AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9, 4 March 1905, Page 44

AUCKLAND.

Dear Hee. February 28. A CAPITAL IDEA. Tn conversation with one of the Northern Club members. I heard this week of a really capital suggestion made at the annual meeting of members held at the clubhouse last week. It is proposed that by giving certain notice to the committee members shall have the right of entertaining their ladv friends at dinner or supper. The idea was very well received by members present and the committee are going to look into the rules and see what alterations thereto will be necessary. Will it not be nice if the new arrangement can be satisfactorily carried out? Club men are often accused of selfishness in the use of their “town homes.’’ as clubs have been aptly described, but so far as our two clubs are concerned, the rules as they are a,t present, give them little opportunity to show hospitality. An occasional ball or reception is all the members can offer, and these they have certainly given with generosity. If dinner and supper parties are allowed, a new and very welcome form of entertaining will spring up, and the club's revenue should benefit very considerably. I hope, therefore, that as Captain Cuttie would say. the lady belongings of members will 'make note on’’ the proposal and see that their husbands, brothers, etc., etc., vote for the motion when it comes before the Club in due course. TheTjondon and Australian clubs where the privilege is granted are both the most cheery and the most prosperous in Clubland. Sir John Campbell was, by the way, elected president of the club, and Mr S. T. George vice-president. AFTERNOON TEA. A very pleasant farewell tea for girls was given by Miss Flossie Gilbert, of “Wliaranuf,” Hobson-street, in honour of Miss Stella Stewart, who is leaving for England. The entertainment took the form of a ‘flower wedding," which was quite a novelty. Each guest was presented with a programme, on which ■were written several questions concerning a wedding, to be answered in flower names. The prize for the greatest number of correct guesses fell to Mrs Howard. During the afternoon musical selections were contributed by Airs Fernyhough. Miss Endean, Miss Gay. and Miss Gilbert. Afternoon tea was served in the diningroom, the table being artistically decorated with sweet peas and crinkly paper of the same tints, arranged in points, and caught with butterflies. Miss Stewart, who is to be accompanied by Mr and Mrs .Stewart, leaves Auckland on Monday week by the Victoria, and upon her arrival in England is to be married to Mr Harry Rountree, the rising young artist. The guest of honour was charmingly frocked in white lace inserted lawn, and a white hat caught up at the back with a large blue bow; Mrs Gilbert was in a black and white figured taffeta blouse, and a black inerveilleux trained skirt; Miss Gilbert looked very winsome in a cream silk blouse, and ecru lace yoke, with green ribbon trellis, and a black voile skirt; Miss Frater wore a very pretty cream voile, with lace applique; Miss —. Frater, pale blue diamond figured delaine; Mrs Barry. dainty biscuit voile; Miss Muriel Knight, white Swiss muslin, inset with lace; Miss Gay, cream silk blouse and vode skirt: Miss Mabel Dawson. heliotrope eolienne frock; Mrs Fernyhough. white lawn, with lace flounce; Miss Gunson, reseda green voile, with cream lace yoke; Mrs Billion (Suva), very pretty rose pink silk blouse, inset with ecru lace, black voile -kirt; Miss Boyd, white silk frock; Miss Ellingham, white and green spotted blouse, and black skirt; iliss Spedding, cream Voile; Miss Houghton, pretty biscuit voile, inset with lace; Miss Faulder, brown eolienne, with cream laws applique; Miss Eitdcan, grey voile, mounted over heliotrope glace; Mrs Howard, pretty pink and black floral chiffon blouse, and black satin striped silk skirt; Miss Malavey, white. Indian lawn frock: Miss Pasooe, navy blue voile frock; Mrs G. Winstone, grey and pink Pompadour silk blouse, and black voile -kirt. ... .. .

THE SUCCESS OF THE NGAPUHI EXCURSION. All our friends who weut on the Ngapnhi holiday excursion to the North are thoroughly enthusiastic concerning the success of the tour. The weather was perfect, the management ditto, and the company pleasant. Mr J. J. Kerr, who practically acted as maitre d’hotel and manager, was an ideal host, and his efforts to promote the comfort and pleasure of all were warmly seconded by Captain E. Stephenson and the capable staff of officers, stewards and stewardesses, all of whom were most attentive. The table tvas excellent—not to be excelled, indeed, by any trans-Atlantic liner—and the service most adequate. I have seen a copy of a specimen souvenir menu card, which is not only a perfect photographic work of art (it was prepared by Mr Coleman, of Jones and Coleman), but gives an idea of the luxurious fare served on board. I hear a number of those who went this year are booking for next year’s outing. WATER PICNIC. Aucklanders avail themselves less of the facilities that the harbour offers for entertaining than would be expected. How enjoyable an outing on the water is in summer was demonstrated on Wednesday last, when Dr. and Mrs Knight gave an evening picnic as a welcome to Dr. C. Owen, who has been absent from Auckland for some years taking the medical course. A party of about thirty left town in the Burn shortly before six o’clock, and went as far as Pine Island, when a landing was made and tea spread under the pines. Afterwards a couple of hours were spent in games and in strolling round the island. When the time came for returning the moon had risen, and served to enhance the enjoyment of the homeward journey. The Ruru’s party was landed at the wharf in time to eatch cars after a wholly delightful outing. FAREWELL HIGH TEA AT I HE GOLF HOUSE. A very enjoyable evening was spent out at the Golf Links, One Tree Hill, on Monday evening as a farewell to Mr and Mrs E. D. O’Rorke, who are leaving for England shortly. High tea was served in the men's large room, (about fifty being present. Everyone did full justice to the good things on the table. Amongst those present were Mr and Mrs O’Rorke. Dr. and Mrs Lewis. Mr and Mrs Duthie, Mr and Mrs Colbeck. Mr and Mrs E. Horton, Mr and Mrs G. Bloomfield, Mr and Mrs E. Bloomfield, Misses Barstow, Gillies, Lewis, Richmond (2). Fenton, Gorrie (3), Horton. Tolhurst, Rooke, Buckland. George, Cotter. Messrs. Gillies, Irvine, Walker, Woodward, Bamford. Cotter, Tolhurst. It was also made the occasion of saying farewell to Miss Blanche Gorrie, who is shortly to be married to Mr Borthwick, of Christchurch. She is a very popular member of the Auckland Golf Club. She has been an enthusiastic player and will be greatly missed. Miss Blanche Gorrie will be married to Mr Borthwick, of Christchurch, on the 9th March. The honeymoon trip consists in a visit to England, after which Mr and Mrs Borthwick take up their residence in the Cathedral City. Another marriage of interest is that of Miss Geraldine Ching, of RemuerJ, to Mr R. Burns, of Epsom. A WAINGARO SUCCESS. The most successful dance ever held in Waingaro took the form of a subscription fancy dress ball, under the auspices of the ladies of the district. The hall was most artistically decorated with tree ferns and festooned with lycopodium, from which various coloured Chinese lanterns were suspended. The costumes were many and various, the whole scene representing a veritable fairy-land. A most elaborate repast was provided by the ladies, and one really wondered how so many good things had been collected in this somewhat distant district. The object of the ball was to obtain funds to pay off the debt on the viearage, and this was successfully accomplished. Great credit is due to the Mesdames Harold and Frank Bull, Mrs. Hewett, Mcsdames Walter and Ronald Seavil, and Mrs Gibson McMillan for the energetic manner in which they brought the whole scheme to such a successful issue, in spite of the fact that a certain section of the district showed a considerable amount of opposition to tha ball. A special feature of the evening was the artistic

playing of Mr. Hartman, of Ngamav wahia, who kindly volunteered his services. Our Hamit on correspondent writes: Mr. and Mrs. Chitty, “Brooklyn,” gave a most delightful euchre party at their residence on Wednesday evening. A large marquee was erected on the lawn, which was prettily decorated with feme and Chinese lanterns. About 15 tables were clotted round, and when play commenced it had quite a picturesque appearance. The first prize, a handsome silver glove stretcher, was won by Miss Burd; second lady’s prize, a silver mounted scent bottle, fell to Miss Carrie Wallnutt; first gentleman’s, a clock; second gentlemen’s prize, a silver pen handle, which fell to Mr. I’anton. The supper table, which was laden with good things, was prettily decorated with yellow and yellow floral decorations. Mrs. Chitty received her guests in a handsome black satin gown; Miss Chitty wore a pretty white silk, witli scarlet flowers on bodice; Miss K. Chitty, dainty pale blue tucked silk; Miss M. Chitty, white frock; Miss M. O’Neill, pale blue inerveilleux, the bodice prettily draped with white lace; Miss Holloway, black evening gown, bodice finished with blue chou; Miss Stevens, cream evening gown; Miss C. Holloway, red frock: Miss Barton, green evening blouse, black skirt; Miss Gillespie, pieily blue and white gown; Miss Ross, cream tucked gown; Miss Edgecumbc, white dress; Miss C. Wallnutt, pale blue merveilleux, the bodice finished with pink roses; Miss Newell, black laee evening gown: Miss C. Jolly, blue evening blouse and black skirt; Mrs. Holloway, black silk: Miss M. Cussen. white silk; Miss F. Cussen. white tucked silk frock; Misses E. and L. Cussen, pretty white frocks; Miss Burd looked nice in pale pink; Mis# 11. Graham looked well in pink; Miss O. Graham, white frock, and red silk sash; Miss Ewen, black net evening gown; Miss D. Ewen, white spotted muslin; Miss Gibson looked eharming in cream gown; Miss Rothwell, cream silk blouse, and black skirt; Miss Bongaurd, whits dress; Miss Von Sturnier, white silk, red chou on bodice. Amongst the gentlemen were: Messrs. Chitty (4), Holloway, McDiarmid, I’anton, Corbett, Platt, Downey. Ewen. McCarthy, Smith. Barton, Edgecum (2), Swarbrick (2), Hume, Bradley. etc. PHYLLIS BROUN.