CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XXIV, 13 June 1903, Page 1678

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, , We have had a real small-pox scare again, and vaccination has been the fashion, whole families standing up in rows tc be done, consequently the number of sore arms has been immense, and doctors unusually busy. On Saturday a very fine day was spent with the Christchurch hounds at Raidhurst over the properties of Messrs. Fowler, Jackson and Taylor. The meet was at Mr. Fowler’s, and a hare was soon found on his ground, but almost as soon lost again. There were two more good runs, but no kill. Among the followers were Mr. H. R. Parkinson, Mr. Selby, Mr. A. Elworthy (master of the South Canterbury hounds), Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Woodroffe, Mr. M. Woodroffe, Mr. Neave, Mr. B. Neave, Miss Neave, Miss Gerard, Mr. G. L. Stead, Mr. Haydon, Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Wood, Mr. AcfonAdams, Mr. Baffin, Mr. F. Seymour, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Clarke, etc. And driving were: Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Stead, Miss Stead, Miss Roberts, Mr. G. Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. J. Haydon, Miss Nedwill, Miss Gerard, Mrs. Gould, Mr. and Mrs. Ballantyne and a number of others. On Monday they met again at Rolleston.and were led by the master, the huntsman and the whip, to Mr. Thompson’s farm beyond the railway station. A hare was scon found, and after a merry run poor puss returned to the main road, and was killed, giving all those driving an opportunity of being in at the death. Among the followers were: Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Woodroffe, Mr. Bond, Mr. A. Elworthy, Mr. and Miss Neave, Miss Bassett, Messrs. Symes, Westenra, Ac-ton-Adams, Henderson, Parkinson, Boyd, Haydon, Jamieson, Lamb. F. Seymour and others. There were a large number driving, including Sir. G. Palmer, with party and four-in-hand; Mr. and Mrs. G. G. Stead, Miss Stead, Captain Hughes, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Neave, Sir. and Mrs. Symes, Miss Gerard, Miss Ballin, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Haydon, etc. I quite forgot to mention in my last the ceremony of unveiling the statue of our late beloved Queen in Victoria Square, erected to her memory and those of our New Zealanders who fell in South Africa. The statue is of bronze on a, stone base, the foundation stone being laid by the Prince of Wales during his

visit to Christchurch two years ago when Duke of Cornwall. A number of old colonists were present, and for whom seating accommodation was provided, a large volunteer force, headed by Colonel Porter, and some thousands of the general public. The Mayor (Mr. H. F. Wigram), accompanied by Mrs. Wigram, Mr. and Mrs. W. Reece, Mr. Justice Denniston, Colonel Porter, Sir Joseph Ward and the Town Clerk, ascended the raised mound which surrounds the statue, and after speeches by the Mayor, Mr. Reece and Sir Joseph Ward, at a given signal Mrs. Wigram pulled the cord which hoisted the flag (the Royal Standard) which enveloped the statue, the band playing the National Anthem, and hearty cheerswere given. After this ceremony Colonel Porter presented some long-serviee medals to several volunteers, and the gathering dispersed. A dance given in the Alexandra Hall (Canterbury Hall) in the evening, under the auspices of the United Cricket Club, was a decided success. The ladies took a great deal of trouble over the decorations, the club’s colours (red and black) being conspicuous everywhere. Among the many present were: Mrs. Denniston, in a rich black satin gown, the bodice trimmed with lace; Mrs. Wilding, dark green velvet, trimmed with Oriental embroidery, and finished with laee; Mrs. R. D. Harman, black silk and lace; Mrs. H. Wood, black satin, trimmed with ■white lace; Mrs. Seeretan, black silk; Mrs. E. P. Palmer, black satin, the bodice profusely- trimmed with white lace, and finished with choux of turquoise blue velvet; Mrs F. C. Raphael, very pretty turquoise accordion-pleated chiffon over silk; Mrs. Stringer, handsome gown of black velvet, with Honiton lace trimming; Mrs. C. Dalgety, yellow brocade, trimmed with lace, pearl and diamond ornaments; Mrs. Beswick, black satin; Mrs. H. Quane, black net, embroidered with silver sequins over black silk; Miss Denniston, white lace gown over satin; Miss Stead, lovely gown of pale blue crepe de chine, trimmed with white lace, pearl necklet; Miss Meares, blue chiffon over green silk, and wreaths of violets; Miss Peache (Mount Somers), white silk; Miss —. Peache, eau de nil satin; Miss Cholmondeley, poppy silk, with black lace; Miss L. Harper, white silk and chiffon, relieved with pale blue; Miss E. Harper, turquoise blue silk, trimmed with lace; Miss Symes, very pretty gown of pale green crepe de ehine, with spray of crimson on the bodice; Misa Kettle, white silk, relieved with green; Miss E. Denham, pale lemon silk; Miss Bullock, black silk and lace; Misses Louisson, cream crepe de chine, profusely tucked and trimmed with insertion; Miss Wilding, pale blue satin; Miss Way, white sillk; Miss Sale (Dimedin), white crepe de chine, with handsome pink floral sash; Miss Anderson, pink silk, with ficelle insertions; Miss R. Anderson, white satin; Miss Gossett, pale pink silk; Miss Inman, yellow chiffon over satin; Miss Cook, black satin, finished with laee; Miss Harley, white satin; Miss Bassett, black sequin net over silk; Mr. Justice Denniston, Captain Colbcck (Morning), Messrs. Evans, England, Doorley (Morning), Messrs. A. Rhodes, Beswick, Wood, Frankish, Fisher, Williams, Louisson, Stead, McKellar,-E.-V. Palmer, Jamieson, Harman, Weston, Kettle, Harper and many others.

Mrs V. Hargreaves, Merivale lane, gave a most enjoyable afternoon on Friday to some of her friends. There was a novelty about it, too. The guests each had to bring “the best value for threepence,” the parcels all being opened and arranged on the verandah, and judged by vote. There were about thirty guests, so there were a good number and much variety, causing a good deal of fun. Mrs Walcot Wood gained the prize with five loaves and two fishes; but I say nothing of the size. A delicious afternoon tea was served with various sandwiches, fruit salad and all kinds of dainty cakes and sweets. The animalguessing game followed, and was won by Miss Hargreaves (a lovely silver hairpin box), and Mrs Wood's prize was a handkerchief sachet and seent bags. A gramophone was interesting to listen to at intervals. Among those invited were Mrs W. H. Hargreaves, Misses Hargreaves (2), Mrs Ziele, Mrs J. P. Newman, Mrs K. Garriek, Mrs de Vries, Mrs T. Garrard, Mrs R. E. McDougall, Mrs Walcot Wood, Mrs Peter Wood, Mrs W. Wood, Mrs J, Fairhurst, Mrs and Miss Carter, Misses Way, Deamer, MeClatchie, Fairhurst, Gossett (2), Babington, etc. An afternoon tea, doing a double duty, was given at. Riverslaw by the Misses Murray-Aynsley last week, namely, to welcome baek Mrs A. C. Murray-Aynsley and say good-bye to Miss Ronalds prior to her marriage. Tea was served in the dining-room, the table being beautifully deeorated with pink chrysanthemums and maidenhair. The Misses Murray-Aj-ns-ley wore very pretty blouses of cream silk and lace, and black skirts; Mrs A. C. Murray-Aynsley, a black and whits tweed eostume, trimmed with glace silk, red and blaek straw hat; Mrs Ranald Macdonald, red frieze gown, blaek and white hat; Mrs E. V. Palmer, navy blue eostume with Oriental embroidery, fur toque; Mrs Ogle, dark green cloth Russian eostume, the bodice trimmed with blue and white applique embroidery; Mrs and Miss Wynn-Williams, Mrs and Miss Reeves, Mrs and Miss Tabart. Mrs and Misses Denniston (2), Mrs and Miss Ronalds, Mrs and Miss Nanearrow, Mrs Westmacott, Mrs M. and Miss Campbell, Mrs Wigley, Mrs Beswick, Mrs Fox, Mrs J. Gould, Misses Hill (2), Rutherford, ■Wells, Sale (Dunedin), Thomson, Nedwill, Gerard, Harley, etc. Mrs L. Harley “farewelled” Miss Ronalds at a luncheon party, the table being beautifully decorated with white flowers, and each guest provided with a but ton-hole tied with white ribbon. Among those present were Miss Ronalds, Mrs and Miss Harley, Mrs J. Palmer, Mrs Randall, Mrs (Dr.) Fox, Misses Nedwill, Reeves, Murray-Aynsley, Helmore and a few others. Mrs and Miss Foster, who are staying at Sumner at present, gave a delightful evening party to some of their old friends in Drew’s large room on Tuesday. Several pastimes were indulged in; one was, the guests were requested to take one of their- earliest photographs; this meant, of course,,a good deal of guessing, and a prize, which was won by Miss Daisy Preston, a framed picture of that pretty print, “Wedded.” Another was book title guessing, with another- prize, and several more, Mrs Stevens, Messrs C. and F. Preston being among the prize winners. A delicious supper finished up the evening.

Mrs Walter Stringer had a charming little luncheon party on Tuesday at her residence, Fendalton, when some of those present were Mrs Baume, Mrs (Dr.) Fox, Mrs W. Wood, Mrs I. Gibbs, Mrs Bourne, Mrs Croxton and Mrs Graham.

Mrs G. Rhodes is giving a large linking party at the Colosseum on Saturday evening, and all those invited are looking forward to a most enjoyable time.

DOLLY VALE.