CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 17, 26 October 1907, Page 55

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, , October 18. Several parties of various kinds have been given in honour of Miss Boyle, prior to her; marriage; the latest, A BOOK TEA, was given by Mrs. Gower Burns, and the Misses Burns at their house in Kil-more-street, when Miss Boyle was the recipient of several beautiful books. The drawing-room was gay with large bowls of yellow flowers; the hall, too, was tastefully decorated, and here was served the afternoon tea, and its accompanying dainties. Mrs. Burns wore a pretty gown of pale grey voile, with killings of fine, white lace. The Misses Burns wore black skirts and pretty white muslin bodices; Mrs. Boyle, a costume of dark blue cloth with hat of grey tulle; Miss Boyle, a tailor-made coat and skirt of pale heliotrope cloth, Tuscan straw hat with roses; Miss Phyllis Boyle, a dark green cloth costume and pale blue hat; Mrs.. Arthur Rhodes, a striking toilette of dark red cloth, faced with black, red hat with long black feathers; Miss Williams (Wellington), a. .eoat and skirt of dark tweed, faced with pale blue cloth, pale blue hat. with shaded ostrich feather; Miss Humphreys, a green cloth costume, and violet velvet hat; Mrs. Wilding, grey coat and skirt, white and grey hat; Mrs; Ranald MacDoiiald, a dark blue dress with green hat; Mrs. Pitman, black crepe de chine, with touches of ribbon velvet, T.scan straw hat with roses; Miss Pitman, coat and skirt of red serge, with red hat to match; Miss Helmore, costume of petu-nia-coloured cloth, hat en suite; Miss Hanmer, coat and skirt of dark green cloth, straw hat with pale blue flowers; the Misses Anderson, costumes of brown tweed, burnt straw hats trimmed with shaded roses; Miss Wilsmg, brown dress, and hat of the same shade; Mrs. Elworthy, black - silk- dress relieved with white, black bonnet; -Miss'- Elworthy, dark blue cloth costume, pretty pink and blue. ha. Miss Denniston, navy blue coat and skirt, vieux rose hat; Mies Symes, costume of pale gre/ clotlr, grey hat with shaded feathers;. Miss .Nam-arrow, dress of. violet cloth, blat-k picture hat with red roses'; Miss Batwer, dark brdwn dress, and Tuscan straw hat; Miss Cook, coat and skirt of claret-coloured cloth, toque to match; Miss Lucy Cook, black and grey dress, black hat; Miss Tripp, blue coat and skirt, grey and white hat; Miss Prins, costume of pale grey tweed, grey hat to match; Miss N. Reeves, blue cloth costume, Tuscan hat with red roses. THE OPENING OF THE BOATING SEASON took place with all the usual pomp and ceremony. Avonside was en fete; Crowds of people lined the river banks; bands played, and flags flew. The various boathouses and rowing sheds were thrown open to visitors, -and in most of them afternoon tea was dispensed by the president’s wife,. assisted by a number of girl friends. The "procession of boats was a very pretty and amusing sight. The flower-decked ones, which were entered for competition werG charming. Mrs. Payling, wife of the Mayor of Christchurch, acted as judge for these, and a difficult, mattei-3 she must have found it, to decided which were prizewinners. ' ' . In the competition for the. .most original costumes, one. of the boats was manned by four; girls-, dressed in seagreen muslin wltTi belts- and caps cleverly made of cockle shells;- the boat being festooned) JTitii seaweed and shells. Another good representation was', that of Robinson Crusoe and. his man-iF-riday. with a wohdejlul parrot ivlio looked greatly at alh. that went ton. After the procession, the " Mayor of Christchurch duly declared the season open, and the proceedings closed with several short distance scratch matches. MUSICAL. Miss Dija Fletcher gave a concert at the Choral Hall, and made her debut in. Christchurch, after an absence of three years, during which time she was -studying under Suntloy. The opening nuinber given w-ah Santley’s “Ave Maria,” as a compliment to her- old master. Th® <!•-

but-ante was well received, and several beautiful bouquets were presented to her during the evening. Several encores were demanded and gracefully given, the old English ballad, “ Islington ” was specially well received. Miss Fletcher -was 'assisted by Mrs. Percy Smith (accompanist), Miss Alina Wells (solo pianiste), and Mr. George March (vocalist). Miss Fletcher wore a lovely gown of rose pink satin, with rose point berthe; Miss Alma Wells, white silk and lace; Mrs. Percival Smith, soft white cashmere. A few of those present were Mr. George Humphreys, Miss Humphreys, Mr. A. Humphreys, Miss Denniston, Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Little, the Misses. Gardner Mrs. Cross, Miss Freeman, Mr. Devenish Meares, the Misses Meares, Miss Middleton, Miss Steele, Mr. Comerford, Miss Trent,, Mr. Ronalds, Mrs. and Miss Guthrie, Miss Stamper, Mrs. Birch-Brown. A WEDDING RECEPTION was given by Mr and Mrs A. Boyle, at Riccarton, on the occasion of their daughter’s marriage with Mr A. Williams, of Napier. Numbers of the guests were conveyed thither by special trains, while others arrived in carriages and motor cars. It was a fashionable and brilliant assemblage. The garden was looking its best, and was further beautified by groups of huge palms, foliage, and pot plants. The bride’s dress was of rich white satin, with old Brussels dace trimming, the long court train being of striped satin and lace, she wore the orthodox orange blossoms and veil, and carried a magnificent bouquet of hothouse flowers. The chief bridesmaid was Miss Phyllis Boyle (sister of the bride), and the Misses Una Williams, A vise Pitman, Esther Barker, Marie Rhodes, Doris Barker. Jocelyn Pyne, and Iris Studholme, and Master Boyle (brother of the bride) was the page. The bridesmaids dresses were of soft white ninon, with rose coloured fichus, white chip hats and white veils, the hats were trimmed with lily of the valley and roses; Mrs Boyle wore a beautiful robe of pale lavender crepe de chine, with chiffon hat -to match, bouquet of pale mauve flowers tied with large, chiffon bow; Mrs Williams (Wellington) a handsome toilette of black silk relieved with white lace, black and white bonnet, bouquet of shaded roses; Mrs Arthur Rhodes, a lovely gown of corded pink silk, trimmed with ruchings of pink ribbon caught up in the form of roses, large picture hat of pink chiffon and pink ostrich feathers, with shower bouquet of pink roses; Mrs J. Barker, a charming costume of white cloth, with narrow pipings of black velvet, black and white hat en suite; Mrs Michael Studholme, rich black silk trimmed with white lace, black and white bonnet; Mrs Pyne, an elegant robe of lavendergrey chiffon taffeta, large grey hat. and white ostrich feather boa; Mrs G. G. Stead, a. beautiful toilette of the palest grey and white, white hat with feathers, and large white ostrich feather boa; Miss Stead, a costume of white cloth, with large white hat; Mrs Ranald Macdonald, a becoming toilette of violet cloth, with violet hat to match; Miss Macdonald, white cloth coat and skirt, white hat; Miss Symes, a stylish dress of black and white stripes, cut in circular form, hat to match; Mrs C. C. Dalgety, white and pink floral delaine, Leghorn hat with pink roses. Others present were: Mrs A. Roberts (Westerfield), Miss Cowlishaw, Mrs G. Gould, Mrs and the Misses Prins, Mrs and Miss Kettle, Mrs and Miss Campbell. Mrs P. Campbell, Miss Tabart, Mrs and Miss Maling, Mrs and Miss Cox. Mrs and Miss Hanmer, Mrs Pitman, Miss Tripp,- Mrs and Miss Cotterill, Mr and Mrs George Harris.

The wedding presents, which number? ed Over four hundred, made a magnificent display, and were greatly admired; The bridegroom’s present to the bride was a handsome set of sable furs, and to the-bridesmaids he gave amethyst pendants. Other presents were a diamond and emerald pendant from the bride's father, household linen from the bride's mother, table silver from the bridegroom’s mother, a dressing-case from Miss Phyllis Boyle, some beautiful Honiton lace from the bridegroom’s sisters, a diamond pendant from Mr F. A. Pvne. a gold watch from the office Staff of Messrs Pyne and Co, a set of silver fruit dishes from the household staff, of the bride's parents, and a silver toast yack from the household staff of the bridegroom's parents. DOLLY VALE.