THE GARDEN PARTY

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVI, 17 October 1903, Page 52

THE GARDEN PARTY

given by Mr A. D. Willis, M.H.R., at his picturesque residence, “Te Mnwhai,” on Saturday afternoon was a brilliant success. Around the front and sides of the house were festoons of greenery, broken at intervals with giant paint* and tree ferns, whilst in odd nooks were dotted Chinese lanterns. The beautiful grounds were in splendid order; the greenhouses and many bright borders of jiansies, for-get-me-nots. anemones, and wallflowers were greatly admired by the many guests. His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly and suite arrived at “Te Mawhai” about 3.30, and were announced by a salute of 17 guns. The Vice-Regal party were received by Mr and Mrs Willis and little Aliss Rita Willis, who presented Lady Ranfurly with a basket of beautiful spring flowers and orchids, bearing the words, in gold letters on blue satin, "Hearty AVelcome to ‘Te Mawhai.’” A delicious and dainty afternoon tea was laid in the dining-room, the table being decorated with masses of beautiful spring bulbs and festoons of blue and gold ribbons. Lady Ranfurly wore a stylish gown of tucked silk voile with vest of eream silk, veiled with lace, long sable cloak with storm collar, pretty black crinoline straw hat., trimmed with chiffon and long ostrich feathers, with bunches of shaded violets on the crown and under the brim; Lady Constance was gowned in a heliotrope tweed frock with Russian blouse, the stole ends of velvet to match bordered with shaded galloon, cream chiffon vest, and dainty toque of shaded violets and velvet. Airs Willis received her guests in a black silk costume, the bodice having a white silk vest, and trimmed with lace, blaek bonnet, relieved with white; Aliss Willis, tueked tussore silk, prettily trim-

med with band’ of insertion and ioce. Amongst the guests I noticed Mrs Hatrisk, in a black tucked canvas, over black silk, with cream insertion and lace, blaek chiffon hat with ostrich feathers; Mrs John Watt, black tucked voile with vest and undersleeves of white silk, veiled with Brussels net, smart gauged chiffon hat with black feathers and jet ornaments; Mrs H. Sarjeaut. grey crepe de chine with vandykes of grey velvet, on skirt. Maltese lace flounce,’ yoke and revers, with violet velvet belt and bands, black chiffon hat with feathers and daisies; Mrs John Anderson, pale green tweed, strapped with silk, hat to match; Mrs si. Marshall, black embroidered chiffon robe with cream net and chiffon fichu, black' hat with plumes; Mrs Blundell, blue voile, trimmed with galloon, net vest, black ehiffon hat with black ostrich feathers; Mrs Krull, rich black silk with a band of cream insertion on skirt, and cream lace on bodice, black bonnet with cream flowers; Miss Cameron, black skirt, tucked silk eoat, black and white hat; Mrs J. C. Campbell, black and white striped silk costume with lace, white fur coat, cream straw hat with pink satin ribbons and flowers: Miss Izard (Wellington), white tucked silk frock with insertion, blue straw hat, trimmed with red berries and leaves; Mrs A. Nixon, pale green flecked voile with cream laee, blue fancy straw hat with blue and green chiffon rosettes and buckles; Mrs C, Powell, heliotrope muslin gown, banded with insertion, bat to match; Mrs G. Kissling, old rose frieze, the skirt having flat flounces, strapped with silk of a paler shade, and headed with black. Russian eoat with capes, cream vest, black hat with chiffon and feathers; Mrs John Stevenson, navy blue and white figured silk gown with gauged hip yoke of plain blue silk, bodice and skirt profusely trimmed with handmade insertion, black chiffon hat with plumes; Mrs Impett, pale apple green voile, trimmed with lace and net, cream fancy straw with green and pink ribbons; Miss Gifford, blaek silk, relieved wit h Oriental shaded galloon, black hat with plumes; Mrs Wood, blaek silk with Maltese lace collar, black and white bonnet : Mrs John Jnderson, pale green cos-

tunie, pretty hat to match; Mrs Izett, pale grey voile with white front and revers, grey ehiffon toque with sequin crown and feathers; Mrs E. Heywood, blaek canvas gown, tucked and trimmed with cream lace collar, black hat with chiffon; Mesdaincs Hughes-Johnston, Stewart. Greenwood. Kennedy,-Fenwick, Ba binge, -Keesing. Salek. Jones. Fairburn, Hole, Gray, Milnej- Barnicoat, Jackson, Misses Wray (Timaru), Jackson. Earle. Battle. Alexander. Messrs Blundell, Hole, Krull, Kissling, Sarjeant, Stewart, Barnicoat, Babbage. Wray, Cohen, Watt, L. Jones, J. C. Campbell, Fenwicke, Greenwood, Fairburn, HughesJohnston, Impett, C. (Powell, Battle, Cutfield. Herr Dittmor, Cornyns, Dr. Barnard. Anderson, Atkinson, and maitv others. IIUIA. '