WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue VIII, 23 February 1901, Page 368

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, February It, AVellington folk have suddenlyawakened to the fact that we have a number of visitors in our midst, and that we must rise to the occasion and do honour to our town and its guests. The Imperial troops have been right royally treated, and I understand are very pleased with their reieption throughout New Zealand, w inch has been of a most enthusiastic description. 1-ast Saturday, the day of their arrival, was a glorious one. ami the sight most splendid in every way. Long before tiie hour appointed for the procession to start, every window, balcony, and place of vantage was crowded with people, anti the streets lined with eager spectators literally from one end of the town to the other. The crowd must have cheered itself hoarse long before the Basin Reserve was reached. After the procession was over and the formal welcome had taken place, the troops reformed and marched back to the Drill Shed, where a magnificent banquet had been spread for the men. In the evening the members of the Wellington Club gave a large At Home in honour of the Imperial officers, and this was attended by a large and fashionable assemblage of ladies and gentlemen, among whom were also the officers of ILM.S. Mildura and a number of the visiting polo players. Colonel Wyndham and all his officers were present, and most attractive they looked in their beautiful uniforms, nearly all of which were quite new to many, and the presence of so many distinguished guests added greatly to the enjoyment of the affair. The brilliant uniforms, too, were most acceptable on this particular occasion, as, in consequence of the recent death of Her Majesty the Queen, almost every lady was in half mourning, and this naturally would have looked far more gloomy but for the uniforms. I think there were only two coloured gowns in the room, one a pale bluey green, and the other pink: but with these exceptions the ladies either wore entire black gowns, or white, or a combination of- both black and white, the effect being distinctly striking ct entering the room. Mr H. D. Bell, the President, and Mrs Bell received at the head of the staircase, and the guests then either passed on into the music room, the coffee room, or the smoke room, all of which were most beautifully decorated for the occasion, chiefly with immense pot jvlants. bamboo being conspicuous, and draped flags and flowers. Then the little balcony in the front and the long verandah at the side were covered in and filled with seats, and also prettily decorated, as was also the billiard-room, which for the evening was converted into a supper-room, and contained the usual sumptuous supper for which the Chib has long been famed, beautifully laid out with flowers, cut-glass, and silver. Some excellent music was provided in the music room. Miss Alice Hollander, the talented young lady who is now touring the colonies, singing several times and giving great pleasure to her listeners. She is quite yonng, and looks about 17. and possesses a powerful contralto voice, and is, I understand. an Australian by birth, and intends shortly going Home to complete her musical education. She wore n simple white muslin gown, with lace insertion and frills, and a helio-

trope bow, and her hair down her back, plaited. Her mother, Mrs Hollander, and her master, Mr tvetiiuue, were also present, and Miss Florence I*rouse played her accompaniments. Mr John Prouse also sang several times, amt was in bis very best form. During the intervals between the songs an excellent string Ixnd played several beautiful things, which helped to enliven the proceedings. Owing to the general mourning a uall could not be given, hence a reception was decided upon as the most fitting function. We have all felt sorry that His Excellency the Governor, owing to the prescribed time of Court mourning, eould not be present, nor could he take any part in the reception of the troops. This was singularly unfortunate, as Lord Ranfurly was in AVellington at the time, v tiich caused us to miss him the more. His Excellency, however, watched the procession privately from a window, and was accompanied by Captain Alexander. Captain Hill Trevor, and Captain and Airs Kingsmiil, an 1 one morning he received the officers at Government House. Amongst the many beautiful dresses worn were the following: — Mrs. H. D. Ivell, a very handsome pale oyster grey silk, brocaded with darker flowers, and trained and bordered with steel passementerie, Imth the bodice and skirt being trimmed with beautiful white Honiton laee. her ornaments being a jvearl necklet and diamonds: Miss Iris Bell wore a simple gown of white spotted silk, with short lace sleeves edged with silk fringe; the Countess de t’ourte, a lovely white silk gown entirely veiled with fine black spangled net and diamond ornaments. one of the handsomest gowns there: Lady Dorothy GathorneHardy. a black satin gown, trained, the skirt edged with frills, and the

bodice trimmed with white Hun.tvil lace and diamond stars, anil diamond necklet aud pendant; Airs. Scddon, a handsome black trained gown trimmed with jet; Miss Seddon looked well in pale blue; Mrs. Kiagstnill, wive, of the captain of H.M.S. Mildum, wore a very handsome black trained gown, with diamonds, and a large black velvet Ixiw in her hair, caught with diamonds; Mrs. Evelyn-Wood, a recent arrival from Home, wore a beautiful white gown, the corsage trimmed with masses of silver sequin embroidery, and a diamond crescent in her hair; Mrs. Charlie Johnston, st beautiful white chiffon and silk gown striped with black sequined embroidery: and her two daughters wore pretty white dresses with jewelled embroidery; Lady Douglas wore a handsome trained black gown; her daughter was also in black: Mrs. Alf. Brandon. a black gown trimmed with white; her sister. Mrs. Tilly, who is visiting AVellington. wore a handsome cream broche trained gown with luce sleeves, and trimmed with narrow black velvet ribbon: Miss Brandon wore black: Mrs. Barron, black; ami her two daughters, white: Missjlichniond and Miss Emmie Richmond both wore black, with pretty white tulle fichus edged with black velvet ribbon; Airs. J. Tripe looked very nice in her lovely wedding dress of cream satin, much piped diagonally, and with transparent sleeves and chiffon trimming; Mrs. Tolhurst wore a handsome black jetted gown: and her daughter wore white; Mrs. Findlay, a handsome cream brocade, with transparent sleeves of cream lace, spangled with silver; Mrs. Rhodes, a very handsome black brocaded gown, trained, and lovely diamond ornaments; Mrs. Sprott, black; Mrs. Loughnan, black: Mrs. AV. Moorhouse, black satin; Mrs. F.dward Rid-

diford. a beautiful black gown with white chiffon, and pearls aud diuluoudb as ornaments; Miss Riddiford. also in black and white; Mrs. W. Turnbull wore one of the loveliest gowns of black silk, trained, and entirely veiled with black net. exquisitely spangled all over with steel; her sister, Mrs. Holmes (Wairarapa) wore a handsome eream satin trained gown with lace and pearls; Mrs. Finch, black satin, with epaulettes of white veiled with black, and trimmed with pearls; Miss Finch, white; Mrs. Embling. a handsome black satin gown with bertha of jet; Mrs. Parfitt, ruby silk trimmed with lace; Mrs. Tweed a handsome gown of cream satin, trained, with bands of crimson velvet and lace on the skirt, and the Isxlice covered with beautiful hanging [M'arl passementerie; Mrs. Stott, a very pretty white silk gown, with zouave trimming of black glistening sequined net; Mrs. Hislop, black: Miss Hislop, white: Mrs. David Nathan, a beautiful black chiffon gown, trained, with an overskirt entirely composed of close sequins embroidery, and arranged in a V shape in the front, the bodice also sequined and trimmed with black and white lace: Mrs Arthur Buchanan( Australia), a eream gown trimmed with blaek velvet and lace; Airs .lohn Duncan, a handsome black gown with panels of white veiled with blaek. and long transparent sleeves of black net eoveretl with tiny sequins; Miss Dunean, cream satin and lace; Mrs Booth (Nelson), a pretty satin gown of a greenish grey colour edged with steel passementerie, and a cream lace front: Mrs I’rendagast Knight, white merveilleux trimmed with black velvet, and a bunch of violets on one shoulder; Mrs T. C. Williams, a handsome white silk gown, trained and veiled with blaek figured gauze, and lx>th the skirt and bodice trimmed with beautiful Brussels lace prettily draped, and diamond ornaments; Miss Williams, a black skirt and cream lace bodice with lapels of black velvet embroidered with white: Miss Eila Williams. blaek silk with berthe and Transparent elbow sleeves of white Valenciennes lace: Miss Elfie Williams wore black and white; Mrs (Major) Owen, a black satin gown, trained with a bertha of lovely white Honiton lace: Mrs Gore, black satin trained with steel embroidery; Mrs Walter (Waikato), black brocade, trained, with bertha and transparent sleeves of creme Maltese lace; Mrs Macpherson, black and white with jet, trimming: Mrs Baleombe Brown, a blaek chiffon gown, edged with pearl passementerie, and the skirt flounced with white lace: Mrs Barker (Hawke's Bay), blaek merveilleux with chiffon; Miss Cooper, a pretty black and white gown: Miss Harcourt, black satin edged with jet and white tulle: Miss 1 trans field, a trained gown of black silk, the bodice very prettily swathed with beautiful black and white appliqued embroidery; Mrs Purdy (The Hutt). blaek satin much trimmed with jet: Airs Miles, a handsome black trained gown with a bertha of palo lavender tucked silk: Mrs Manteil. black satin encrusted with jet: Miss Higginson, a pretty black and white gown: Mrs (Dr.) Martin, a pretty

cream gown with lace sleeves; Miss Gertrude Bose, white satiu veiled with very pretty figured gauze, the bodice also trimmed with the same: Miss Pharazv n, a pretty cream gown; Miss Stowe, black and white; Mrs Fulton, black brocade with bodice of handsome steel sequined net; Mrs Butts, black satiu and white tulle; Miss Butts, black satin with flowers; Mrs Strang (Rangitikei), blaek, a. pretty gown; Miss Reid, white; the Misses Fitzherbert, pretty white gowns; Mrs Edwin, black; Miss Edwin, white; Mrs Mills (Blenheim), a black striped silk gown with fichu of white lace; Mrs Harry Burns, a pretty black gown sparkling with steel sequins aud transparent sleeves of the same: Mrs Butt, black; Mrs Myers, black, the bodice jetted; Mrs Ewen, black: Miss Haise, black; Mrs Quick, prune-colour-ed velvet with lavender jKinels; Miss Quick, black satin with bertha of Maltese laee: Mrs Hollander, black satiu with wide frill of white lace: Miss O'Connor, white; Mrs E. Lowe, black: Mrs Symons, blaek: Mrs Milward. cream brocade with lace trimming; Miss Haseldean. a very pretty cream gown with tucked sleeves, and trimmed with chiffon: Mrs Prouse, black; Miss Prouse, a cream brocade gown with sleeves and bertha of laee; Miss Elliot, a pretty white gown; Mrs Biss, a black satin gown, tucked and trimmed with blaek velvet; Mrs J. 11. Blair, black satin with jet and lace; Mrs Baxter, black: Mrs Malcolm Ross, black: Mrs (Col.) Collins, black satin and jet: Miss Henry, a very pretty white gown with deep white lace: Miss Kathleen Henry, a black gown: Mis« Barnett, a prett.y black gown with white chiffon and straps of black velvet; Miss Skerrctt, a stylish black gown and black velvet bow in her hair: Miss Nelson, white: Mrs George Campbell, blaek; and others. Also among the gentlemen I saw Captain Kingsmill, Dr. Collins. Dr. Cahill, Dr. Purdy. Dr. Martin, Dr. Adams. Dr. Findlay, Dr. Newman, Dr. Pollen, the Hon. the Premier, Mr Seddon, the Hons. Hall-Jones. Mills, Carroll, and Walker, Col. Porter. Capt. Kogers. Eieut.-Col. Collins, Col. Penton. Major Maddoeks. Major Owen, Lieut. Moorhouse. Sir Arthur Douglas, Sir Kenneth Douglas, the lion. J. G. Ward. the Hon. Gai horne-Hurdy, Messrs Alfred Brandon, Hugh Brandon, Finch, Loughnan, Burns. A. Buchanan. Harcourt, Fitzherbert, Stowe, Miles, A. Pearce. Ed. Brown, Maxwell. Bethune, Malcolm Ross, Nelson. Hill-Trevor. F. Kebbell, Rose, Menteath, Webster, Higginson. Tripp. Jackson. C. Cooper, W. Turnbull. R. Turnbull, Coates. Tripe. Joynt. A. Cooper, Handysidc. Young, A. Buchanan. Dransfield, Duncan, Butt, Strang, Baxter. Campbell, Nathan, and manv others.

For last Sunday a large number of invitations had been issued by Mr and Mrs H. D. Bell and Dr. and Mrs Collins for a large afternoon .“At Home’’ to take place at Mr Bell’s summer residence at Dowry Bay. the steamer Countess having l>een chartered for the purpose ‘ of conveying guests across the harbour. This programme

sounded a most inviting one, but alas, the elements were against the hospitable entertainers and it turned out a wretched day, very windy and showery, and the arrangements could not be carried out; but instead ar. afternoon tea was hastily arranged for by telephone the same morning and held at the Club House, which was lent for the occasion to the two hosts and hostesses, and all assembled at four o'clock and spent a pleasant couple of hours, with tea and talk and a band playing soft luusta. A Sunday entertainment is an unheard of thing in Wellington (for which all are thankful), but in this case it happened to be the only day left, on which one could entertain the officers of the Imperial troops, and it was thought a great pity to waste a day of their short visit, which might be quietly and pleasantly passed in this way. I know it offends in many’ eases even chronicling anything taking place on the Sabbath, so I will refrain from giving descriptions of the dresses or guests, but let me add that all were pleased to have another opportunity afforded of meeting the guests of the night before.

One evening Colonel Wyndham and his officers were entertained at dinner at the Empire Hotel by the Government. the Premier in the chair, with Col. Wyndham on his right and Col. Penton on his left. A very largo number of citizens had been invited to meet them, and among the guests were Commander Rolleston and Lieutenant Kennett-Dixon of H.M.S. Archer, which is now in port. Another most enjoyable entertainment for the Imperial troops was a garden party, given by the citizens of I’etone and the Hutt at McNab's Gardens, Hutt, on Tuesday afternoon. The weather was lovely and a special train conveyed the men out. and the gardens were looking beautiful, and were filled with tents containing all kinds of delicacies, and sports and various amusements were kept up all the afternoon. The affair was carried out by Mr E. P. Bunny. Mayor of the Hutt and Mr R. C. Kirk. Mayor of I’etone, and their arrangements were much appreciated, and were most happily carried out. I am afraid 1 must confess that we all feel just a wee bit dull now the troops have departed. The only thing now to look forward to is the I’olo Tournament. which takes place next Wednesday at Miramar. . GPU ELI \.