WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 19, 12 May 1909, Page 61

WELLINGTON.

May t Exit Melba. Madame Melba has gone. We are alt feeling rather flat after the excitement. Everyone who met her personally was charmed, and her unaffected enjoyment of everything was delightful. Sunday she spent at Day’s Bay with Dr. and Mrs. Findlay, and in the evening Mr. Justice Williams and Mrs. Williams had a supper party in her honour. At Awarua House the Prime Minister and Lady Ward had a luncheon party at which Madame Melba wore dull electric blue satin soutache, in black, a black picture hat anl magnificent furs. Lady Ward was in ivory ninon, elaborately embroidered in silk and b.!ver; Miss Eileen Ward, sky blue crystalline made in semi-Empire style, with a yoke of Inoc; Mrs. Purchas, black ehillon taffetas and lace, black and white hat; Mrs. Chapman, black striped ninon with mauve galon on the laee vest, toque witM mauve flowers; Mrs. Findlay, black clotW

tailor-made, black and white hat, ermine furs; Mrs. Seddon, black taffetas anil lace, black toque; Mrs. R. Gilmer, black Directoire coat and skirt, blaek hat with cherries; Miss Coates, forest green cloth made en taiileur, with black braid, black hat with wings; Miss Skeri'Ctt, grey chiffon velours, with Oriental embroideries son the high-waisted bodice, black and nvhite hat; Miss Harcourt, ivory ninon made en Princess, with a yoke and b.re1a lies of Irish guipure edged with ball fringe, blue silk hat with shaded roses; Miss Prouse, sky blue Shantung, soutache, and worn with a crinoline hat lined and trimmed with palest blue. The Hon. Dr. Findlay, Colonel Tuson, Hon. Mr. Millar, Mr. Justice Chapman, Mr. Prouse, Mr. Harcourt, and Mr. Ward were also among those present. After luncheon the guests listened with great pleasure to some violin solos by Miss Ruby Macdonald. Water Party.

In the round of teas, luncheons, and dinners, and “At Homes,” Mrs. Kennedy’s water party for Madame Melba came as a pleasant novelty. Morningtea was enjoyed as the Natone cruised round Some’s Island, and the views of distarut Wellington—in alternate cloud and sunshine—were enchanting. Mrs. Kennedy wore dark blue cloth braided in blaek silk braid, a lace blouse, and a bine and green hat with wings; Miss Kennedy, blue striped tailor-made, and pale blue hat; Madame Melba wore n coat and skirt of Venetian red cloth relieved with black, and her black hat had a wide bandeau of dull gold and red galon, and was finished with blaek ‘feathers; Mrs. Raaralow, cinnamon brown tailor-made and blue toque with quills. I'rs. W. Nathan's Dance.

■Every season Mrs. Walter Nathan’s dances are anticipated with great pleasure, and tills year’s one was quite a brilliant affair. Given (as a welcome home to Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Nathan, who have just returned from their wedding journey to Australia, it came early enough in tire season to be thoroughly enjoyed, and several girls "came out” at it.

Brides and bridesmaids were quite numerous at the dance, which was kept up with unilagging zeal long after midnight. Green and white were the colours mostly used, the ball-room having a canopy of the same, with palm-ferns ranged along the walls and on the platform, which latter was cosily furnished. An excellent supper, a splendid floor, and inspiriting music assisted in making the ball a success. The hostess wore black jetted net over ivory chiffon, with metallic blue embroideries on the corsage; Mrs. Hubert Nathan wore her iwedding dress of ivory Empress satin, with flowers and draperies of Honiiton hire; Miss Gladys Nathan was in white satin striped gauze, made in Empire etyle with a high satin belt; Miss Sybil Nathan, ivory satin with raised appliques of lave and satin, and a delicate note of palest blue; Miss Zaidie Nathan, white marquisette over taffetas with isilver etitehing. Of the three debutantes, Miss Head, Who is the daughter of Colonel and Mrs. Head, wore ivory chiffon satin with a wide scarf of exquisite Limerick lace draped fichu-like, and caught up with a single rose in an ethereal tone of pink; Miss Vida Kennedy, white satin veiled In crystal net, with a tiny vest of delicate lace encrusted with silver, silver fa seel s outlining the lace berthe; Miss V. Nelson, white crepe de chine with Indian silver embroideries, and silver and crystal fringe.

Lady Ward was present wearing rosecoloured ninon over a gleaming dessous of a deeper shade, rose-coloured velvet formed the hem, and the corsage was draped with laee; Miss Eileen Ward, white Marquisette over taffetas, finished with silver; Mrs Head, primrose satin eharmeuse, with Eastern embroideries, softened with lace; Mrs Kennedy, white taffetas, with an overdress of black chiffon lace and jet; Mrs Nelson, chiffon taffetas, with pailettes and lace; Miss Reid, geranium red tulle over white chiffon. with a berthe of lace; Miss Russell (Christchurch), pale blue chiffon and laee; Miss Bell and Miss V. Bell wore pale blue charmeuse Princess dresses, in which they appeared as bridesmaids at a recent wedding in Auckland; Miss Mentcath. azure blue crepe de chine, with n glint of silver; Miss Webster, poppy red satin charmeuse; Miss Ewen, inyosotis blue crepe de chine, with lace vest and sleeves; Miss Fulton, pink and white

striped chine silk, with sequin trimming and lace berthe; Miss Skerrett, ivory satin veiled in silver spangled filet net; Miss Jones, white taffetas, with silver tassels; Miss H. Miles, shell-pink crepe de chine, with tiny vest of lace and net; Miss Seddon, ivory satin, with gold embroideries; Mrs Holmes wore her wedding gown of ivory Duchesse satin, with stole ends of corded embroidery and lace; her two bridesmaids, Misses Rawson and Simpson, were wearing their pretty pale mauve ninon and satin dresses; Mrs Fitchett, black and white striped satin, with jet embroideries; Mrs A. Duncan, amber figured taffetas and Irish lace; Mrs Dalziell, striped gauze in tones of blue, vest of sequin lace; Mrs Hislop, blaek ninon embroidered in jet; Mrs K Dunean, silver tissue veiled in electric blue tulle, with touches of velvet; Mrs Rolleston, mole grey satin charmeuse, with bands of purple velvet; Mrs Pike, silver grey taffetas, with jet sequins; Mrs Dymock, black lace and chiffon over ivory satin; Mrs Stott, lotus blue Liberty satin and Egyptian embroideries in silver; Miss Coates, black taffetas, witii bands of silver and steel; Miss Dean, white radium silk, with silver belt and tassels; Miss Marchant, pale pink chiffon taffetas, with sleeves and berthe of lace; Miss Martin, cameo piuk messaline softened with lace; Miss Beauchamp, eau de nil crepe de chine; Miss D. Wilson, ivory chiffon taffetas and lace; Miss Harcourt, Liberty satin and Maltese lace.

Mrs. Sect dorr's At Home. Still another entertainment in honour of Madame Melba was the At Home given by Mrs. Seddon, who, of late, has been entertaining a good deal. Copper and yellow chrysanthemums decorated the big rooms, and in the dining room the teatable —of polished oak —had silver bowls and vases of bronze chrysanthemums surrounding a handsome silver centre-piece, which was presented to the late I’rime Minister by some of his admirers. Mrs. Seddon wore blaek Spanish laee over blaek taffetas; Miss Seddon was wearing black ninon de soie, with a transparent yoke of lace, and a big blaek hat; Madame Melba wore a semi-Direetoire gown of petrol grey souple cloth, the long coat being of the same shade with effective revers, blaek picture hat and chinchilla furs; Mrs. Dyer, gendarme blue cloth, laee and net vest, and black hat; Mrs. Knox Gilmer, black Directoire coat and skirt, mole-coloured hat garlanded with cherries; Mrs. Purchas, black erepe de soie, and smart black hat; Lady Ward, saxe blue souple cloth with braided revers, white furs, and black picture hat; Miss Eileen Ward, dull blue tweed, black hat with white roses; Mrs. Findlay, black cloth tailor-made and black hat, ermine furs; Mi's. Macarthur, black brocade and black picture hat; Mrs. Jones, black and white taffeta, white hat ruehed with emerald green; Mrs. Herbert, chiffon taffeta with lace yoke, purple picture hat; Miss Russel), pale pink Shantung and black picture hat; Mrs. Quick, black chiffon taffeta and black toque with flowers; Mrs. Sherrett, petunia purple cloth with lace guimpe and sleeves; Miss Coates, navy ehiffon taffetas and smart black hat; Mrs. Maearthy, wine red ehiffon taffetas with wide bands of ivory satin embroidered in gold, edged with gold ball fringe, white picture hat with, shaded red plumes; Mrs. Kendall, black erepe de chine and blaek hat; Mrs. Eichelbamn, paon blue doth taifor-made, and blue velvet toque with plumes; Mrs. Dean, black chiffon taffetas and lace.

Personal Items. Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Nathan have moved into their house in Hobson Crescent. It has just been finished, and Mr. and Mrs. Nathan have superintended the final touches while staying at the Grand Hotel. It will be remembered that Mrs. Hubert Nathan was previously Miss Louisson, daughter of the Hon. C. Louisson, of Christchurch. OPHELIA.