WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 11, 14 March 1908, Page 63

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, March 6. Ever since last week we have been in a whirl of festivities—mostly of the farewell variety—so if I get confused in the details, it is not to be wondered at. By the Marama, a number of wellknown people set off on their travels, many of them going straight through to Vancouver by the same steamer. Among them were MR. AND THE MISSES HARCOURT. The latter had quite a number of entertainments in their honour —bridge parties, luncheon, and afternoon teas. Mr. Harcourt has been President of the Wellington Jockey Club for some years, and at tile numerous race meetings Miss Harcourt has acted as hostess on behalf of the club. * The members gave her a farewell gift of a beautiful silver-mounted travelling bag. elaborately fitted up. the most useful of gifts to anyone going a long journey. ' Mr. Harcourt also received a handsome presentation. The Wellington Jockey Club gave a delightful picnic on Saturday last as a farewell to their President. It was a glorious summer day, and a bewildering number of pretty frocks anil hats were worn, the lawn at Trentham making a charming setting. Trains and motors conveyed us to the spot, and the very

first thing we did was to have lunch. It was a most elaborate affair, served in the club’s private room, with gorgeous decorations of the club’s colours, in scarlet and white cactus dahlias and broad transverse bands of red ribbon. Mr. Turnbull (vice-president) presided, with Miss Harcourt at his right, and Mr Harcourt sat next Mrs Moorhouse. The health of the guests was honoured, and all sorts of nice things were said about them. After lunch there were most exciting motor races, one condition being that each car was to contain its full number of passengers, most of whom were to be ladies. It was quite a thrilling experience to hold on to one’s best hat with one hand, and to crouch low on the seat, while the wind whistled past and the car bounded along. It was the unanimous opinion that motor-racing in fashionable millinery was not advisable, and more than one stray plume littered the course. The best among the many fine ears out there were Mrs Joseph’s, Mr Kennedy’s, Mr Duncan’s, Mr Turnbull’s, and Mr Abbot’s. Miss Harcourt wore pale blue mobair, with revers of moire, and a vest of lace, dark blue hat with roses; Miss Grace Harcourt, white embroidered muslin, lace yoke and sleeves, Tuscan hat wreathed with roses; Mrs Abbot, pale lilac linen, much pleated and embroidered, purple hat with shaded feather fantaisie; Mrs Nathan, ivory cloth, the long coat having bands of rich embroidery, white picture hat; Mrs Moorhouse, pastel ehiffon taffetas, with touches of velvet, black and white toque; Mrs Joseph, striped taffetas, with touches of pale blue; Miss Elsie Joseph, white lace robe over ivory chiffon, black and white picture bat; Mrs Dean, smart tailor-made, and black toque; Miss Dean, sky-blue eolienne, with wide bands of filet laee, pale blue hat; Mrs Pearce, white cloth tailormade, green hat; Mrs 11. Johnston, pale grey eolienne, with yoke and sleeves of ecru net, hat with wings and rosea. MRS. NEWMAN’S TEA on Thursday was quite a big affair, and all the guests were delighted to see their hostess looking so well again. There were three principal guests—Miss Louie Bremner (a bride-elect), Mrs E. Riddiford, and Mrs Wood, and each presided over a special tea table. Miss Bremner’s was appropriately decorated with white flowers, and she received many good wishes for her future life - in South Africa. Scarlet and yellow cactus dahlias, golden coreopsis, and white lilies decorated the pretty rooms, together with bowls of mauve and purple asters. Mrs Newman wore amadou poplin de chene, with a yoke of square meshed net and Renaissance lace; Mrs Riddiford, a handsome dress of taffeta changeant. with lace vest and touches of velvet; Mrs Wood was all in white, and a hat with roses; Miss Bremner, a pretty pastel chiffon voile, with lace insertions, and a hat with roses; Mrs Fitzgerald, grey tailor-made, and smart black hat with feathers; Mrs Johnston, black ehiffon taffetas, with vest of ecru laee. black and white toque; Miss Johnston, white spotted muslin, and pink and white hat: Miss Coleridge, white cloth tailor-made,

and blue hat with feathers; Mrs Miles, dull green coat and skirt and black hat; Mrs Menzies, black chiffon taffetas and lace; Mrs D. Menzies, white cloth coat and skirt, lave scarf, and picture hat; Mrs Lindsay, pale blue eolienne. and pale blue hat with feathers; Mrs Levin, black chiffon taffetas, and black and white toque; Mrs Barron, dark tailor-made, black hat; Mrs Brandon, grey and white striped taffetas, and black hat. zv FAREWELL TEA TO THE MISSES HARCOURT was given on Wednesday by Mrs. Johnston, “Homewood,” Karori. After the welcome rain the pretty grounds were looking fresh and green, hut it was too damp to explore the picturesque garden. Indoors there was a wealth of flowers, including some handsome pot-plants, which are a speciality of Mr. Johnston's. Mrs. Johnston wore black chiffon taffetas with bands of black velvet and motifs of handsome lace; Miss D. Johnston was in pastel eolienne with a high waistbelt of taffeta; Miss Harcourt wore blue cloth with a blouse of lace and net, and a hat with wide rosettes; Miss G. Harcourt was in white with a picturesque hat wreathed with flowers. SOME PURELY PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr. and Mrs. Samuels are away at Rotorua. Mrs. Ritchie (Pahiatua) is in Wellington at present. Miss Scully, of Wellington, is visiting friends in A lick land. Miss Dalrymple has returned to Bui’s after a stay in Wellington. Mrs. Beard, of Masterton. W airarapa, has left for a trip to England. Mrs. Vallance (Wairarapa) is spending a week or two at Day's Bay. Mrs. Palmer is shortly leaving Wellington for a lengthy trip to England. Mrs. R. Levin is back from Auckland where she has been spending a week or two. Dr. and Mrs. -Hislop are back in Wellington after a week or so in Auckland. Miss Elsie Simpson is back in Wellington from a round of visits in the Wairarapa. Miss Meinertzhagen has gone back to Hawke’s Ray after a stay of some weeks in Wellington. Miss Meares (Christchurch) is in Wellington at present, staying with friends at Island Bay. Mrs. Handyside and the Misses Handyside (Wellington) wore passengers to England by the Corinthic. Mr. and Mrs. Algar Williams (Wellington) have taken a furnished house in Hobson-street for a couple of years. Mr. and Airs. A. Mac Ewan have gone baci< to New Plymouth after a stay in Wellington at present, staying with Mac Ewan. Mrs. Montgomerie (Wanganui) is to arrive in Wellington on March 10th. She is on her way back after a year spent in England. Mrs. F. O. B. Loughnan and Miss Loughnan returned from England last week, and intend to live in Palmerston

for the future. They are at present in Mrs.* and Miss LaingMeason have gone to Sydney for a month or two. Miss Alary LaingMeason, who went to Australia some months ago, is making very good progress in the theatrical profession. Miss L. Bremner has gone to Durban, South Africa, where her marriage to Mr. T. Macfarlane will take place. Mr. Macfarlane was formerly a resident of Wellington, but has been living in South Africa for some years. Mrs. M. Lindsay (England) is back in Wellington from Auckland, and is spending a few days with Mrs. Riddiford at the Hutt. The whole party, including the Misses Riddiford and Miss Humphrey, are going to England by the Kai para. Air. J. B. Harcourt and the Misses Harcourt have left Wellington for Sydney, en route to England. They travel by way of Canada, and spend some time in the United ►States visiting Niagara and other places of interest. A stay of several months will be made in the Old Country before the return journey, via the Continent and Suez, is undertaken. New Zealand is expected to be reached early in the New Year. Quite a number of marriages are to take place in Wellington during March, among them being the following: Miss Trances Arthur and Mr. B. Tennant, of Blenheim, on March 11th; Miss Linda Ale Lean and Mr. Ernest Blundell, on March 14th; Miss Elsie Eliott and Mr. Stanley Wheeler, on March 25th; Miss Nelson and Mr. Roland Robertson, on March 31st. The marriage of Miss Rilty and Mr. Nichol 1 will also take piace shortly.

OPHELIA.