skirt and a small jetted toque; Mrs Baldwin, stylish dark canvas gown and blaek toque, with tips and flowers; Countess de Courte, a light grey cloth Russian gown, handsomely braided with narrow white braiding, black toque, trimmed with pink flowers and jet; Mrs Collins, a black gown, the bodice of which was velvet, made with a long basque, and with cuffs and rovers of mauve brocaded silk, and lace ruffles at neek and wrists, black veh et hat. trimmed with tips; Mrs Harry Crawford looked well in a red cloth coat and skirt, braided with black and a blaek and red velvet toque, trimmed

with black tips; Miss Coats, dark green gown, trimmed with figured velvet tn match, blaek hat, with flowers; Lady Douglas, dark grey figured cloth gown, black bonnet; Miss Maggie Douglas, a crushed strawberry coloured gown, made with a Russian blouse and braided, black hat, with tips; Miss Duncan wore a stylish maroon cloth gown, the Russian bodice braided with black, small toque; Mrs Eliott, in brown silk, trimmed with cream lace, and a green straw bonnet, with brown tips; Miss VV Eliott, dark skirt and grey silk blouse, softened at the neck with a white chiffon bow, black hat; Mrs Edwin wore black; Miss Edwin, a brown gown and blaek hat, with tips; Mrs Ewen, dark green coat and skirt, black straw hat, trimmed with pink flowers; Mrs Friend, in a black costume; Miss Friend, dark blue coat and skirt, and black hat, with light flowers; Mrs (Dr.) Fitchett, dark blue cloth, the Russian bodice trimmed with narrow white braid, floral toque; Miss Fitzherbert, a dull green gown, trimmed with white lace, black straw hat, with a white silk crown, aad trimmed with tips; Mrs Firth, a greychecked tweed gown, with touches of scarlet about the bodiee, large black hat, trimmed with scarlet ribbons; Mrs (Di.) Fell, handsome black satin, with sleeves of grey silk, under rucked black chiffon, black hat, with tips; Lady Gibbs, black satin gown, the bodice slightly trimmed with sequined net. blaek bonnet, with black tips and roses; Mrs Gore, black crepon, trimmed with jet, cream bon-iet. with lilac and ecru lace wings; Miss Olive Gore, a dark coat and skirt, and large black velvet hat, trimmed with tips and pink roses under the brim; Miss Greenfield*, brown cloth gown, and large velvet hat to match, with tips; Mrs Gualter wore a brown costume; Mrs H. M. Gore, blue gown and white hat; Lady Hector, navy blue tailor-made costume, light vest, and black velvet bonnet, trimmed with violets; Miss Holms was all in black, with a handsome sealskin cape; Mrs Higginson, black skirt and a black and white striped silk blouse, black toque; Miss Harcourt, blue coat and skirt and large black straw hat, with loops of grey’ ribbon and red roses under the brim; the Misses Henry’ wore dark brown costumes, trimmed with silk to match, and black hats, with tips; Mrs Hutchison, black cloth braided coat and skirt and a black hat, trimmed with black tips and magenta and green velvet flowers under the brim; Miss Hutchison wore a dark tailor-made gown and a pretty small black velvet hat, with white crinkled silk crown, trimmed with ospreys and violets; Mrs Hislop, in a black costume; Miss Hislop, a neat blue tailormade suit and small black hat, trimmed with violet flowers; Mrs Izard, handsome black satin gown, black velvet and fur cape, and a black lace bonnet, relieved with some light flowers; Mrs Charles Izard wore a .'brown costume; Miss Izard, black gown, the bodice trimmed with cream lace, fur cape, and black straw hat, with tips; Mrs Charles Johnston wore a stylish gown of some dark material and a black hat, with wings; the Misses Johnston, maroon cloth gowns, the basques lined with cream satin, hats to match, with cream crowns, and trimmed with tips; Miss Krull (Wanganui), black jacket and skirt, black hat, trimmed with yellow flowers; Mra Longden, in a black and white cos time; Miss Lingard, navy blue jacket and skirt, blaek velvet hat; Miss M Lingard, in a brown gown, with hat to match; Mrs Mantel], blaek coat and skirt and black velvet hat, trimmed with grey tips; Mrs Menteath, black satin, the bodice trimmed with pink under white lace, blaek hat, with tips and pink flowers; Mrs Menzies, in a black figured gown and lace bonnet; Mrs Moleneaux, dark green gown, with a little purple silk trimming on the bodice, vest of lovely moonlight sequins, pretty’ cream and pick bonnet; Mrs McPherson, in pale grey; Miss McGregor, black, and a black hat, trimmed with blue; Mrs Penton, black skirt and bluey grey brocaded silk blouse, black velvet toque, with yellow lace wings and magenta flowers; Miss Pearce, black canvas, the bodice trimmed with white lace, black and white bonnet; Miss Quick, dark skirt and red shot silk blouse, small flora! toque; Miss D. Quick, in brown; Mrs Richardson, in a brown gown, the bodice trimmed with fawn fur, velvet hat to match; Mrs Rhodes, rich black satin and jet; Mrs Malcolm Ross, light brown jacket and skirt and felt hat to match; Mrs Ed. Riddiford, a neat black tailor-made costume; Mrs PercySmith, black; Miss Percy-Smith, in a

blue gown and black hat, wi'h tips; Lady Stout, dark brown braided sui> and small black toque; Mrs Simpson, a grey striped silk gown and light bonnet, with pink roses; Miss Simpson wore a dark brown gown and a toque to match, with violets; Miss Seddon, navy blue cloth Eton gown piped with black satin, large black hat, with pink flowers aaid ospreys: Miss Mary Seddon wore a did’ green cloth gown, the short Eton coal braided with black, pretty cream vest, and blaek hat, trimmed with chiffon; Mrs Stuart, black costume; Miss Stuart, in a brown cloth gown, with a little fur at the neck, felt hat to match, with wings; Miss Staveley, blue jacket and skirt and sailor hat; Mrs Tolhurst, in a handsome blaek gown and jetted bonnet; Miss Tolhurst, brown costume; Mrs Turnbull, black braided tailor-made gown and a pretty violet toque, with mauve tips, Mrs Wallis, light sage green canvas over pink, the bodice having a yoke of the pink, gold bonnet, trimmed with flowers; Mrs Wardell, neat navy blue gown and deep red velvet toque; Mrs: T. M. Wilford, dark blue rough tweed, trimmed with velvet, black and yellowtoque; Mrs Warren, purple cioth jacket and skirt and a black straw iiat, with tips; Mrs Waldegrave, fawn coat and skirt and a black toque, trimmed with violets; Mrs W. C. Walker, in a brown silk gown, and hat to match, with tips; Mrs Whittai, terra-cotta satin gown and a hat to matcn, with feathers; Miss Williams, a pale grey silk gown and a grey straw poke bonnet, with pink roses and grey tips; Miss Una Williams wore a smoke grey coat and skirt and a pretty hat. with flowers; Mrs Whittem, in black; Miss Whittem, in a pink gown and black hat; Mrs Young, rough brown tweed, trimmed with velvet, brown felt hat; Miss Young also wore brown. On Saturday afternoon the Earl and Countess entertained ELEVEN MAORI CHIEFS, introduced by the Hon. James Carroll, at afternoon tea. His Excellency showed them over Government House and explained the matters of interest at which they seemed highly pleased. The fine display of electric light particularly took the visitors’ fancy and it was switched on and off several times for their benefit and amusement. A few speeches were made during the siflternoon, after which the Maoris thanked their kind host ami hostess for the pleasure they had given them and left. A few others wh > were present on this occasion were Sir Henry and Lady Berkely, Bishop and Mrs Wallis. Sir Arthur and Lady Douglas, Sir Walter and Miss Buller. Col. and Mrs Pole-Penton, Mr and Miss Pearce, and Mr and Mrs H.

Smith.

OPHELIA-CLARISSE.