GISBORNE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 25, 21 December 1907, Page 52

GISBORNE.

Dear Bee, December 12. You will be quite tired of my constant grumbling of the weather, especially when my complaint is of too much sunshine, but this drought is becoming quite a serious matter to those people who have not the water supply. In many orchards the fruit is falling off the trees, and vegetables are withering away. Last Friday Mrs. Fred Parker gave A LARGE AFTERNOON TEA for Miss Hitchings (Napier), who was staying with her. Mrs. Parker entertained her guests on the grass terraces and lawn bordering the river’s edge-quite an ideal spot. Though the day was intensely hot, the shade of the willows and lap, lap of the water made one forget the dust and heat outside. Basket chair, lounges of every description, and ehairs, lounges of every description, and the tea was served on several small tables; Mrs. Parker received her guests in a pretty gown of black and white silk, trimmed with black ribbon velvet, hat to match. Amongst those present were Mrs. Anderson, in a grey costume; Mrs. Wachsmann, grey flowered muslin, black hat; Mrs. Mac Lean, brown and blue shot silk, pink hat; Mrs. Kennedy, looking very charming in black voile, covered with sheeny pink roses, over black glace, pale grey hat shading gradually to the faintest shade of pink; Mrs. •Sainsbury, tweed tailor-made, black hat; Mrs. Brodrick, embroidered white linen, white hat; Mrs. Sheratt, white embroidered muslin, blue hat; Mrs. Symes, check silk, p’mk and pale green hat; Mrs. Stephenson, blue silk, trimmed with velvet; Mrs. W. D. Lysnar, beautiful dress, Wedgwood blue taffetas, trimmed with chiffon embroidery; Mrs. Buekeridge, white and pink spotted muslin, hat with roses, pink and crimson; Miss Carter, black and white muslin; Mrs. Pyke, brown costume; Mrs. Stock, heliotrope muslin over silk, hat to match; Mrs. Mann, cream voile, crushed strawberry-coloured hat; Mrs. Margoliouth, white embroidered linen, soft white chiffon hat, touches of black velvet; Miss Seal (Napier), brown silk mousseline de soie, hat to match; Miss Hitchings (Napier), blaek silk costume; Mrs. Smith, white cloth tailormade; Mrs. Pavitt, brown silk voile; Mrs. H. M. Porter, black and white costume; Mrs. Arthur Rees, brown shot silk taffeta; Miss Rees, smoke blue linen; Miss Schumacher, pale blue check silk, pale blue gimp hat; Mrs. Seymour, cream voile, trimmed with black velvet, black and white hat; Miss King, cream voile costume, black hat. Mrs. Vincent Barker gave a very large children’s party from 2 p.m. to 0 p.m. on Friday last. There were a great many little ones present, some even as young as twelve months. A number of the parents and relations joined in the children’s games with great zest.

On Saiurday last the much-looked-for tournament between -j VSIHATAUPOKO AND KAITI TENNIS COURTS took place, resulting in a win forWhataupOko of twenty-one points. It was on ideal day for tennis, though breezy, for the wind was cool. Some splendid sets were played; and the tournament was well worth watching. I could almost describe the dresses as white, for all those playing wore white. The Whataupoko ladies wore pale blue with it—the colours of the club, and the Kaiti ladies navy blue. Mrs. Coleman wore a grey costume, beautiful black Spanish lace scarf; Mrs. Reynolds, tweed tailor-made; Mrs. Murray, white linen, floral hat; Mrs. F. B. Barker, white silk blouse, linen skirt; Miss Hitchings (Napier), pink and white-striped muslin, floral hat; Miss Seal (Napier), white embroidered muslin, black hat, ostrich feathers; Mrs. Stephenson, blue and white, brown hat; Mrs. Morrison, pale blue zephyr, white and blue hat; Mrs. Wachsman, grey and white costume; Mrs. Smith, white linen, pink hat; Miss Crawford, pink and white costume; Mrs. Burke, white Japanese silk; Mrs. Holmes, pale blue glace trimmed with cream Spanish lace, white picture hat. Mrs. Pyke gave A SMALL AFTERNOON last Tuesday for Mrs. Buekeridge. Mrs. Pyke and Miss Pyke received their guests in the drawing-room of the Bank of New Zealand. Mrs. Pyke wore blaek surah silk, prettily made; Miss Pyke, white and pale blue flowered muslin, white shoes; Mrs. Barker, sen., wore handsome dress of brown merveilleux, brown bonnet trimmed with pink geraniums; Mrs. Vincent Barker, pale blue striped print, white hat; Mrs. Parkei; green and white striped muslin, dark green hat; Miss Hitchings (Napier), p.nk and white gown, hat brimmed with sweet peas; Mrs. Mann, pale green and

white muslin, green hat; Mrs. Kennedy, white linen with tan strappings, bla-ck feathered hat, pink roses; Mrs. Buckeridge, pale green silk, light hat, heavy black draped lace veil; Mrs. Symes, sapphire silk trimmed with velvet; Mrs. Stephenson, eornflower blue silk, hati phenson, cornflower blue silk, hat trimmed with ehiflon and black feathers; Mrs. . Foster, black and white flowered muslin; Mrs. Sherratt, white embroidered muslin, pale blue hat; Mrs. N. D. Lysnar, linen crash trimmed with embroidery. MRS. KENNEDY WAS AT HOME to a large number of guesta on Wednesday, the occasion being a handkerchief afternoon for Mrs. Buckeridge. Mrs. Kennedy received her guests in the garden, and the scene speedily became a very gay and festive one. Chairs, lounges, hammocks, and rugs were everywhere in shady corners, while many amused themselves with croquet and diabolo. Tea and coffee were served in the larger of the summer-houses. Mrs. Kennedy wore black flowered voile over cream glace, black picture hat. Mrs. Buckeridge, who was the recipient of a great number of dainty handkerchiefs, wore pink and white muslin, hat trimmed with pink and red roses; Mrs. Walter Barker, sage green glace, embroidered gown, green hat, pink roses; Miss E. Barker, pale blue striped muslin; Miss L. Barker, heliotrope spotted voile; Miss F. Barker, China blue silk voile, hat to match; Miss M. Barker, pink flowered muslin; Mrs. F. B. Barker, pale blue flowered glace, hat trimmed with convolvulus; Mrs. VincentBarker, heliotrope flowered voile, trimmed with violet velvet; Mrs. Parker, black and white striped costume; Mrs. Arthur Rees, brown and white striped silk; Mrs. Pyke, cinnamon and brown voile, brown hat; Miss Bradley, white embroidered muslin, blue hat; Mrs. Symes, ivory net over taffetas silk, pink hat; Mrs. Stephenson, shot silk, floral hat; Mrs. Mac Lean, black and white striped silk; Mrs. Broderick, white embroidered linen, black and white hat; Mrs. Sherratt, pale blue check silk, strapped with navy glace, blue hat; Mrs. Jex-Blake, cream embroidered voile, pale blue bretelles, white hat, ostrich feathers ; Mrs. Lusk, black and white striped muslin, banded with black glace, and black lace, Leghorn hat, trimmed with wreaths of sweet peas; Miss Rees, blue and white flowered muslin; Mrs. Stock, black glace, flowered hat; Mrs. Seymour, pale blue figured voile, hat to match; Mrs. Anderson, pale grey tweed; Mrs. Wachsman, grey flowere muslin, green and heliotrope hat; Mrs. W. D. Lysnar, China blue glace silk; Mrs. Black, navy blue flowered voile, black hat; Mrs. Holmes, pale blue glace, hat trimmed with white ostrich feathers; Mrs. De Latour, black silk, feathered hat; Mrs. Hughes, grey tailormade, black and white hat; Miss Boylan, white embroidered muslin, floral hat; Mrs. Nolan, black voile, black hat, wreathed with pink roses; Mrs Sainsbury, black and white check, trimmed with black velvet ribbon, black hat; Mrs. Mann, white linen, pink hat; Mrs. Crawford, black glace, green flowered hat; Mrs. Howie, cream voile, black feathered hat; Mrs. Hine, white linen coat and skirt, white hat; Mrs. Burke, navy blue linen voile, broad strappings, white embroidery, white embroidered hat, trimmed with navy blue; Mrs. Colonel Porter, black and white striped voile; Mrs. Harry Maude, cream and grey striped voile; Mrs. Morgan, turquoise and white flowered muslin, trimmed with velvet, hat to match; Mrs. Margoliouth, blue silk voile, hat trimmed with black feathers; Miss Seal (Napier), white silk muslin, broad floral sash, becoming soft hat. ELSA.