WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue III, 18 July 1903, Page 197

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee,, July 9. There was a large number of guests at Government on Tuesday, when the Countess of Ranfurly held an afternoon reception from 4.30 till 0. All the rooms were very cosy and pretty, as they always arc Large pot plants and palms adorned the corridors and corners. The beautiful flowering scarlet poinsettia was the admiration of everyone. His Excellency received with Lady Ranfurly in the first drawing-room. lardy Ranfurly wore n graceful gown of black crepe de chine, rather simply made, and with a. deep yoke collar of lovely sequins and soft chiffon ruffles at the wrists; Ladv Constance

Knox wore a very pretty gown of rose pink crepe de chine, shirred and inserted with Paris laee; Aliss Costello wore a blaek voile gown trimmed with laee. A most delicious tea was laid in the dining-room, where everyone was attentively waited upon. Lord Northland, Captain Alexander and the Hons. HillTrevor and 11. Butler were in attendance. Among the numerous guests were Airs •Seddon, wearing a blaek doth costume, with ecru lace revers, blaek and ecru bonnet; Aliss Seddon. a grey voile gown with white .vest, and a heliotrope hat edged with leaves to match; Aliss Alay Seddon, wore a biscuit coloured voile gown and blaek toque; Lady Ward, in a peaeoek blue frieze gown with collar of handsome silk applique, black toque with plumes; Airs Babington had a pretty pink voile gown trimmed with cream lace, and a cream hat with ribbon and flowers; Airs C. 11. Alills, in a black silk gown and velevt hat with feathers; Aliss Mills, dark coat and skirt and cream and black hat with feathers; Airs Butler had a dark green gown trimmed with beaver, and a black hat; Airs Pharazyn, black

silk gown, and jetted bonnet; Mrs Culiius, a black coat and skirt, and jetted Toreador hat; Mrs Duncan, handsome black and white spotted foulard satin trimmed with white lace, and a black bonnet with blue rosette; Mrs Arthur Duncan had a light figured silk gown trimmed with cream lace applique, and a black chiffon hat; Miss Duncan, a neat black braided gown and straw hat trimmed with white feathers; Mrs Rhodes, handsome black gown and mantle and jetted bonnet; Mrs Newman, in a neat tailor-made gown, and black hat; Lady Steward, in a black costume, and bonnet with ospreys; Mrs Adams, in grey silk trimmed with cream silk lace, toque to match; Mrs Stowe, black gown and mantle, black and gold bonnet with pink roses; Miss Stowe in a stone grey gown, and blaek hat with feathers; Mrs Pearce wore a dark tailormade costume, and black hat with feathers; Mrs Gore, a black and white gown and chiffon ruffle, black and mauve bonnet: Miss Core in a long pale blue coat, bound with white fur, large white felt hat trimmed with blue; Mrs 11. Johnston wore a pink zibeline gown with cream chiffon ruffle, and 'a flat white felt hat with pink flowers underneath; Mrs Purdy, a grey gown, and blaek hat with wings: Mrs Edwin. black silk gown, and bonnet with flowers; Miss Edwin,in a red dress, and hat to match; Mrs H. Gore, wore a scarlet gown braided with blaek, and a blaek hat: Mrs Pynsent, in black voile with cream lace, and a black bonnet; Mrs Fitzherbert, black gown and caracul coat, black and white toque; Miss Fitzherbert, in a green zibeline gown, and white toque; Mrs Gee, handsome black silk gown, and black hat; Mrs 11. Crawford in a pretty black gown trimmed with medallions of ecru lace, and a hat trimmed with pink; Mrs A. Crawford wore a sage green costume, and hat trimmed with crimson flowers and leaves: Mrs Cooper, a black silk gown and feather boa, black and mauve bonnet; Miss Cooper, in a dark coat and skirt, and a burnt straw toque trimmed with red velvet and cherries; Mrs Ernest Hadfield, in a blaek suit, with lace collar, and white felt hat trimmed with black; Mrs M. Ross, green coat and skirt with white

collar, and light felt hat; Mrs J. Tripe, a black gown, and black hat with plumes; Mrs Pollen, a dark green zibeline gown, and hat trimmed with plumes and cerite rosettes; Mrs H. Rawson, in a green eostume and blaek hat; Msss Rawson, light brown Eton gown, aud felt hat to inateh; Mrs Denniston (Christt-hun-h), in a brown tweed gown, and toque to match trimmed with cream; Mrs Judge Cooper, in a blaek gown and hat with feathers; Mrs Hislop, black gown and caracul jacket, black and violet bonnet; Miss J. Hislop, a grey frieze gown and black hat; Mrs C. Cooper, had cream frieze, and a black hat; Mrs Buchanan, in a pretty black voile gown much shirred, and cream and blue hat; Mrs Turrell, a pastel blue frieze gown trimmed with silk to match, and a gold embroidered collar, black and white toque; Mrs Baillie (Picton), in a black gown and eape, and blaek and white bonnet; Mrs N. Reid, rich black silk and jet, black toque; Mrs Hunt, in pale grey, and a black chiffon hat; Mrs Anson, dark gown and sealskin coat, black hat with flowers; Mrs Izard, blaek gown and caraeul coat, Toreador hat bound with yellow velvet: Mrs Fitchett, in pale grey, with toque to match; Mrs Barton, dark costume, and black and cream toque; Miss Barron, a grey gown and blaek hat trimmed with cream lace; Sirs Joseph, in black silk : Miss Joseph, pastel blue voile with lace, and a black hat; Mrs Rhind, blaek eloth eostume and jetted toque; Miss Coates wore a blue and blaek brocaded cloth gown, and black toque with ospreys; Miss Fell, dark grey Russian suit piped withwhite. white felt hat trimmed with black and white birds; her sisters wore dark blue anddark green Russian costumes and black bats; Miss Nelson (Auckland), a crimson frieze gown and pale blue felt bat trimmed with flowers; Miss Harcourt had a stylish dark grev zibeline and white and blaek toque; Miss G. Harcourt wore a red frieze gown and black hat; Miss Howard (Auckland), in a blaek braided suit, and black Toreador hat; Miss Richmond, in brown silk, and a black toque: Miss E. Richmond wore a blaek costume, and a white felt hat with satin and ostrich plumes; Mis* Brandon, dark green gown

trimmed with velvet, and hat to match; Miss A. Brandon, in a dark coat and skirt, and blaek hat; Miss O. Fitzgerald, dark grey Russian gown with white piping, and a white toque with flowers; Miss K. Fitzgerald, a blue grey gown, aud e-ream hat with pink flowers; Miss < haytor (Blenheim), brown coat and skirt, and hat to match; Miss Skerrett, in a violet gown trimmed with cream lace medallions, aud a white felt hat; Miss J. Skerrett, in turquoise blue, and a black hat; Miss Simpson, wore a fawn flecked cloth suit with braiding, and a large hat to match with plumes; Miss Medley, grey coat and skirt, grey and white toque; Miss Fraser (Dunedin), a black costume with basques piped with white, and a black hat; Miss Mules, black coat and skirt, and blue and black hat; Miss Fraser, in grey, and a hat trimmed crith red flowers. Also Sir Joseph Ward, General Babington, Captain Glossop iH.M.s. Lizard), the Mayor of Wellington. Rev. T. H. Sprott, Hon. G. MeLean, Sir William Russell, Sir William Steward, and others.

Miss Elsie Joseph entertained a NUMBER OF HER GIRL FRIENDS at an afternoon tea last Thursday in honour of her birthday. A guessing competition and other games added to the enjoyment of the guests, and a very delicious tea was spread in the diningroom. Among those present were the Misses Brandon, Harcourt, Finch, Johnston, Harding, Edwin, Nelson, Miles, McGregor, Fell, Fitzgerald, Rawson, and others. Another very large AFTERNOON AT HOME was given to-day by Miss Coates, Hob-son-street. The fine large rooms were all thrown open, and looked very bright and cosy after the gloomy weather without. The long table in the diningroom was spread with a variety of tempting things, and there was also tea to be had on the verandah adjoining, which was covered in, and made a pleasant outlet from both this room and the drawing-room. It also kept the rooms

comfortably cool, which is snch a great advantage at afternoons of this kind. There was an advertisement guessing competition, which kept a lot of people busy for some time. Miss Fell won the pretty prize for guessing the largest number correctly. A fortune-teller upstairs had her hands full in trying to satisfy the numerous applicants who wished to hear all about themselves. Miss Howard, of Auckland, who is staying crith Miss Coates, gave great pleasure by her singing during the afternoon, and between the songs a string band discoursed seveet music from the hall upstairs. Miss Coates received in a black silk gown, very much tucked, and with a bolero of handsome ereain guipure; her nieee, Miss Nelson, wore a pretty soft white silk gown trimmed with lace insertion, and a silk sash; Miss Hocvard, in black silk with eeru lace collar. I am afraid I can never tell you what everyone wore —there were so many—but among those I caught a glimpse of were: Lady Ward, in a dark green frieze gown, the collar bound with vivid green velvet and appliqued ■with ecru guipure, black and white toque; Airs Seddon wore a black eostume, and toque with lace wings; Miss M. Seddon, in a striped grey tweed costume, and round black hat; Mrs Richmond wore all black, and a little cvhite in her bonnet; Miss Richmond, brown silk trimmed with cream insertion, black hat; Mrs Arthur Russell had a stylish

black gown, the coat made with a long basque, and broad collar and cuffs of white satin, with an open-work pattern, soft vest and pretty black jetted chiffon toque; Mrs Duncan, in black and a blue rosette in her bonnet; Miss Duncan had a long coat of fawn cloth, edged with a broad band of pale blue silk, embroidered in black, white felt hat with white plumes; Mrs Stott, a pale biscuit gown trimmed with lace, and black and cream toque; Mrs Herries, a pink voile gown trimmed with Paris lace, and a cream toque with flowers; Mrs Adams, in grey silk with cream silk lace, and a toque with white feathers; Mrs Collins, neat black coat and skirt with braiding, and a black toque; Mrs F. Young, in a dark green gown, and toque trimmed with lighter green; Mrs A. Pearce, black Russian suit trimmed with fur, and a black hat; Mrs Coleridge, black gown and hat, fur cape; Mrs C. Pearce, black tailor-made suit and black toque; Mrs Wiekham, in a grey flecked tweed costume and cream toque; Mrs Warren, black gown and Toreador hat, sealskin coat; Mrs Stowe, black gown and silk jacket, black bonnet with pink roses; Miss Stowe, in a blue grey gown, and black hat; Mrs Butter, a dark gown trimmed with beaver fur, and a black hat; Mrs Medley, in black and white; and Miss Medley, in grey; Mrs McTavish, sage green gown, and toque to match with ospreys; Miss McTavish, a pastel blue Russian gown and black hat; Mi’s Mclntosh, in a black gown, and bonnet; Miss Mclntosh, a pink frieze gown, and hat to match; Miss — Mclntosh, blue voile trimmed with cream insertion, black hat; Mrs Edwin, black and white silk gown, and bonnet with flowers; Miss Edwin wore a dark green Eton gown, and black hat with tips; Mrs Crawford, in black voile with lace, and a touch of cerise; Mrs Rhine!, black cloth and silk costume; Mrs Joseph, all black; Miss Joseph, dark Eton gown trimmed with fur, and a black hat; Mrs H. Gore, in a red gown, and black hat; Miss 0. Gore, pastel blue zibeline coat, the cape bound with white fur, large white hat; Mrs Fitchett, in a gey gown and toque; Mrs Findlay, dark blue gown trimmed with velvet, black hat with feathers; Mrs Anson, in a dark gown and sealskin jacket, blaek hat; Mrs Hunt, pale grey with white vest, large blaek hat; Dr. Mills, a black voile gown trimmed with medallions of cream guipure, and a black toque; Mrs Pynsent. black silk gown with cream lace on the bodice, and a pretty blaek bonnet; Mrs C. Izard, in a green costume, and black hat; Mrs Firth, a dark tweed gown with long basque, and trimmed with embroidered braid, handsome tin’s; Mrs Tweed, in blaek, and a pale blue felt hat trimmed with black; Mrs Quick, in black satin with lace, and a mauve and cream bonnet; Miss Quick, pale grey gown trimmed with cream laee, toque to match; Miss Fell, grey flecked tweed suit, piped with white, white and black hat; Miss M. Fell, in dark green, and a blaek hat; Miss Harcourt, slate grey zibeline, and a white toque with ospreys; Miss Fitzgerald, in a dark tweed gown with basque, wliite velvet toque; Miss Nelson, grey gown and white felt hat trimmed with black, white furs; Miss Simpson, in light brown, and hat to match with ostrich plume; Miss Reid, in a black Eton gown, and black hat; Miss Finch, pastel blue trimmed with blaek, and a blue felt hat; Miss JLiles, a green gown trimmed with white lace, and hat to match; Miss Skerrett, violet cloth gown, with cream lace vest, white felt hat; Miss O. Rawson, black Eton gown, and white hat; Miss Somerville had a blue frieze gown, with vest of white silk, and a red hat; Miss Brandon, in dark green, and a toque trimmed with white chiffon and lace; also Mrs Ross Mrs and Miss Seed, Miss Greenwood, the Misses Harding, Mrs Morison, Mrs and Miss Barron, Mrs Dyer, Mrs and Misses Nathan, Mrs and Miss Butt, and Mrs and Miss Ewen.

Invitations have been issued by the Countess of Ranfurly for a dance and cotillion on the 22nd of this month.

The Garrison officers’ .ball, held in the Sydney-street Hall on Friday was a great success. The ballroom was very gorgeously and effectively decorated with flags and greenery. Various designs of side arms were tied with the battalion’s colours. The stage was comfortably furnished with easy chairs, etc. An excellent sit-down eupper was laid in the gymnasium. The table was beautifully decorated with pot plants and flowers. Heining’s band provided good music, and altogether it was a most enjoyable ball, the many bright uniforms of the officers

and the pretty dresses worn by the ladies making an extremely festive sight. His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by the Countess of Ranfurly, Lady Constance Knox, Lord Northland, Major Alexander and the Hon. H. Butler, arrived shortly after nine o’clock. The Wellington Highland Rifles provided a guard of honour at the entrance. The official set of lancers was then formed. Those who danced were His Excellency the Governor, with Mrs. Colonel Webb, Colonel Webb and Lady Ranfurly, General Babington and Lady Constance Knox, Commander Glossop (HM.S. Lizard) and Mrs. Babington, Colonel Collins and Mrs J. Dutnie, Captain Campbell and Mrs. Colonel Collins, Major Brandon and Miss Seddon, Major Alexander and Mrs. Brandon. Messrs. Menzies and Turnbull, the secretaries, are to be congratulated upon the excellent arrangements in every way. Lady Ranfurly wore a lovely gown of black glace silk, veiled in chiffon, beautifully embroidered with jet and medallion of ecru lace, beautiful diamond ornaments on corsage. Lady Constance Knox wore a pretty white satin gown, trimmed with chiffon frills, wreath of ivy leaves in hair; Mrs. Webb, black silk, richly trimmed with lace; Mrs. Babington, rich white brocade, trimmed with chiffon and laee; Mrs. Collins, black satin, with white lace on bodice; Mrs. Duthie, pale blue silk, veiled in white laee; Mrs. Brandon, lovely white trained brocade, with berthe of folded ehiffon; Mrs. Biss, deep blue silk, trimmed with chiffon to match; Mrs. Henry, cieam satin, elaborately trimmed with laee; Mrs. Rose, white satin, trimmed with deep lace; Mrs. Gilmer, black gauze, with satin edged frills, spray of flowers on corsage; Mrs. Ross, white silk, trimmed with lace; Mrs. Kemp, pretty white brocade and lace; Miss Coates, black glace, trimmed with handsome ecru guipure; Miss Seddon, white satin, trimmed with ehiffon and lace; Miss Brandon, black satin, relieved with pink choux; Miss —. Brandon, lovely white tulle gown; Miss Gore, black satin, with blue striped sash; Miss Harcourt, white satin, softened with white chiffon; Miss Fitzherbert, pretty green chiffon frock, inserted with lace, pink roses on corsage; Miss Fitzgerald, wliite silk, with deep lace; Miss K. Fitzgerald, pink silk, softened with white tulle and laee; Miss 0. Rawson, white tucked silk: Miss George, pink satin, trimmed with chiffon to match; Miss Ell. blaek satin and jet; Miss M. Fell, white silk, with chiffon frills; Miss Harding, blue satin, trimmed with laee; Miss H. Harding, pale yellow silk, veiled in white lace: Miss Beethani (Masterton), white satin, finished with laee and sprays of violets; Miss Nelson (Auckland), pale blue, with berthe of lovely cream laee; Misses Finch (2), blue crepe de chine gowns, trimmed with flowers; Miss Riddiford (Rangitikei), white silk and lace; Miss Nelson, pink tucked silk, with white lace berthe: Miss McGregor, cream satin, trimmed with laee; Miss Howard (Auckland), blaek satin, trimmed with sequins; Miss Stafford, pink flowered satin, trimmed with pink ehiffon; Miss Miles, blue merveilleux, with berthe of white lace: Miss Seed, black satin and jet; Miss M. Seed, pink silk, trimmed with ehiffon; Miss Blundell, pretty pink satin and chiffon gown; Miss Marchant, lovely pale green silk gown. Some of the gentlemen present were: Messrs. Harcourt, Morrison, Duthie, Fitzgerald, Menzies, Higginson. Reid, Gore. Robison, Sloman, MeShane. Nelson, Leekie. Denniston, Cooper. Drs. McKenzie, McLean, Webster, Izard, and others. OPHELIA.