WANGANUI.

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

WANGANUI.

Dear Bee, March 25. We have had quite wintry weather lately, and oh, such rain! On Friday night the storm was so bad that several windows were blown in and the roof of the observatory was moved some inches. Owing to the heavy rain and flood in the river two picnics in the oil launch had to be postponed—one given by the Misses Cowper in honour of their guest. Miss Knight, of Dannevirke, and the other a party of Mr and Mrs H. Holes’ friends, who intended going up to the river and having afternoon tea with them. After Lent is over several weddings are to take place In Wanganui. Early in April Miss Jessie Griffiths and Mr Frank Hatherley are to be married. Miss Mabel Stewart and Mr Cave, of Waverley, and Miss Ethel Christie and

Mr Lance Stedman, of Christchurch. I hope soon to be able to describe the bride’s gowns and some of the pretty frocks worn at the different weddings. Local dressmakers are quite busy, and several ladies have sent to Christchurch and Wellington for their costumes. Miss Fraser, the' lady principal of the Girls’ College, gave a most enjoyable and instructive lecture in the large college dining-room ’on Friday evening in aid of the new swimming baths that are to be built in the hockey ground. Her subject was “Japan,” illustrated with magic-lantern pictures. The lecture was particularly interesting, as

Miss Fraser has just returned from a long visit to the Flowery Land, and she told us of so many of her personal experiences. Miss Fraser wore a rich costume of pale grey silk, the skirt having white silk tassels at intervals, the. bodice nad a transparent yoke of white silk embroidery edged with a frill of embroidered chiffon, the same material forming the sleeve with full bishop under sleeve of chiffon. Amongst the large audience I noticed Mrs Pattle-Izett in an old rose gown with San Toy sleeves profusely trimmed with champagne insertion; Mrs Grieg, black silk skirt, white silk blouse and handsome real lace collar; Miss Cowper, black brocade skirt, pale pink brocaded blouse with chiffon rouchings; Miss Knight (Dannevirke) wore a dainty frock of white muslin with shaded butterflies embroidered in silk: Mrs Gray, pale green voile costume with champagne insertion; Mrs G. Humphreys, dove grey canvas with pink and green gallon trimmings; Mrs A. Blundell, black skirt, white silk blouse with medallions of cream lace, Mrs Fairburn, black silk skirt, pale pink crepe de chine blouse with pink shaded gallon and chou to match; Mrs Morton Jones, black silk with white lace collar; Miss Jones, black evening silk gown and cream transparent lace yoke: Miss Baker, black silk skirt, white silk blouse with insertion; Miss Knapp, white silk evening gown; Miss Tavlor, shaded pink and blue silk: Miss Barnicoat, pale grey bengaline frock with grey chou; Mrs Reaney. black silk skirt, blue silk blouse with insertion; Miss O’Brien, black skirt and pretty white silk blouse; Miss Brabant, black skirt and blouse of a soft shade of blue silk and cream lace trimmings; Mrs Mason, navy blue silk costume and large collar of cream lace. There were also present—Mr and Mrs H. Sarjeant, Mr and Mrs Babbage, Mrs and Miss Alexander. Mr and Mrs L. Jones, Mr, Mrs and the Misses Fred Jones, Misses Brewer, Newcombe, Christie. Gould (Auckland), Mesdames Moss, Taylor, Mac Lean, Fitzgerald, H. Taylor, Browne, Allison. Furlong, Misses Anderson, Stewart and many others.

HUIA.