WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue II, 11 January 1902, Page 85

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee. January 2. Another Christmas has come and

gone, and we are now vainly trying to settle down to peace and quietness AFTER THE EXCITEMENT OF THE HOLIDAYS. 1 don’t know why it is, but holidays do upset one terribly. Everything seems to be turned round, and no one ever knows what day it is. or anything at all ordinary or commonplace. We had most glorious weather for all the Christmas holidays, and New Yearls Day, too, was lovely, but to-day it has broken, and has been raining steadily all day. The ferry boats were very largely patronised last week; Day's Bay, Seatoun and Worser Bay. and. in fact, every seaside place, by train or steamer, was thronged with gay holidaymakers; and in the evening the town would be lined with tired, yet happy, picnickers: returning from their day

•f at ter eajoyuient, and weary |»rente trailing home. with the children lagging behind, as they always will do en these occasions. We went for a jolly little picnic to Day's Bay, and greatly enjoyed the outing, although the boat was very Jul), and children with bugles numerous! In the evening we made up a parly for •'FLOKODORA.'' which was an excellent wind-up to the day. The Opera House has iteen crowded to its utmost on every night since the Pollards opened their season. The play is charmingly mounted. and the music and dresses are so bright and pretty that it would be impossible to do otherwise than thoroughly enjoy it. Mr Percy, as Anthony Tweedlepunch, is really capita). and he keeps the audience In a continual simmer of laughter. He is so full of life and fun. and each night he will introduce some new little bits of by-play. His acting in the burlesque of the Darios, with Miss Rosie Evesson, was simply splendid, and the audience insisted on encores ail through the piece. Some of those I have seen in the audience are: Mr and Mrs Johnston. Mr and Mrs Travers, the Misses Coleridge, Mr and Mrs Dunean. Miss Dunean, Dr. and Mrs Purdy. Mr and Miss Harcourt. Mrs and Miss Simpson. Mrs and Miss Deli, the Misses Johnston, Mrs and Miss Reid, Mr and Mrs Brown. Mr and Mrs Ross, Mr and Mrs Pearce, and others. SAILORS' ENTERTAINMENT. A splendid day was provided for the sailors in port yesterday, when about 200 of them were entertained by Mrs Rhodes at her beautiful residence, "The Grange." at Wadestown. After a sumptuous luncheon the programme of sports was gone through under the supervision of Mr James Moore and Mr Barltrop, and the successful competitors were presented with prizes given by Mrs Rhodes

after tea. Ringing cheers were given fur the hostess in acknowledgment of her great kindness, and the guests then made their way back into town. In the evening a concert was provided for them at the Art Gallery by Mrs Clarke Johnston and several others, and altogether the sailors spent a most delightful time on that day. Mr and Mrs H. D. Bell had a large home party for Christmas at their Lowry Bay residence. Among their guests were Mr and Mrs Harold Johnston, the Misses Johnston, Mrs and Miss Duncan, and the Messrs Duncan, Jackson, Higginson, etc. Mrs Arthur Pearoe also had a number of guests at her house in Lowry Bay, and a very enjoyable time was spent by everyone. Quite a number of people went up to Featherston on Tuesday for the races there on New Year's Day and two other days following. Some of those whom I heard had gone up are Mr and Mrs Ernest Izard, the Misses Johnston. Higginson, Bell, Brandon, Messrs Dunean, Higginson, Johnston, and others. Captain and Mrs Rose and the Misses Rose (3) have just returned from England after a very long visit. They seem to have greatly enjoyed it. They are at present staying at the Royal Oak Hotel. The wedding of Miss Alice Rose to Mr C. A'. Houghton, of Auckland, took place this afternoon from the hotel. The ceremony was performed at St. Peter's Church by the Rev. W. C. Waters in the presence of a sumber of friends and relations. The bride looked very nice in her pretty wedding gown of white surah, both skirt and bodice being artistically trimmed with lovely Limerick lace. The veil was surmounted with a spray of white heather, and she wore the bridegroom's gift—a gold and diamond pendant—and carried a shower bouquet. Her two sisters

attended as bridesmaids, and their dresses were aery pretty, of white moslin profusely trimmed* with lace and insertion and with a new looking arrangement of scarlet ribbon on the skirts and bodices, finished below the knee with butterfly bows. Their hats were all black with plumes, and they wore their gifts from the bridegroom, which were handsome gold chains. Afterwards Captain and Mrs Rose received the guests at the Royal Oak. where the breakfast was held, accompanied by the usual toasts. .Mr and Mrs Houghton are spending their honeymoon on their way to Auckland. Going away Mrs Houghton wore a very pretty cream linen gown strapped with green and with lace on the bodice, and a cream hat trimmed with green leaves and flowers. OPHELIA.