NELSON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XVI, 22 April 1899, Page 536

NELSON.

Dear Bee. April 11. Aliss Elsie Hall has returned to Nelson for a short visit, and on Alonday gave the first of a series of PIANOFORTE RECITALS in the Harmonic Hall. The audience was a fairly large one and all were delighted with the Australian pianist's beautiful playing. 1 think I may truly say such playing has never before been heard in Nelson. Aliss Halt wore a white silk evening dress, finished with a sash of white satin ribbon; her mother. Airs Hall, was attired in black, relieved with a little cream lace on the bodice. Amongst the audience were Airs A. Atkinson, black: Airs Fell, violet silk blouse, blnck skirt; Airs Sealy, blnck dress, white . lace cap. brightened with pink; Aliss Fanny Sealy, white muslin and lace; Afrs Cock, pale blue silk blouse, dark skirt; Mrs Kempthorne, black gown, smart fichu of heliotrope chiffon; Afrs Hum-

phries, black; Miss Humphries, cream nun’s veiling; Mrs Perrin; Mrs Childs (Motueka Valley) looked well in grey; Mrs Vining, brown, with large collar ■ofcream lace; Mrs Pogson, black, with white lace fichu; Miss Pogson, light blouse, black skirt; Mrs Lightfoot; Miss Lightfoot, pink muslin; Miss King, evening dress of deep red silk; Miss Browning looked remarkably well in a black evening dress, with •sleeves and yoke of bright apricot silk, which suited the wearer well; Miss Woollcombe (Timaru), evening blouse of light blue silk, black skirt; Miss Trix Atkinson, black silk; Miss Hayter, green cashmere; Miss Gibson, •electric blue silk blouse, skirt to match; Miss Rochfort, white pique; Miss Gibbs, white, relievedwith green; Miss N. Gibbs also wore white; Miss Duff, black silk, with jet trimmings; the Misses Moore (2) wore white; Miss Blashkie, blaek, with fichu of white muslin and lace; the Misses E. Kempthorne, Phyllis Fell, M. Robinson, Melhuish, Talbot, and many others.

Much sympathy is felt with Mr and Mrs W. H. Turner, whose pretty residence at Clifton Terrace, about five miles from town, was totally destroyed by fire on Saturday evening. How the fire originated is a mystery. The family were in the dining-room till shortly after seven p.m., when Mr C. Turner went into the passage, and there noticed a flare, and on stepping outside found that the upper part of the house was on fire. As the flames had obtained a strong hold, there was no hope of saving any portion of the building, which, though an old one,

was in excellent condition. A very few articles of furniture and some books were saved, but the rest of the contents were consumed, the only clothing saved being that worn by the occupants. Kain was falling heavily at the time of the fire, and a more miserable night in which to be deprived of a home can scarcely be imagined. There was no insurance, and Mr Turner is a very heavy loser.

PHYLLIS.