WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 9, 26 August 1908, Page 64

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, -Aug. 20. Scarcely a spark of gaiety has enliven* ed us these hist ten days. The monotony has only been relieved by the excitement of seeing the new spring hats. These have afforded a great topic of conversation, and private eances at all the big shops have been thronged. People are returning again after their trips north and south, and comparing their various experiences. Many amusing stories are told of the Parliamentary trips. The Kelburne Rilles distinguished themselves lately by adding another SUCCESSFUL DANCE to their list. It was held in the Druid’s Hall, which was gorgeous with its decorations of scarlet and gold. Military uniforms gave another cheery note of colour, and many pretty dresses worn by the guests enhanced the scene. Airs Foley wore amethyst chiffon taffetas with lace bretelle and bands of sequins; Airs Dutton, white radium silk, sewn with silver sequins; Airs Bblton, malmaison chiffon taffetas, with lace vest and sleeves; Airs Browne, pearl grey .crepe de chine, softened with lace; Aliss Veit eh, rose du Barri chiffon taffetas, with touches of velvet and laee; Aliss Redwood (Napier), white ninoii de soie, finished with lace, and lightly embroidered on black; Aliss Pettigrew, lilac soie de chine, with lace sleeves; Aliss Davies, rose pink messaline laee; Aliss Price, cinnamon brown mousseline de soie, with lace epaulettes; Aliss Moore, white chiffon taffetas and sequins; Miss Budwell, sky blue crepe de chine; Aliss Bohan, white crystalline and laee: Aliss Hartnett, white esprit net and lace over ea.u de nil glace: Alis Strange-Muir, petal pink crepe de chine, laee berthe; Aliss Hunter, ivory messaline satin and lace; Aliss Ferguson, sky blue chiffon taffetas, with laee sleeves and berthe; Aliss Brown, white messaline and sequins; Aliss Bohan, white chiffon taffetas and lace vest and sleeves; Aliss Geary, white ninon de soie, hemmed with taffeta, and finished with laee. Airs Von Haast’s tea on Tuesday was a charming break in a dull week. There was a large contingent of men present, and Airs Von Haast vvas ably backed up by her husband and Air Merton, who assisted to entertain the guests. Air Von Haast is a leading member of the Savage Club, and has a widespread fame as a writer and singer of witty topical songs; consequently, he was listened to on Tuesday with undiluted joy. One of his greatest successes is a- skit on society letters, and a lady editor of a local paper scored neatly when he referred to the knowledge he showed of "some of the best motWrn literature.” Mr Merton, who hails from Christchurch. is at present staying with Air and Airs von Haast. Besides being an artist—the exhibition of his pictures is attracting much favourable attention —- he is also an excellent musician, and his contributions were greatly appreciated at the tea, which, by-the-bye, was given in his honour. Primroses were used in profusion for decoration, and graceful vases of daffodils and anemones added to the effect. Airs von Haast’s white Marquisette dress was hemmed with taffetas, and had a good deal of laee about it: Airs Quick was in black taffetas, and a black and green toque; Aliss Quick, biscuit tweed coat and skirt, and ermine toque; Airs Burnett, blaek coat and skirt, blaek hat; Miss Burnett, green tailor-made and’green hat; Airs Richmond, heather tweed, and brown toque; Aliss Richmond, dull purple cloth, and black hat; Aliss Turner, striped taffetas, and blaek hat with wings; Mrs llogben, black tailormade, with white facings: Airs Rankin Brown, green tweed, braided, green hat with wings; Mrs Salmond, blue doth, white vest, dark blue hat; Airs Harcourt. striped Sedan cloth, with braided revers and cuffs, tricourne hat With tips; Dr. Agnes Bennett, tweed tailor-made, and hat with wings; Miss Dean, striped Newmarket costume, and cloche hat with fantaisie; Mrs Young, glycene Mohair, with voke of net and lace, black picture hat. MORNING TEA ENTERTAINMENTS. Alorning tea is always a particularly enjoyable affair, and has been a popular method of entertaining lately. Alusic was a feature of the tea given by Mrs Rutherford, songs by Mrs Fisher, Mrs Anderson, Mrs Wilson, and Miss Hislop being a source of much pleasure to the guests. Mrs Rutherford wore n smart cloth dress having a gilet of fl'ct net and lace.

Mrs Miks was hostess at AN “AT HOME” on Thursday. The spacious rooms were gaily decorated with daffodils, jonquils,' freezias and other spring, flowers, while the tea table was effectively done in shades of crimson, blue and purple anemones and quantities of violets, the electric lights being veiled in red to harmonise. Mrs Miles wore sapphire bine velvet, with a fichu drapery of lovely old lace; Miss Miles was in a eemi-Empire frock of Afalmaison Marquisette, with a yoke of lace and net ; Miss Bertha Miles, ivory eolienne, relieved with pale blue chine ribbons; Miss Hilda Miles, white broderie Anglaise, finished with lace. Among the guests were Mrs Litchfield, wearing black tailormade, white lace blouse, and a smart black hat; Mrs Dean, black chiffon taffetas, lace vest, and smart hat; Miss Dean, brown tailor-made, and brown hat; Mrs Kennedy, black Eton coat and skirt, black hat with wings; Mrs McEwen, frieze tailor-made, and sealskin coat; Mrs Joseph, black chiffon, glace and black picture hat; Mrs Fisher, navy cloth, black hat with feather fantaisie; Mrs Prouse, brown tailor-made, with white revere, brown hat; Miss Simpson, tweed check tailor-made, and smart hat; Miss Ewen, blue frieze, and black and white hat; Miss Nathan, green eolienne, and black picture hat; Miss —. Nathan, cream serge Eton costume, and hat with flowers; Miss-Reid, grey striped tweed, and green and blaek hat; Miss Beauchamp, blue tailor-made, and blaek hat. “HUMPTY DUMPTY” is having a very good run here, in spite of the fact- that the leading actor is incapacitated. On Wednesday afternoon there were crowds of children at the matinee, and it was amusing to hear their excited comments and shrieks of merry laughter. Among the audiences have been Mrs Johnston, in black chiffon taffetas, and a handsome coat; Mrs Young, ivory chiffon taffetas and lace; Mrs Nathan, black satin and sequins; Miss Nathan, white crystalline amt lace; Miss Joseph, ivory radium silk, sea blue Liberty satin burnous; Miss Miles, rosepink crystalline and lace; Miss —. Miles, white messaline, handsome embroidered Japanese coat; Mrs Duncan, flowered chine, with draperies of lace; Miss O’Connor, white chiffon taffetas and lace; Mrs McEwan, ivory eolienne and laee coat. OPHELIA.