NAPIER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XIII, 26 March 1904, Page 50

NAPIER.

Dear Bee, March 18. There was a good deal of excitement among theatre-goers concerning the dramatic recital at the Theatre Royal last week. The people of Napier had hastened to secure seats, for the event was of peculiar interest, seeing that the reciter of the poems and the composer of the music was one and the "same lady. Miss Belle Napier, better known to Napier at large as the talented Miss Bello Hitcbings, who has returned for a flying visit to her native town, after an absence of seven years in England. One of the best pieces of the evening on Tuesday was the tale of "Brother .Matteo,” and ” High Tide on the Coast of Dincoinshire ” was also delightful. The music was pleasing, melodious, and in much original, and Miss Napier must take rank amongst dramatic reciters of a superior order. There was a large and fashionable audience. Miss Napier herself wore a charming gown of white spotted net over white silk, with a blue lirocade bodice and rows of blue and black passementerie round the skirt: Mrs. Edgar had a dainty dress of .pale blue erepe de chine; Mrs. Tabitteau looked well in white, with touches of pale blue on the bodice; Mrs. I*. 8. McLean wore a long red opera coat, trimmed with swansdown, and a black dress; Mrs. Wenley wore black net over white satin, much trimmed with silver embroidery; Mrs. Tanner was in blade silk; Mrs. Gordon also wore a black dress, and a pale grey theatra eoat with white facings; -Mrs. Tylee, black and pink; Miss Chapman, pale blue silk blouse, dark skirt; Mrs. lacking, heliotrope brocade, trimmed with antique lace; Miss M. Locking, white silk,

loug blue opera coat, trimmed with swansdown; Mrs. Ormond, rich black silk dress; Mrs. Kettle, black spangled net over blaek satin; Mrs Hawkins, white crepe de chine, .the ■bodice trimmed with lace, grey opera cloak; Mrs Fannin was in black; Miss Fannin, ■white silk blouse, black skirt; Mrs Bowen was in pale blue silk; Mrs Antill, blaek silk dress, much trimmed with lace.; Mrs East looked well in white and pale blue; Mrs Henley, very pretty gown of soft pale blue silk; Mrs Logan, black and white; Miss Dean was in white; Miss Page, blaek dress with white chiffon fichu; Mrs Stedman wore black net over silk, the bodice was trimmed with jet; Miss Myra Williams wore black satin; Miss F- Williams had a pale blue blouse and a black skirt; Mrs Balfour was in blaek with red flowers on the bodice: Miss Burke wore white and pink; Miss Humphries was in white, and she wore a loug dark blue coat trimmed with fur; Miss M. Hindmarsh had a pretty white dress. Amongst the gentlemen were —Messrs McLean, Logan, Stedman. Levein, Broad. Dinwiddie. Bowen, Dixon, Tanner, Tabuteau, Donnelly, Perry, Riddell, Captain East, Drs. Edgar and Henlev.

A presentation was r.iudc on Tuesday afternoon to Mr Andrew Turnbull, S.M-, who is leaving h"re i ext. week for Hawera. Mr Turnbull has reshie 1 in Napier for 13 yeari. and is held in general esteem by the legal profession, the members of which decided to testify their appreciation by a souvenir of his residence amongst them- The ceremony took place at the Supreme Court library, and, after a short speech Mr Cot'irord formally presented to the guest of the occasion a suitably-inscrib-ed tea service and silver hot water jug. Mr Turnbull, in acknowledging the g ft, said that he should carry with him to his new sphere happy recollections ■heightened by the knowledge that bis relations with the Bar had always been of the most cordial description, an I the hailsome gift they had handed to him would always be highly treasure t.

MARJORIE.