AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIII, 9 June 1900, Page 1094

AUCKLAND.

Dear- Bee, J une 5. It was quite a red-letter day on Saturday last for the members of the PAKURANGA HUNT CLUB, when; they met at Mr. Moody’s, Three Kings. The day was a perfect one, being bright and cloudless, with a clear, pale blue sky, brilliant sub and gentle breeze, which, save for an occasional sharpness, might have recalled the departed summer. Mr. and Mrs. Moody, with their usual generous hospitality, entertained the members and their friends to a substantia] hunt luncheon. Four rooms were throw®

oen for the use of the many guests. The tables were uniquely decorated with slashings of red. white and blue. After the business of luncheon had been amply discussed, the hounds were thrown off on the Mount Albert side of Mr. Moody’s estate. After unsuocessfully drawing all the surrounding paddocks round Mr. Moody's homestead, with jumping en galore, the obstacles being saplings thrown across wire, also fences and falls, we eventually started a pussie in the lowlands of Mr. Moody’s, which took us through Mr. Dibble’s and Mr. O’Callaghau’s properties, and up through the avenue of the Pah, Onehunga, where pussie was lost. On returning another hare was started in Mr. Dibble’s furm, and was killed after a smart run near Mr. Moody’s avenue. The large number of followers now adjourned to Mr. Moody's, where afternoon tea for the ladies and something stronger for the gentlemen was provided by the thoughtful generosity of our host and hostess, who did everything in their power to promote the comfort of their guests. Our hostess was ably assisted by Miss Selby. No sooner were we mounted for our homeward journey than we heard the hounds again in full cry, when the smartest and best run of the day was enjoyed. There were only a few followers. Pussie took a bee line for Three Kings, passing through Mr. Dibble’s over the double of the Mount Albert and Onehunga Road into Three Kings, here veering past the Mission Schoolhouse; another double into Mr Ash’s, but it was getting so late we were actually hunting by the moonlight. The hounds were whipped off. and we turned homewards. During these runs quite a small nucleus, comparatively, was left to perform the kindly office of boring holes for the discreet majority. It is always the huntsman’s office to lead the wav since he must be with the hounds? Other people may decline to jump and go cantering off in search of n timely gap. but the shortest road is, as a rule, the road for him. First at an obstacle he goes, and of course gets over cleverly, and now people are forced to make up their minds as to whether thev will jump or whether thev won’t. " The bold don’t hesitate for a second, but the waverers are pitiful to behold. The insuperable difficulty which they experience of summoning up courage at the critical moment invariably proves fatal. They love sport, but then they don’t like danger, and in hunting the two are blended in really an alarming degree. Amongst those present were: Riding— Mr. Ralph (our master), on bis black hunter; Miss Roberts, Molly Hawke; Miss Gorrie, Jimmy; Miss Norah Gorrie, M’Liss; Miss Morrin, Blutcher; Miss Stribley, Awatuna; Miss McLaughlin. Cattlan; Miss Buckland, Villars; Miss Olive Buckland, Reporter; Mrs. Kelly, Playboy; Miss Amy Taylor. Tim; Miss Kerr Taylor, Nimrod; Misses Martin. Abbott, Rae, Ching, Ellett. Harris, Worsp; Mr. McLaughlin, Dad; Colonel Dawson, Ike; Mr. R. P. Kinloch, Specs; Mr. Caminer, Ingorangi; Mr. C. Pnrchas, Neck-or-Nothing; Mr. Snackenberg , Dandy Dick; Mr. Moody. Oceola; Mr. T. V. Morrin, Ronda; Mr. Burns. Squire; Mr. Miller. Kaiser; Mr. McLeod, Kilkern; Mr. Ray, Notation; Mr. Dunnett, Woodcock; Messrs. Woods, Somers, Lewis, Pittar, Grahame, Gordon, Ellett, Creagh, Elliott, Kinloch (2), Kerr Taylor, Morrin, Tutt, Denniston, etc. Driving were: Mrs. Markham, Mrs. Hope Lewis, Mrs. William Bloomfield, Mrs. H. T. Gorrie, Mrs. Smales. Mrs. Thomas Morrin; Mr. and Mrs. Touks, Miss Devereux, Mrs. Benjamin, Miss Philips, Mrs. Ralph, Miss Muir, Mr. and Mrs. Grahame, Messrs. Booth, Kelly, Thompson, Mr. and Miss Martin. Mr. Colson, Miss Wright and many others. There were a great many falls, but fortunately there were no bad results. One man was knocked out of time for a short space. Mr. Colson upset his vehicle with the excitement, so that he and the young lady occupant had a seat for a short time on the main road.

ST. JAMES’ SOIREE. The annual re-union of St. James* Presbyterian congregation took place last week. The event was not only commemorative of another year's progress, but also celebrated the re-open-ing of the church building after undergoing extensive repair* and decoration. It must have been very gratifying to the worthy Pastor (the Rev. R. P. Maonfeel) to see sueh n gathering of, friends on the occasion-—an evidence of the esteem In which he is ilesarvedly b«ld hy all classes of the community. The congregation, too. may well feel proud at the success of their efforts in clearing off the debt, and in so renew-

ing their church edifice. The building has undergone a complete transformation. The interior, walls and roof have been tastefully decorated, the pulpit and doors draped in crimson, and the lighting has been re-modelled* incandescent lights, judiciously distributed, replacing the old sun-lights. At the gathering on Tuesday evening au excellent tea (true to Presbyterian custom) was presided over by the ladies of the congregation, after which a well-arranged programme was gone through. The speakers of the evening were the Revs. G. B. Monro, Gray-Dixon ami R. Ferguson, all of whom spoke in the most felicitous terms of the esteemed Pastor, their sentiments being demonstratively endorsed by the congregation and their friends present. Musical items were given by the choir (under Mr Walton’s conductorship), and also by Mrs Sim, Misses Ella Farrell, and Millie Peak, Mr Walton and Mr A. L. Edwards, and were much appreciated. THE TEACHERS’ AT HOME. On Saturday afternoon His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Ranfurly gave an At Home at Government House to teachers and those connected with the educational institutions of Auckland. The guests were received by His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly in the drawing-room, there beiug also present Lady Constance Knox, Miss Richmond, Captain Dudley Alexander (His Excellency's private secretary), the Hon. Chas Hill-Trevor, A.D.C., and Mr Hugh Boscaweu, R.N., hon. A.D.C. A concert was held in the ball-room, which was handsomely decorated with greenery and pot plants, the whole beiug very artistic. The items of the programme were contributed by the Auckland Mandolin, Guitar and' Banjo Club, under Mr A. Towsey, .Mr Horace Stebbing, Dr. Egan, 0.5.8., Aiiss Dora Judson, Master Ernest Chitty (a pupil of the Blind Institute), Miss Maud Howard, Mr Wynyard Joss, Mrs Howie, Mrs Horace Stebbing, and Messrs Laurence and Fountain. The Countess of Ranfurly, by request, kindly sang “rhe Meeting of the Waters.” Afternoon tea and light refreshments were served.

AUCKLAND LAWN TENNIS CLUB. PROGRESSIVE EUCHRE PARTIES. The first of the winter series was given in the Masonic Hail. Princesstreet, on Thursday, 31st May. The hall was tastefully decorated with flags, and the arrangements gave universal satisfaction. There were 33 tables. The President of the Club and Mrs Coleman acted as host and hostess for the evening, and presented the prizes. Ladies’ first prize, a handsome leather lady’s companion, was won by Miss Parsons, the second prize, leather bag, by Mrs Barry Keesing, MJr Ziman took the gentleman’s first prize, a very handsome clock, and Miss Mitford (playing as a gentleman) the second, a pretty fan. The committee •were much complimented on their successful opening of the season, and these gatherings bid fair to be very popular and are to be held on the 4th Thursday in each month till October next.

Mrs Nelson, black silk; Mrs Roberts, black silk skirt, pale green evening blouse; Mrs Murray, black skirt and pale blue blouse trimmed with jet; .Mrs Rainger, white silk (handsome); Miss Brett, blue silk trimmed with pearl trimming and laee; Mrs Abbott, black and white silk trimmed with white chiffon and eerise ribbons; Miss Holland, white; Miss Ring and Miss E. Ring, white and blaek velvet; Mrs Donald, blaek mervilleux skirt and handsome evening blouse; Miss Donald. black and pink blouse:Mrs Devore, black moire (handsome); Mrs Lawry, black silk relieved with white lace and jet; Mrs Hanna, black and silver; Mrs Bedford, handsome blue silk blouse and black skirt; Mrs Suggate, pretty yellow velvet blouse with lace sleeves and black merveilleux skirt; the Misses Lewis, white; Miss Dawson, black velvet; Mrs Coates, yellow silk blouse and blaek satin skirt: Mrs Alexander. black silk with handsome jet; Miss Nelson, black and pretty blue ribbons; Mrs Newton, green silk evening dre«s:Mrs Ritchie,black silk skirt, red blouse; Mrs Hilton, black silk trimmed with yellow; Mrs H. Keening, black; M rs Brabant, black; Miss Devore. pink and black; Miss Edmiston, pink; Mrs Coleman, blaek silk with tucked evening blouse; Mrs King, black merveilleux silk trimmed with jet; Mrs Smith, white chiffon evening blouse and electric blue skirt; Miss Cooper, white silk relieved with electric green and pa«semantcrie; Miss Hanna, white silk; nnd others; Messrs G. H. Baker, Roberta, Smith, Suggate,

Lewis, Rainger, Blytli, R. H. Abbott, Donald. Hill. A. .1. White, Hannn, Wilson Smith. George. Hodges. I’eacocke, Burke. Bilton. Coates. Nelson, Moritzson, Keesing. 15. Keesing. Grierson. J. D. Roberts. Paterson. Stevenson, Passmore, Earle. Alfred Baker (lion, see.), Twiiiame, l.ediugham, Drs. Parkes, Bedford and Hood. My Rotorua Correspond, nt sav s Dear Hee.— Now that winter bain. we shall be rather quiet in Rm.i rua. During Easter the visitors numbered about eight hundred, but of course in the winter months there are not nearly so many. We are having dreadful weather at pre- ent. in fact early last week the gale was so fierce (the fiercest known for five years) that one of the steam-launches. “Hineimm,” on Lake Rotorua, draggl'd her an-li.ir, filled and sank. A number of trees in the Sanatorium Grounds were uprooted. Mrs (Dr.) Kenny’s was the scene of a verv jollv euchre purtv lately. Tin re were present about 40

guests. The fortunate prize winners were Miss Empson and Mrs Wilson. The latter pla.vrd as gentleman, there being a scarcity of the sterner sex in this place. With music and songs the evening' passed off verv pleasantly,. Our hostess looked very nice in a handsome green satin blouse, and white pique skirt. The install-ition of electric light is progressing rn|>idlv in Rotorua, a number of men are engaged in excavating a roek at the Falls for tin- machinery, etc. The work of fitting up the Sanatorium with the lighting appliances has been commenced. and oilier Government buildings are to follow before private houses sire fitted up. Our Karangaliake correspondent writes: — There vvas a verv good attendance at the “At Home" given by the ladies’ of Karangahake in Ryan’s Hall on Thursday evening. May 31st. The ball was most tastefully decorated with tings, and the stage which was converted into a drawing-room. looked extremely pretty. There wire about fifty couples present, and amongst the ladies were some very pretty dress's. Mi's G. N. McGruer looked extremely pretty in a lovely white brocade; Mrs Elliott looked nice in blaek velvet: Mrs Priston looked her usual in a handsome black brocade; Mrs .Noble, very nice black silk: Mrs Prosser, dainty white silk, pearl trimmings, extremely pretty; Mrs Ryan, pretty blaek; Mrs Bolitho, pretty evening blouse; Miss Dettc, yellow satin, black trimmings; Miss Freeman, dainty pink silk; Miss Burnett (Wellington), pretty white silk: Miss Elliott looked nice in pale green silk; Miss MeLoghry, rose silk; Miss L. MeLoghry, charming white, satin trimmings: Miss White looked nice in white: Miss Gibson, pale yellow; Misses Noble, white; Miss Green, white; Miss Smythe, pretty evening blouse. Although the above were the most noticeable dresses, there were others both tasteful and pretty. Great credit is due to Mrs McGruer, lion, see., and committee. Dancing was kept up until two o’clock, and the gathering was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Mr R. Jones made an efficient M.l .

PHYLLIS BROUN