WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 2, 14 July 1909, Page 63

WELLINGTON.

July 10. " July, so far, does not seem to be following in the footsteps of June which was h really delightful month, with its calm sunny days. It is to be hoped that next Week, when all the gaieties begin, that things will improve again. There will be three days’ races, and every night there is to be a ball or a dance as well as the minor frivolities of teas and bridge parties. The Anglican Synod is now on. The Bishop of Wellington and Mrs. Wallis Me giving an “ At Home ” on Saturday.

A Welcome Dance. . In the slack season, consequent on the postponement of Parliament, the dance given by Mrs. lan Duncan and Mrs. Dalziell came as a very welcome event. Moana Lua, Mrs. Dunean’s house, is splendidly adapted for entertaining, and the fine reception rooms gave plenty of space for dancing and sitting out. Smart young married women comprised a very large element, aud some exceptionally handsome dresses were worn.

In spite of its being the depth of winter, the floral decorations were beautiful and elaborate, the hall being done with branches and sprays of fragrant tree lucerne in its delicate green and white. Yellow and orange daffodils and deep purple violets were used in the supper room to adorn the tables, the flowers being set in artistic silver vases. The music was most inspiriting, two capital extras being played by Mrs. Algar Williams and Miss Sommerville.

Mrs. lan Duncan wore ivory brocade flounced with lace which was caught up at intervals by ohoux of black velvet. The same effective note was repeated at the hem, and on the corsage and sleeves, which were deftly draped with the same lovely laee. Mrs. Dalziel’s dress was of diaphanous white chiffon, the skirt panels being exquisitely embroidered in faintest blues, pnks and mauves, and connected with waved entredeux of lact, the tone of her blue girdle was repeated by the filet in her hair.

Mrs. Grace was wearing black velvet draped with Brussels lace, diamond pendant and stars.

Included among the guests were:—Mrs. Arthur Duncan, in ivory satin charmeuse, the corsage elaborately embroidered in gold, accentuated by a touch of pink; Mrs. K. Duncan, lotus blue satin, embroidered in gold; Miss Duncan, pearl grey satin charmeuse made en tunique, and bordered with a heavy crystal and bugle fringe, which also finished the sleeves; Mrs. Bidwell (Wairarapa), ivory satin veiled in embroidered net and lace; Mrs. Elgar, amber satin veiled in tulle of the same shade, the peplum heavily embroidered with gold, and bordered with raised gold roses, girdle of sea blue; Mrs. Hector Rolleston, Myosotis blue satin charmeuse, the Directoire panel of embroidery in hydrangea tones; Mrs. Walter Johnston, chine silk in shades of white and pale rose, with sleeves of rose coloured tulle; Mrs. Turnbull, oyster brocade, the skirt encrusted with appliques of diamante lace of exactly - the same soft hue; Mrs. Harold Johnston, maize satin, made in the Empire style with bands of jewelled galon and draperies of lace; Mrs. Pearce, black satin, scintillating with sequins, Directoire scarf of Spanish lace; Mrs. Bell, pastel brocade with panels of rich lace; Miss Coates, black satin and silver sequins; Miss Johnston, black and silver sequined net, Directoire sash of green charmeuse; Miss Cooper, pink and white chine silk with sleeves of tulle to match; Miss Skerrett, ivory satin veiled in Russian net; Miss D. Johnston, white tulle sewn with crystal, white satin girdle; Miss Vavasour and Miss B. Vavasour, semi-Directoire dresses of sky blue ninon de soie with embroideries on tones of palest pink; Miss Brandon, amber satin with a spray of deep velvety red roses among the lace on the corsage; Miss Elgar, white •'tulle, eewn with crystal and silver bugles, and finished with a white satin sash knotted at the back; Miss Harcourt, ivory satin charmeuse with Grecian embroideries in gold; Miss Bell, Princess dress in a delicate tone of tilleul, with a scarf of lace; Miss V. Bell, primrose charmeuse with panels of lace, and a satin sash; Miss Nora Brandon, deep rose colour charmeuse made in Directoire fashion, with panels of lace; Miss Sommerville, ivorv charmeuse with chemisette of lace; Miss Watson, pink and white chine silk with pink belt. In Bonlcott Street.

Extremely successful was the large “At Home” given on Friday by Mrs. Walter Hislop. The big house in Boulcott-street has space for plenty of guests, and the folding doors make moving about an easy matter. Rose-coloured rhododendrons were effectively banked in masses, shown off to perfection by the ivory-tinted walls of the drawing-room. In the dining-room silver bowls of violets and daffodils decorated the tea table. Strains from “Miss Hook” and “Cinderella” came from the band, which was playing in the hall. Mrs. Hislop wore oyster charmeuse veiled in ninon of the same shade, the vest of delicate lace and net being adorned with tiny black velvet buttons, which also appeared on the skirt and sleeves, toge-

ther with narrow strappings of velvet; Miss Joan Hislop was in pale grey voile, with black fringe and a green busby toque; Mrs. Shand, blue souple cloth, and a blue hat swathed with black. In charge of the tea were Airs. Monro, in pale brown cloth, with ecru lace vest having a glint of gold; Miss Barron, in ivory voile, with gold cords and tassels; and Miss D. Pollen, in ivory •cloth, the long coat smartly braided in the same shade. Mrs. Wallis wore navy taffetas, with ecru lace sleeves, and a wide blue hat; Mrs. Findlay, in a black tailor-made, and a black and white hat; Mrs. Moorhouse, black voile, and a long seal coat; Mrs. Herbert, pale amethyst voile, the Empire 'bodice draped with Honiton lace, biscuit straw hat smothered in roses; Mrs. G. T. Campbell, sky-blue taffetas, and floral toque; Mrs. H. Nathan, fraise frieze Direetoire coat and skirt, hat of the same shade wreathed with roses and dahlias; Mrs. Martin, paon-blue cloth, and blue hat; Miss Martin, sky-blue voile, and hat with wings; Mrs. Bowerbank, striped tweed tailor-made, brown hat; Mrs. Holmes, saxe blue cloth Directoire coat and skirt, and blue hat;’ Mrs. Elliott, white cloth tailor-made, and black hat; Miss Miles, rifle-green tailor-made, and black busby toque, with cords and tassels of silver sequins; Mrs. Ewen, dark green tailor-made, and black toque with aigrette; Mrs. Young, paon-blue frieze, and blue hat; Mrs. Martin, saxe-blue Shantung, smartly braided, blue hat of the same shade; Miss Harding, green striped tweed, the long coat finished with strappings and revers of a darker shade. Dance at the Hutt. The Hutt girls were not so lueky in the weather for their last Cinderella dance, and there was a slight falling off in the number of visitors from town. Palms and ferns decorated the walls, and the quantity of very early wattle blossom brought a delightful breath of spring. Violets, iris, narcissus, and snowdrops were cleverly mingled in the vases on the supper table. Mrs. Barraud wore black silk, with jet and silver sequins; Mrs. J. Rose, amber taffetas, veiled in lace and net; Mrs. Harris, white ninon, with gold cords and tassels, relieved with pink; Miss Rix-Trott (debutante), white satin, with lace and chiffon; Miss Hayward, pale green silk, hemmed with deeper velvet; Miss Lee, pale pink taffetas; Miss Humfrey, white satin and lace; Miss Wyllife, pale pink charmeuse; Miss Cecil-Jones, sky blue taffetas, hemmed with silver; Miss Welsh, mauve charmeuse, hemmed with a deeper velvet; Miss Treadwell, lotus blue charmeuse; Miss Wilson, white crystalline and lace; Miss Prouse, sky blue eolienne; Miss

Lambert, green taffetas, enhanced with gold; Miss Buckhurst, petal pink taffetas; Miss Lee, black charmeuse, and Honiton lace; Miss West, ivory satin, with lace chemisette. Great satisfaction is felt that the Pioneer Club has started on its career so successfully. As its name denotes, it is the first club of its kind in New Zealand, and Wellington women are very proud of it. The premises are all that could be desired, and the furnishings and decorations combine art and comfort in a most pleasing manner. There is a tearoom in connection with the affair, so members will be able to entertain their friends, and later on it is hoped that more elaborate parties may be catered for. The inaugural meeting was most enthusiastic. Miss Richmond presiding over it in the most business-like manner. She was elected president and there is a strong list of vice-presidents. The warden of the club is. of course, to be H.E. Lady Plunket, with whom is associated Lady Ward as vice-warden. The subscription is a moderate one. and the club is to consist of women who are interested in commerce, education, art. philanthropy and business matters. The formal opening is to be on July 31.

OPHELIA.