WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue V, 3 February 1900, Page 223

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee. January 22. The interior of Government House presented a brilliant scene on Thursday evening last, when the Countess of Ranfurly held a large RECEPTION IN HONOUR OF THE COALMAN I>ER AND OFFICERS OF THE CONTINGENT. The officers were also entertained at dinner before the reception, and others who were honoured with invitations to dine were Colonel PolePenton, Right Hon. the Premier, Hon. J. McKenzie. lion. J. G. Ward. Hon. -T. Can-oil, Hon. W. C. Walker, Hon. HallJones, Hon. T. Thompson. Sir Arthur Douglas, the Mayor (Mr J. G. Aickin), Captain Stuart (H.M.s. Tauranga), and Captain Stuart (s.s. Waiwera). The spacious rooms were beautifully decorated for the occasion with large pot plants, etc.: at one end the ball-room was a high stand, entirely composed of handsome, hydrangeas, with a background of greenery. At the far end of lite main corridor, in a bower of greenery. Minifie's band of six performers discoursed sweet music during the evening. A sumptuous supper was laid in the dining-room, the table looking very pretty with pot plants and flowers among the beautiful cut-glass and silver. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Hanfurly received at the entranee to the drawing-rooms. The Countess was dressed entirely in black, owing to the death of Colonel Goff, a cousin of Lord Ranfurly’s, who was killed in action at Alagersfontein, Her gown was of lovely Duchesse satin, trained, and the corsage trimmed with cut jet, and black aigrette in her hair; she also wore her beautiful diamond necklace and ornaments. The Ladies Constance and Eileen Knox were dressed in simple and pretty frocks of white muslin, trimmed with lace frills and insertion. There were some very handsome gowns worn on this occasion; one of the handsomest in the room was that worn by the Countess de Courte; it was of the richest white satin, made with a very slight train, the skirt was entirely veiled witli fine black chiffon, exquisitely embroidered with glistening jet and steel, and the bodice was -trimmed with the same; Airs Seddon, black brocade, with white lace on bodiee;. Miss. Seddon, white satin, trimmed with chiffon; Airs Wallis, pale yellow silk gown, trimmed with chiffon to match; Mrs Grace wore a very lovely gown of grey satin, with a. train of rich brocade, the skirt was draped with deep black lace, and the bodice had a little pink chiffon on the corsage and sleeves; Airs Capt. Stuart, pale grey silk, with white lace round the corsage; Lady Douglas, red silk gown, trimmed with deep white lace and red chiffon tips; Lady Osborne-Gibbs, black satin, with passementerie round the corsage; Airs Dunean, black bro-cade, with pretty white lace on the bodice; Mrs Richardson,

black satin, the bodiee having epaulettes of white satin under laee; Miss Richardson, white satin, trimmed with chiffon and fur shoulder straps; Airs Izard, black satin, with white laee fichu, white and mauve cap; Aliss Izard, white silk gown, trimmed with white and yellow chiffon; Mrs C. Izard, black silk and chiffon, trimmed with green; Airs Bell. rich oyster and gold brocade, with a little blue satin and white laee on . the bodice; .Miss Bell, white satin and chiffon, the bodice trimmed with dull red velvet; Airs Dyer, white silk, with laee; Airs Sprott. black, trimmed with brown and green brocade and white lace; Miss Sprott. white and pale blue gown; Mrs W. Reid, black satin, with lace; Mrs .Montgomery (Wanganui), blaek satin and white laee fichu; Miss Montgomery, black, trimmed with white ehifl’on; Mrs Bean (Christchurch), white silk; Mrs Collins, dark red velvet gown, with white lace on the bodice; Mrs Fancourt, blaek, with white lace; Mrs Riddiford, handsome crushed strawberry brocade, with lace and chiffon on the bodice; Miss Riddiford, white satin, trimmed with figured chiffon and flowers; Mrs Elgar (Featherston), white satin, trimmed with pretty lace; Mrs Gore, blaek brocade, with white lace on the bodice; Miss O. Gore, pale blue silk, the bodice trimmed with white accordion chiffon; -Mrs Warren, white satin, with chiffon on the bodiee: Mrs Barclay, black and white; Miss Barclay, black

silk, trimmed with jet; Mrs Bucholz, pretty white satin and lace; Mrs Field, black, trimmed with black and white chiffon; Mrs Hislop, black silk and lace gown; .Miss Hislop, black satin, trimmed with jxile blue velvet; Mrs .Arthur Russell (Palmerston North), black satin, the bodice trimmed with white satin and lace; Miss H. Williams. pale grey silk gown, the bodice veiled with white laee; Miss U. Williams, pale pink brocade. trimmed with pale pink brocade, triirfmed with cream lace: Miss G. Williams, white merveilleux. trimmed with lace and chiffon frills; Mrs Loughnan, black satin, with lace on the bodice; Mrs Brown, white gown, trimmed with chiffon ami flowers on the bodice: Mrs Travers, black satin, the ixxliee of chiffon, covered with a trellis pattern of narrow white gathered chiffon; Aiiss I. Coleridge, cream figured gown, trimmed with lace: Mrs Hutchison, black satin and jet gown: Miss Hutchison, black satin, the bodice trimmed with white lace and pink ribbon; Mrs Tuckey, black silk, with soft cream chiffon fichu: Mrs Alan Strang (Rangitikei), pretty white satin, trimmed with chiffon: Mrs Quick, heliotrope satin, veiled with black laee: Miss Quick, blaek saitin, trimmed with jet embroidery': Mrs T. Young, white satin gown, trimmed with silk embroidery, and fichu of chiffon: Mrs Dees, blaek gown, the bodice veiled with jewelled net: Mrs A. Crawford, white satin, with chiffon on the bodice; Mrs Henry, pale grey silk, with white chiffon round the corsage: Mrs J. Hume (Lyttelton), black satin gown, with red flowers on the bodice; Mrs McPherson, cream figured silk, with lace; Mrs A. Martin, black satin, the bodice trimmed with blue velvet and white lace; Mrs Waldegrave, heliotrope silk gown, trimmed with white lace and pansies; Mrs C. Pearce, black satin, with jet: Mrs Al. Ross, grey silk, veiled with white gauze and orange satin on the bodice; Mrs L. Wilson, black silk and lace: Miss Wilson, pale blue, trimmed with white laee: Aliss Ashcroft, black satin gown, with white lace on the bodice; Aliss Douglas, pink chiffon gown; Miss M. Douglas, in soft white silk and laee: Miss A. Hadfield, black satin, with white lace epaulettes; Miss Bell (Nelson), white figured silk, trimmed with lace; Aliss Fraser, white merveilleux gown, with chiffon: Aliss Holmes, black satin, trimmed with jet and lace: Miss Harcourt, white figured silk, with lace on the bodice; Miss E. Richmond also wore a pretty white gown; Afiss J. Skerrett, pink’ brocade, trimmed with ehifl’on ami lace; Miss Smart, yellow silk, trimmed with chiffon to match; Aliss Reid, cream brocade, trimmed with chiffon and lace; Aliss Stowe, white silk and chiffon gown: Miss Greenfield, black. 1 am afraid that is all I can remember, though there must have been numbers more that 1 did not see. There was a number of strangers present, whose names I did not know; one young lady wore a very pretty pale green satin and ehifl’on gown, and another a very rich white satin, with flounces of chiffon on the skirt, and paste buckles

here and there on the chiffon corsage. Another stranger wore a soft cream gown, prettily trimmed with Lace and black velvet.

Among the gentlemen I noticed the Right Hon. the Premier, Sir Robert Stout, Colonel Penton, the Rev. T. H. Sprott, Drs. Collins. Henry, and Martin, Cahill, Count de Courte, Messrs Dunean. Fraser. Harcourt, Travers, Richardson, etc., etc.

The excitement in Wellington on Saturday afternoon, when the second contingent left for South Africa, was very great. Perhaps the most animated scene was in and about the enclosure in Jervois Quay, where thousands of people had assembled to witness the proceedings and hear the speeches made by His Excellency the Governor, Mr Seddon, and the Mayor (Mr Aitken). Lord Ranfurly was accompanied by Lady Ranfurly. Lady Constance Knox. Captain Alexander, and Mr HillTrevor. Lady Ranfurly was looking very nice in a black gown, with broad collar of open, white laee, very pretty blaek straw hat, trimmed with drooping jetted feathers and chiffon; Lady Constance wore a crushed strawberry coloured dress, and a white lace trimmed hat.

OPHELIA.