CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue II, 12 January 1901, Page 86

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, January 2. The old century passed away with much weeping. Steady rain set in again on Monday afternoon, and everything looked most gloomy, but a large number of jieople tilled the streets on New Years Eve, though decorations and illuminations were missing. On the stroke of twelve the Cathedral bells, whieli had been tolling. burst into a merry peal, and numbers of others, with accompanying discordant sounds of sirens and suchlike. joined in: the din was not musical. lint it was meant to be cheerful, ami we commenced a new era. However. all is fair again, ami the Lyttelton regatta had a record attendance yesterday, and it should be even better to-day. for the weather is lovely. The tennis tournament was resumed yesterday under much more favourable circumstances, and will lie conel tided to-day.

The citizen- >all. held at the Exhibition Hall <>■ New Year’s eve, was a great success, about three hundred and fifty people were present, the floral decorations carried out by Mr. Nairn and the pretty dresses of the ladies, with a few uniforms, combined in the handsome hall to make a brilliant scene. At 12 o’clock a gong was sounded, and the figures of 1901, in electric light, were let down about the centre of the stage, which was transformed into a bower-like drawingroom. and the whole company sang “God Save the Queen” and gave three cheers, then “Auld Lang Syne” was most heartily sung with joined hands, after which dancing was resumed till nearly two o’clock. The floor and music. the latter supplied by Miss Scrivener’s orchestra, were excellent, and Strange & Co. fitted up the drawingrooms. one or two smaller ones being arranged under the gallery, which had a pretty effect, as well as useful. Mesilames R. Allan and T. Garrard, Misses Fairhurst and E. Cox formed the ladies’ committee, and with Messrs. R. Allan. J. A. Frostick. A. .J. W. Bunz, Hancock. Daniells and one or two others. did their utmost in looking after the guests. Mrs. Allan wore a rich balek silk and lace, with long opera mantle; Mrs. Garrard, black and pink brocade, with lace sleeves: Miss Fairhurst. black moire velour finished •with black chiffon, black aigrette in tier hair, and pearl necklet: Miss Cox. tretty pale blue floral silk trimmed

with (tink chiffon. pink Haste; Mrs. H. Quunv looked ext remrl.v well in a lovely pink brocade trimmed with blaek and white chiffon, pink aigrette in her hair; Mrs. Appleby, a beautiful Ueliotro|ie Katin and pale green eloak; Mrs. F. Graham, black silk gown and long crimson o|>era mantle; Miss Graham. yellow silk with lands of green velvet; Mrs. Mountfort, black silk berthe of Maltese lace and spray of crimson roses; Mrs. C. Louisson, pale grey silk, the bodice of blaek and white lace and spray of scarlet geranium; Miss Jxkuisson, white silk finished with pale green chiffon; Miss M. Louisson, all white silk and chiffon; Mrs. Frostick. black silk and lace; Miss Frostick (debutante), pretty white dress anti white satin ribbon finished with chiffon; Miss ('lark, a soft cream gown finished with lace; Miss Lightfoot, pink satin, the bodice trimmed with narrow jet; Miss Leatham (Wellington), all black evening gown; Mrs. J. Fairhurst, black silk with transparent sleeves, scarlet spray on bodice: Miss M. Cook, white silk; Miss McCracken, white silk, with lovely yellow roses; Mrs. Symes, black silk, the bodice trimmed with black and white lace: Miss I. Wilson, white silk, under a lovely white lace gown; Miss Preston (Sumner), white silk, with sprays of violets on the bodice; Miss Grant, a charming gown of pale blue satin, the bodice trimmed with iridescent trimming; Miss K. Wood, white gown and pink roses: Mrs. Wood, black silk, relieved with white; Mrs. R. Wood, white silk; Miss Moir, white satin covered with pink chenille spotted net; Mrs. Slater, black silk and net gown with pale pink under frill and on bodice; Miss Slater, all blaek evening gown with spray of cherries on the bodice: Miss I'rins, yellow silk: Miss Barker, white silk, with pink frill and trimming: Miss Kidsen. alt white: Miss Katie Young, pale blue silk with silver: Miss C. Lingard. white silk: Mrs. G. Kettlewell, blaek silk, with crimson flowers: .Madame (ope (Wellington), blaek and crimson: Miss Diekenson, all white: Miss Dawes, all white: Messrs. Wood (3). Quane. Radcliffe (Lyttelton), Waite. Alpers, Jaeobs. Charters (Dunedin), Cox, Baylieu (Australia), Broad (Dunedin). Appleby and others, with some of the officers of the Mildnra. were only some of those present. December 31. On Friday afternoon, at the City Council Chamber. Mr. and Mrs. Reece held a reception, which was largely at tended, principally by those who had been present at ' the banquet. The stairs and one or two of the smaller rooms were tastefully decorated. Mr. and Mrs. Reece received in a side room immediately at the top of the stairs, and the visitors passed on through the Library to the Council Chamber, where tea was arranged and served from a horseshoe table at one end, the other being arranged as a draw ingroom. The tables were charmingly decorated with poppies, corn flowers, daisies, and grasses. Mrs. Reece looked exceedingly well in black relieved with pale blue, Tuscan toque; Mrs. Stead, in pale blue, and heliotrope trimming, toque to match; Mrs. A. Kaye, green, with white stripe, finished with cream guipure, pretty bonnet

with pink roam; Mrs. F. M. Wallace, black moire velour skirt, and heliotrope blouse, trimmed with Maltese lace, black hat; Mrs. F. Waymouth, shot heliotroj»e aud green, finished with lave. hat trimmed to match; Mr*. G. Humphreys, black coat and skirt, yellow silk front, hat to match; Mrs. H. D. Carter, grey gown, yellow silk vest, trimmed with cream lace, pretty bonnet; Mr. and Mrs. J. Gould; Mr. and Mrs. Kanald Macdonald: Mr, and Mrs. Pat. Campbell; Mr. and Miss Conual; Mrs. T. Garrard; Mr. and Mrs. B. Allan; Mrs. L. Matson; Mr. and Mrs. Barkas; Mrs. F. Trent; Mrs. C. Cook; Professor and Mrs. Cook; Mr. aud Mrs. W. I). Meares; Dr. aud Mrs. Jennings; Dr. and Mrs. Crook; Dr. and Mrs. M. Anderson; Mr. and Mrs. Wardrop; Mr. and Mrs. Litchfield; Mr. and Mrs. Molineaux; Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Martin; Mr. and Mrsu Bloxam; Mrs. Palmer; Mr. Carrick; and many others. On Monday. Mrs. Wilding, “ Fownhope,” Opawa. gave a garden party to meet the tennis players who have assembled to fight for the championship. Two grass courts and one asphalt were kept in play all the afternoon, and some capital tennis was witnessed, much attention being given to the Australians. A quiet game of croquet was kept going, and a still more sedate one of bowls, and a very good band played selections, so that seeing one's friends, visiting the tea-table and fruit tent (which, by the wav. was a summer-house), and watching the games, it came to be time to go home much too quickly. Miss Wilding was unfortunately prevented taking any part in the proceedings, having had the misfortunte to strain her baek playing tennis a short time previously, but was on the lawn on a lounge to watch the games. Mrs. Wilding wore a black and white foulard, trimmed with white lace, large black hat; Mrs. J. Deans, all black, her bonnet relieved with pink; Miss Deans, very light chine silk, the skirt trimmed w'th tan lace and black velvet, elbow sleeves, the under ones of tan lace, large black flop hat: Mrs. A. Rolleston, greenish fawn doth coat and skirt, revers of white satin, large white hat; Mrs. G. U. Tapper, soft heliotrope gown, canary ehiffon yoke, hat to match; Misses Cholmondeley, shrimp pink silk, finished with ruby velvet, soft cream hats: Mrs. F. M. Wallace, black moire velour skirt, green silk blouse, covered with sequin net, black hat; Mrs. Bourne, bine doth coat and skirt, white vest, black hat: Mrs. T. Garrard, bine and white foulard, finished with chiffon and insertion, black sequin hat with pink roses; Mrs. Hurst-Seager. white skirt, black and white silk blouse, blaek and white hat: Mrs. F. C. Raphael, pale blue voile over pink, pretty hat to match, pale pink sunshade; Mrs. A. Anderson, black canvas over green, green silk bodice, tucked, large black hat; Mrs. J. Anderson, pale heliotrope. toque to match: Mrs. Levien, black and white stripe coat and skirt, small black hat; Miss Lewin, white muslin, heliotrope belt and collar, white chiffon hat; Mr. C. Lewin (returned trooper), Mr. W. Wood. Misses Bullock. Mrs. and Miss Croxton. Misses Lean, Prins, Thomson, Tabart, Anderson, Nedwill, Professor and Misses Cook. Messrs. F. M. Wallace, Tapper, Raphael, Mr. and

Mrs. Harman; Mrs. Julius looked well in a red vicuna cloth finished with black velvet, black bonnet with white ospreys; Miss Julius, cream gown and hat; Bishop Wilson, Canon < holmondeley and many others. If we said we spent an Eng-liah Christmas in Christchurch for the last of the century we should not be very far from the strict truth, as ninny of the band competitors and the unfortunate judge could testify. The weather has been atrocious the whole week, and spoilt everything. Tennis cannot be called “tennis” played in a swamp, and Lancaster Park was more like a lake than anything else up to Saturday, when the tournament really began, but in a swamp, the Australians discarding shoes and placing in their stockings. The Christchurch regatta should have taken place on Boxing Day at Lake Forsyth, but also had to be postponed until Saturday, when very few of the town people went out. The exhibition has benefited by the very inclement weather, and the band contest held in the concert hall drew its own admirers. The Wellington Garrison Band has been the most successful, carrying off £. 100, 25 gold medals, metronome and silver-mounted baton for conductor; Northeast Valley second, Kaikorai third, Dunedin Navals fourth. Invercargill Garrison fifth. Mr. F. M. Wallace acted as judge, and had a most arduous task, which he carried out faithfully and well, giving, I am told, satisfaction all round. On Friday night a tennis dance took place in the Art Gallery in honour of the visiting players, and was a great success. The floor there is always perfection, the music was good, and the supper arrangements were well carried out. There seemed to be more strangers present than Christchurch people, some I did not know, and white was the prevailin' colour. Among the ladies’ dresses M'-s A. Way looked very sweet in a pretty pink gown; Miss Chaffey (Oamnru). a black gown, relieved with crimson: M’ss O. Gore (Wellington), white satin: Miss Learey (Wellington), white: Miss Bussell (Wellington), white satin, relieved with pale blue; Miss Gilchrist, white, the bodice trimmed with blue: Mrs. Barnicoat (Hawera), yellow brocade; Miss Barnicoat, white satin and lace; Miss Ramsay (Dunedin), white satin;; Miss McLean, Dunedin, heliotrope and pale yellow; Miss S, Meares. white silk gauze over pale blue; Miss Graham, black sequin net over black silk; Miss C. Lean, pink silk; Miss Thomas (Avonside), black silk, with black net flowered in white over skirt; her sister in white; Miss Mcßean Stewart, white silk; Miss C. Hargreaves, eau de nil silk, with long ends of black sequin net from bodice; Miss Van Asch wore black; her sister, white silk; Miss Prins, yellow silk; Misses Kiver (2) wore black; Miss McKellar, white silk;' Misses Berkeley (2), M. Cook. K. Wood, Bullock, Messrs. C. Ollivier, Williams, H. Henderson. Graham, Harman, Ward (Oamaru), Broad (Dunedin), McKean, Dunlop, Saxon (Australians), McKellar, Ross, Jackson (Dunedin), were only some of those present. •

DOLLY VALE.