CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue IX, 27 August 1898, Page 280

CHRISTCHURCH

Dear Bee. August 17. We have had a really GRAND NATIONAL this year with more festivities than there were days in the week for, and we began by crowding two into one the ‘At Homes' of Mrs Studholme and Mrs G. Gould, on Wednesday. Mrs Studholme was assisted in entertaining- her many guests, who came and went, perpetually, by her daughter and two daughters-in-law, Mesdames J. and W. P. Studholme. Mrs Studholme looked very handsome in a rich black brocade, and made us so welcome. Tea was served in the dining-room, and some very good music was heard at intervals from the drawing-room. Among the guests were Mr and Mrs Heaton Rhodes, Mr and Mrs A. Rhodes, Mr and Mrs Burns, Mr and Miss Wilding, Mrs Wason, Mrs Reeves, Mrs Boyle, Mr and Mrs Palmer, Mr and Misses Cowlishaw. Mr and Mrs Wigley, Mrs and Misses Wynn-Wil-liams, Mrs and Miss Julius, and many others. A great many of these guests passed on from Merivale to Mrs G. Gould’s, and vice versa. The decorations at Mrs Gould’s were lovely, so many spring flowers on the table in the dining-room, where afternoon tea was laid, that we quite thought, spring had come to stay. On the landing in the hall, which was also beautifully decorated, and numbers of lounges and seats about, a string band discoursed pleasant, music. Mrs Gould wore a handsome gown of black brocade, the bodice trimmed with irrides-,<-ent trimming. Among her guests were Mrs Ogle, Miss Lee, Mrs Grace, Mrs Mii-hell Clarke, Mrs Pyne, Mr and Mrs Lascelles, Mrs P. Baldwin, Mrs Dalgety, Misses Reeves, Tabart, Malef, etc. ' On Thursday a very cold wind blew across the Rieearton racecourse, but a very large gathering assembled there and more visitors than usual for a Grand National. Some very handsome toilets were to be seen on the lawn, and sealskin capes and jackets more numerous than ever. We generally manage to get up some special excitement over the ‘Ladies’ Bracelet’ races, but. this time it was intense, Mr Wilfred Stead, eldest, son of Mr G. G, Stead rode, and rode to win, gain-

ing one for his mother and one for his sister. Mrs Stead wore royal blue cloth gown and sealskin cape, pale blue floral toque; Miss Stead, navy blue frock, faced with white, and white vest, white felt hat, with scarlet feather, flowers and black wings: Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes, brown cloth gown and sealskin coat, brown hat, trimmed with brown and ]>ale green and green wings; Mrs Elworthy (Timaru), pale brown satin gown, sealskin coat, black bonnet, with multi-coloured trimming; Miss Elworthy, prune cloth gown and fawn cape, black hat, with violet feathers; Mrs Denniston, rich brown dress, and vest brocaded with pink, black bonnet, with pink roses, sealskin cape; Miss Denniston, pale green costume, green straw hat, with pink chiffon and osprey; Mrs Dalgety, grey tweed dress, sealskin coat, brown hat; Mrs Wason, pretty grey cloth, with vest of white and gold, violet floral toque, with a touch of crimson; Mrs A. Roberts, grey tweed tailor gown, braided with black, black and pale blue, toque; Miss Studholme, navy serge, braided with black, black hat, trimmed with vieux rose; Mrs G. Gould, a blue and grey check, made Princess style, fastening on one side, and thickly braided with black and pale blue, black velvet hat, and ostrich tips; Mrs J. T. Peacock, green cloth gown, sealskin jacket, and pretty bonnet; Mrs Gibbs (Wellington), navy blue, with flounced skirt and braided with black, black hat, with violets; Mrs Louisson, very handsome black and blue brocaded silk, sealskin cape, black hat, with yellow roses; Mrs W. Stringer, cheek tweed, the. yellow vest braided in black, black hat, with ostrich tips; Mrs W. B. Cowlishaw, handsome violet cloth costume, hat en suite: Miss Cowlishaw, navy serge, light fawn jacket, and large black hat; Miss G. Cowlishaw, violet cloth dress, fawn coat, black hat. trimmed with green ribbon and violets; Mrs Pyne, grey costume, with long sacque jacket, black and white hat ; Mrs Boyle, blaek gown, sealskin jacket, black hat, relieved with white; Mrs Ogle, green cloth, braided with black, seal cape, and small black toque; Miss Lee, navy gown, braided with white, black hat, and bunches of cherries; Mrs Burns, fawn tweed, sealskin jacket, black toque, with steel passementerie; Mrs Walcot Wood, dark gown, seal cape, black and yellow hat; Mrs C. Wood (Lyndon Downs), Mrs Babiugton, Misses Murray-Aynsley, Way, Graham, Ainger, Nedwill, Fairhurst, Turner, Mrs and Miss Harley, Mrs Morton Anderson, etc. ‘Strowan,’ the residence_of Mr and Mrs G. G. Stead, was a scene of brilliance on Friday night that all the elements could not damp, although it poured in torrents. Mrs Stead, gowned in a lovely heliotrope and white brocade, in feather pattern, and diamond ornaments, received her guests in' the drawing-room; little Miss Stead wore pale pink glace silk and white lace, with powdered hair and white aigrette. Two rooms were used for dancing, the dining-room as a tearoom, and a supper-room, built off the verandah, which was all enclosed; the supper-room had a large horse-shoe table, seating nearly 150 at one time; the. floral decorations of wattle, narcissi, and lovely yellow satin ribbons were beautifully done. The hall, with its furnishings in a warm terra-cotta tone, had numerous lounges and seats and cosy corners were available at every turn. At. one end of the hall Miss Serivenor’s Quadrille Band was stationed and gave charming music. The addition of the powder and the patches certainly enhanced the good looks of the ladies, and the hair in most cases was done up a little higher than usual; some lovely gowns were worn. Mrs Heaton Rhodes looked charming in petunia-coloured velvet and some exquisite lace draping the bodice, a little falling on the skirt, diamond necklet and ornaments: Mrs Dalgety, pale blue brocade, the bodice of pale pink chiffon; Mrs Denniston, maize satin, finished with jet; Mrs Grace (Wellington), black velvet and lovely lace; Mrs Michell Clarke, pale green satin, and cream lace; Mrs Louisson, lovely pink brocade and diamond ornaments; Mrs J. Studholme, pearl grey brocade and white lace, diamond necklet and ornaments; Mrs W. Studholme. her satin bridal gown; Mrs F. Studholme, white silk, relieved with pale blue; Mrs A. Rhodes, Princess robe of petunia brocaded satin, the front of white, with wreath of lilac at the foot, diamond ornaments; Miss Pearl Harley (debutante), white satin; Miss Denniston (debutante),

very pretty white satin, with bebe Ijodice and lovely floral posy; Mrs G. Gould, white and pink brocade, with wide flounce of pink chiffon; Mrs Ogle, pretty blue silk; Miss Julius, soft cream, with silk stripe; Mrs Baldwin (Wellington), lemon brocade and garlands of violets; Mrs Wason, rich red satin and pale pink roses; others present were Mr and Mrs J. Anderson, Mr and Miss Elworthy, Mr and Mrs Lascelles, Mr and Mrs Wanklyn, Mr and Mrs J. Guthrie, Colonel and Mrs Fox, Mr and Mrs Teschemaker, Mr J. and the Misses Tabart, Mr and Mrs H. Cotterill, Mr and the Misses Cowlishaw, Mr and Mrs L. Harley, Mr and Mrs P. Campbell, Mr and Mrs V. Hargreaves, Miss Cunningham, Mr and Miss Newton, Mr and Mrs H. Wood, Mrs Babington, Mr and Miss Graham, Mr and Miss Courage, Miss Meares, and others. Three of the gentlemen wore full court costume. as well as the powdered hair, and looked very fascinating. Saturday, for the second day’s racing, was very wet—a regular mackintosh and umbrella day.

DOLLY VALE.