NAPIER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XIV, 2 April 1904, Page 50

NAPIER.

Dear Bee, March 25. Miss Belle Napier was warmly welcomed on her return from England by a number of Hawke’s Bay friends at the Athenaeum on the 18th inst. Several of her delightful recitations were given by Miss Napier, and perhaps the most psuccessful of these was “The Bells of Iss,” recited with great dramatie power. Some smart costumes were worn. Miss Napier looked particularly well in a handsome gown of tussore silk and cream lace over pale blue, biscuit coloured hat with pale blue feathers; Mrs Edgar bad a stylish green dress, and a hat to match; Lady Whitmore wore a rich black silk costume with a eoat of pleated chiffon, and a black bonnet; Mrs Dixon was in grey and black; Mrs Cornford wore a stylish gown of black voile, and a blaek bonnet relieved with red; Miss Cornford looked dainty in pale green, becoming picture hat; Mrs Hoveil was also admired in a green voile gown with bands of green silk round the skirt and on the bodice; Miss Hoveil had a graceful grey costume and a large chip hat; Mrs Lusk was in a fawn dress trimmed with the long fringe so fashionable at present, fawn hat to match; Miss Large looked well in grey, becoming toque prettily trimmed with yellow poppies; Mrs P. S. McLean wore a dark blue cloth tailor-made costume; Mrs Hamlin wore black; Mrs Bowen was handsomely dressed in light coloured voile with motifs of cream lace and a smart black toque covered with silver sequins; Miss V. Twigg wore a sky blue dress, which suited her to perfection, large eream chip hat trimmed with pale blue; Mrs Ormond was in. black, cape of handsome black lace and bonnet to match; Miss Ormond had a grey dress much tucked and gathered, and a toque trimmed with pink roses; Miss Wood looked well in a white dress trimmed with lace and Insertion: Sirs Stedman wore a tussore silk dress much trimmed with insertion, over heliotrope, deep cream hat with shaded heliotrope plumes; Mrs Pharazyn wore black silk; Mrs Henley wore cream, large black hat with plumes; Miss Von Dadelzen was in blaek and white; Mrs Johnston looked well in pale grey tweed faced with white; Mrs W. Anderson wore pale grey voile trimmed with innumerable rows of narrow black velvet ribbon, large black hat: Mrs George White was in blaek, and she wore a hat to match.

A series of tableaux vivants, tinder ihe management of the Rev. John Hobbs, were given at Hastings on the 24th inst.. in aid of St. Matthew’s Church. One of the great attractions of the evening was the recital given by Miss Belie Napier, of “The Ballad of Judas Iscariot.” which she gave with dramatic force and pathos. The tableaux were thoroughly successful. The grouping and colouring deserve especial praise. They were of a sacred character. illustrating the events of the Resurrection. The final group was capitally treated; all were arranged in an effective tableau, which was an ap-propriate-finish to the entertainment.

MARJORIE.