AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 9, 1 September 1909, Page 61

AUCKLAND.

August 30. The Rowing Club Ball. ¥HE St. George’s Rowing Club dances have always been considered among the <most attractive and enjoyable engagements of the season, and this year proved no exception to the rule/ when the new Portman Rooms were engaged for bhe occasion on the 26th. The decorations were striking, and a novel effect was introduced by nikau palms being interlaced round the pillars to branch out in all their glory at the top. Pictures of winning crews, ■with their trophies, and designs in oars, were disposed about the room and on the walls, while festoons of Chinese lanterns enhanced the gaiety of the scene. Sumptuous siting-out rooms were provided behind crimson curtains, with cushioned rattan seats for cosy tete-a-tetes, and a drawing-room upstairs was also much in demand. Burke’s orchestra of seven performers furnished the music, which was most enjoyable. The tables were decorated in St. George’s colours—red and white —whilst a miniature crew of oarsmen composed of chocolate and frosting formed a centrepiece. An able committee, with Mr. Nelson Mitchell as secretary, and Messrs. Steele, Elliott, and Bach, as M.C.’s, were responsible for the success of the function, which was attended by about 300 dancers. Amongst such a large number it was impossible to pick out the costumes of all, but the following were noticeable: —Mrs. Devore, black brocade, with rich guipure lace; Mrs. Thos. Russell, cream silk, with blonde lace; Mrs. A. W. Chatfield, sagegreen soft satin; Mrs. M. J. Steele, rich black satin, with sleeves of cream tucked net, and handsome Japanese wrap; Mrs. Henry Wilson, black velvet and Maltese lace ibe.rthe; Mrs. Culpa n, black lace over silk, lovely spray of natural violets; Mrs. Reynolds, bronze spangled net over heliotrope satin; Miss Mitchell, cream chiffon taffeta; Miss Kate Devore, cream Limerick lace over silk, with cluster of geraniums in corsage and scarlet bandeau

in coiffure; Miss Blanche Devore also wore cream Limerick lace, with emeraldgreen ehoux on corsage and in coiffure; Miss Endean, pretty flowered chiffon in pastel shades; Miss Steele, pale blue satin charmeuse; Miss Pitt, an exquisite confection in cameo pink, with bands and bolero effect of g&lon insertion and rich cord girdle; Miss Morrow, heliotrope souple satin, en Princesse, with handsome silver motif; Miss Beale, heliotrope chiffon; her sister wore soft blue mousseline de soie over glace silk; Miss D. Metcalfe wore a lovely vieux rose sunray satin Princess gown, witli ruby sequins on square filet net yoke; her sister, Miss Phyllis, looked sweet in white Liberty satin, with silver-trimmed chiffon tunic; Miss Squirrel, white Oriental satin with natural violets; Miss Culpan, ivory souple satin; Miss Bennett, shrimp-pink Directoire gown, with tucked panel and embroidered bands; Miss M. Bennett, white Oriental satin and effective lace drapery; Miss Elliott, White organdie with Valenciennes, the skirt a polonaise effect in vandykes; Mies L. Nelson, pale blue chiffon; Miss Perrin, prettily handpainted white muslin; Miss Douglas, white tambour lace; Miss Nellie Douglas, forget-me-not-blue silk, veiled in white lace; Miss Rita Moritzson, white chiffon ■taffeta, with bands of silver filet insertion, (blue bandeau in hair; Miss Carlaw, pale pink chiffon taffeta; Miss Beckett, paler pink silk; Miss Rene Moore, mignonette-green souple satin, en Princesse, with lace panel, and ivy leaves in coiffure; Miss Jean Moore wore her debutante’s dress, a sweetly pretty gown of silver net, with tiny rose-buds quaintly arranged; Miss Mathias, cream crepe <le chine and pales pink roses; Miss K. Mathias, lettuce-green mOus-etine de soie with gold; Miss Kenderdine, very pretty white soft satin; Miss Buchanan, soft ■white silk, shirred sleeves; Miss Grace Robinson, pretty girlish white muslin ■with red shoes; Miss Dickenson, spang’e 1 net over white silk; Miss M. Mundy, pile pink silk; Miss daintily tucked white silk Empire gown, gold tissue and violets in hair; Miss Macklow, cream tambour lace over delicate pink; Miaa

Whitley, nattier blue ninon de sole; Miss Wrigley, white Oriental eatin and silver; Miss Alison, pretty ivory satin; Miss Ethel Bagnall, saxe blue ninon de soie; Miss Stuart, white silk and lace; Miss Webber, white chiffon taffeta, handsome Mechlin lace berthe; Miss Macindoe, fine ■white muslin with gold braid; Miss Elsie Court, nattier blue chiffon taffeta; Miss Norton, eau de nil ehiffon taffeta; her younger sister in pale lavender silk. Messrs. Steele, Elliott, Smith, Bach, Mitchell, Tattley, Paterson, Woodroffe, Winks, Robertson, Percy, Dean, Beale, Westbury, Good, Oulpan, Foster, F. M. B. Fisher, MJP., Howarth, Robson, Mills, Hymons, Baker, Hanna, Endean, Marks, Clark, Kronfeld, Symons, Bruce, Philcox, Webber, A. Watson, Gittos, Bennett, and Cardno were among the gentlemen present.

At the French Club. At the Auckland French Club on Tuesday evening a dramatic entertainment was held in honour of Lady Plunket, who is an honorary member. Lady Plunket, who was presented on her arrival with a beautiful bouquet of dull pink sweet peas and fern by little Miss Neligan, was gowned in a robe of autumn brown tinted diagonal patterned chiffon, the decolletage trimmed with handsome Oriental gold thread embroidery in Greek design. She carried a pastel pink brocade opera wrap, and wore a lovely necklet of pearls with pear drops to match; Mrs. Waterfield was attired in reseda goffered mousseline; Miss Hill’s costume was of Bruges lace in deep eream, with diamond ornaments; Mrs. Parkes wore a gown of black taffeta, with long Japanese silk wrap embroidered in tinted butterflies of ciel blue; Mrs. Neligan was in black chiffon over white silk, with pale blue chine scarf; the little Misses Neligan were in white muslin with blue belts and hair ribbons; Mrs. George Bloomfield, pastel pink brocade opera coat with Brussels lace over a white gown; Mrs. Fred Baume, carnation pink wrap handsomely embroidered in tinted and black silk over black costume, gold filet with jet in coiffure; Mrs. W. R. Bloomfield, buff embroidered filet net robe with tiny satin trimmings; Miss Gwen Nathan, white silk with insets of briar stitching; Miss Geddes, white ninon with Spanish lace, shell pink opera coat with gold sequin galon; Miss Alice Law, pastel blue panne chiffon velours cloak with handsome black silk braiding, and white costume; Miss Hemus, rose pink taffeta with Maltese lace; Miss Elsie Hamilton, cream tinted filet net over glace, with silver filigree braid and tassels; Mlle. Bouillon, foam green charmeuse, with corsage of white Oriental lace and emerald necklace; Miss Commons, lovely pure white taffeta dress with button trimming and chemisette of white net; Miss Aickin, black chiffon and net over white silk; Miss Keesing, black and white costume; Mlle. Cochet, sienna red eilk.

Enjoyable Dance. Quite one of the pleasantest dances of the season was that given on Thursday evening last by Mr and Mrs P. Oliphant, the guests being chiefly the young friends of their tw-o elder sons and daughters. Dancing took place in the ball-room, at the rear of which was a sitting-out resort, carpeted and furnished with rattan ehairs and lounges, and decorated with beautiful foliage plants and screens. A long closed-in passage-way connecting the ball-room with the house was carpeted and lit with a profusion of fairy lights and Japanese lanterns, lending a most picturesque effect. A recherche supper was served in the dining-room at about 11, the tables, with their tall vases filled with brilliant crimson anemones and camellias intermingled with rose leaves, being especially admired. The music, which was supplied by Burke’s orchestra, was, of course, delightful. Nothing was left in promoting the enjoyment of the guests, and the “thank you so much for a pleasant evening” at parting was anything but a hollow form when it came to be regretfully said. Mrs Oliphant was gowned in a graceful white brocade softened with lace, and wore a white osprey in coiffure; Miss Oliphant was dainty in shell-pink mousseline de soie over silk; Miss Margaret Oliphant’s white Japanese silk frock, with gold girdle, was very becoming; Mrs Lindsay wore a trained azure blue peau de chine, with white and silver lace decollete; Miss Lindsay, graceful white ehiffon taffeta gown, made en princesse, with Directoire sash; Miss Milnes was in palest pink crepe de chine posed on

pink silk; Miss Moss Davis, mist blue chiffon over silk; Misses J. and B. Oliphant wore pretty white silk frocks; rurs Moritzson (Dunedin), violet silk, with Paris lace entredeux; Miss Klingender (Melbourne), a lovely silver embroidered net over amber satin; Miss Daisy Benjamin, ivory white striped satin charmeuse, with lace and bugle bead berthe; Miss Kate Devore, cream Oriental lace frock, with crimson filet in coiffure; Miss Blanche Devore, white lace over silk, emerald green poppies; Miss Ethelwyn Cook, cream chiffon taffeta and lace; Miss Erson, white silk, pink Directoire sash; Miss Metcalfe was pretty in emerald green satin, with white and gold decollete; Miss Q. Kirker, white crepe de chine frock, with white lace Empire bodice, clusters of daffodils; Miss Geddes, cameo pink mousseline de soie; Miss N. Douglas, white Oriental lace over mist blue silk; Miss Rita Moritzson (Dunedin), white ehiffon taffeta frock, with berthe of crystal beads; Miss Winnie Kent, silver-spangled net over pale blue silk; Miss McLean, white crepe de chine gown, with gold embroidered decolletage; Miss Madge McLean. effective old gold satin frock, with gold-beaded berthe; Miss Florence Walker, delicate blue silk gown; Miss Hazel Craig, cream satin charmeuse, with blue and gold embroideries; Miss Essie Holland, graceful pale blue silk and lace; Miss Ida Sharland, cameo pink mousseline de soie Empire gown; Miss Shayle George, white velvet, brightened with pale blue tulle and pink rosebudsffi Miss Jessie Frater, Nile green silk; Miss Sybil Payton, white ehiffon over silk, berthe of lace and silver tissues; Miss Runciman, black evening froek; Miss Dorothy Biss, white chiffon taffeta; Miss V. Tibbs, eau de nil silk, softened with white lace. Some of the gentlemen present were: Messrs. Neville. George, Cardno, Kirker, J. Patterson, Bedford, Gardiner, Watson, Thorne-George, Sharland. Milnes, Drs. Aickin, C. Owen, Tibbs, etc.

Takapuna Tennis Club at Home. Neither “Dido” nor the dreadful state of the Takapuna roads deterred the Tennis Club of that district from holding their annual “At Home” on Friday last. About 50 guests in all assembled in the Parish Hall, of whom about 40 danced. Tire supper table, which was set on the stage, against a background of greenery, and decorated with violets, looked particularly inviting. The danees, numbering about twelve, W’ere made enjoyable by a perfect floor and good niusie. Amongst those present were: —Mesdaines Moren, Corry, H. Brett, Craig, Green, Misses O’Neil, Jones, Corry, Craig, Thomson, King, Dennison, Rawlinson, Adams, Curtis, Lloyd. Among the gentlemen were: — Messrs. Grimwade, Curtis, Logan, Macdonald, Fisher, Adams, Hart, Moren, Baker, Good. Dr. Atkinson, Foster, Hall.

An Enjoyable Dance. Despite the warring of the elements, consequent on the machinations of “Dido,” a goodly number gathered in response to Mrs. F. Moore’s invitation to “Moorefort,” Parnell, on Friday evening, and spent a gay time. The big dining-room, with a floor like glass, was given over to dancing, and a profusion of flowers abounded there, while the chandeliers were twined with lycopodium. The halls were transformed into groves of palms, and the wide verandah was secured with nikaus and lit with Chinese lanterns. At the end of the hall a sitting room was fitted up. like a fairy bower, and looked so inviting that it proved very popular between the danees. The supper-room was a beautiful sisht, peach blossoms being employed in decoration, with tall sprays in silver vases, and for the centre of the table a small tree in full bloom had been transplanted (peach trees bloom early in Parnell), from which peach pink satin streamers were carried to each corner. An original novelty was introduced on the programme. each one being inscribed with some quotation of an elevating nature, such as, “The chief want.in life is some one who will make us do the best we can”; “Let a man go where he will, he can only find so much beauty or worth as he carries”; etc. These not only served to break the ice between newlyintroduced couples, but stimulated conversation, and dispensed with the awkward necessity of remarking on the “music,” the “floor,” or the “weather.** Further interest was provided in the shape of vocal items rendered by several ladies and gentlemen during the even-

ing. Mrs. Moore received her guests attired in a handsome dark blue silk gown, and was assisted by her daughters. Miss Moore wore fine white organdie muslin pintucked and ornamented with Valenciennes lace motifs; Miss Rene Moore was in a soft shimmering satin Princess gown of palest green with wide lace corsage and shirred chiffon sleeves; Miss Jean Moore’s dress of silvery net over white satin, with touches of very pale pink, and tiny rosebuds, was most becoming. Many handsome gowns were worn by those present, but lack of space prevents further mention. Personal.

Mr. and Mrs. Bushell, of Temuka, are in Auckland. Mrs. A. N. MacKelvey has arrived home after her Wellington trip. Mr. and Mrs. H. Kissling, who have been spending a holiday in New Plymouth and Napier, have returned to Auckland. Miss Tube, daugher of the late Captain Tuke, of Hawke’s Bay, who has been residing in England for nearly eight years, has returned to New Zealand by the Wimmera, en route for Napier, and is visiting her sister, Mrs Raymond, “Medina,” Brighton-road. Remuera. PHYLLIS BROUN.