AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 16 June 1900, Page 1141

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, — June 12. The first day of the AUCKLAND RACING CLUB’S WINTER MEETING took place last Saturday. There was a very large attendance, owing no doubt to the perfect weather which prevailed throughout the day. As for the gowns, nearly everyone was either tucked or embroidered, someti'mes both. Sailor hats were very popular, usually trimmed with red, white and blue ribbons, fringed and hanging down at the ends. Scarlet and purple were en evidence. I recollect the following:—Mrs Alison. black skirt, green plaid blouse, navy velvet toque; Mrs (Col.) Dawson, navy serge, black hat. with dark roses and black feathers; Miss Atkinson, fawn; and her sister a periwinkle b'iue skirt, fawn jacket, periwinkle chapeau; Mrs Ansenne. navy serge, sealskin jacket, black hat, with plumes; Miss Binney, navy costume: and her sister wore a blue tartan skirt, brown jacket, royal blue hat. with blue feathers; Miss Buckland, grey; Miss Maud Buckland, black; and her sister wore a peacock blue, with white chemisette, grey velvet hat: Mrs W. 11. Churton. greeny cheek costume, cream fur toquette, with white feathers; Mrs Von Sturmer, fawn coat and skirt; Mrs Read Bloomfield, b'iack broche, green velvet bonnet; Mrs Lucas Read Bloomfield, Lincoln green costume, black hat, with plumes; Mrs George Read Bloomfield, wooer violet costume, with bolero of velvet, white revers and vest, blue toque, trimmed with yellow, white and blue ribbons; Airs Brett was much admired in a royal blue costume, toque of a lighter hue to correspond; Miss Blanche Banks (Waikato), biscuit coloured tailormade gown, fawn felt hat, with silk and plumes: Mrs Charles Brown, navy and black hat, with feathers; and her sister wore a Prussian blue costume, with velvet, white chemisette, black hat: Mrs Black, black serge, violet toque, with feathers; Airs Wilfred Colbeck, navy costume, fawn jacket; Mrs Thomas McLaughlin, navy serge, fur boa, fur toque; Airs Cotter, emerald green cloth costume, blue toque; Miss Cotter, fawn; English costume, braided in white, black felt hat. trimmed with plumes and buckle; Miss Alillie (otter, absinthe green, trimmed with white, azure blue toque, wreathed with tulle; Miss Winnie Cotter, black costume, white fur boa. black felt hat, with plumes; Airs Chamberlin, sage green coat and skirt: Airs Cottle, blaek broche. black bonnet, relieved with pink: Mrs Dargaville, blaek; Aliss AL Dargaville. fawn costume; Airs 11. Dunnet looked extremely well in a rich black velvet gown, with white lace collarette, toque eu suite; Aliss Dunnet. fawn coat and skirt, fur edged toque, with violet velvet crown; Airs Devore, violet costume, trimmed with braid, black silk jacket, black bonnet; Aliss Devore, new shade of Russian violet serge: Airs Denniston, fawn skirt, violet blouse, violet hat. trimmed with lavender tulle, and wreathed with violets: Aliss Denniston, navy coat and skirt; Airs Ralph (Sylvia Park), royal blue, finished with white; Miss Muir, green serge, trimmed with velvet; Airs Aloofly, fawn coat and skirt; Aliss Courtayne. navy serge, toque of cardinal velvet and white wings; Mrs Caldwell, tmvy serge; Miss Dixon, grey lustre, white chemisette, red velvet toque: Airs Devereux, blaek silk, black toque; Aliss AL Devereux, red of nihi'iiste hue, trimmed with bands of black braid, cream hat, with red berries; Airs Afercer, fawn; Airs Duthie, navy serge; fur jacket, royal blue velvet toque; Aliss Davey, navy costume, toque, with red ribbons; Airs Edmiston, dark pine green plaid cloth, with ve'lvet underskirt, black velvet toque; Miss Edmiston, red and black plaid costume, made with bolero, the waist was swathed with red velvet, brown fur toque with red velvet; Afrs. Crowe, royal blue cashmere, toque to correspond; Aliss Firth, fawn coat and skirt, cream bat with pink flowers; Aliss Ida Thorne Geoyge, Prussian blue tailor-made gown, velvet toque with violets; Airs. Nelson George, black silk, black fur cape, black hat; Aliss Sutton, slate grey; Miss Griffiths, royal blue with white vest, blue toque en suite with white wings; Mrs. Ralph and Aliss Ralph (Ponsonby), black tailor-made gowns; Mrs. Angus

Gordon, buix coat and skirt, black hat. with wreath of red roses; Mrs. (Dr.) Forbes (Ptieroa) looked extremely well in black and white shepherd’s plaid skirt, with black braiding, white vest, black jacket, black and white toque with feathers; Mrs. Gorrie, fawn; Miss Gorrie. black costume; and her sister wore grey; Mrs. Andrew Hanna. navy serge, toque with violets; Mrs. Hooper, navy; Mrs. Herrold. mode grey coat and skirt, black hat with white f withers; Mrs. Innes, black; Miss Ireland, plaid skirt, royal blue jacket, black hat with plumes; Miss J. Ireland, plaid skirt, fawn jacket, black hat with plumes; Miss llaey. green costume, with black toquette finished with violet velvet bows; Miss Jackson, black costume, sailor hat; Mrs. Bruce, fawn tailor-made gown, violet floral , toque; Mrs. Hope Lewis, black costume, black hat swathed with red velvet; Miss Lewis, paon fonce green coat and skirt, black hat with feathers; Miss Lusk, pretty green tartan costume made with bolero, black hat; Mrs. Morris, violet doth, with black braid, black toque with violets; Mrs. Thomas Morrin, black broche skirt and bolero, white siik bodice, violet velvet toque with violets; Miss Morrin, heliotrope-violet costume, white hat, with pink bows; Miss ■ —. Morrin, navy blue; Mrs. Masfen, fawn costume, fawn toque trimmed with maroon velvet; Mrs. 11. Masefield, navy serge, fawn jacket, velvet toque; Mrs. Leo Myers, black; Mrs. Nichol, blaek; Mrs. B. Noakes, fawn costume, violet velvet hat with flowers; Miss Noakes, navy costume, fur toque; Mrs. H. Nolan, blaek cloth with fringe, dark cherry velvet hat with violets; Mrs. Bodie, navy, pink hat trimmed with silk of the two hues; Mrs. Otway, grey with white chemisette, grey felt hat; Misses Percival (2), fawn tweeds; Miss Peacoeke, peacock blue; Miss l*\ Peacoeke. dark skirt, light blouse; and her sister wore light tabac brown coat and skirt: Mrs. Hanson, black; Mrs. Rathbone, black silk, with white let in bodice, blue toque with pink and white feather; Mrs. Roberts, black silk and cape, blaek bonnet with yellow rose: Mrs. (Dr.) Sharman. striking royal blue tucked skirt, bodice relieved with white, while satin toque edged with white fur; Mrs. Smith (Thames), black: Mrs. John Smith, gobelin blue and grey wave-traced costume, hat trimmed with fringe; Miss Smith, royal blue; Miss Eva Sebert*, navy serge, red velvet toque with white satin crown: Mrs. VV. Thornton (Waikato). black and white shepherd s plaid, tailor-made costume; Mrs. I pfill, navy serge, with gold buttons, n a v y to q u e; AI r s. Wai k e r, bl a.e k: M i ss Walker, navy: Miss Walker (Thames), plaid skirt, fawn jacket, red velvet toquette; Miss Wilkins, fawn; Mrs. Ware, dark costume, black velvet toque; Mrs. A. P. Wilson, plaid skirt, fawn jacket, hat with autumn leaves and berries: Mrs. Hutchison, blaek cloth costume, scarlet velvet hat with feathers: Miss Hutchison, black costume; Mrs. Eraser, navy serge: Mrs. Worsp, green plaid: Miss Daisy Worsp, dark skirt, lawn jacket, red velvet toque; Miss Blanche Worsp. black and white check with black braid, fox Cur toque; Mrs. Scott (11.M.5. Mohawk), black costume, blue vest, blaek toque with blue: Mrs. Thorpe, black: Miss Thorpe, green cloth, coat and skirt; black toque trimmed with red: Mrs. Martelli, navy serge, violet hat; Miss Simpson, cherry-coloured plaid skirt, fawn jacket, cherry straw hat with black velvet and white quills; Mrs. Mair, black; Mrs. Markham. fawn tweed, white sailor hat trimmed with blue silk; Mrs. H. Tonks, claret coloured cloth with bolero jacket: Mrs. Woodroffe, grey skirt, fawn jacket very pretty brown toque with fur; Mrs. Koch. navy, trimmed with black velvet, black hat; Miss Walnutt, grey costume, black hat; and her sister wore a fawn gown, fawn hat, trimmed with red; Mrs. (reagh. black; Miss Creagh. navy, blaek hat. grey cape; Miss Shepherd, fawn tweed; Mrs. Lawrence, black; Misses Roberts, fawn; Mrs (Dr.) Sharma n's sister wore a striking royal blue and green tartan; Miss Snell, black costume, blaek velvet hat trimmed with scarlet. “AT HOME.” Mr and Mrs IL Kinder entertained a large number of guests on Friday evening at the Savings Bank. Newmarket. The evening was delightfully occupied with progressive euchre and music. The large dining-room readily accommodated ten tables or more. Miss Connolly won the ladies' first prize, a pretty picture, “Psyche at the Well.*’ and Mr Clarke won the gent !<•- men's, a handsome pocket-book. Miss W. Cotter mid Mr Ewen were the win-

ners of the consolation prizes. About eleven o’clock the guests were invited to supper. The table, which was laden with delicacies of the season, looked very pretty with specimen glasses tilled with roses and ferns, and reflected great credit upon the artistic, hands that had arranged them. After supper a number of excellent vocal and instrumental selections were given by our host and hostess and Alisses Alitchell. fierce, Brookfield, Messrs Kissling, Rowe. Burgess and Bruce. As otie so often hears such indifferent performances in the musical line at evening entertainments, these items proved a real treat, as contributors were all gifted musicians. Mrs Kinder (who made a eharming hostess) looked exceedingly well in a pervench blue shot silk blouse trimmed with steel passementerie, blacksilk skirt: Aliss Eva Kinder was graceful in shell pink veiling with frill of cream Plauen lace round low neck of bodice; Aliss Nesta Kinder, pale pink blouse, black skirt; Aliss Connollv wore an emerald green silk blouse trimmed with white niched chiffon, black skirt: Aliss Kissling, prettv cream carduroy, bodice adorned with cream lace and white silk fringe; Miss Bruce, yellow Swiss muslin, insertion and tucked yoke ami elbow sleeves: Miss Winnie Cotter looked charming in a pink silk evening bodice veiled in white striped mousseline de soie. white chiffon fichu, black satin skirt: Miss Ruddock.Nil green crepe evening - frock with a cluster of red poppies on corsage; Aliss Kinder wore a pretty white cashmere with transparent yoke and sleeves of cream Plauen lace; Mrs Oxley, white silk: Aliss Withers, old gold silk evening bodice, low corsage trimmed with hussar red chiffon frills and niching. blaek silk skirt; Airs Arthur ( larke, emerald green velvet blouse with white chiffon frill round semi-low neck, black skirl; Miss Flossie Pierce, pretty forget-me-not blue satin evening bodice trimmed with cream lace insertion, black silk skirl; Miss Kennedy, white silk, white lace fichu; Miss Snell, pale blue and white

striped silk evening bodice, the front of corsage swathed with white chiffon, caught with a duster of red poppies, black silk skirt; Miss Brookfield was pretty in cream silk striped Sici Ilian doth trimmed with cream lace; Miss Mitchell, tussore silk blouse with khaki lace, black skirt: Miss Eva Mitchell was charming in a cream and violet Matalaxse blouse with white lace, black skirt: Miss von Sturmer, Nil green crepe with red poppies; Miss Goodwin, pretty pink veiling; Miss Shera. azure him* trimmed with white lace; Messrs Kinder, W. Bruce. A. ( larke. ( laud. Pierce. Shera, Rowe, Ruddock, Burgess. Brookfield. Ewen, Sloman, Kissling, Hay and Bamford. MUSICAL UNION “AT HOME." The “At Home" given by the Auckland Musical Union last Thursday in St. Benedict's Hall was a pronounced success, the spacious hall being taxed to its utmost to accommodate the 70 or SO tables required for progressive euchre, which was played for some two hours. At the conclusion of the games dancing occupied the rest of the evening and, indeed, till early next morning. Mr Burke's band supplied the music for the dancers. The supper purveyed by Mr W. Philip was greatly appreciated by the guests. Much credit is due for the success of the evening's entertainment to Mr \V. A. Prime and the members of the Committee, who were indefatigable in their efforts to make the evening a success. The Committee comprised Mesdames Alexander, Crawford. Hopkins. Henrieksen, I unis, Alfred Nathan, Peacock, Simpson, Squirrel!. Younghusband, Misses Doonan, Haven. Mulvaney. Odium. Simpson. Towxey. White, the Rev. Dr. Egan, Messrs Graves Aickin. Cookes, W. A. Prime, J. Peterson, J. R. Richter. J. Simms, Squirrel I. Towsey and others. Owing to want of space this week we cannot give descript ion of the ladies' dresses. Our Mercer correspondent writes: The numerous friends of Mr Spencer of the Railway Department, who has been stationed at Mercer for the last

five yean, learned wirfi regret that hr was under orders to remove to Auckland, anil determined to give him and his good lady a “send off” in the form of a social gathering. The event duly came off in the Garrick Hal! (kindly lent for the occasion by host Hallett, of the Kailway Hotel) mi Thursday evening °f last week, am! was of a most successful nature. The interior of the building was tastefully decorated with bunting, Chinese lanterns, and greenery, and presented a very pretty appearance. There was a large muster of Mr and Mrs Spencer’s friends from all parts of the district, and the evening was enjoyably spent in dancing, etc. The committee of ladies who undertook and carried out the arrangements deserve every credit for the manner in which the affair was conducted, and are to be congratulated on the success attending their efforts. On Saturday evening Mr and Mrs Spencer invited their friends to a “return” social as a recognition of the compliment paid them, and this event likewise passed off most successfully. Mr and Mrs Spencer leave Mercer with tin* good wishes of all who know them for their future welfare* and prosperity. The local creamery has now closed down for the season, am! milkers will have a few months’ respite* from their arduous occupation. Not withstanding the exceptionally dry summer the supply of milk has bee n well kept up, and judging from what one hears, the* number of suppliers will be* further increased next season. The heavy rainfall of the* past few weeks has greatly altered the appearance of the* country. I’p to the beginning of last month the' Waikato was at an abnormally low level anel dotted with small islets of sand, rendering the navigation of the steamers a matter of difficulty: but the downpour on the 7th and Sth caused a suddt-n rise* In the water of more* than sx feet, and the' submergence' eif low-lying lands and swamps speedily changed the' whole' fact* of nature. The threatened flood <-aused some little' anxiety, but there doe*s not appear to be' any serious eause for alarm in this respect now, the* water having subsiele*el considerably during the* past few days.-

PHYLLIS BROUN.