WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXV, 18 June 1898, Page 774

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, June 9th. I'his week has been an exceptionally dull one, and in consequence 1 fear my letter will be dull also. However I suppose the gaieties will begin probably after the 24th of this month, as the session opens on that day. The Thomdon Lawn Tennis Club’s ball takes place in St. Thomas’ Hall to-morrow night, and judging from the way tickets are selling ought to be a very great success. I hear that lx>rd and Lady Ranfurly are going to give a large fancy dress ball in a month or so, and although it is some distance away people are beginning to wonder ‘what they will go as.’ While speaking of GOVERNMENT HOUSE reminds me that I must tell you a little about the new furnishings of the interior of that building. I have had so much news for my last two letters that 1 have never had an opportunity of doing so. The fine large rooms are very much improved by the new paper and paint. The drawing-rooms particularly took my fancy. They are papered with a lovely delicate paper of pale yellow with a pattern of the same shade running over it, and the dining-room pajier is of a similar design, but the colour is a deep red, and looks most effective against the pure white ceiling. In the drawingrooms all the doors and ceilings are painted white, as also are the corridor ceilings and staircase. The corridors are papered with an enormous pattern of pink and red poppies and their leaves on a pale buff coloured ground, and carpeted with rich crimson carpets that give a nice warm appearance to the surroundings. As you enter the hall and look down the corridor, with the grand white staircase leading off it and the red carpeting that seems to show up everything, the effect is very charming, and is a great contrast to the rooms on either side of it, which are so delicate looking. The way in which the electric light is fitted up is most effective and novel. The ceilings are dotted with single globes, and round the walls are occasional brackets, with some five or six of these pretty little frosted globes hanging from the brasswork like drops of dew. None of the lights have shades, and this idea is a pleasant change from the everlasting chandalier. I saw her ladyship walking in town with Captain Alexander a few days ago. She was wearing a coat and skirt of scarlet cloth, a pretty vest, and a black and red velvet toque, with red quills at the left side. The ladies Constance and Eileen Knox are also frequently to be seen out walking. They wear pretty frocks of brown cloth and large straw hats to match, with drawn silk crowns. GOLF. The weather was simply perfect for golf <n Saturday last, and if th? greens had only been a little truer nothing would have been wanting. At the Miramar links there was a large entrance for the monthly handicap competition for the silver cleek, a very good match resulting in a tie between D. Pryde and W. Higginson, with a net score of 92 each, Mr Higginson playing a capital game, as Mr Pryde, from scratch, is generally invincible. The next best scores handed in were:

12 players entered for the Ladies’ Monthly Boyle Medal Competition, and also resulted in a tie between Mrs Adams and Mrs Todd, the former having 17 handicap and the latter starting at scratch. The scores handed in were: —Mrs Adams, handicap 17, 3 holes up; Mrs Todd, scratch, 3 holes up; M*ss Duncan, handicap 4, 1 hole down; Mrs Lees, handicap owe o. 1 bole down; Miss Bell handicap 12, I hole down; Miss Marrah, handicap 15, 2 holes down; Miss Cooper, handicap 6, 3 holes down. If beginners were to walk round with the players they would no doubt receive some hints which would be of great service to them hereafter. At the Hutt links the second competition for the St. Andrew's Cross took place on Saturday. After a capital game Dr. Purdy, with n handicap of 15, tied with Mr D. B. Howden (scratch). The l>est scores made during the match were :— Dr Purdy, handicap 15, total 87. D. B. Howden, scratch, total 87. H. Fitz Herbert , handicap fl. total 90. C. Treadwell, handicaps, total 96. Tho Hutt, ladies* for the second

time, competed for the Riddiford Medal, Miss Tee finally winning with the good score of 75. The best cards handed in were: —

HOCKEY. Perfect weather greeted the Wellington Hockey Club for their practice match at Island Bay on Saturday, a very large attendance of members and lookers on being present on the ground. Sides were picked by Messrs Pearce and Wilson and a well contested game resulted in a win for the team captained by Pearce, in spite of the splendid game played by Wilson, who scored two goals in succession for his team. Most of those playing were novices, and, seeing that none of the players had practised to any extent together before, the form displayed was eminently satisfactory and speaks well for the future success ot the club. The personnel of the teams consisted of: —A Team: Pearce (captain), Messrs Cooper, Norris, Wedde, Wylie, Devenish, Dibley. B Team: Wilson (captain), Messrs Broad, Fitzherbert, Organ, Wylie (2), Driscoll, Dickson. The scores were:—Pearce’s team, 5; Wilson's team, 4. Two very well known and respected Petone residents celebrated their GOLDEN WEDDING there on the 6th , viz., the Rev. William Kirk end his wife. Their son. Mr R. C. Kirk, is the popular Mayor of that borough. The Rev. William and Mrs Kirk were married at Hokianga, at the Mission Station, on June 6t.h, 1848, and have therefore witnessed most of the stirring episodes connected with New Zealand’s early history and are both widely known and respected throughout the colony. In the early fifties Mr Kirk had charge of the New Native Industrial ami Technical School at Kai Iwi, and mainly through Mr Kirk’s influence this school was filled by young Maori men from all parts of New Zealand, who made great progress in their studies until the Hauhau War cut short the work; after that period Mrs Kirk’s failing health necessitated her retirement. Mrs Kirk was born at Paihia, Bay of Islands, when the natives were still in a savage state, and intends to compile reminiscences of the Maoris, which should prove of great value and interest to all New Zealanders.

CLARISSE-OPHELIA.

Gross. Hdcp. Total. J. Webster 102 9 93 G. Todd 97 2 95 W. B. Lees 103 6 97

Miss Lee UroriH. Hdcp. Total. 99 24 75 M re Scales 79 scratch 79 Miss Kaste 94 12 82 Mrs Pearce 91 6 85 Miss Fitz-Herbert 92 scratch 92