AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 12, 23 March 1910, Page 62

AUCKLAND.

March 21. On the Mongolia. THE large afternoon tea given on board the Mongolia was quite the feature of the week. Considering the great crowd present everything was well managed; there must have been many hundreds of guests. Mrs. Somers, with Mr. S. M. I’ierceson. lirst officer (in place of Capt. Preston), received the guests, who then passed on and dispersed on a tour of inspection. One thing which struck me was the coolness of all the long corridors, evidence of perfect ventilation. The tea table was decorated with groups of delphiniums, which were very effective. It was only by the best of management and good temper that the ship was cleared by five o'clock, but at last the huge vessel hove off in a most stately and imposing manner, all aflutter with waving and Howers and papers. Most of the emart women were present, Fo some very pretty toilettes were worn. Lady Sinclair Lockhart in green striped ninon and a floral toque; Mrs. Somers, cream de chine with pale blue flower, cream hat; Mr-. Mitchelson wore black and 1 white; Mrs. Bloomfield, a handsome black toilette, black bonnet with touch of white, and white laee scarf; Mrs. W. It. Bloomfield, black striped ninon with touch of pale, blue in the bodice, green and black hat with pink roses; Mrs. tjeorge Bloomfield looked especiallv well in a nude frock, large black hat with pink roses; Mrs. Lucas looked handsome in a bla/*k frock and large black hat; Mrs. Harry Bloomfield was a dainty’ figure in ft smart cream braided cloth coat and skirt, white hat lined with pale blue and massed with pink roses and lilac; Miss Grierson looked well in a cream voile, white feather boa, cream hat with pink resets; Mrs. Hope Lewis, black and white striped flannel, very pretty purple satin hat massed with shaded lilac; Mrs (Sharpe was admired in golden brown eharmeuse, shaded brown hat; Mrs. Houghton, white coat and skirt, black Jiat; Mrs. (Dr.) Ferguson, a very dainty cream silk vest with lovely embroidery, cream hat, and a lovely feather stole; Mrs. Egerton wore grey; Mrs. Napier looked well in a striped Eton coat and pkirt, black and white toque to match; Mrs. (‘otter, dark blue striped ninon, cream hat with black velvet, and pink roses; Mrs. Black, heliotrope cashmere, cream lace, ami large black hat; Mrs. Edmunds, black and white toilette, large black hat; Mrs. Bedford, embroidered Indian muslin, black satin hat lined up with apricot and massed with shaded dahlias; Mrs. Prater, black ami white purple toque; •Miss Fra ter. white linen coat and skirt, black hat; Mi— Howarth, golden brown coat and skirt, brown hat; Mrs. Towle, atone grey cashmere braided in same fdiade, black toque with jetted ospreys; Miss May Towle looked smart in a wellcut nivv blue coat and skirt, heliotrope? hat with shaded flowers; Mth. Dargaville wore a heliotrope toilette ami toque; Mrs. Carrick, black tdlk and lace; Miss Dargaville, old rose cashmere, relieved with cream net and lace, and touch of black, large black hat massed with white feather*; Miss Nellie Walker, blue coat and skirt braided in black, black velvet hat with gobi tissue; Mrs. Bu<kleton, navy cloth coat and skirt, cream hat with pink roses; Mrs. McFarland, cream ninon, inserted with lace, •a the bodice a touch of black velvet,

black and white hat; Mrs. Thomas, white linen coat and skirt, purple hat; Miss Nesta Thomas, white linen coat and skirt, and a smart white hat; Miss Ethel Martin, navy blue coat and skirt, creanj hat with roses and black velvet; Misp Millie Cotter, a very smart little tan coloured taffeta one-piece frock, with white let into the bodice, and a pretty touch of blue, large white hat with black drape and pink roses; Miss Hazel Buckland, white lawn and laee frock, largt heliotrope hat with flowers; Miss Ruth Buckland, wedgwood blue Shantung coat and skirt faced with black, large cream hat; Miss Rachel Gorrie wore all white; Mrs. Harry Nolan wore a pretty heliotrope with white grey spot, piped with a darker shade, large picture hat; Mrs. Gore-Gillan was picturesque in a painted chiffon over green silk, a large green hat; Mrs. Grieg, stone grey cloth coat and skirt, black hat; Miss R. Grieg, blue coat and skirt, cream hat; Mrs. Sharman, brown coat and skirt, black velvet hat swathed with gold tissue; Mrs. Cohen (Palmerston North), long blue coat and skirt, black hat; Mi's. Savage, blue Shantung coat and skirt faced with blue satin, large picture hat; Miss Cooper, plain brown linen coat and skirt faced with black, smart little green hat with black trimmings; Miss Jessie Reid, white lawn inserted with fine laee, a pretty white hat turned up with black velvet lining; Mrs. Upton, grey costume; Miss Upton, dark grey coat and skirt, cream hat with black; Mrs. Parker Upton wore a smart tailormade of an uncommon shade of purple, large burnt straw hat with black; Miss Gorrie, white linen coat and skirt faced with black, and black buttons, black and white hat; Miss P. Gorrie, cream froek, large cream hat, with deep red roses; Mies Peacock, white, black hat; Mrs. Kissling, black; Miss Eily Kissling, white linen, a smart black ha t with jetted trimmings; Mrs. Basley, black; Miss Basley, a smart golden brow’n frock, cream hat with brown; Misses Brown (2),; Miss Ivy Buddle, a smart frock of white muslin, with tiny black spot, black and white hat; Mrs. Prickett, a dark blue Sicilian coat and skirt, and a black hat; Miss Prickett, white linen coat and skirt, and a black hat; Miss Alison, a. floral muslin over cream glace, and a white hat; Miss Alison, white muslin black hat. Croquet. After nine days’ play the association matches are over, and I fancy most people are not very sorry. It must be a great strain. I came to the conclusion after watching several games that one needs a constitution of iron, and the temper of an angel—a combination that is not common. The combines were won by Mrs. Smith and B. Segear, who defeated Mr. and Mrs. Walker. In the ladies’ singles, 'Mrs. W. Colbeck and Miss Hesketh met in the finals, the latter lady winning somewhat easily’. Miss Hesketh plays a very solid game, but from a spectator’s point of view she is too careful a player, “but slow' and sure” wins the game, as is again proved. In the doubles the finish was a most exciting one. The competitors were: Mr. Thomas and Mr. Smith, and Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Colbeck. The first game seemed a certainty for the former pair, but by a piece of brilliant play', Mrs. Brown snatched the game from them. In the second game a hard struggle ensued. This went to Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Smith, as did the third. Mrs. Colbeck was feeling the strain of her nine days’ hard play, being quite played out. The association are most lavish, players and onlookers having been treated to morning tea, tea for lunch, and sumptuous afternoon teas. All the officers worked hard, and the long series of matches went off without any hitches. A very special vote of thanks should be given to the poor umpires, who worked hard, notably, Mr. Payton, Mrs. Walker, and Mrs. Marquinel. Among the interested spectators on several days I notices!: Mrs. Archie Clark, black and white silk, heliotrope hat, and a long white dust coat; Mrs.

McCosh Clark was all in black; Mrs. Black, white linen skirt, white spotted lawn blouse, with embroidery, and lace trimmings, old rose-coloured straw’ hat; Mrs. Seagar, black and white cambric hat; Mrs. MeDowall, white linen skirt, white lace blouse; Mrs. Lucas Bloomfield, white linen froek, black hat swathed with royal blue silk, long blue veil; Mrs. Upfill, white linen, eream hat; Mrs. Rankin Read, white linen froek, white hat, with white tulle trimmings; Mrs. Foster, white linen, large heliotrope straw hat and heliotrope scarf; Mrs. Owen looked smart in a eream coat and skirt braided with eream soutache; pretty vieux rose straw hat with pink roses; Mrs. Hill, cream frock, cream hat with lilac; Mrs. Porter looked very well in a eream Shantung coat and skirt, and a smart bat; Miss A. Walker, a beautifully braided cream cloth coat and skirt, saxe blue velvet bat; Mrs. Alexander, a very smart black and white eheck frock, braided in black, large black and white hat; Mrs. Buckland, black silk and lace, black and white bonnet; Miss Hazel Buckland, white frock, large eream hat with heliotrope trimming and a large pink rose; Miss Foster, white froek, large black hat with pink rose and a pink scarf; Miss Buchanan, white muslin frock, pale blue belt, black hat with wreath of small poppies and cornflowers; Miss Greig, pale pink cambric and white embroidery, large hat; Mrs. Horrieks, black and white, striped coat and skirt, cream hat and long green veil; Mrs. Whitney, white embroidery coat and skirt, large black hat; Miss De Camp, blue serge eoat and skirt, pink and bronze straw toque; Mrs. Rathbone, black frock and long white linen dust coat, small black hat; Mrs. Ramsden; Mrs. Williamson, blue lustre coat and skirt, black hat; Mrs. O’Loughlin, black toilet, smart black jetted toque; Miss O’Loughlin, black and white spotted muslin with white laee trimmings, black and white hat; Mrs. Morton, white linen, black hat; Miss Gordon, grey lustre coat and skirt, black hat; Miss Beresford (Adelaide), dark blue lustre coat and skirft, black and white hat; Mrs. Payton, white muslin and laee, cream straw hat; Mrs. Erson was in black. Tennis. Mrs. Archie Clark was lucky in having such a perfect day as Friday' for her tennis party. The position of “The Braes” is simply ideal, and on such a day the surroundings were delightful. Tea was served in a most quaint Maori tea-house tucked away at the end of the lawn, and the groups of pretty girls, in their trim white frocks, dotted about, made a most picturesque scene. Mrs* Clark was wearing a smart black and white striped silk, with vest and half sleeves of laee, and a heliotrope straw hat draped with velvet of the same shade; Miss Isohel Clarke wore white embroidered linen and a becoming hat of nattier blue and blade; Mrs. Archie Buchanan wore an artistic frock of an uncommon shade of stone colour, with an effective trimming of brown and gold, a smart black hat; Mrs. Henry Blomfield looked charming in a smart little chequed silk, a cream straw hat lined with pale blue and massed with lilac and pale pink roses; Mrs. McDowall, a nattier blue cashmere de soie, with vest of lace, ostrich feather boa, black hat; Mrs. Read, black and white striped dress, black hat; Mrs. Walker, blue and. White striped cambric and black hat; Mrs. Edmonds, heliotrope and white striped cambric, large purple hat; Miss Williams looked well in a white linen frock, pretty coat of a soft shade of nattier blue, smart hat of the same shade of blue straw’, with very full puffed crown, slightly turned up, with black and a swathing of gold tissue; .Miss Lulu Browning, white tucked linen skirt, and white lace inserted blouse, large eream hat swathed with black taffeta; Miss Miles (Wellington), white linen, straw hat draped with black; Miss Hilda Bloomfield, white linen skirt, cream silk blouse, large black hat; Miss Foster, white frock, large black hat with pink rose; Miss Buchanan, white muslin, plae blue draped waist band, black hat; Miss Grierson, wore white and a very becoming white and black hat; Miss Eunice Saunders, white linen, and a nattier blue straw hat; Miss Cooper, white linen, eream hat draped with black; Miss M. Cotter, white, black hat wreathed with tiny roses; Miss W. Cotter, white, and a heliotrope hat. Mrs. Harry Bloomfield had an all day tennis party on St. Patrick’s Day, and a very jolly day was spent by those present. On Saturday Miss Lulu Browning gave

a tennis party for her guest, Miss Miles (Wellington). Victoria League. Despite the fact of it’ being a pouring wet night on Monday, the public meeting was well attended, and great interest was displayed by those present. Of course the chief interest centred in Miss Talbot’s speech, which was splendid. A well-modulated voice and a striking personality are two very important factors for a platform speaker. Miss Talbot possesses them in a very marked degree. The platform had been well arranged, and was brightened with the ensign as a background, and pot plants were dotted about, The League have to thank Miss Kate Nelson, who kindly undertook this work. Seated on the platform were most of the members of the Council of the League, Dr. Hope Lew is in the chair, Miss Talbot in the seat of honour, and Mrs. Hope Lewis, Mrs. W. R. Bloomfield, Mrs. Leo Myers, Mrs. Colegrove, Mrs. Luckie, Mrs. Devore, Miss Morrison, Miss Mowbray, and Mrs. Rollett; Mr. Napier, Mr. G. Peacocke, Air. Parr, and Capt. Young. Some of those I noticed in the audience were: Mrs. Archie Clark, Airs. George Bloomfield, Mrs. and Miss Foster, Mrs. Napier, Miss Beresford (Adelaide), Miss Dora Beresford, Mrs. and Miss Peacocke, Miss Runciman, Miss Hilda Bloomfield, Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Walker, Mrs. Louis Myers, Miss Henderson, Miss D. Towle, Mrs. and Miss Nelson, Mrs Seager, Miss Devore, and many others. On Tuesday morning a business meeting of the League members was held at Mrs. Leo Myers’ house, whose guests they were at lunch, afterwards going over to Lake Takapuna. As the weather was perfect, the outing was a most enjoyable one. Miss Talbot was delighted with the beauties of our harbour, and equally so with the lake and its sun roundings. The garden around the kiosk are looking at their best. On Tuesday night' Miss Talbot was the guest of Mrs. T. C. Williams, “Wickford,* 1 Princes-street, for dinner. Mrs. T. (A Williams wore a handsome gown of heliotrope velvet, with lovely lace on the bodice and diamond ornaments; Miss Williams, white chiffon velvet, with' band of silk embroidered lace around the skirt, an effectively-arranged scarf of tangerine ehiffon on the bodice; Miss Talbot, a smart' black and white toilet; Mrs. Hope Lewis, black ninon frock; Mrs. Richmond, pale blue. Mr. T. C. M illiams, Judge Kettle, Dr. Hope Lewis, Mr. Howard Richmond, and Mr. J. Studholmo were also present. Children's Party.

Mrs. E. Horton gave a delightful cheery party for “children,” all of whonl have more than “seven,” but who hav« not outgrown the art of playing games. The time was spent in a charming number of games, “charades” and dancing. Mrs. Horton received her guests in a black jetted evening froek : Mrs George Bloomfield wore a dainty pink toilette;] Mrs. Harry Clark, a soft white froek, which was very becoming; Miss Ida' Thompson was also in white; Miss Nellie Thompson; Miss Hilda Bloomifieldl was admired in a simple little frock of white taffeta, the bodice softened with frills of French Valenciennes; Miss Isabel looked charming in a white froek, pale blue ribbon threaded through her hair; Miss Lulu Browning wore a pretty frock of Paris lace, lovely pink roses in the corsage; Miss Miles was in blaek charmeuse; Miss Vera Duthie, pink floral chiffon; Miss Cooper wore a black frock;; Miss Pearl Gorrie was also wearing black; Misses Horton, S. Thorne-George, A. Dennison, R. Griffith, Tom Lewis. H» Henderson. Personal. Mrs. Henry Wilson has returned to Auckland after a pleasant visit to Wellington. Mrs. Coleman Penrice, of Wellington, is on a visit to Auckland, and is the guest of Mrs. Hellaby, Grafton-road. Miss Warburton, of Wellington, travelling with Miss Wix, of London, spent last week at “Cargen.” They returned home a day or two ago, via the Wanganui River. Miss Maude and Mrs. Sloman, of Christchurch, accompanied by Miss McKnight, of Ireland, spent a few days at "Cargen” last week. They also returned home via the Wanganui River. Mr. and Mrs. P. Schrolder, who have ibeen staying at “Cargen” for the past fortnight, left by the Winmiera on Monday, en route for Germany. Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Norris, of Christchurch, arrived in Auckland on Friday, •nd proceeded North next day. They r*-

turn in a few days, and will stay at “t'argen.” Dr. and Mrs. Morrison, who have been staying at “Cargen” for the past fortnight, went South by the Victoria on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Archie Clark and Miss Tsobel Clark leave for Rotorua during the jveek, where they will spend Easter. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Bloomfield are also spending the Easter time in Rotorua. Dr. and Mrs. Parkes are out of town on a holiday tour. Mr. and Mrs. Erank Ross have been up at Bruntwood for a few days, and then return to Auckland for the races. 'Afterwards they go to Bruntwood for the winter. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Holmes have leased their home in Parnell, and leave for England next month. In the meantime they have taken up their abode at the Esplanade Hotel, Devonport. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have returned to Auckland from Sydney. Mrs. Freeman, during her short residence here, won the championship of the Parnell Tennis Club. Miss Powdrell, N.Z. Lady Champion Tennis Player, is still in Auckland, and is staying with her cousin (Miss Parsons). Miss Muriel Hesketh has been spending the past month in Tauranga, and returns home on Tuesday. Miss Henderson (Remuera) is on a visit to Dunedin. Christchurch will be Visited on her return home. Miss Sybil Greig (Parnell) is paying an extended visit to Dannevirke, and having a delightful time. Miss Kaine (Wellington) is at present in Auckland, having come from Napier, through Taupo and Rotorua. Mrs. Cherry, who has been staying at Glenalvon, left for Sydney in the Mongolia. Mrs. Lowry (Hawke's Bay) passed through Auckland, joining the Mongolia for Sydney, where their horses are running at the coming races. Mr. and Mrs. Duthie and Miss Vera Duthie are off to Rotorua for Easter. PHYLLIS BROUN.