LATE SOCIETY NEWS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XIII, 28 September 1901, Page 610

LATE SOCIETY NEWS

WBLLWGTWL Dear Bee, , September 19. Quite a gloom was east over Wellington *ui Sunday when.the sad but not altogether unexpected news of President McKinley’s death was made known. Flags were immediately lowered to half-mast, and the town has had a dismal appearance ever since. Many entertainments and amusehave been postponed on account of the sad event. A small danee which was to have taken place at Government House last night has been postponed for a week, and Mr Maughan Barnett’s and Herr Hoppe’s first chamber concert has been altered from to-night to Monday next. A very pleasant dinner party was ■given on Saturday by the Governor and Countess of Ranfurly. Among the guests were the Premier and Mrs Seddon, Miss Seddon, Xlr Justice and Miss Edwards, Hon. C. and Miss Johnston', Mr and Miss Fraser, Sir Arthur and Eady Douglas, Miss Douglas, Miss Foster, Mr and Mrs Embling, Rev. Mr and Mrs Sprott, Miss Sprott, Mr and Mrs Tolhurst, Miss Tolhurst, Miss H. Williams, Hon. J. McGowan, Hon. L. Williams, Hon. <’. C. Bowen, Mr J. Allan, and Messrs Buler, A. Cooper, and G. Johnston. Minefie’s string band was stationed in the corridor, and played all the evening. Mrs lan Duncan gave a very enjoyable little dance at her parents’ residence (where she is residing during Dr. and Mrs Grace’s visit to England), Hawkestone-street, on Friday evening. Lovely spring flow’ers were arranged about the rooms, and in the dining-room a very dainty supper was laid, the table being very prettily decorated with vases of yellow jonquils and violets. Mr King played splendid dance music, and extras were played by Mr Crawford and Miss Gore. Mrs Duncan received in a white satin gown veiled with black chiffon, and trimmed with black and white frills; Miss Dunean wore a pretty pale pink silk gown, trimmed with ecru lace. Among others present were: Mrs Bell, wearing a handsome grey brocade gown trimmed with deep cream lace and pearls; Miss Bell wore white silk, with red flowers on the bodice; Mrs Crawford, a handsome white satin and chiffon gown; Mrs Harold Johnston, pale pink silk, with chiffon frills; Miss. A. Johnston wore white satin, with deep ecru lace; Mrs A. Pearce, in black; Mrs David Nathan, a beautiful pink satin gown, with cream’ iace berthe; Miss Cooper wore pale silver grey satin, trimmed with white chiffon"; Miss Fitzherbert, pretty white satin and chiffon gown: Miss Pharazyn, in pale blue silk with white lace; the Misses Williams (Dunedin) wore white satin and’ lace gowns; Miss Coleridge, blue figured silk, with white chiffon; Miss Rose, black satin, trimmed with white; Miss Harcourt, blue brocade, with cream lace berthe; Miss Higginson, in black; Miss F. Brandon, sofe white gauze gown; Miss Gore, in pale blue, with white luce; Miss Izard, black satin and jet; and Miss Sprott, na white. Also the Messrs Duncan, Johnston, Pearce, Higginson. Rolleston, Gore, Tripp, Harcourt, etc.

Mrs O’Connor gave a very pleasant, afternoon "At Home" last Friday. All the rooms were most beautifully decorated with flowers aud green, spring bulbs and violefS (being particularly in evidence everywhere. The garden too was gay with blooms, and the whole atmosphere seemed laden with delicate perfumes. The tea table had a very artistic arrangement of empress jonquils aud violets, and was spread with every imaginable dainty and sweet. Mrs O’Connor was wearing a rich black brocade trained gown with white lace and jet on the bodice. The Misses O’Connor were busily employed in the dining-room and elsewhere, attending to the wants of the guests in a most energetic manner. Among those present I noticed:—Lady Ward, Mrs aud Miss Tolhurst. Mrs and Miss Williams, Mrs Pearce, Mrs Biss, Mrs •nd Miss Reid, Mrs Dilncan, the Misses Brandon. Mrs Fitchett, Mrs CAwford, Mrs Menzies, Mrs Herries, Mrs Bailey, Mrs Newman, Mrs Par-

fitt, and the Misses Roue. Kennedy, Johnston, Dewniston (Christehareh), tjaiek, Williams (Dunedin), Chatfield, etc. ’

The tie between Mrs Harold Johnston and Mr C. Gore and Miss Cooper and Mr Buchanan for Mrs Bell’s mixed foursome prize was played off yesterday. The weather was glorious, and after a most exciting game Mrs Johnston and Mr Gore won, with one up on bogey, their opponents being two down. Next Saturday there is another mixed foursome competition for prizes presented by Mr and Mrs Arthur Buchanan.

Spring- is once more with us, and the weather is getting quite mild and warm already. The shops are full of lovely things for the eoming season. The sweet flowered silks and muslins are very tempting indeed, especially when you see a perfect dream of a hat, or toque of chiffon and flowers, that would go so well with some of them.

OPHELIA.