AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue IV, 24 January 1903, Page 253

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, January 2 PARNELL TENNIS AND CROQUET LAWNS. The heavy rain which fell frotp 5.30 a.m. to 0.30 a.m. on Saturday produced quite a flood on the Parneil lawns; in the morning a boat could have been floated there. It cleared up during the day, though the atmosphere in the afternoon was in that state popularly termed “muggy.” Matters were in a threatening state, so far as fine weather was concerned; the clouds banked up, as if a downpour was imminent. How'ever, during the latter part of the afternoon, the sky took on a less angry appearance, nnd the sun came out. and Mrs. Thornes’ and Mrs. E. C. Smith's afternoon tea on'the Parnell lawns was conducted under favourable conditions. In spite of a brake-load of the Parnell tennis players having gone to Papatoitoi that afternoon to play matches against the Papatoitoi Club, there was still a very large attendance on the Parnell lawns. The tea table in the pavilion was prettily decorated with sweet pea in a variety of colours, nnd surrounded with cakes, fruit and sweets. It is noticeable that seven of the eight competitors who have entered the croquet championship competi-

tlon are members of the Parnell Club. Surely the other elnbs can furnish more than one competitor to de battle with this seven. They have another month to reflect over this matter, and it is hoped the result will be a greatly increased entry. Amongst the ladies present on’Saturday were: Mrs. Thornes wore a handsome gown of striped grass lawn, tr ; mmed with bands of deep ecru lace insertion, ecru lace collarette, with nil green silk at neck, hat en suite, with loops of nil green ribbons, nil green parasol; Mrs. E. C. Smith, black skirt, white silk blouse, with tuckings and lace insertion, black hat; Mrs. Hunt, modish toilette of brown holland, the skirt was pluin but for three shaped flounces at hem, the bodice opened in front to show a collar and shirt of white silk, and pouched over a belt with gilt buckle, flat toque, with bunches of violet flowers; Mrs. Ashley Hunter, black tailor-made sklrt.smartly strapped with black silk, white pique jacket, black hat; Mrs. Shipherd, black voile tailor-made coat nnd skirt, black hat; Mrs. Upfil, white pique skirt, made with shaped flounce, white chine silk blouse, with tucks and ecru lace, lilac ribbon waist band, flat toque with violets; Mrs. Morris, holland costume, burnt straw hat; Mrs. W. B. Colbeck, black voile skirt, white silk blouse, with ecru lace and tuckings, hat with flowers; Miss Thomson, dark skirt, white blouse, black hat; and her sister wore a dark skirt, light blouse, sailor hat; Mrs. McConnell, blaek skirt, China blue figured muslin blouse, with handsome twine-coloured lace collarette, burnt straw toque with flowers; Mrs. Bruce, black skirt, violet figured foulard blouse, with twine-coloured lace embroidery, black hat with flowers; Mrs. Kenderdine, black skirt, white blouse, blaek hat; Mrs. W. Nichol, dark skirt, white chine silk blouse, with ecru lace and tuckings, black hat; Miss White, white French muslin, with pink floral design, large picture hat with flowers; and her sister wore a pale blue cambric gown, black hat with flowers; and another sister wore a white pique skirt, cream silk blouse, with tuckings and lace insertion, white hat; Miss O. Lusk, white skirt, cardinal silk blouse, with bands of ecru lace insertion let in from neck to waist, black lace frame hat, wreathed with roses; Miss Fenton, holland skirt, white silk blouse, with lace insertion and tuckings, violet velvet toque, with flowers; and )-tr sister wore a pretty reseda green costume, hat with flowers; Mrs. Duthie, green canvas costume, the skirt had large flat tucks at hem. the bolero was composed of flat tucks, the bell sleeves were shortened to show full shirt sleeves of white silk, flat black straw hat, swathed with tulle; and her little daughter wore a grass lawn: Miss Gill, black vicuna cloth skirt, trimmed with cording and bands of taffateen, white chine silk blouse, with tuckings and ecru lace, black hat; Mrs. Segar. Italie coloured cambric flounced skirt, the flounce

was outlined and trimmed with white braiding-, white silk blouse, with tuckings and ecru lace, white hat; Mrs. Ruck looked very well in a rich black cloth, white vest, flat black toque, with scarlet roses; Mrs. Colegrove,* black coat and skirt, white vest, black hat; Mrs. Lucas R. Bloomfield, bright navy blue costume, Panama hat; Mrs. Ranken Reid, brown canvas costume, made with bolero and skirt, the skirt had a very deep lace insertion band let in at knee, the edges of the bolero were cut out in scallops, the top was finished with flat berthe of lace, white silk skirt, cream hat with scarlet roses; Mrs. Hill, black skirt, China blue figured muslin blouse, black hat with flowers; Mrs. Rathbone, navy costume, made with pouched white vest, ciel blue toque with pink roses; Mrs. Munroe, dark skirt, white blouse, with tuckings and lace insertion; Miss Frater, black voile skirt, with innumerable frills at hem, the tunic or overskirt was plain, white silk blouse, black hat swathed with tulle and ostrich plumes; Mrs. A. P. Friend, navy gown, with narrow white stripe, black toque with wreath of cornflowers; her daughter wore white cambric, white hat; Mrs. Gillies, black and white figured foulard, black toque trimmed with white; Miss J. Ireland, white pique skirt, muslin blouse, beige cambric hat, composed of pleated accordeon frills; her friend wore navy gown, Panama hat; Mrs. R. Walker, navy costume, Panama hat.

Misses Stewart gave the afternoon tea on Saturday last on the Eden and Epsom lawns. There were a very few lady players, though there was a large attendance of gentlemen. On this lawn a noticeable faet is that all are remarkably good tennis players. Amongst the ladies present were: Mrs. Udy, black gown; Mrs. Oldham, dark skirt, white blouse, black hat; Mrs. J. Dawson, holland gown, black toque; Miss Dawson, dark skirt, white blouse, sailor hat; Mrs. Yates, white cambric; Mrs. Cooke, dark skirt, white blouse; Miss Foughy, dark skirt, pink blouse, hat with flowers; Miss Gorrle, dark skirt, light blouse, sailor hat; Miss P. Gorrie, black and white striped batiste costume, sailor hat; Miss Cooke, white skirt, blue floral blouse, white hat; Miss Udy, dark skirt, white blouse, sailor hat; Mrs. Hooper, dark skirt, blue blouse, black hat; Mrs. Mair, holland skirt, white silk blouse, sailor hat: Miss Stewart, grey figured French muslin, sailor hat; and her sister wore white; Miss Paton, black skirt, white blouse, black hat; Mrs. Ball, dark skirt, white blouse, hat with flowers; Miss Oberlin Brown, dark skirt, white blouse, sailor hat: and her sister wore white gown, sailor hat. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Amon<r the dresses worn at His Majesty’s Theatre 1 noted the following:— Mrs Myers, in a black silk gown, with white lace fichu; Mrs Wm. Coleman, black evening gown and white

theatre cloak; Mrs Moss Davis, black satin embroidered with jet, crimson flowers on decolletaue; Miss Moss Davis was pretty in white spotted net and white fichu; Mrs (Dr) Sharman wore a lovely gown of pale blue satin, contrasted with Paris coloured lace and silk; Miss Leys was charming in a black satin skirt and a dovegrey opera cloak; Miss Nelson, rose pink evening gown; Miss K. Nelson, white silk: Mrs Laurence, cream

tucked silk, theatre blouse, and black satin skirt; Miss Dolly Schertf, pale blue inoaseline-de-soie blouse, with berthe of Paris lace, black satin skirt; Miss Dawson, white tucked silk blouse, edged with ecru applique, black satin skirt; Miss Muriel Dawson was pretty in pale green chiffon, the low corsage draped with Paris lace caught with salmon pink silk chou, black satin skirt; Mrs Hud-son-Williamson wore black lace over heliotrope silk: Miss Hudson-William-son, white silk, her younger sister was hi pale green; Mrs Isaacs, black satin; Mrs Benjamin, white silk and lace; Miss Isaacs, white silk; Airs Cattanach, black evening gown, relieved with white; Mrs Windsor, black and silver; Miss Alison wore white silk, mouseline-de-soie embroidered with pink flowers, pink roses in coiffure; Miss Heid, becoming white evening dress; Miss Whitson, white tucked silk and lace blouse, black silk skirt: Miss Towsey was in white, the low bodice adorned with white lace fichu, caught with pink geraniums, her friend was gowned in black and silver; Miss Percival wore black over blue, blue chou on shoulder; Miss Alice Percival, blue silk contrasted with white; Mrs Aubin (Thames), black silk, relieved with white; Mrs Singleton, crimson satin blouse with black incrustations, black silk skirt; Mrs Sylvester Brigham, black satin evening gown with Paris coloured lace collar and vieux rose silk chou on cors’age.

THE MOUNT EDEN BOWLING CLUB'S AT HOME. The Mount Eden Bowling Green presented a very animated appearance last Saturday, when the club held an At Home for the official opening of their new green. The occasion was honoured by visits from a considerable number of members of the citv and suburban clubs, and some well contested games resulted. There was also a large gathering of ladies, who watched the games with interest. The grounds and pavilion were prettily decorated with festoons of many-coloured flags, while fluttering conspicuously was the championship pennant ; also in a prominent place in the pavilion was placed the Association. Champion Fours’ Shield —the much-coveted symbols of superiority. Mr Brimblecomb, president, opened the green with an appropriate speech, after which Mrs Brimblecomb,e was called upon to perfom the ceremony of throwing the “jack” and declaring the green open, which she did very gracefully. A recherche afternoon tea was served in the tea-room at the side of the pavilion. A distinct

triumph was effected in the decoration of the table, in the adornment of which a profusion of blue agnpauthus, yellow daisies and variegated grasses had been arranged by an artist’s hands. The table was quite a study in blue and gold —the club’s colours. The members and their lady friends were most assiduous in their attendance upon the guests. Musical selections were played during the afternoon.

Mrs Brimblecombe wore a white spotted muslin, and a large black hat with white and black Marguerite daisies; Mrs Charles Hudson was in a white and blue floral muslin blouse, black skirt, and a burnt straw hat with royal blue silk folds and bow; Mrs R. Ross, grasse lawn gown and black chiffon hat; Mrs Burns, grey silk blouse, black skirt, white hat;

Mrs Walker, pink and grey eheck gingham, black hat; Miss Ross, electrie blue voile, uud black hat with piuk roses; Miss Burns, white'muslin, v.liitie satin, straw hat with white silk bow and wreath of autumn leaves; Mrs B. Heather, black silk, burnt straw hat with blue; Mrs Rees, black and white figured delaine, with black collar, large black hat with cluster of violets; Mrs Oberlin-Brown, mourning costume; Mrs (Dr.) Coates, black cloth coat andskirtwith white silk facings, black hat with pink roses; Miss Hooper, white silk blouse with tucks and Paris lace insertion, black skirt, and white hat with blue silk bow and black velvet and wreath of white geraniums; Mrs Murdoch McLean, white tucked silk blouse inserted with lace, black voile skirt with stitched silk

bands, black chiffon hat wreathed with pink honeysuckle and shaded leaves; Mrs H. Daere, white silk and insertion blouse, black satin skirt, black hat with long ostrich feathers; Mrs Culpan, black figured silk, black toque with Maltese lace; Mrs H. Ashton, grey crash costume, white hat swathed with blue silk; Mrs Woodward, black silk costume and black bonnet; Mrs J. H. Mackie, white pique skirt and white lawn blouse, white hat with pink berries and shaded leaves; Mrs Fletcher, biscuit coloured and white Madras muslin, white Tudor hat with a wreath of cornflowers; Mrs F. Wilson Smith, white embroidered net over cneam silk, white plateau hat with cream lace and black velvet ends; Mrs Hosking, black relieved with white; Miss Hosking, white and blue floral muslin, large black hat with white ostrich feather; Mrs Wing, heliotrope and white silk figured blouse with white chiffon vest, black voile frilled skirt, white hat swathed with cream net, with wreath of pink banksea roses underneath; Mrs Rankin, grass lawn costume, white hat with pink; Miss Garland, white blouse and navy blue skirt, white hat with white silk and pink flowers; Miss B. Rieid, royal blue silk blouse with black skirt, and white hat; Miss Wilson, black and white plaid silk blouse, blackskirt, white hat with black silk bows; Miss Hetherington (Thames), China blue and white muslin, tucked and with frills, white plateau wreathed with pink roses; Miss Newell, white tucked silk gown, and white hat with black velvet; Mrs Lovatt, navy and white foulard, black toque; Mrs Jones, crash costume, white chiffon ruffle, hat en suite; Mrs Brookes, blue blouse and black skirt; Mrs B. J. Esam, handsome trained black skirt, black bodice, black chiffon toque with scarlet flowers; Mrs Dobson, trained black silk, black Maltese cape, black bonnet relieved with white; Miss A. Esam, blue and white silk, white hat; Mrs G. Martin, blue muslin trimmed with Paris lace, blue silk collar, black picture hat; Miss Eady, pale blue voile, white hat; Mrs Watson, black muslin trimmed with string laee, white hat trimmed with pink; Miss Nellie Woollams, tail-or-made costume, white collar trimmed with buttons and gold strapping, pale blue chiffon hat with forget-me-nots; her sister wore white and a burnt straw hat with cream roses; Mrs Walton, cream spotted muslin, black hat with flowers; Miss B. Matthews, blue blouse, black strapped skirt, cream hat trimmed with white and black velvet ribbon; Mrs Thomson, cream figured delaine, while hat.

AN AT HOME. A very pleasant afternoon party was given by Mrs Stevenson at her residence, “Glenholm,” Remuera, on Thursday. Mrs Stevenson had arranged for croquet, but owing to the inclement state of the ’weather all thoughts of out-door enjoyment had to be abandoned. However, the guests who were present passed a pleasant hour with their hostess and her amiable daughters.

Mrs Stevenson wore a black frock with white vest; Mrs A. Clark, white

silk, with rows of black insertion, very pretty collar, black toque; Mrs Rose, black costume; Miss Stevenson, white dress with blue; Miss Whyte, pink linen; Mrs Robert on and Mina Pierce were studies in white silks; Miss E. Pierce, very .pretty grass lawn over green silk, burnt straw hat with roses and moss green velvet; Miss Richmond, heliotrope muslin, black hat; Miss Jean Richmond, black skirt, fawn blouse; Miss Cotter, quaint shirred silk frock, with blue sash and black ha*t; Miss Winnie Cotter, blue linen with rows of em-

broidery, black crinoline hat; Miss

Hardie, pale blue muslin, and her sister was in a tussore silk dress with red spotted collar; Miss Buller, white tucked silk, blue hat; Mise Ruddock, pink muslin, hat with roses; Miss Stewart, cream costume, and her friend looked very well in grass lawn over green, hat with blue. PHYLLIS BROUN.