CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 7, 18 August 1909, Page 67

CHRISTCHURCH.

August 13th. The Riccarton Races. Grand National week opened at Riccarton on Tuesday, August 10th, with brilliant, sunshiny weather. The course was in excellent order for racing, and from a scenic point of view the effect of the whole was charming. Further improvements and additions have been made to the various stands for the comfort and convenience of racegoers. The lawn and surrounding grounds are kept in perfect order, and were, of course, showing signs of spring flowers. The panoramic view of the Southern Alps in the distance, gleaming in the sunshine, was in itself a sight well worth seeing. It is no wonder that the C.J.C. are proud of their delightfully-situated racecourse. But you will want to hear of the DRESSES AT GRAND NATIONAL. Lady Plunket wore a Directoire coat and skirt of pastel blue cloth, braided with blue, black mushroom hat, with blue silk and pink roses, white fox furs; Lady Clifford, coat and skirt of navy blue serge, brown fur toque, with crown of violets, Alaska fox furs; Lady Price, eaxe blue striped costume, pale blue hat with blue wings, white fox furs; Airs; Phillips (The Point), blue cloth costume, the coat braided with black, hat to match; Miss Phillips, saxe blue cloth coat and skirt, black hat, stone marten furs; Mrs. Saville (Hororata), pale pink cloth costume, hat to match; Mrs. A. Boyle, dark green cloth gown, braided in black, large black hat, with ostrich feathers, iblack fox furs; Miss Boyle, gown of crushed strawberry cloth, black picture hat; Mrs. A. Williams (Wellington), Directoire coat and skirt of light brown cloth, braided with brown, golden-brown straw hat; Mrs George Rhodes (Meadowbank), Empire gown of rose-pink cloth, pink cloth hat, with roses and foliage; Mrs. C. Louisson, royal blue cloth coat and skirt, blue hat with pink flowers; Mrs. Nathan (Wellington), cream serge coat and skirt, floral hat, and white fox furs; Mrs. Cohn (Dunedin), saxe blue cloth costume, black hat; Mrs. Russell Grace (Wellington), cream cloth costume braided with cream and touches of orange, white hat with pink rose and ostrich feather; Miss Duff (Napier),

cream cloth costume, white hat; Mrs. Abbott (Wellington), navy blue serge tailor-made costume, navy blue hat with pale blue flowers; Mrs. Whyte (Wellington), dark prune-coloured cloth, braided with blaek, floral toque; Mrs. L. Harley, brown tweed costume, brown hat with wallflowers; Miss Harcourt (Wellington), crushed strawberry cloth gown, black 'hat with black ostrich feathers. On the second race day (Thursday, August 12th), Lady Plunket, who was again present, wore a tailor-made coat and skirt of fine blaek cloth, black toque with tangerine plume; Miss Hill, a costume of brown cloth, with large brown hat to match; Lady Clifford, reseda green tweed eoat and skirt, brown fur toque; Lady Price, terracotta cloth gown, large black hat; Mrs. Colomb, mauve cloth coat and skirt, mauve hat; Airs. Boyle, pale grey braided tailor-made gown, blue and grey hat; Miss Boyle, green serge coat and skirt, black hat; Airs. Russell Grace (Wellington), costume of brown eolienne trimmed with cream lace, pale blue hat; Mrs. E. Studholme, coat and skirt of mauve cloth, hat with mauve feathers; Mrs. J. Cracroft-Wilson, pale green striped tweed, pale heliotrope hat; Mrs. J. D. Hall, coat and skirt of green cloth, large violet hat; Mrs. Wells (Amberley), striped tweed costume, black and grey hat; Miss Harcourt (Wellington), brown coat and skirt, brown marabout toque; Miss Humphrey (Wellington), cream cloth aud lace costume, large blaek hat.

Hunt Club Ball. The Hunt Club ball, which was held on Tuesday night, was, as usual, a great success. In the early part of the evening the floor was rather crowded, but this improved, as many people left early. The music and the supper were excellent. The ballroom was charmingly decorated with art muslin and baskets of flowers suspended from the ceiling. A few of the dresses I noticed were: Lady Plunket wore a handsome white satin Princess robe, the corsage draped with irridescent sequin trimming; Miss Hill, blaek net gown over satin; Mrs. Colomb, beautiful gown of silver spangled chiffon, with rosettes of pale pink; Mrs. J. D. Hall, white and silver sequined Empire gown; Mrs. Boyle, pale grey satin with overdress of silver sequined net; Mrs. Denniston, mauve

brocade and cream lace; Mrs. Dalgety, cream .net gown over pink satin; Mrs. Fargus, sky blue taffetas Princess robe, embroidered in silver; Airs, Pyne, black satin with insertions of blaek over white; Lady Price, peacock blue satiu Directoire gown and cream lace; Airs. Abbott (Wellington), white Oriental satin Princess robe, the corsage embroidered with pearls; Mrs. J. D. Ormond (Hawke’s Bay), silver sequined net over white silk; Airs. A. Elworthy, handsome gown of green sequined net and gold fringe; Mrs. H. Elworthy, white satin; Mrs. G. Rhodes, pale grey crepe de chine and silver; Mrs. A. Welliains (Wellington), old gold satin Empire frock and gold embroidery; Mrs. E. Studholme, white satin and laee gown; Mrs. Russell Grace (Wellington), gown of pale blue and white striped satin; Mrs. Fisher (Wellington), white satin; Mrs. Rutherford, white satin with overdress of sequined net; Miss Harcourt (Wellington), white satin; Miss F. Lyon (debutante), white satin Empire gown; Aliss R. Humphrey (Wellington), cream laee gown; Miss Cracroft Wilson, pale pink satin Empire gown.

Bridge Parties. On Friday evening last Mrs. Denniston (Armagh-street) gave a small bridge parly. Amongst the players were: Airs. McLaren (Timaru), the Misses Humphreys (2), Airs. T. Cowlishaw, and Miss Reeves. Mrs. Wigram (Park-terrace) had one on the following evening. The guests were: Mrs. Boyle, Mrs. ‘McLaren, Miss Denniston, Airs. Cowlishaw, Miss Cowlishaw, and the Misses Murray-Aynsley. A girls’ bridge party was given on Saturday evening by the Misses Humphreys (Fendalton). The prizes were won by Miss Rutherford and Miss Secretan. The other players were Aliss Denniston (Dunedin), Misses Symes, Cracroft-Wilson, Campbell, Anderson, Prins, Wood, Harley, and Wilkin. DOLLY VALP