CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XIII, 28 September 1901, Page 615

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, September 18. Sadly we said farewell to the Musgrove Opera Company on Saturday night after a fortnight of genuine pleasure. Of all the operas they have put before us the general opinion is “Tajinhattser” comes first. It certainly was a great treat, the mounting, musie, and the acting being all alike goofi. Madame Slapoffski’s "Elizabeth” will long remain a delightful

memory, and Barron Berthaid in hi pilgrim’s garments (or what was left of them) quite forgot he was anybody but “Tannhauser.’*

The Pollard Opera Company is now playing at the Theatre Royal, and opened with "Florodora.” I heard a unit of the un-musical section of the Christchurch community said "he went to ‘Florodora’ to get the taste o'f ‘Lohengrin’ out of his mouth.” So you see we do not all love grand opera.

There seems to have been little else going on socially except opera. A great many people too are away out of town for a little change, some to recruit after influenza, and a few trying to escape it.

A very beautiful silver eup has been on view in the window. of Messrs Jones and Sons this week which has been presented by Mrs G. G. Stead for competition at the New Zealand Ladies’ Golf Championship to be held in Auckland next mouth, and it is to bear the names of the champions since the competition was started, which include Mrs Lomax-Smith, Mrs E. Wilder, Mrs E. Melland, Miss L. Wilford. and Miss K. Rattray; the latter lady has! won the championship three years in succession. Many trophies become the property of the winner after a record of 3 years in succession, but I have not heard -the rules regarding the holding of this cup. It is very handsomely embossed, and stands about 12 inches high on a polished ebony stand. Miss Izard gave her girl friends a very enjoyable outing one afternoon last week in the shape of a bicycle paper chase, and after the run a delicious afternoon tea at her mother’s tresidenee, Gloucester-street East. There was first and second prize. Miss Wynn-Williams earning the former, a handy sandwich basket, and .Miss Denniston the second, a bicycle oil can. Among the riders were:—Misses Reeves, Corfe, Wall, Westenra, Kitson, Prins, Slater, Poulton, Raine, Denham, Hill, and Burnett.

We are looking forward with great pleasure to the Bulb Show next week. King Daffodil reigns supreme just now, 'and all ' the narcissi while Jtjie air is heavy with the .scent

of the hyacinth. The banks of-the river are a picture, thanks to the Beautifying Association,- with the nodding golden heads of the daffodil, and the effect is so charming one cannot help being like Oliver Twist, and crying for “more.”

(DELAYED.) Dear Hee, September 11. Whether “great minds think alike” or not there can be no two opinions about Musgrove's Opera Company, and we have had greater pleasure during then - season than for many years in Christchurch. It is difficult to pick out the best, but I think so far Lohengrin stands first, we are to hear Tannhauser to-night, the staging, dressing, and artists are so good it is a real feast. The Theatre has been crowded every night since the opening. Amongst the number 1 have seen the Mayor and Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes, Lady Clifford. Mr ami Mrs Wigram, Mr. Mrs and Miss Stead, Colonel and Mrs Gordon, Mr and Mrs Pvne, Mr and Mrs Woodroffe, Mr and Mrs Wardrop, Mr and Mrs T. Cowlishaw and Mrs Ogle, Dr. Ovenden, Mrs J. C. Palmer, Mr and Mrs F. AL Wallace, Captain and Mrs Hawke. Mr and Mrs W. Wood Mr and Mrs Waleot Wood. Mr and Peter Wood, Mr and Mrs H. Wood, Mr and Misses Denniston, Mr and Mrs W. B. Cowlishaw, Mr and Mrs Bickerton Fisher, Mr and Mrs Melville Jameson, Mr and .Mrs Bond, Mr anil Mrs Meredith-Kaye, Mrs and Misses Gibson. Mr A.. Mrs, and Miss "Wilding, Mr, Mrs, and Miss Staveley, Mr, Mrs, and Miss Merton, "Mrs G. F. and Miss Martin, Mr, Mrs. and Miss Bloxam, Mr Mrs* and Miss Graham, Mr and Mrs Kinsey. Mrs W. A. Moore (Dunedin), Mr "and Mrs Appleby. Mr and Mrs T. Garrard. Dr. and Mrs Jennings. Dr. and Mrs Morton Anderson, Dr. and Mrs R. Anderson, Dr. and Mrs Thacker. Mr and Mrs Cobham. Mr and Mrs B. AL Litchfield,. Mr and Mrs E. 'Turrell, Mr and Mrs A. Macfarlane, Mr and Mrs Ranald Macdonald. Professor, Mrs and Misses Cook, Mr and Mrs C. Dalgety, the Hon. E. C. J. and Mrs Stevens, Mr A., Mrs, and Misses Anderson, Mr J.. Mrs and Miss Anderson, Mr and Mrs A. Bennett. Mr and Miss Barns, Mr and Mrs C. Price. Mrs J. Fairhurst, Mrs and Misses Allen, Mrs G. Kettlewell, Mrs L. Matson, Mr and Mrs D. Matson. Mr and Mrs G. Harris, Mrs V. and Miss Harris, Mrs Marks, Mr and Mrs J. It. Scott, Mr and Mrs Pat. Campbell. Mr, Mrs, and Misses Waymouth, ’Mr and Airs N. Macbeth, Air and Mrs P. Laurie. Mr and Mrs F. Barkus. Dr. and Mrs Talbot,- Mr, Airs, and Misses Bigg-Wither, Mr and Mrs Sntehell, Mr ' and Mi s F. W. Thompson. Mr. Mrs. and Miss Secretan, Mr and Mrs Hill-Fisher, Air and Mrs Burns, Mr, Mrs. and .Miss Cra-eroft-Wilson, Mr and Mrs F. de C. Alalet, Air Chas., Airs and Misses Lewis. Mr and Airs G. Gould, Dr. and Alisses Nedwill, Bishop. Mrs and Miss Julius,' Mr, Mrs,- and Miss Croxton, Mr H. ,D., Mrs. and Miss Carter. Air and Alias Reeves, Mr, Mrs. and Miss Denham, Alisses Fairhurst, Harper, Way, Hargreaves, Cox, Neave, Ainger,

Fedor," Freeman, Bullock, Earle, Campbell. Williams, Alessrs W. and G. Stead, Cox, Grigg. Day, Perry, Mathias, Denniston, Collins, Williams, B. Laue, Harman, Bunz, Wallieh, Rutherford, etc.

On Thursday the Mayor and Airs A. E. G. Rhodes were “At Home" at the City Council Chambers, and a very large number of people attended. Tht» stairs and rooms ' were prettily decorated, and tea, ices, etc., were served in the pretty Council Chamber. His Worship and Airs Rhodes' received at the top of the stairs, the latter looked well in a mourning coMume, large picture hat. Among the many present were:—Airs J. C. Palmer; Airs Morton Anderson, in royal blue coat and skirt, black lint nad plumes with brilliant buckle; Mrs Dennisten, terracotta gown trimmed with panne ,aud . cream lace, toque to correspond; Airs H. Wood, dark coat und skirt, toque with blue trimming; Mrs Burns, black skirt, long fawn coat, black hnt turned up in front, black plumes; Airs Symes, black gown, black and white toque; Mrs 11. 11. and Misses Cook, Mra Croxton, black and white check Eton costume, straw hat; Mrs V.

Hargreaves, red cloth dress with.' black braid, cream lace collar, straw hat and pink sunshade; . Mr and Mrs F. Graham; Miss Graham, red dress, pink trimmed hat; Mrs Julius, red cloth gown trimmed with black velvet, black and steel bonnet; Airs I. Gibbs, very pale grey with lovely cream lace and black velvet trimming, handsome black velvet- long coat embroidered in jet, pretty toque; Airs (Dr.) Jennings, dark coat and skirt, violet toque; Mrs (Col.) Gordon, black Eton costume, red silk vest undersleeves and waist belt, blaek plumed hat; Airs Stead, dark coat and skirt, turquoise blue trimmed hat, white feather boa; Airs Ogle, black gown, bright rose pink trimmed hat; Mrs Wigram; Airs Pat. Campbell; Airs Rauald Macdonald; Mrs Pyne; Airs W. J. Bruce, black Eten costume, cream lace revers, rose pink vest, pretty toque; Airs Appleby; Airs Andrew and Aliss Anderson; Mrs R. Snow; 1 Airs Hare; Mrs W. Wood, pale grey Eton costume, navy blue trimmed hat; Air and Airs W. D. Wood; Air and Airs A. Kaye; Airs and Misses Bowen; Mrs E. C. J. Stevens; Lady Clifford; Air aqd Aliss Waymouth; Airs McDougall; Mrs and Miss A’oung; Air and Aliss Connal; Airs and Aliss Wynn-Williams; Air and Mrs Kinsey; Airs G. and Aliss - Afartin; Aliss I. Afartin; Airs and Aliss Mclntyre; Airs D. Alatson; Airs and Aliss (Dr.) Thomas; Airs and Aliss R. D. Thomas; Airs L. Alatson; Airs Kettlewell; Airs Secretan; Airs Weetman; Mrs T. Garrard; Airs Thacker; Airs and Aliss S. D. Barker; Misses Way; Hargreaves, Alleu, Heywood, Lean, Slater, Julius, Ambler, Wilkin, Reeves, Ainger. Cracroft-Wilson, Denniston, Bullock, Harman, Wilson, and many others.

On Friday, at “Warrimoo,” Papanui Road, Airs. J. J. Ivinsey entertained a number of friends at afternoon tea, to meet Airs. W. A. Aloore,.nee Kinsey, now of Dunedin, who has been visiting her mother with her little daughter for a month. ' A 'delicious tea, fruit salad, ete.. was served in the dining-room, and the wee Afaiden Aloore was brought in several times to lie introduced to the visitors. Airs. Kinsey wore a handsome blaek dress, with jet trimmings, and a little cream lace; Airs. Aloore, a dainty gown of grey embroidered canvas over shell pink silk, soft full vest-of pink chiffon. black velvet rosette fastened with diamond crescent on one side. Among the many guests were: Mrs. Denniston, in'terra cotta gown; Mrs. G. G. Stead, dark coat and skirt, blue trimmed hat; Airs. Jennings, dark gown, purple toque; Mrs. Alorton Anderson, blue coat and skirt, black plumed hat; Airs. R. Anderson, brown eoat and skirt, buttercup full vest, relieved with cream lace and black velvet, hat to match; Airs. A. Anderson, pale grey jacket, black skirt and hat; Airs. G. Bennett, all black Eton costume; Mrs._ Stavelev, black cloth skirt, silk blouse, re- . lieved with white lace, black hat; Airs. I. Gibbs, handsome blaek satin, the skirt tucked to the waist, Eton coat to match, white yoke and under_ sleeves of chiffon edged with blue velvet. pretty plumed hat, large chiffon ruffle; Airs. Alalet, all black; Airs. Webb (Adelaide), mourning costume; Mrs. Weetman, cream serge coat and skirt, with cream lace revers, straw’ hat; Mrs. Aferedith-Kaye, blue and white foulard, pale blue tucked yoke, pretty toque; Airs. T. Garrard, black cloth skirt, brocade blouse, white silk under sleeves, transparent collar, blaek velvet hat; Airs. F. Waymouth, black.net frilled skirt over black silk, the frills edged with bebe ribbon, .chine silk blouse under Eton coat, cut rather low. and short sleeves, allowing blouse to show, Tuscan hat with lovely shaded roses; Airs. R. E. McDougall, mourning costume; Airs. Peter Wood, navy blue skirt, pale grey jacket, blue trimmed hat and quills, chiffon ruffle edged with poppy petals; Airs. Julius, red cloth gown, relieved with black velvet, blaek bonnet with white aigrette; Mrs. (Dr.) Thomas, black gown, white revers, ’veiled with‘black lace, black and white bonnet; Airs. Secretan, all black; Mm. H. Wood; Mrs. W. Wood, blaek doth skirt, blouse of navy silk and cream insertion, nafy trimmed hat; Alisa Wilson (England), blue doth coat and skirt; .Misses Way (2), G. Anderson, Julius, AlcKerras (Dunedin), 1. Martin and A. Martin. Seve-

ral songs were -snug during the afternova, and Mrs. Moore gave -a selection on the pianola. By the way, have you heard this wonderful invention? it has found its way into several houses in. Christchurch, and the next thing will be our young people will be refusing to spend the time practising, when you can buy it already done for you.

The news of the death of Mrs. W. Devenish-Meares, which took place at her residence, Cambridge Terrace, on Monday, was received with genuine regret by a very large circle of friends. Her long lingering illness has been unutterably' sad for the family; everything possible was done, but they were quite helpless, and only had to wait. The deepest sympathy is felt for Air. Afeares and family—six daughters and one son. Three daughters have not yet returned from Germany, where Airs. Aleares left them to continue their studies, though, I believe, they are on their way out.

DOLLY VALE.