WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 6, 8 February 1911, Page 64

WELLINGTON.

February 4. After the burst of gaieties while the races were on, general somnolence seems to have settled on society. Numbers of people are still away, and as fast as a country or seaside cottage is vacant new’ occupants step in. In town shopping at the sales seems the only thing to be done, arid in the heat it is a tiring and strenuous pastime. The lucky people who are soon off to England are busy making their preparations. The question whether it is wisest to get a good outfit of clothes here, or to wait till arrival in London, is a ■burning one, as both courses have ardent supporters. Vice-regal Welcome to Hon. Geo. Fowlds. On Friday last their ELxcellencies the Governor and Lady Islington gave a dinner party to the Hon. G. and Mi’s. Fowlds. The Hon. C. J. and Mrs. Johnston, Lieut.-Colonel and Mrs. Chaytor, Mr. and Mrs. and Miss Brandon, Mr. and Mrs. Ghatfield, Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp, Mr. and Miss Gore were among the guests. The Kersaint. The arrival in port of the French cruiser Kersaint is welcomed with much interest. At present nothing very definite is settled about entertaining the visitors, with the exception of an evening party, when the captain and officers are to be the guests of the Cercle Litteraire Francaise. The Return of Dolores It is good news to hear that the delightful singer, Mdlle. Dolores, is in New Zealand again. For the last week or so, she and her friend Mdlle. Vandour have been in Wellington staying with Mr. and Mrs. Prowee, who seem to keep open house for all the visiting artists. Indeed, their house contains a wonderful portrait gallery of autoghaphed photographs of celebrities, many of whom are personal friends. Mdlle. Dolores is well-known in Wellington, as she stayed here so often before, and personally she is extremely popular. As she is resting at present there is no entertaining being done in her honour, but she has been seeing her many friends privately, going about quietly. One day she was in town wearing a close-fitting black tailormade, a lace collar, and a baek picture hat with a white plume. Y.W.C.A, There was a meeting of those interested in the Y.W.C.A. at Mrs. Findlay’s the other Jay to make arrangements for the coining entertainment. Everything seems gonig well, and all sorts of good things are to appeal’ on the programme. The grand national march, which will illustrate the various foreign countries in which the Y’AV.CA. is working, is sure to be a fine spectacle.' The Garrison Band is . to play the test piece for the forthcoming band contest, and the popular amateurs who call themselves the “Gay-makers” are going to perform. They are mostly well-known society girls, and have been very successful in their former appearances, which have usually been in the cause of charity. On the Lawns. Lawn tennis was a great topic of interest on .Saturday. A team of crack players from Christchurch camo up for the annual match, Canterbury v. Wellin£»

ton. A committee had been set up to see that the visitors were well treated, and after the business of the day was over, they were entertained at dinner, •and afterwards taken to the theatre to see the Katherine Grey Company. As for the tennis, honours were fairly well divided between the two centres, as the ladies won their matches where the men were beaten, and vice versa. Afternoon tea was provided in the pavilion at the Thorndon courts, where an excited, ■breathless band of tennis enthusiasts were watching the games, the last of which was concluded just before the light failed.

Social Notes A large end well-arranged fete, in aid of the Society for the Protection of Women and Children, is to be held at Karori next week. Mr. S. Kirkcaldie has lent hie grounds for the occasion, and all sorts of novelties and amusements have been planned to attract people. The fete is to be opened by her Excellency, Lady Islington. The Katherine Grey Dramatic season was an extremely successful one, and there was a very large audience on Thursday night, when Clyde Fitch’s play, "The Truth,” was performed. Among the audience were Lady Ward and Miss Ward, who brought Madame Boeufve, Dr. and Mrs. Findlay, Mr. and Mrs. Young, Mrs. Duncan, and many other well-known people. Their Excellencies the Governor and Lady Islington and their suite have announced their intention of being present at. the first night of “What Happened, to Jones.” At Eastbourne Eastbourne is a growing waterside suburb, and its residents are sociable and energetic. For a long time they have been in need of a good hall where they can give concerts, amateur theatricals, and so on, and at last one is available. On Thursday the hall was opened with a very enjoyable entertainment, presided over by the Mayor (Mr. Shortt), Mrs. Shortt, who wore pale pink crepe de eliine and lace, was presented with a beautiful bouquet. Mrs. Russell, black chiffon and taffetas and lace; Mrs. Carte, black satin with an overdress of sequins; Mrs. Speed, mauve eolienne and ivory lace; Mrs. Crosby, black taffeta, and lace; Mrs. Chitty, pale blue crepe de chine; Mrs. Mcßean, blaek silk. H-S.H. Prince Leopold of Batterbejg is to arrive lin Wellington on Saturday next, having travelled up from the South by way of the West Coast. Personal. The Bishop of Wellington and Mrs. Wallis are travelling about in the neighbourhood of Wanganui. Mrs. and the Misses Brandon, who have been spending six weeks or so in their country house at Pahautanui, are back in town agalin. Miss Ella Marchant has been here for a short stay on her way back to Dunedin. While in Australia she attended the Science Congress, and her paper on the Education of Women was listened to with much interest. Miss White, who has been staying with her aunt. Miss Holmes, has gone back to Dunedin. ; MHss Nancarrow has returned to Christchurch after a long stay in Wellington. Mrs. Harding has taken a cottage at Trentham for some weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Watson (Invercargill) are passing through Wellington on their way to England. They are leaving the younger children with their grandmother, Mrs. Menzies, for the time being. Mrs. Menzies lis just back after a long visit to Invercargill. Mr. Riddiford returned from a stay of several weeks <in Australia on Wednesday. The marriage of her neice, Miss Alys Riddiford, to Mr. Henry Arkwright, is to take place at Palmerston on February 22. Madame Boeufve (wife of the French Consul for New Zealand) lis making a stay in Wellington before going to Liverpool, where M. Bouefve has just received a consular appointment. Mr. and Mrs. Molesworth Tolhurst, who have been staying with Mr. G. E. Tolhurst, have gone to Opotiki. Mt. and Mrs. J. E. Fulton are back in their house on The Terrace again after an absence of over a year, dinting which time their house has been occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Tapper, who formerly lived in Christchurch. In July, or thereabouts, Miss Fulton’s marriage will take place, and next year Mr. and 'Mrs. Fulton

are intending to go to England iot an indefinite period so as to be near their daughter, whose home will be tn Orford. Mrs. Fulton is such a well-known popular hostess that she will be very much missed during her absence. Mr. and Mrs. Tapper are going to England for a trip. They leave from Auckland by the Macedonia on February.

OPHELIA.