WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue IX, 28 February 1903, Page 607

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, February 19. A most enjoyable afternoon “at home* was given by Mrs. O’Conner on Wednesday for her sister, Mrs. George, of Eng;land. The day was beautifully fine ana bright, though rather windy. After partaking of the delicious tea in the dining-

>*nn, the guests went out to admire the garden and its wreath of lovely flowers. Every thing was looking so fresh, and Mrs. O’Conner's wonderful assortment of dahlias were the admiration and envy of everyone. Inside the house, too, there was a perfect blaze of colour; the diningroom table had a charming arrangement of delicate yellow flowers and maidenhair fern on a bright green satin centre, and yellow pansies were scattered carelessly about on the cloth, giving a very pretty and softening effect. The mantle shelf was a mass of bright flowers, and in the drawing-room there were great howls and vases everywhere. Even iu the hall there were big bowls of giant sunflowers and other things: in fact, the whole house was transformed into a perfect bower. An Italian string band was on the lawn, and filled the air with sweet music. Mrs. O’Conner wore a black corded silk gown, trimmed with jet, and a vest of white tucked silk, crossed with black velvet bands, fastened with steel buckles, pretty white tulle bonnet, trimmed with foliage and ospreys, and pink roses veiled with pearl embroidered lace; Miss O’Conner wore a soft grey voile gown, much tucked and trimmed with white lace, and a pink straw hat trimmed with flowers and satin to match; Mrs. George had a black figured grenadine gown, with white lace front, and a black ami white hat. Others I noticed were: Mrs. Tweed, in a soft white tucked crepe gown, and black toque with plumes; Mrs. Biss wore a pale blue gown, and toque with flowers: Miss Kennedy, who, with her sister, was presiding over the tea table, wore a green figured gown, trimmed with cream lace, and a straw hat with flowers; Miss —. Kennedy, a cream flowered voile gown, much trimmed with lace, and a floral hat; Mrs. Fell, a black silk gown and ruffle, black toque with tips; Miss Fell wore a soft white gown, trimmed with lace, and a burnt straw hat. with blue flowers; Mrs Brandon, black silk Eton jacket and cloth skirt, black and white toque, with red berries; Mrs. Pollen wore a tussore silk gown, tucked and trimmed with lace and pale blue satin, large black hat with feathers; Mrs. Crawford, palest biscuit voile, with Ince insertion, and much tucked, chiffon rutile to match, small

straw hat, trimmed with pink geranium; Mrs. Butler, a bottle green figured silk gown and black hat; Mrs. Buchanan, pretty white voile skirt and silk blouse, and a green hat; Mrs. H. Gore had a grey voile gown, with white vest, and a black toque with plumes; Mrs. Newman, a black voile gown and black and white hat; Mrs. M. Ross, a grey skirt and satin coatee to match, black hat; Mrs. Gilruth, a pretty blue voile gown, much tucked and lace trimmed, white and green hat; Mrs. Wickham, a heliotrope and white silk gown, trimmed with white laee. and a large burnt straw hat, with black feathers: Mrs. Oweir a pale blue voile gown, trimmed with lace, and a burnt straw

hat; Mrs. C. Cooper, a black voile gown, with white laee collar and vest, cream hat with blue flowers; Mrs. W. Moorehouse, black spotted gown and black toque: Mrs. Hunt, a pretty soft gown of pale biscuit voile and lace, and hat to match; Mrs. Tucker, black silk gown, and long coat, trimmed with laee, black bonnet; Miss Coates, a maroon Eton coat and skirt, and a black bat with feathers; Miss Duncan had a white and black spotted cambric gown, and white hat with pink flowers; Miss Gore, a pretty cream voile gown, with embroidered bolero, and a black toque with plumes; Miss Johnston, in palest grey voile, prettily tucked and trimmed with white laee, and a pale blue and grey hat; Miss Dransfield wore a pretty mauve figured muslin, with lace insertion bands and pretty vest, straw hat with flowers; Miss Zard. black and white foulard satin, and a black toque with plumes; Miss Harding wore a green gown; and -her sister a white skirt and figured blouse: white hat: Miss Edwin, red flowered muslin, and hat to match.

The weather on Saturday was simply perfect for the military sports held at Seatcun, where the Wellington Battalion have been in eamp during the past week or so. Thousands of people took advantage of the beautiful hot day and kind invitation of the officers, and had a most, enjoyable outing. The ferry steamers ran to the bay almost continuously during the afternoon, and were crowded every trip. The officers and men were excellent hosts, and delicious tea and

cakes greatly added to the enjoyment of the afternoon. The camp broke up on Saturday night. This aiternocn (Thuisday) another very pleasant tea was given for Mrs George by her daughter, Mrs Biss, Molee-worth-street. It was a delightful summer's day, and the guests enjoyed sitting outside ia the comfortable ehairs arranged about the garden. The tentable in the dining-room was decorated with pink sweet peas and grass, and the variety of temptingly delicious things thereon were very numerous. Mrs Biss

wore a dainty sky blue voile skirt, tha deep shaped ilounee lined with narrow satin ribbon, blouse to match of crepo de chine, with cream insertion and tucks; Mrs George wore a black silk striped grenadine gown, the white chiffon vest edged with real lace, black hat with feathers; Miss George had a white embroidered muslin gown, and a green h>t; Among the guests were Mrs O’Conner, in a black coat and skirt, and bonnet composed of white tulle and green leaves, edged with pin!; roses; Miss O'Conner had a grey voile gown trimmed with

eream guipure, piuk hat with satin to match and roses; Mrs Tweed, a smoke grey gown with vest of cream lace over pink, and a black toque; Mrs Richmond, a handsome black gown and cape, jetted bonnet; Miss E. Richmond had a black Eton suit and white felt hat with white satin rosette and long white ostrich plume; Mrs Dunean wore a black foulard satin and laee gown, black toque with greeji rosette; Mrs Barron, a black silk blouse and skirt, black and white toque; Miss Barron wore a pink muslin gown, and hat trimmed with pink and. blue ribbon; Mrs Buchanan’s gown was very pretty, of royal blue voile, with many tucks and a collar of white lace, with large true-lovera’ knots of blue outlined with stitching, white hat trimmed with green rosettes; Mrs Newman wore black with yoke of pale blue chiffon, and a black hat; Mrs Turrell, a soft white silk gown with many pleated tucks, and a white straw hat with pink and red roses; Mrs Owen, in pale blue wila lace and Tuscan hat; Mrs Turnbull had a very pretty black voile gown, the short bolero worn over a white silk blouse strapped with black velvet, and a black picture hat with ostrich feathers; Mrs H. Gore, grey voile gown trimmed with white, and a heliotrope hat with flowers; Mrs Brandon, in a black gown, with lace collar, black and white toque trimmed with red; Mrs Hunt, a biscuit-coloured spotted gauze gown with transparent yoke and upper sleeves of guipure, large black chiffon and lace hat; Mrs C. Cooper, a white frieze Eton gown, and blue straw hat with hydrangeas; Mrs Louis I’harazyn wore white muslin, and a black hat and chiffon ruffle; Mrs Alee. Crawford, a eream and mauve gown and black hat; Mrs H. Crawford, in a white skirt and silk blouse, eream and pink hat; Mrs Moorehouse, black and white foulard gown and black hat with tips; Mrs Tuckey, black gown and coat, and a black bonnet with pink and mauve roses; Mrs Loughnan, a black gown and black toque with tips; Mrs Millward, white muslin and a black hat; Mrs Haeon, mauve frieze eoat and skirt, and black toque; Miss Haeon, in a green gown trimmed with cream lace, and a black hat; Mrs Burnes, a pretty black

tucker! voile, much trimmed with eream laee, black and white hat with flower,; Mrs Campbell, pale grey voile with white vest, and a cream toque; Miss Holms was all in black; Miss Tolhurst, pale blue silk gown with white collar and a white hat with flowers; Miss Coates, royal blue voile and cream chiffon ruffle, black hat with feathers and tulle; Miss Dranslield, in a holland Eton gown and toque with flowers; Miss Hislop, grey voile trimmed with crearu laee and a pretty black hat; Miss J. Hislop, pale blue silk gown with laee yoke and a flat straw hat with pink roses; Miss Gore had a white voile skirt and tucked silk blouse, pretty black toque; Miss Harcourt, in eream voile and chiffon ruffle, and a straw hat with pink geraniums.

The Pollards are drawing good houses at the Opera House still. Their production of Mr Alfred Hill’s new opera, “Tapu,” has created much interest, and the composer has been heartily congratulated on all sides upon the success of his work. The music is very bright and pretty throughout, and the Maori choruses are full of that drooning tunefulness so characteristic of the Maori. A poi dance and haka are splendidly done, especially the latter, in which the men seem quite carried away in displaying the ne.cessary energy and vigour, and their grimaces are quite worthy of the natives! The scenery is probably the best we have seen here; it is most lovely, and combined with the gorgeous dressing of the piece presents a brilliant spectacle. Mr Arthur Adams and Mr J. C. Williamson (who composed the words) are also to be congratulated upon their work.

We have quite a lot of good things to look forward to. First and foremost, of course, comes Madame Melba, whose concert here next Monday promises to be one of the events of the day. I believe the Opera House is quite full, and eould do with more accommodation. Then the Williamson Opera Company open a season next Monday in the Theatre Royal, and Mr Frank Thornton’s Comedy Company commences the following night in the Opera House.

OPHELIA.