WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 6, 10 February 1909, Page 66

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, February 5. Thursday was extremely hot, but it did not prevent.all the guests, from enjoying THE RECEPTION AT MRS. WILLIAMS'. It is long since the hospitable, house has been opened for entertaining, and there was a great gathering of relations and friends —Mr. and Mrs. Guy Williams, and Mr. and Mrs. Q. Williams came from the Wairarapa, the Misses Russell (Mrs. Williams’ granddaughters) from Palmerston North. Miss Una Williams’ friends were pleased with the opportunity of meeting her fiance, Mr. lloare, who has just come out from England, and with her her goes back directly after the wedding. Mr. Hoare has a delightful baritone voice, his singing of several songs, notably ‘'Melisande,” was enjoyed by everyone. It is only a week since Miss Maud Williams returned from her long absence in Europe, so she was soon surrounded by people glad to see her again, and to hear how her work was progressing. It is pleasant to learn that-after Miss Eila Williams’ marriage will be living in Wellington for a while, as. Mr. Rdfid’s duties as M.P. for; the Bay of f lslands ■will bring him to t,hp capital for the se-sion. It was a great occasion for the display of beautiful dresses, and many

well-known people who had just returned from Home were present, .o their toilettes were regarded with much interest. Of eour»e the clinging Princess or semi Directoirc gowns prrevailed, particularly charming examples being worn by the Misses Harcourt and Miss Brandon, while the'beautiful Venetian rose point lace on Mrs. W. Barton’s ivory satin was the envy of every woman present. A Directoire gown of intense peacock blue sonple satin with heavy guimpe was Worn by a girl who has not been long back from England. Mrs. Williams wore a very handsome dress of amethyst

chiffon velvet draped with beautiful old Brussels lace, her ornaments being pearls and amethysts; Miss Maud Williams was wearing a draped Princess dress of a vivid hue of red, the long mitten sleeves being of lace dyed the same shade; Miss Una Williams had a very graceful gown of diaphanous black over white chiffon, a cluster of Malmaison carnations being tucked into the delicate lace which gowned the vest and sleeves, she wore her fiance’s gift of an exquisite pearl and diamond necklace, an upstanding ornament of the same jewels in her hair; Miss Eila Williams was in pastel

blue charniMise finished with lace; Mrs. Guy Williams (Masterton). “dead roses” ehiffon velvet, the corsage draped with lace; Mrs. H. Williams (Masterton), black chiffon velvet with sleeves of Alencon lace,; Mrs. Algar Williams, pale green ninon de soie, the sleeves of frilled Valenciennes in a delicate biscuit colour; •Miss . Russell (Palmerston), pale pink Liberty satin laee; Miss I. Russell, pale blue tulle with an overdress of amethyst chiffon and garlands of violets; Miss Eila Vallance (Masterton), pale pink chiffon taffetas, made in the Empire style and finished with laee; Lady Stout, grey brocade with sleeves of ivory guipure and chiffon; Mrs. Turnbull, mist blue Liberty satin, made in the Direetoire style, the skirt opening over a panel of lace, steel embroideries defined the corsage which was softened with laee; Mrs. Johnston, black and white striped satin, laee draperies touched with jet; Mrs. U. Johnston, flame coloured satin with heavy embroideries in sequins; Mrs. Rolleston, grey souple satin, the skirt draperies being caught up by a velvet rosette centred with a diamond button; Miss Johnston, ivory satin Direetoire gown with a draped scarf of pale blue crepe de chine, diamond ornaments; Mrs. W. Barton (Wairarapa), ivory satin Princess gown with bertha flounces, and sleeves of Italian rose-point; she wore a wreath of seed-pearl roses in her hair; Mrs. Wilford, gold tissue veiled in ehangeant chiffon, and nished with gold roses; Mrs. W. Moorhouse, white chiffon exquisitely embroidered in ribbon work, with a design of pink roses; .Mrs. Fitzgerald, ivory satin with skirt panel and bretelles of silk filet heavily embroidered in gold, black chenille; Mrs. Martin, palest pink crepe de chene and lace; .Mrs. Brandon, oyster brocade and laee; Miss F. Brandon, ivory satin Empire costume, the corsage encrusted with gold and pearls and finished with a deep graduated gold fringe, a gold Empire filet in her hair; Miss Nora Brandon, who is our latest debutante, had a charming frock of white mousseline de soie made with a becoming simplicity, and finished with touches of white satin; Mrs. Coleridge, laee robe with Empire belt of palest blue velvet; Miss Coates, black chiffon taffetas, the skirt bordered with silver embroideries; Mrs- A. Crawford. floral chiffon taffetas striped with black: Miss E. Fell, pale yellow brocade with chiffon frills; Mrs. Dymock, white chiffon with an overdress of black embroidered net; Mrs. Newman, white and grey striped ninon with a bayadere effect, gitimpe sleeves of delicate laee touched with silver; Miss Harcourt, ivory souple satin embroidered in silver; Miss G. Harcourt, ivory charmeuse, the corsage having a wide band of gold Grecian embroidery, which also.bordered the tunic skirt; Miss Holmes, black Chantilly lace over chiffon; Miss Richmond, black ehiffon satin and fichu of laee; Miss E. Richmond, green velvet sleeves of net; Mrs. Findlay, grey satin with bertha of lace; Mrs. V. Riddiford, ivory satin Empire gown, draped with lace; Mrs. C. Crawford, sky blue souple Batin; Mrs. Dunean', grey satin, the lace fichu caught up with a knot of black velvet ; Mrs. Tweed, white ehiffon with a striped over dress of lace and narrow black velvet; Miss Tweed, ivory satin with touches of gold; Miss Medley, white laee robe, with roleaux of pale blue velvet; Mrs. W. Johnson, ivory satin, the seams inlet with gold embroidered laee, which also composed the pretty draped sleeves; Miss Reid, white souple satin Empire costume, the corsage draped with delicately tinted embroideries; Mrs. Bell, black chiffon taffetas with hanging sleeves of lace; Miss Bell, pale pink chiffon with revers of painted silk; Miss V. Bell, white chiffon glace and laee; Mrs. J. Tripe, black laee and net; Mrs. K. Duncan, white silk and silver sequins; Mrs. Hacon. grey brocade with bands of Wack jet; Mrs. Field, amethyst chiffon taffetas draped with beautiful lace, pearl and amethyst ornaments; Mrs. Hadfield, ivory satin, the skirt cut short in front to disclose brocaded underskirt; Miss Seddon, black souple satin and lace; Miss Barron, esprit not with rouleaux of black velvet ribbon; Miss Ashcroft, pale grey nope de chine with a fieliu of white ehif-

fon; Miss Fitzgerald. pale pink crystalline and lace; Miss Fraser, peacock blue satin. . . Also among the guests were Miss Mildred Fell and Mr. Dillon, whose wedding and departure for England took plaee the next day. PERSONAL ITEMS. Miss Coates has returned from her trip to Auckland. Dr. and Mrs. Fitchett, who have been away in Auckland, are back and staying at Day’s Bay. Miss Monro (Palmerston), has been here for a few days, having come to be bridesmaid at the marriage of her cousin, Mr. Dillon, to Miss Fell. The ceremony was extremely quiet, and the only other bridesmaid was Miss Erica Fell. During the autumn their Excellencies the Governor and Lady Piunket are thinking of taking a trip to the Cook Islands, and Rarotonga. Miss Gidford, of Auckland, is at present in Masterton. She is the guest* of her cousin, Mrs. H. T. Wood. Mrs. R. J. Collins and Miss Eveline Collins accompanied Colonel Collins on his trip to Rotorua, Te Arolia, and Auckland. Mrs. and Miss Monteith (West Coast) are in Wellington at present, and staying at the Royal Oak.

OPHELIA.