WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 19, 4 November 1908, Page 68

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, October 30. One way and another there seems to be a good deal going on lately, but with the elections so close things are sure to become more serious. The Commander-in-Chief and the Australian Squadron are due here on November 17th, the day of the elections, and the Navy League people are already planning how to make their stay enjoyable. There are rumours of a ball, but nothing has yet been definitely settled. MRS. DONNE’S “AT HOME.” Mrs. Donne entertained a large number of her friends at an afternoon tea on Monday. Tea was arranged on many' small tables in a private drawing-room, and much pleasure was given by' songs from the hostess, while European celebrities were heard through a fine gramaphone. Stately white arums, scarlet poppies and the rich mauves and purples of Spanish iris mingled in the decorations, while fresias gave a delicious scent. Mr. and Mrs. Donne have been living at the Hotel Windsor for some months, and it was there the tea was held. There were many smart aud pretty dresses, noticeably' that worn by Mrs. Donne, of striped white apd black chiffon taffetas with a white spotted net blouse: black velvet formed au effective note, and blaek fringe appeared on the sleeves: her toilette was completed by a white “Merry Widow” hat with a high tulle ruche, a sweeping osprey, and a knot of black velvet. Mrs. Corn (England), grey tailor-made, laee blouse and black hat with pink roses:

Airs. H. Gilmer, ivory cloth tailor-made, lace blouse, pink hat with shaded roses; Mrs. Herbert, pale blue Directoire costume, lace vest, and smart hat with flowers; Mrs. Hamer, cream and brown tailormade, and smart cream hat; Mrs. HallJones, grey tailor-made and black and white toque; Miss Hall-Jones, white Eton costume, floral hat; Misa —. Hall-Jones, pink voile, lace yoke and pink hat; Mrs. Seddon, black crepe de chine and lace, black toque; Miss Seddon, black chiffon voile, blaek Valenciennes yoke, black picture hat; Mrs. Prousc. maroon brown tailor-made with velvet revers, brown toque with crimson roses; Miss Prouse, navy cloth, smartly braided, blue hat with wings; Mrs. de Castro, black chiffon taffetas and lace, black hat; Mrs. K. Gilmer, black and white striped voile and blaek hat. A “SIXPENNY” TEA was held on Thursday afternoon by Mrs de Castro, who is presiding over a stall at the forthcoming bazaar for the Y.W. C.A. Each guest brought a parcel containing something bought for Gd.. and even if the price is doubled at the bazaar for which they are destined, there will be astonishing bargains for sale. The tea table wast harmoniously done with mauve and purple Iris. The hostess wore pale green Shantung, with a lace and net blouse. Mrs Young was lucky in having delightful weather for her' GARDEN PARTY on M ednesday, and the picturesque garden and lawn looked their best in the summer sun. Ices were much in demand, and many of the guests wore delicately tinted muslin dresses. Y’ellow was the principal note in the decorations, carried out by yellow banksias in a big silver bowl flanked by vases of yellow ixias, iris and daisies. Mrs Y'oung wore black chiffon taffetas, with a yoke of Irish guipure and touches of velvet; Miss Young, ivory voile, with lace yoke and sleeves, and a high belt of palest blue; Mrs T. Young, black chiffon glace, with a lace yoke and a smart black hat; Miss Tolhurst. black marquisette inlet with Chantilly lace, white picture, hat with blaek ostrich feathers; Mrs Finch, olive green mohair, with guipure lace yoke, outlined with velvet, green toque with tips; Miss Finch, white mousseline de soie inlet with •lace and insertions,.white hat with tulle ruche and pink flowers; Mrs Ewart, pastel cloth, tailor-made, hat with flowers; Mrs O'Connor, black tailor-made, with white revers; Mrs McArthur, brown taffetas, hemmed with velvet, Paris lace yoke and sleeves, brown toque with tips : Mrs Milford, white muslin, lace yoke, black picture hat with violets; Mrs Johnson, white voile, and floral hat; Miss Macintosh, ciel blue taffetas, with amethyst chiffon scarf and silver Empire belt, hydrangea wreathed hat: Miss Wheeler, grey blue tailor-made and blue hat; Miss Butts, grey voile, white ruffle, and hat with roses; Miss McKellar. grey coat and skirt, white lace blouse; Mrs Blundell, blaek and white marquisette over ivory glace, black toque with tips. Very jolly was MRS. BRISTOWS DANCE

at Karori the other night, and the many guests who went out from town thor-

•uglily enjoyed themselves. It was a capital night for dancing, and there has been rather a lull in entertainments lately, so everyone was fresh and keenly energetic. Arums, rhododendrons, and guelder roses were the flowers used in the summer-room, strands of red ribbon also doing excellent service. Outside, the verandah and the garden provided picturesque sittingout places, the darkness made visible by fairy lanterns. Mrs Bristow wore white taffetas, with an overdress of black lace, hemmed with velvet; Miss Bristow, white ninon de soie, with an Empire belt of taffetas; Mrs Milward (Wanganui), black ehiffon taffetas and lace; Mrs Moss, azure blue silk, lace berthe, belt of gold tissue; Mrs T. Milward, heliotrope radium silk, with bands of velvet and draperies of lace; Mrs Grey, black chiffon with a floral design over opal iridescent taffetas; Mrs Ballance, black crepe de chine, with jet embroideries and knots of velvet; Miss Appleton (Melbourne), white marquisette, with silver and 1: -a embroideries ; Miss Wilson, ivory chiffon taffetas and lace; Miss McKerras (Dunedin), black crepe de chine, and lace sleeves and vest and pale blue belt; Miss Nathan, white mousseline de soie and lace: Miss Jones, pastel chiffon taffetas and lace; Miss Grey, white mousseline de soie; Miss Miles, opal ehiffon taffetas. * ‘ DANCE AT SAYES COURT.

Sayes Court was the scene of a delightful dance on Friday last, when Mrs H. D. Bell w 7 as the hostess. It is a capital house for entertaining, and the two big rooms connected by folding doors gave splendid space for dancing. Lilies of the valley made a fairy-like decoration for the supper tables, and roses and sweet peas in profusion were clear proof that summer is on us. In the ball-room were tall jars of arum lilies and fragrant branches of lilac, while masses of Japanese plum appeared in the sitting-out rooms. Mrs Bell wore a handsome brocade in faint hydrangea colouring; Miss Bell, white ninon de soie, with a silver belt; Miss V. Bell, primrose eharmeuse, with draperies of lace; Mrs. H. Johnston, paste! chiffon taffetas, and lace berthe; Mrs. H. Rolleston, black And W’hite radium silk, with vest and sleeves of laee; Mrs. V. Riddiford, petal pink eharmeuse, with lace sleeves

and an Empire belt; Mrs. A. Dunean, amber taffetas, with a note of blue on the delicate embroideries; Mrs. Dalziell, ivory satin and Brussels lace; Mrs. Walter Johnston, a lovely Empire dress of ivory lace over chiffon; Mrs. Von Zedlitz, sky blue messaline, with lace sleeves; Mrs. Colbeek (Auckland), floral chiffon, with delicate lace; Mrs. C. Pharazyn (Featherston), ivory satin with pale blue belt and laee scarf; Miss D. Johnston, pink and white chine silk; Miss Duncan, ivory eharmeuse, softly draped with lace; Miss Hislop, white mousseline de soie, with silver belt. PERSONAL ITEMS. Mrs. Alley, who has been here for some Weeks negotiating with the Government about a mail subsidy for the Alley Line, running between Canada and New Zealand, is returning to Canada, and w’as a passenger by the last steamer fdr Sydney. Mr. and Miss Skerrett, who have been some time in Australia for a holiday jaunt, are at present In Melbourne, where they will stay to see the Cup run. Miss Q. Nelson (Auckland) is here for a visit to her aunt, Miss Coates. Miss Elsie Watson has returned from a four months’ stay in Sydney. Miss Horton (Auckland) is the guest of Miss Tolhurst, Grant-road. Mrs. and Miss Beere are leaving next month for a trip to England. OPHELIA.