WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 15, 12 October 1910, Page 64

WELLINGTON.

October 8. Government House. It was rather depressing to hear that all entertaining at Government House was abandoned just as we were looking forward to having such a gay- time. Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Islington and their staff have gone to Featherston, and are busy with their country diversions, in which fishing evidently holds a prominent place, as a number of licenses have been taken out for the vice-regal party. An army of workmen and experts is in possession of Government House, busy putting matters straight, and everyone is hoping that things will soon be all right, and their Excellencies among us again. The invitations to luncheon and dinner parties already issued had, of course, to be hurriedly postponed.

The Rowing Season. Saturday afternoon was a busy time for many people, as the opening of the rowing season and first day of the Fine Arts Exhibition coincided. Of course, many people attended both, but it was noticed that the younger generation preferred sport to art, and the rowing clubs’ premises were thronged with a gailyfrocked, white flanneled, cheerful crowd. The absence of his Excellency was regretted, but, unfortunately, he had a prior engagement, so was unable to accept, and Lady Islington was engaged at the Art Gallery. This meant, of course, that the ceremonial part of the proceedings was curtailed, which naturally gave more time for fun and enjoyment.

Mr. H. D. Bell, the president of the Star Club, declared the season open, and in between the races there were opportunities for afternoon tea. Unusually pretty and appropriate were the decorations, the Club’s colours being carried out by pale blue wild hyacinths and white narcissi set in the silver bowls and cups, which the Star men are so justly proud of possessing. Cheerful music helped to make things pleasant. In the crowd it was a little difficult to distinguish people, as there was a constant coming and going. Mrs. Pearce W'ore a smart cloth tailor-made, and black hat with flowers; Mrs. Biss, cream coat and skirt, and hat with roses; Miss Pearce, blue coat and skirt, and dark blue hat; Mrs. Wheeler, blue tailor-made and pale blue hat; Miss Watson, brown tweed coat and skirt, and biscuit straw hat; Miss Bell, pastel tweed coat and skirt, Tuscan hat; Miss Simpson, blue tailor-made, and hat with roses; Mrs. Bridge, grey coat and skirt faced with black, black hat; Miss Ward, dark blue tweed, black hat with wings; Miss Miles, pastel cloth tailor-made, and hat with roses; Miss D’Oyley, green linen coat and skirt, floral hat; Miss Kennedy, dark blue serge Russian costume, white hat with blue wings; Miss Harcourt, sapphire frieze tailor-made, rustic straw hat of the same shade with a cluster of flowers; Mrs. Mitford, pale blue coat and skirt, and black hat; Mrs. Hodgkins, white cloth tailor-made, cerise hat lined with black; Miss Parsons, pale blue and white foulard with a lace guimpe, and a black hat.

At Home. The Wellesley Club “At Home” was thoroughly enjoyable, and the guests—nearly three hundred of them —found the afternoon all too short. One so seldom gets inside a man’s club that it is interesting to have a chance of seeing how things are arranged, more especially as now we women have a club of our own here. Comfortable and pleasant as the Pioneer is, it cannot compare with tlie luxurious fittings and' spacious apartments of the Wellesley, which has all the advantages money can ensure. Qn Thursday afternoon tlie whole building w’as thrown open to the guests, and one could stroll about the Various rooms,

where bridge, billiards, and other amue#< meats were in readiness. Tea and all sorts of delicious things to eat wer4 provided in several different rooms. The! hosts were most attentive, and therel was a small army of active stewards seeing to everyone’s wants. Narcissi and daffodils were used for decorations, and the hall, corridors, and landing werq fragrant with borouia. In the readingroom, which is a delightful place with wide windows and the most comfortable, of seats, the tea table was done with silver bowls of white and orange-edged! jonquils, the brilliant tones being repeated in the bonbons. The billiard-roont was a centre of attraction, and several girls showed their skill at the game, Miss Goring’s prowess calling forth much admiration. The guests were received by the president of the club (Mr. Bell)] and Mrs. Herdman on behalf of the members. Mrs. Herdman wore a tailor-made of deep ivory cloth, with a lace vest and a dark green hat with flowers. Among the guests were Lady Ward, wearing mole grey charmeuse with aJ yoke of ivory lace, and a black hat with white aigrette; Mrs. Findlay, a Princess gown of grey crepe de chine with entredeux of lace, blaek plumed hat j] Mrs. Elgar, black velvet coat and skirt, ermine furs and black picture hat; Mrs, W. Turnbull, black cloth smartly braided and strapped, lobelia-blue ninon scarf; and black hat with vivid blue flowers;] Mrs O. Duncan, ivory cloth tailor-made, Tuscan hat lined with blue and white; wreathed with roses; Mrs. H. Crawford, amethvst crepe de chine en Princesse, black hat with pleureuse plumes; Mre. Head, black coat and skirt, black and white ruffled vest, black toque; Mrs. D. Nathan, black crepe de chine, and black picture hat with plumes; Mrs. Mason, nattier blue resilda, embroidered in the same tone, blue hat with shaded flowers;]

Mrs. Coleridge, grey tweed tailor-made •nd biscuit hat with roses; Mrs. Chatfield, paon-blue charmeuse with yoke of black net, black picture hat; Mrs. Wallis, mole charmeuse, with a guimpe of lace, and a black picture hat; Mrs. Nelson, grey erepe de chine and lace; Mrs. R. Robertson, tussore tailormade, floral hat; Miss Nelson, white linen tailor-made, tegal hat with flowers; Miss Booth (Nelson), green Shantung, black hat; Mrs. Tully, grey crepe de chine en Princess, black hat with plumes; Mrs. Easterfield, pale mole eloth, the coat faced with black, outlining a touch of vivid orange; Mrs. Hume, grey tweed tailor-made, tegal hat with roses; Mrs. Prank Hume, black and white shepherd’s plaid, faced with black, rose-wreathed Tuscan hat; Mrs. Salmond, amethyst cloth dress and mauve hat with shaded roses; Miss Dean, smoke-grey cloth, with a narrow kilted skirt and a pointed tunic, grey hat swathed with the same shade; Mrs. Duncan (Wairau-1, amethyst cloth, toque of the same shade; Miss Goring, pale blue cloth with black French knots and a guimpe of Irish lace, black hat with pink roses; Miss Pearce, cornflowerblue tailor-made, blue hat lined with black; Miss Elgar, reseda Shantung, the narrow skirt strapped horizontally at the sides, sailor collar and folded vest of green and white plaid Shantung, black picture hat with uncurled ostrich feathers; Miss Bell, pale grey tweed coat and skirt, biscuit hat with flowers; Miss Skerrett, dark blue Shantung, blue hat; Miss Miles, tussore tailor-made, and tussore hat with blue and white ruche; Miss Kennedy, dull purple Shantung, hat with lilac; Miss Macintosh, sea-blue Shantung with guimpe of embroidered net, black hat with white flowers; Miss Martin, pale blue and white spotted foulard and black hat; Miss Wilson, blue striped linen and pale blue hat; Miss Perkins, raspberry pink freeze faced with black, black picture hat; Miss Watson, amethyst Shantung, and hat of the same shade; Miss E. Ward, sapphire-blue Shantung coat and skirt, black hat with loses; Miss D’Oyley, pale pink voile with a square yoke of guipure lace, Tuscan hat with roses; Miss Reid, white eloth taliormade and white hat; Miss Stafford, cream linen coat and skirt, pale blue hat with wings; Miss Simpson, ivory tailor-made,

and rose-wreathed hat; Miss McKellar, nattier-blue coat and skirt, and black hat with wide blue loops. Afternoon Tea. Mrs. Massey’s little tea on Monday was a very pleasant affair, all the guests knowing each other well, and being equally interested in politics from th® Opposition point of view, of course. The party was held at Mrs. Malcolm Ross’ house, where Mrs. Massey is staying during her visit to Wellington. Spring flowers in delicate shades of white and yellow decorated the rooms, and music helped the guests to enjoy themselves. The hostess wore a bronze charmeuse gown, the net guimpe smartly braided. Among the guests were Mrs. Herries (Auckland), Mrs. Duncan (Marlborough), Mrs. Newman, Mrs. Herdman, Mrs. and Miss Buick, Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Douglas McLean (Napier), Miss Fraser.

Mrs. Duncan’s Tea. Wednesday was the day of Miss Duncan’s tea, which was delightfully’ informal. Especially beautiful decorations charmed everyone, the flowers being carefully’ selected to harmonise with the surroundings. Many of the guests congregated in the hall, which is large and comfortably’ arranged with Chesterfields and easy-chairs. From there one could pass through the drawing-room into the conservatory, which was a blaze of azaleas and star cinerarias of all shades, with many other interesting plants, Miss Duncan being a noted gardener. The hostess wore a graceful dress of pastel crepe de chine over ivory satin, with touches of delicate lace; Mrs. Grace was in black eolienne with a guimpe of Irish lace, black and pink toque; Mrs. Newman, nattier blue Shantung, blue toque with plumes; Mrs. Menzies, black chiffon taffetas and violet bonnet; Mrs. Murray Menzies (Southland), reseda crepe de chine, the skirt draperies passed through buckles of green, green hat with pink roses; Mrs. Johnston, smartly braided coat and skirt of bengaline, with an embroidered net blouse, black toque with jetted net; Mrs. Joseph Mole, charmeuse and black hat; Mrs. A. Duncan, a Princess dress of pastel cloth and a hat with shaded roses; Mrs. Biss, ivory tailor-made, and black plumed hat.

The Mission. Several "At Homes” are announced for next week, their postponement being largely due to the Anglican Mission, whieh has made such a deep impression here. The Mission ends on Monday, after a duration of ten days.

OPHELIA.