WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 26, 23 December 1908, Page 44

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, December 18. We are so near Christmas that most people's energies are occupied in packing their trunks, and getting off to the country or seaside. -Every steamer now is bringing shoals of returning New Zealanders, and the number of people sotting off next year is steadily increasing.

Air. J. E. Wilson and the Alisses Wilson came from Bulls to meet Air. Noel

Wilson, whose stay in England was prolonged by illness. By the same steamer came Mr. J. Stout, who has been a round-the-world trip. Sir Robert and Lady Stout aud their daughter were all here when he arrived. Quite a number of Auckland people came by the Rimutaka, among them being Mrs. and the Misses Grierson.

Soon after New Year, Miss Holmes is off to England. She is one of our leading lacfies in culture, and will be very much missed in her absence. At the final meeting of the Book Club, the members presented her, as their president, with a travelling cloak, and wished her all sorts of nice things. Miss Holmes’ niece, Miss White, of Dunedin, is lucky enough to be her travelling companion. By Friday’s steamer, another young Wellingtoniau goes abroad in search of fame —Miss Adelaide Van Staveren, one of the younger daughters of the Jewish Rabbi, the Rev. 11. Van Staveren. The possessor of an exceptionally fine contralto voice, Miss Adelaide has had the best of local training, and is now on her way to Milan in order that her voice may be further developed. She is accompanied by Miss M. Van Staveren, and all Wellington wishes her good luck.

•Mr. and Mrs. Houston are off in two or three, months’ time to Italy, where they will make a lengthy sojourn. Miss Blackett will probably accompany them for a trip. •Miss Oonah Fitzgerald's marriage with Mr. Albert de Castro Glubb was celebrated recently at Guildford, England, and her future home will be at Liskeard, Cornwall. Her many friends who bade her an revoir nearly two years ago, are hoping she will come out again someday, if only for a short stay. Miss Coates has gone to Auckland for her annual Christmas visit. A great deal of interest is shown in the exhibition of pictures by Mrs. Clifford Godden, an English artist of note, who has been out here for a few months. As one. of Julian’s pupils, Mrs. Godden, who was then Miss Augusta Hftndeock, distinguished herself in Paris, and she has many delightful reminiscences to tell of the gay camaraderie of the Batin Quarter. Mrs. Godden is “At Home” in her studio all this week. News of the marriage of another Wellington girl in London was conveyed by cable yesterday. The bride was Miss Hilda Nathan, eldest daughter of Mr. David Nathan, and her husband is Mr. Alfred Salinger, of London. In this hot weather the most delightful form of amusement is a water picnic, and about eighty people accepted Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy’s invitation for Monday. The guest of honour wns Miss Greto Mills, who comes from Melbourne, and is paying a round of visits here. The party started late in the afternoon, and returned home nt dark, so quite the pleasantest part of the day was spent on the water. A ramble over Some’s Island’ to the lighthouse was enlivened by the tenacious affections of “buzzies,” which clung to the wearers of serge and tweed, and took a lot of extracting afterwards. Tailor-mades were the princinal wear, and very neat and trim they looked.

OPHELIA.