AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 26, 28 December 1910, Page 63

AUCKLAND.

December 24. Garden Party. xyx RS. W. E. HUTCHISON’S garfl I 1 den party on Tuesday afterXJ JL/ 1100,1 was a most charmJ ing function. The beautiful grounds surrounding the house were a perfect picture; the house is on the side Of Mt. St. John, and the garden slopes flown, and in places is terraced. There is a lovely stretch of lawn, large enough for two croquet lawns, which were kept going all the afternoon. Beyond the lawn are beds of lovely flowers, which scented the air, and here a marquee had been erected, for Mrs. Hutchison had hit upon the happy idea of having children at .her party, who came with their parents, intent upon having a happy time. And they had it. In the marquee the children had all sorts of good things for tea, and then eame just a delightful Surprise—a real Father Christmas, Simply laden with toys, hung all over him, which the kiddies had just to help themselves to. All this not only delighted the children, but all the grownups, even though they had no children. The Bavarian Band plaved all sorts of jolly music. Up in the house the older guests were served with tea and delicious ices, and strawberries and cream, and while we were seated enjoying these, Mr. Hedlum entertained us with music, song, and story, in quite a clever way. So you can see our hostess had, indeed, thought of everything for tiie entertainment of her many guests. It was so pretty to see the children in their pretty white frocks playing about the gardens. 'At one end of the lawns swings were going hard all the time—how children do love a swing! I eame to the conclusion that it is a splendid idea having children at a garden party—generally rather dull affairs, but where there are kiddies having a good time, one could never be dull. Mrs. Hutchison received her guests in the garflen, and wore a lovely frock of palest blue crepe de chine over white silk, and a large black hat with feathers; Mrs. George Green wore a smart little nattier blue tunic frock, and a large black hat; Mrs. Kirker wore black and white; Mrs. (Dr.) Knight, Mrs. Fowlds, Mrs. E. Mitchelson, Mrs. Dr. Moir; Mrs. E. Firth wore a graceful grey crepe frock, with pretty embroidery in the same shade, anti a large black hat; Mrs. Shippard wore a very pretty frock of nattier blue charraeuse, with corded trimmings and lovely embroidery, and a black hat; Mrs. [A. Ferguson looked well in a pretty amethyst toilette; Mrs. Smath wore black, with pink roses in her bonnet; Mrs. Craig, sen., black; Mrs. Bertie Craig wore a very pretty froek of cream crepe de chine, with silk embroidery, and a smart black and white hat; Mrs. E. W. (Alison wore a pretty mole coloured crystalline,. beautifully braided, and a black hat; Mrs. Fotheringham looked nice in white. Among the guests were: Mrs. Archer, Mrs. L. and Misses Marriner, Misses Bews, Mrs. H. C, Choyce, Mrs. H. Philcox, Mrs. Brooks and Miss Brooks. Miss Milne, Mrs. H. P. Taylor, Mrs. W. Leighton (Henderson), Mrs. T. 11. Garland and Miss Garland, Mrs. E. W. Burton, Mrs. Hamblin, Mrs. Baskett, Mrs. Coleman, Mrs. Hough, Mrs. and Miss Smith, Mrs. E. C. Brown, Miss Campbell, Mrs. 'J. Wiseman, Mrs. Spooner, Mrs. Rogerson, Mrs. and Miss Moody, Mrs. IL Cooke, Miss F. Cooke, Mrs. Chandler, Miss Cooke, Mrs. G. Massey and Miss Massey (Tamaki West). Mrs. Cathrew, Mrs. Rendall, jun., Mrs. Peat, Mrs. weed, Mrs. May, Mrs. Hegman, Mrs. Bobbs, Mrs. and Miss Holman, Mrs. and Miss Clayden, Mrs. Mumford, Mrs. New.

comb, Mrs. Gilmore, Mrs. Isemonger, Mrs. Hughes-Jones, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. and Miss Hyskins, Mrs. Leyland, Mrs. Spragg, Mrs. Toni Caley, Mrs. McNair, Mrs. Siddall, Mrs. Blomfield, Mrs. W. H. Smith, Mrs. Heaps, Miss Hodge. Among the children were: Masters Firth (3), Shiphard (2), Hegman, Misses Eva Hobbs, Florrie Cooke, Rendall, Peat, Minnie Coleman, Peggy and Hazel Leslie, Amy and Doris Bambury, Jean Taylor, Master Reggie Smith. Miss Hegman and the Misses Chandler assisted Mrs. Hutchinson in looking after her young guests.

Melmerly College. The distribution of prizes at Melmerly College, Parnell, on Tuesday evening was a quite delightful affair. There was only one drawback to the evening’s enjoyment, and that was the heat, which was stifling, but we soon got so interested iu the children's performances that we forgot all about it. The first part of the programme was given by the junior division—a children’s operetta “Kinderspielen.” The children were very well ■got up, as the various nursery rhymes. “Mistress Mary,’’ was Nancy Macklow; “Humpty Dumpty”—this was very clever —Harnie Dufatir; “Jack and Jill,” Enid Peak and Eva Beale; “Juother Hubbard,” Hilda Moren; “Little Jack Horner,” Hugh Keith (who seemed a great favourite with the girls); “Little Red Riding Hood,” Madge Griffiths; “Little BoPeep,” Grace Fletcher; and a number of dainty children in pretty frocks. “The Singing Quadrilles” were simply charming, all the dancing was good, and the tune perfect. Little Red Riding Hood and Jill’s “Jack” were most graceful dancers, and all the children entered into the spirit of the thing and sang very sweetly. After this the prizes were givep to the lower school. Canon McMurray made the presentations, and to each prize-winner said something nice and encouraging, and wound up by taking his place at the end of the line, and made the circuit of the stage keeping time, as all the other children did to the music —this to the great delight of all- Then came the flower pageant. The setting was Elizabethan, and very becoming the dress was to some of the girls. The Queen, Miss Mary MaeCormiek, looked charming in her Royal robes and lovely lace collar. Both of her maids of honour were dressed in blue. Miss Nancye looked lovely in a pale blue brocade, pointed headdress, and lovely lace collar, and Dorothy Newton was in a pretty shade of nattier blue. The “Herald,” [Miss Claire Bilinkhorn had unfortunately sprained her ankle early in the day, but ‘bravely went through her part—and well too—sitting. All the girls were dressed in flowing white robes, and carried the various flowers they represented. One of the prettiest effects was when the violet, the wild rose, and the Damask rose stood before the queen, and the chorus sang “Violets” most sweetly. All the music was pretty, and the movement of the girls as they marched round the stage were much applauded. Two dear little girls came on and danced the hornpipe beautifully. The pageant wound up with a wellarranged tableau, which “brought down the house.” A bower dance was very pretty, and the dancing of Madge Griflitlis was much admired; she was most graceful. The upper school were then presented with their prizes; the scholarship presented by the Principal of the school was won by Miss Madge Matheson, who was applauded to the echo. The College song completed a delightful and very well-arranged programme Miss Phylis Boult played all the accompaniments. Mrs. Arthur Boult, the Misses Thompson, and Miss Runcin looked after everyone charmingly, and iwe all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

At Home. Mrs E. M. Johnston gave a most enjoyable “At Home” at her residence "Inverary,” Victoria-avenue, Mt. Eden, to the members andi friends of the Inverary Ladies’ Guild. During the afternoon the president, Mrs Howden, presented Mrs Johnston with a handsome Doulton bowl and palm, on behalf of the members of the Guild, as a mark of esteem and a souvenir of the many happy times spent together at “Inverary.” An elaborate tea was served in the large dining-room, which was prettily decorated for the occasion. Mrs Johnston received her guests in a reseda green dress, daintily braided. Among the many present I noticed: Mrs J. Howden. black silk gown, hat to match; Mrs George Fowlds. green robe relieved with black, black hat; Mrs Nelson, heliotrope voile, floral hat: Mrs W. S. Laurie, black silk; Mrs G. George, becoming cream voile gown; Mrs R. Cameron, grey striped voile, and bat to match; Mrs J. Kerr, grey and black costume; Mrs Moore Jones, black satin, black and white hat: Miss Moore Jones, navy coat and skirt, floral hat; Mrs Maughan, white muslin; Mrs Jennings, biaek silk; Mrs J. Martin, pink Shantung, tuscan hat; Miss Howden. pale grey coat and skirt; Miss I. Howden. cream striped costume, black hat; Miss Sage, smart cream silk voile; her sister looked dainty in cream; Miss Young, biscuit gown, floral hat; Miss Jennings, white muslin, pretty hat with roses; Mrs H. Martin, white linen, black hat; Mrs Dingle, black, relieved with cream; Mrs G. Warren, Mrs Potter, Mrs G. Martin, Mrs Wylie, Mrs Evans Young, Mrs and Miss Cooper. Floral Fete. The Floral Fete at Wonderland on Monday night was a huge success. We spent a jolly time watching the delightful scene before us. The fancy dresses were fairly good. In the largest bouquet carried by lady class the girl with the pink bouquet, and looking so dainty in pink and white, was quite the best, but the condition, “the largest,” gave it to Miss Mabel Russell, who was smartly dressed in a short black and white frock, and carried a huge framework covered with flowers, as much like a bouquet as a haystack. I think the conditions should have been more definite. There were only two “bouquets,” and these, though large, looked mere specks by the structures carried round. There were some very graceful skaters. The tilting at the ring was quite new, and a great success, and was won by Miss Briggs, a very good skater. The trick skating was most interesting, and there were some very clever skaters. A man disguised as a Scotchman gained the prize. Miss L. Martin, who skated with 'a man wearing ordinary evening clothes, is very clever. These waltzed, reversed, and did all sorts of things. Miss Martin gained the prize for fancy skating. It seems such a pity that this charming open-air rink is not larger, otherwise the place is sweet, and, of course, so cool. The sideshows were doing a great trade, and the scene was a very bright and pretty one. The management must have been well pleased with the success of their first carnival. Mesdames Nelson, Parkes and Arthur Myers were the judges for some of the events. A Jolly Little Tea. Miss Dorothy Nathan gave a jolly little tea at the Piccadilly Tea Rooms on Wednesday afternoon, and asked a lot of her girl friends to meet her cousins, the Misses Nathan, who, with their mother, left in the Mooltan on the following day for a two years’ sojourn in England. Personal. Mr and Mrs K. Duncan (Wellington) are in Auckland, and are the guests of Dr. and Mrs Harke. Miss P. Boult left in the Mooltan for England, where she will remain for an indefinite period. Mr and Mrs W. R. Bloomfield left for a month’s visit to Waiwera on the 28th, accompanied by Miss Hilda Bloomfield. Miss Alice Walker is visiting the Thames, where she spends Christmas. Mrs and Miss Cumming are spending the holidays in Hamilton. Mr and Mrs Blair are expected in Auckland shortly, and will stay at Gleualvon. Mr and Mrs Arthur Boult and Mrs Gawlcr arc spending their holidays in Rotorua. Mr and M'rs P. Laurence have gone to Orewa for a fortnight. Mr and Mrs Lowry (Hawke's Bay) returned from Sydney in the Mooltan. and are in Auckland staying at the Grand Hotel.

Miss Butler, B.Sc., of Liverpool, has (out of 86 applicants) been appointed head mistress of the Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, and will be asked to start her duties in February. Mr and Mrs W. Coleman and their family and Miss D. Nathan are spending Christmas at Okoroire. Mr and Miss A. Stubbs have left for a visit to Rotorua.

Miss Beale (Cambridge) is the guest of Mrs Towle. Epsom, for Christmas. Mr and Mrs Greig have gone to Te Arolia for the Christmas holidays. Miss R. Greig in the meantime is staying at G lenalvon.

PHYLLIS BROUN.