CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XVIII, 4 May 1901, Page 850

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, April 21, The annual exhibition of the Society of Arts opened on Wednesday evening in the Art Gallery, the small room being used for the new works and the side room, while the. largo gallery is used for the permanent collection. There was a very fair attendance of members and friends, and considering the merit of the exihbition the public should find it an instructive and interesting resort. During the evening musical items were contributed by Mrs. W. Wilson, Misses Freda Marsden, Tribe and Blaek. Among the visitors were Dr. and Mrs. Dick Anderson, Mrs. Morton Anderson and Miss Peach (Mount Somers). Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wood, the latter looking very pretty in a white serge frock with caracul bolero, toque of violets with quills; Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Bowring, Mrs. and the Misses Cook, Misses Gardner (2), Mrs. Quane, wearing a handsome long red cloak; Hon. E. C. J. Stevens, Miss C. Lean, in a pretty pink silk; Mrs. and Miss Marsden, Mrs. and Miss Wilson, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Croxton, Mr. and Miss Mclntyre (New Brighton), Mr. R. D. and Miss G. Thomas, Misses

Tribe, Black, etc. Of course the uppermost topic iu Christchurch, as elsewhere, is the eoming vi«it of Royalty, but we have not yet decided where the Royal visitors are to be located. There is one mansion, quite new. richly and handsomely furnished, and with such an easy moveable family of one at the head, that it strikes an onlooker ■what a graceful thing it would be if an offer of this princely home was made to the Reception Committee for the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall during their three days’ residence in Christchurch. However good and fitting Coker’s Hotel may be made in itself, the surroundings and locality are. to say the hast of it. wofully uninteresting. Then come® the matter of dress, and some of our leading dressmakers must feel a little like Damocles and the sword, for they have warning that “if” the magic card arrives then the dress or bodice, as the case may be. will be wanted, so imagine how much hangs on that litthe word •‘if.” The local bodies and the public are getting a little out of heart at the general curtailment of route and the time to be spent over it, because thai is where the public come in; they are not present at any reception or function of any other kind, so there is a good deal of unrest over the whole programme yet. The first meet this season of the Christchurch Hunt Club took place on Saturday on Mr. Whitty’s propertv. A fairly large field was present, and after an excellent luncheon a pleasant afternoon’s sport was enjoyed over the surrounding properties of Messrs. Muirhead, Cox, Hayward and Bond, finishing up at Lawford (Mr. and Mrs. W. Bond’s) at afternoon tea. Among those present riding or driving were: Mr. and Mrs. H. Cotte rill and Miss Ronalds, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Woodroflfe, Mrs., Miss Stead-and Miss Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Beswick and Miss Beswick, Mr. and Mrs. Carlyon. Miss Nedwill, Miss Gerard, Mr. and Miss Bassett, Mr. and Mrs. Clarkson, Messrs. O’Rorke, Stead (2), Turrell, Acton-Adams, etc.

A Masonic ball takes place this week iu the Canterbury Hall, where

great preparations are going on. The decorations are to be on a very lavish scale, ami as the handsome hall lends itself well to any further embellishment a bright and pretty scene may be expected. Two motor car journeys of some renown have recently been made, and will show the perfect state of the roads in and about Christchurch for

cycle traffic. One of these was to Hanmer Springs, the arrival of the car causing quite a buzz of excitement in the little village. The other was accomplished by Mrs. Wycliffe Goalman, who negotiated the machine herself, and rode in from Rockwood Station, a distance of sixty miles, in a few hours. The Christchurch Liedertafel held a Helen Abend last Friday evening, and after the concert Mr. W. Izard, the president, entertained the members nt an oyster supper. I hear it was an excellent concert, so I hope soon a Gemischter Abend will be our good fortune, when they usually give ns the pick of their evening, with something new added.

DOLLY VALE.