CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XV, 7 October 1899, Page 637

CHRISTCHURCH.

Sear Bee, September 27. The Pollards are having an exceptionally good time at the Theatre Royal with the ‘•Belle of New York.” The first night or two crowds were turned away, but all are satisfied now, I think, and a gorgeous pantomime reigns instead. With so many performers there is scarcely room for all on the stage. During the week among the audiences were Mr and Mrs Rhodes, Mr and Mrs Stead, Mr and Mrs Louisson, Mr and Mrs Vernon, Dr. and Mrs Jennings, Mr and Mrs Wood, Mr, Mrs and the Misses Meares, Mrs Watson, Mrs Cridiand, Dr. and Mrs Fox, Mr and Mrs Wardrop, Mrs Ogle, Mrs Burns, Mr and Miss Graham, Mr, Mrs and Miss Thompson, Mrs Denniston, Mr and Mrs E. Turrell, and many others. The Bulb Show at the Art Gallery on Wednesday and Thursday was a gorgeous display of the “daffodowndilly” tribe. Of the amateurs, Mr E. H. Rhodes and Mr L. Cockayne’s collections alone were worthy of exhibition, that one might see such variety and such perfection. Amongst Mr Rhodes’ collection there was a lovely branch of “Waratah” in full Sower, brought over by him from Sydney, and, of course, a novelty. Another novelty was an exquisite rhododendron grown by Nairn and Son, I believe from the Himalayas, and Davis had a beautiful and rare orchid, a bright scarlet star-like blossom. There were only five decorated tables, Miss Cholmondeley securing first prize by vote. Among the large number of visitors were Mr and Mrs Heaton Rhodes, the latter in a grey cloth coat and skirt and bright toque; Mrs O’Rorke, dark green coat and skirt, sailor hat; Mrs Boyle, black velvet skirt, with black cloth overskirt stitched with white, large black and white hat; her two little girls in electric blue cloth and large white hats; Mrs C- Clark, black and blue check cloth, sable boa; Mrs Fenwick, all black, and heliotrope in her bonnet; Mrs J. T. Peacock, black serge coat and skirt, white vest, large black hat and feathers; Mrs (Dr-) Jennings, dark blue, braided with black; Mrs Pitman, dark check cloth, seal jacket, black velvet hat with feathers; Mrs Stead, pale grey coat and skirt, corn flower blue toque, and white feather boa; Mrs A. Rhodes, dark blue cloth sac coat and skirt, black and. white hat; Mesdames Julius, Studholme, Denniston, Reeves, Cowlishaw, Wardrop, Ogle, Turnbull, Henderson, H. Wood, P. Campbell, R. D. Thomas, Deans, Cockayne, G- Gould, Palmer, Ollivier, Stringer, Humphreys, Garrard, Scott, Wigram, Staveley, Bourne, Hamer; Misses Nedwill, Garrick, I. Martin, Williams, Bowen, Elworthy, Hewitt, Way, Russell, C. Lean, Henderson, Murray-Aynsley, Kinsey, Winter, Kiver; Messrs Barker, O’Rorke, Gibbs, Bennett, Hill, Carrick, Rhodes, Berry, Kinsey, Denniston, etc.', etc. The annual ball of the College Rifles on Friday evening, at the Art Gallery, was a very enjoyanle one, as anything to do with the .military has a rather more brilliant aspect than usual. Miss Scriveuor’s band supplied excellent music, and floor and supper were both good. Among those present were Colonel and Mrs Gordon, the latter looking extremely well in pink silk trimmed with silver; Mr 6 Denniston, a handsome gown of yellow silk; Mrs W. Stringer, a beautiful apricot brocade with touches of fur; Mrs Marsh, black satin, the bodice trimmed with pink chiffon; Mrs Michel Clarke, yellow brocade; Mrs Owen Cox, a beautiful fawn brocade relieved with heliotrope; Miss HardyJohnstone, black satin; Mrs Grierson, black; Miss Graham, yellow silk; Miss Hargreaves, rich cream silk and real lace; Miss Kiver, black and white; Miss Berkeley, pale pink brocade; Mrs G. P. and Miss Williams, Misses Cox, Aitken, March, Way, Allen, Bell, Hoare, Sweet, Van Asch, Sanders, Neave, Messrs Day, Marsh, Stringer, Cooper, Styche, Merton, Harper. Williams, March, etc-, besides several of the officers from H.M.S. Ringdove and Mildura.

On Friday Mrs Ogle entertained a number of friends at afternoon tea at her residence, Fendalton, amongst whom were Ml* Wardrop, Mrs J. D. Hall,' Mrs J. C. Palmer, Mrs O'Rorke, Mrs Stevens, Mrs Rose, Mrs G. Gould, Mrs Woodhouse, Mrs Stead, Mrs G. Harris, Mrs H. Cotterill, Mrs Fox, Mrs Turnbull, the Misses Murray-Aynsley, Ronalds, Cotterill, Tabert, Berwick,

’A meeting of friends and pupils of the late Miss Violet Ward took place at Miss Fairhurst's residence, Cranmer Square, on Saturday, when it was decided to do something to perpetuate the memory of the deceased lady, who was so beloved by all who knew her. A scholarship was thought to be a most fitting memorial, and two young ladies were appointed to collect subscriptions,while Mrs Bowen and Miss Fairhurst will also receive donations.

At a recent fire at Sydenham a sad and fatal ending occurred. A little boy of five was burned to death, while the father and mother were so seriously burned trying to save the family that they had to be taken to the Hospital. The family lost all they possessed, and friends immediately began to think how they could relieve them. Mrs Howie, assisted by the Fire Brigade and a number of ladies and gentlemen, got up an open-air concert on Saturday evening in Market Square, which realised £6O odd, a sacred concert given by the Pollards on Sunday another £3O, and £ll from Fuller’s Waxworks, and another £lO or £l2 private subscriptions. DOLLY VALE.