CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XV, 15 April 1899, Page 496

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee. April 5. It is in great spirits my letter reaches you, for our Easter has been the greatest success, chiefly owing to the glorious weather which we had, and still are rejoicing in, and what a difference it does make to be sure. Well to begin my news. On Thursday evening last our gallant volunteers began their camp, field days, which mean hard work, took place on Friday and Monday. On Sunday a review was much appreciated by the public, who took advantage of going out in large, numbers to Bottle Lake. Drags, buggies, trams, etc., all well tilled, went at intervals of an hour. The camp of 1599 will long* be remembered as a. great success. Monday being the holiday everybody was bent on observing it as such. It was indeed a lovely day almost like summer, in fact, we felt our winter costumes almost too warm, but new dresses, hats, etc., must appear first AT THE RACES and the Riccarton Racecourse presented a gay and pretty scene. Numbers of well dressed ladies filled the stand to overflowing, and a splendid day's racing we all had. Among the gay throng were Mrs E. C. J. Stevens, a handsome black coat and skirt costume. white silk vest, pretty black bonnet with pink velvet trimmings ; Lady Clifford, a scarlet coat and skirt heavily braided with black, large black hat with feathers ; Mrs G. Stead, a grey coat and skirt with grey fur trimmings, small toque with palest blue ; Mrs E. D. O'Rorke, a lovely heliotrope gown with narrow black velvet, black hat : Mrs George Rhodes (Claremont), a bright blue costume, hat en suite ; Mrs R. D. Thomas, a brown costume with rich orange velvet trimmings, bonnet to match ; Mrs Jennings, blue dress braided with black, large black hat with cerise trimmings : Mrs Hume, black dress with pink silk yoke, black and pink hat ; Mrs Ranald Macdonald, a striking costume of red, with becoming red velvet hat and shaded red ostrich feathers ; Mrs George Harris, a navy blue dress, yellow silk vest, small toque ; Mrs Morton Anderson, a green cloth dress with pink trimmings ; Miss Buckley, n lovely dress of grey chiffon with lace

insertions over yellow satin, chiffon vest, large transparent hat of grey with yellow roses ; Miss R. Buckley, a grey check costume trimmed with white, hat to match, and pretty feather boa ; Miss Mac Lean, navy coat and skirt, black hat ; Miss Brett, a rich prune-coloured coat and skirt braided with black, large hat trimmed with yellow ; Miss Buller wore grey trimmed with pink ; Miss Palmer, a green dress, with rich violet velvet hat ; Mrs J. C. Palmer, bright blue coat and skirt, hat trimmed with fur and blue feathers ; Mrs Louisson, a handsome black and grey check costume braided with black, crimson velvet vest, white satin revers and collar, black hat with crimson chrysanthemums.

In the evening at 9 p.m. MISS COX’S ASSEMBLY

took place, which was a great success. It was held in the Art Gallery, and about two hundred were present. Dancing was kept up with great, spirit until the small hours of the morning. A delicious supper was served, and I heard Miss Tendall, lately from England. superintended it, so she is to be congratulated on her success. I noticed Mrs Buller in a handsome black brocade ; her daughter wore a white silk trimmed with chiffon ; Mrs Cook in black ; Mrs Owen Cox, a lovely pale grey brocade with salmon trimmings ; Mrs Charles Cook, black silk covered with net ; Mrs L. Matson, a pretty white dress trimmed with red ; Mrs John Anderson, black ; Miss Anderson, white silk frock ; Miss Howley (Timaru). a lovely white satin, the bodice prettily tucked ; Miss E. Cox. yellow silk with white lace insertion ; Miss Williams, white with pale green trimmings ; Miss Jessie Turner, white silk; Miss Acton-Adams, black satin; Miss Buchanan, a handsome dress of white with pale blue velvet trimmings; Miss Hargreaves wore a yellow silk ; Miss Neave, blue silk ; Miss Izard, white ; Miss Mendelson, a rich white satin with pearl trimmings ; Miss Lean, cream skirt,and bodice trimmed with yellow roses; Miss Allen, a pretty white silk ; Miss Gibson, pale blue"; Miss Ensor, palest pink ; Miss Crossley. black satin and white lace ; Miss Macdonald, a pretty combination of palest green and pink ; Miss Davie, white with pink roses.

On Tuesday another beautiful day for the races, and numbers went out *0 the course. In the evening’ at the Theatre Royal, ‘DOROTHY• was given by the New Zealand Natives Operatic Association, and never have amateurs achieved such a success. The theatre was packed, and the opera went off without a hitch. The scenery is beautiful and the dresses magnificent. The hunting- chorus which is introduced in a. disjointed fashion at the end of the second act. created a regular furore, having- to be repeated three times. A graceful minuet was also much appreciated by the audience, as also the ballet dance, which was encored twice. Miss Watson and Miss Sandstein dancing wonderfully. Miss Carrick made an ideal Dorothy, both looking and acting the part to perfection. and her beautiful voice is heard to great advantage all through the opera. In the second act she wore a lovely dress of rich white brocaded satin with pale blue satin paniers, and the bodice richly embroidered. Miss Lilian Smith as Lydia Hawthorne, Dorothy's cousin, was simply sweet, and thoroughly entered into her part. Miss L. Thompson made an excellent Phyllis. The trio ‘Be wise in time ’ by Dorothy, Lydia and Phyllis was doubly encored. Mr Maitland Gardner's performance as Squire Bantam was one of the chief successes of the opera. Mr Winter Hall was very good indeed as Harry Sherwood, and Mr Marsh was exceedinglly funny as Lurcher. Mrs Privett (known as Mrs Mongomery) was excellent, the ancient dame causing roars of laughter by her clever low comedy acting. The opera continues all this week, and each night promises to be a great success, as almost all the seats are booked. Among the audience I noticed Mr and Mrs Pitman. Mrs Rhodes, Mrs ActonAdams and her daughter. Mr and Mrs Frank Graham, Miss Graham. Mr Meares and his daughters, Mrs Grigg. Mrs Rich. Mr and Mrs Louisson and daughters. Mr and Mrs Quane, Mrs Deanes, Mr Crossley and Miss Crossley, Mr and Mrs 11. Overton, Misses Lean (2), Cox (2), Walker, Palmer, Cowlishaw, Dixon and Buchanan.

(DELAYED.) Dear Bee, March 28. A great musical treat was given us in the Choral Hall on Monday evening, when Miss Elsie Hall made her debut before a Christchurch audience. Miss Hall is an exceptional pianist; her execution is simply wonderful. Her first piece was Liszt's dramatic 'Rhapsodic' No. 14, and it was truly wonderfully played, being much appreciated by the audience. Beethoven's sonata in F major was a great treat, and in response to an undeniable encore Miss Hall played Mendelssohn’s ‘Spinnlied’ most beautifully; all her other numbers called forth loud applause. Mrs Biyrns and Mrs Howie assisted Miss Hall; also Messrs Hockley and Gardener. Miss Hall wore a pretty white silk gown made in Grecian style, which was most becoming; Mrs Howie a lovely white satin trimmed with ostrich feathers and lace, long rucked chiffon sleeves; Mrs Burns a rich white brocade, with beautiful roses, and carried a bouquet of roses. Among the audience I noticed Judge and Mrs Denniston, the latter wearing a handsome black gown, pretty pink cloak; Miss Ainger, also in black; Mrs Cook, a pretty silk blouse with rich lace; her daughter a white silk with yellow insertion; Mrs John Anderson, black, white corded silk opera cloak; Miss Anderson, white silk; Mrs Buller, black; Miss Buller, white silk blouse; Mrs Kettle, a striking red costume, with black lace; Mrs Malet, a rich black brocade; Miss Malet, black; Mrs Jennings. a blouse of vieux rose silk; Miss Cowlishaw, green velvet, with white lace; Mrs Turnbull, nee Cowlishaw, a pretty heliotrope blouse of chiffon; Mrs Westmacott, a yellow gown; also Mr and the Misses Meares; Mr and the Misses Bishog; Mr and the Misses Gardener.

Great preparations are taking place for the Easter encampment of the volunteers at Bottle Lake. It is a good place for a camp, and given fine weather a very jolly time, as well as instructive, shouild be spent. The different corps go into camp on Hhursday night until Tuesday.

DOLLY VALE.