AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XXIV, 11 June 1904, Page 50

AUCKLAND.

Dear Bee, June 7. We have l>een having disgracefully wet and cold weather, lately, and everything has been rather miserable in consequence. nilE WINTER RACE MEETING AT ELLERSLIE ON FRIDAY certainly lived up to its reputation so far as “winter” was concerned. It was bitterly cold with a biting wind blowing, and every now and then the rain poured down in absolute torrents, so that the lawn and paddocks were a sea of mud. Anything more miserable it would be impossible to imagine, and I cannot think what induced us to start out on such a day; but we did, and so did a fair number of other foolish people. I suppose you have heard of the disgraceful railway -arrangements. We got into a train at 11 o’clock (a little before that hour, but it was advertised to start then), but were kept waiting on the platform till about a quarter to twelve. The carriages and trucks were shamefully overloaded. and the huge train nearly stopped in the tunnel, and again on the Remuera rise. Some vigorous protest should really be made and an endeavour made to get the parties responsible for such gross mismanagement punished. The arrangements on the course were as comfortable as the state of the weather allowed. A special word of commendation is due, I think, to the club caterer, Mr King. No better- race lunch is served on any English racecourse, and the hot soup and devilled chickens were exceptionally welcome on such a eold day. After what I have told you about the weather, you will not expect to hear much about frocks. Everyone stayed on the stand and only now and then did I get a glimpse of -anyone with a macintosh off,. However here are a few of the dresses 1 saw: — Mrs Morrin wore a very smart dark blue cloth tailor-made gown, dark blue hat relieved with touches of green, beautiful fox fur and muff; Airs Lowrie (Napier) was in a dark gown and beautifully fitting fawn Chesterfield coat, stylish blue and green hat; Mrs Sharman, serviceable trot tense gown of golden brown tweed, sable jacket, white vest relieved with blue, cornflower blue hat wreathed with cornflowers; Miss Florence Young, beautiful black Ixuiisine silk gown elaborately gauged and trimmed with chenille medallions, large black picture hat; Mrs Blair (Sydney), black cloth coat and skirt, cream vest, pretty pale bine, black and white toque; Airs Rees, navy blue costume, with stonegrey moleskin jacket, black and cream hat; Miss Ida George, very pretty blue costume with gauged skirt, -blue felt tricorn hat trimmed with violets and cream lace, ermine stole; Aliss Gorrie, dark French grey .Chesterfield coat and skirt, small black hat: Miss Nora Gorrie, navy blue serge costume with small blue hat to match swathed with blue and white chition; Miss Gwen Gorrie, dark skirt, grey Chesterfield coat, pretty vest relieved with touches of crimson, black hat; Miss Royce (Dunedin), navy blue, gown w.iifh long "crushed strawberry frieze coat, white and black hat; Aliss Want (Sydney),'dark grey tweed tailormade gown, black hat trimmed with ostrich feathers and black chiffon; Airs Charlie MacCormick, brown cloth gown With Chesterfield coat." hat en suite; Mrs Wallace Lawson, black cloth coatee costume with white vest and revers, hat io match: Mrs Markham, cornflower blue frieze costume with grey Chesterfield coat, black hat ; Aliss Eva Firth, verydark blue cloth tailor-made gown, white vest, Tuscan straw hat trimmed with crimson; Mrs Crowe, dark blue serge with long grey coat, black and white beaver hat; Aliss Ida Thompson, navy blue with long biscuit-coloured ‘coat, white fell hat; Mrs Smith, dark brown tweed coat and skirt braided with black, hat en suite; Aliss Trix Smith, dark blue costume with Chesterfield coat, grey fur toque with spray of shaded roses at one side; Mrs Cotter, very handsome black costume with smart black jiat to

matdqAlru Walker, black cloth coat and skirt, pretty black and white bonnet, handsome bear furs; Miss Nor* Walker, navy blue jacket and skirt, white vest, blue San Toy hat slashed with crimson ribbon and trimmed with white wings; Miss Jo Smith (Sydney), crushed strawberry skirt, white knitted Russian jacket, burnt straw hat trimmed with black rosettes; Mrs Barker, pink and black tartan skirt, with smart black jacket, white vest and pretty pink hat; Airs Basley, very handsome black striped coat and skirt, pretty black and cream bonnet; Miss Mabel Basley, dark blue tailor-made coat and skirt, cream vest, large-black picture hat; Miss Davy, blue costume, with Chesterfield coat, hat en suite; Mrs. Jones, black cloth coat and skirt, white vest, black hat; Mrs. Angus Gordon, dark blue serge jacket and skirt, cream vest, blaek hat; Miss Helen Gordon, dark blue, with grey jacket, pretty hat to correspond; Mrs. Rathbone, black tucked skirt, gauged black crepe de chine blouse, with yak lace yoke and undersleeves, black hat; Miss Lusk, brown costume, with brown and cream San Toy hat to match; Miss Fenton, cream hopsacking coat and skirt, strapped and finished with gold buttons, beaver hat trimmed with white feather pompon; Miss Percival, black costume, with smart frieze Russian jacket, Tuscan hat; Miss Edith Percival, black serge braided costume, with cream hat, trimmed with pale blue; Miss Eva Percival, blue cloth Russian coat and skirt, blue felt hat, trimmed with turquoise blue ribbon; Miss Torrence, dark blue costume, with dark blue hat to match; Miss Dunnell,dark cloth trotteuse skirt, moleskin jacket and hat to match; Miss Muriel Dawson, dark grey frieze Russian costume, white silk and lace vest, pretty white felt hat, trimmed with black; Miss Nesta Cooke, black cloth tai-lor-made coat and skirt, faced with white, white vest, black felt bat with feather pompon; Miss Jessie Lewis, black skirt, grey Chesterfield coat, brown Bretonne sailor hat; Miss Winnie Lewis, navy blue serge tailor-made gown, white vest, black French sailor hat; Mrs. Ballin, black cloth trotteuse skirt, black moleskin jacket, black hat; Miss Ballin, navy blue short skirt, grey Chesterfield jacket, with black facings, smart Hussar hat; Mrs. Caro, black gown, with black toque to match; Mrs. Barry. Keesing. navy blue costume, with long blue military coat, with crimson pipings, blue San Toy hat; Miss Isaacs, dark bottle green cloth gown, with violet eeinture, smart hat to match; Airs. Harry Hume, brown tweed costume, brown felt hat wreathed, with crimson berries; Miss Pearl Little, dark blue coat and skirt, white vest, blaek hat; Mrs Ansenne, black skirt, blaek merveilleux silk coatee with black and white embroidered revers, white vest, black hat; Miss Ada Preece, cream hopsacking Russian coat and skirt, finished with gold buttons., and beaver hat; Mrs Hanna. blaek cloth coat and skirt with white facings, white vest, black hat, lined with white tucked chiffon, and trimmed with ostrich feathers; Mrs Thorne Jackson, navy blue serge tailormade gown, cream vest, burnt straw hat, trimmed with black rosettes; Mrs Peter Laurence, dark blue serge coat and skirt, faced with dark blue tucked silk, Bretonne sailor hat, finished with feather pompons; Miss Marjory Towle, navy blue cloth costume with Chesterfield coat, pretty black picture hat; Mrs Alison, very smart blue figured tweed coat and skirt, cream vest, pretty toque to correspond; Mrs Devore, black satin cloth coat and skirt with revers and vest of white satin, embroidered with blaek, blaek and white bonnet; Miss Devore, grey flecked tweed Chesterfield coat and skirt, cream vest, pretty white felt hat, trimmed with miroir green; Mrs C. Lawford, black costume with brown fur toque and necklet; Miss De Camp, grey and green heather mixture tweed Russian costume, small felt hat. finished with quills; Mrs Phillips, dark blue gown with Chesterfield coat, navy blue San Toy hat; Mrs Benjamin, brown cloth skirt, sealskin Russian jacket, cream vest, pretty toque to match; Mrs Henry Nolan, dark heliotrope frieze skirt, black moleskin jaekeT, large black hat; Mrs Bodie, cloth tailor-made coat’ and skirt with blaek plumed hat; Mrs R. B. Lusk, cornflower blue frieze costume with pretty pink and black felt hat, brown fur stole; Mrs Ranson, brown frieze costume with hat to match. FAREWELL DANCE. A farewell ball was given to Capt. W. P, Wall, N.Z.R.A., ■by the ‘ members of

the Permanent force at Fort Cautley, Ljevonport. last week. Col. Davis and officers of the various volunteer companies were present. The large and spacious barrack room was most tastefully decorated with wild convolvulus. Hags, etc., and a sumptuous and tasty supper wm spread iu a marquee erected inside of the very large torpedo shed. The music was supplied by the Orpheus orchestra. About 200 invitations wrra issued, amongst them ■ being: Mrs Coyle, Mrs Philson, Mrs Col. Davis> handsome black mervellieux, the bodice being festooned with scalloped ecru trimming; Mrs W. J. Napier, becoming pink satin trimmed with Brussels net edged with pink; Mrs Laing, black, with dark red roses on corsage; Mrs J. St. Clair, pretty blaek and white gown? Mrs Duder, black sequined net, with rich lace fichu; Mrs Williamson, dainty white frock; Miss Nellie Graham, white crepe de chine, with cerise art noveau •sash and roses to match; Miss Maggie Graham, pretty white silk, with lace jacket bolero, pink roses; Miss Ivy, Duder. black mouselline de soie prettily trimmed with shimmering jet; Mrs Graham, black silk; Mrs Wrigley, handsome blaek velvet trimmed with lloniton lace; Mrs Pacey, black silk with square cut deeolletage, and white lace; Mrs Strain, pretty black gown relieved with blue and handsome red opera cape; Miss Hewin, white silk; Mrs Coffee, becoming blue Irish poplin, handsomely trimmed with silk Maltese lace. Among the gentlemen present I noticed Col. Davis, Major G. W. S. Patterson, Capt. W. J. Napier. Lieut. R. O. Chesney, Lieut. Hewin, Dr. Laing. Messrs Duder, P. Graham, Standish. Peacocke, cte. During the evening. Mr E. W. Alison, the Mayor of Devouport, gave an appropriate recitation entitled ‘‘All Hands.” A Thames correspondent writes: —“At the Oddfellows’ Hall on June 3 Mr and Mrs A. Court were “At Home” to a number of guests,, on the occasion of their daughter's approaching marriage to Mr Bartlett, of Auckland. The stage was given up to progressive euchre, for the accommodation of the non-daneers. Mrs Haskins won the ladies’ first prize, a valuable scent spray and accessories; Dr. Aubin securing the gentleman’s win, a handsome morocco letter-case tipped with silver. Mrs Read and Mr Paul carried .off the booby prizes, their allotment causing some amusement. Supper was served on a lavish scale. Mrs Court wore a handsome black gown, medallioned with black silk guipure, Maltese lace front; Miss Court, a becoming white merveilleaux silk, finished with chiffon ruching, angel sleeves of fluted chiffon, and lace corsage surmounted with a turquoise blue bandeau; Miss Court (Auckland), black with much lace. Amongst the guests were Mrs O’Callaghan, in black, and vest of cream silk and lace; Mrs Aubin, lovely white satin, garnitured with pearl passementerie and cluster of white silk poppies; Mrs Burton. a handsome brocade; Mrs Paul, floral silk, relieved with cream silk; Mrs Read, black silk voile, profusely tucked and trimmed with guipure; Mrs'Phillips. black canvas voile gown; Mrs Has- • kins, smart black canvas cloth, transparent yoke of fancy stitching; Miss E. Price, soft white silk, inserted with Valenciennes;Miss L. Price, dainty white silk, tucked and frilled and outlined

with handsome guipure medallions; Miss Read, pretty white silk, trimmed with laee; Miss I. Read, delicate cream voile; Miss Edwards, black velvet relieved with jet; Miss Baker, yellow silk; Miss E. Baker, pink silk with chiffon fichu; Miss Payne, soft white silk with violets on corsage; Miss Phillipps, cream silk blouse, Oriental yoke and black skirt; Miss Guthrie, blue silk blouse, black skirt? Miss Nolan, black velvet, with transparent net sleeves edged with red bebe ribbon; Miss Gemming*, white lawn with lace transparency, relieved with blue; Miss Murphy, cream voile blouse, black skirt; Miss Ensor, eream silk blouse, trimmed with lace, black skirt. I noticed amongst the gentlemen Messrs Court (4), McCullough. F. McCullough, A. Smith, Bartlett. Price, Walker, Beale, Read, Marris, E. F. Murphy, Paul, Haskins, Burton, Gillespie, Kilgour, Carpenter, Teasdale. S. West, Dr. O’Calaghan, and Dr. Aubin.

PHYLLIS BROUN.