AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 1, 5 July 1911, Page 62

AUCKLAND.

July 2. The Sheffield Choir. THE most important event of the past week, of course, has.been the visit of the Sheffield Choir. For many months we have looked forward to their coming, and I think it is safe to say that it will be many months before weforget them. I heard “The Dream of Gerontius,” and a great treat it was. It was perfectly fascinating to watch Dr. Coward conducting, and to see the wonderful response the large choir mad? to his every movement. And then the audience, which, filled the huge, ugly shed, it quite thrilled one to be the midst of so much life. Chatting to several of the ehoii girls, 1 was lamenting the fact that they had to sing in such a place as a tin shed. “Oh,” said one of them. “That’s nothing. We have sang in drill sheds, chapels, tents, horse bazaars, and in the open air in a gate of wind, so ‘nothing’ would surprise us now.” The Yorkshire diawl has spread itself all over Auckland during the past few days, and has made me feet quite home-sick. 1 heard rather a funny story from one of the girls. Dr. llarriss has a “valet," who has been christened “Emily” by the choir. One of his duties is to mind the door when the choir go in. On Monday night, when a party of girls arrived, but could not get near the staircase for the crowd', Emily hailed them, and when they managed to reach him he was beaming, and said. “Ain't this a greet pl ice. Four blokes ’as offered to ‘push in my dial' 'cos T wouldn’t let them up.” “Emily” is a most pronounced Cockney, and is the joke of the choir. All sorts of outings were arranged by the various hosts for the pleasure of their guests for the limited time the choir had at their disposal, and most of the- “sights” near Auckland were

visited. The Choir were the guests of Mr and Mrs Henry Brett on Tuesday afternoon, and spent a delightful time wandering about the beautiful garden and admiring the lovely view. Afternoon tea was served on the lawn, and after singing some part-songs, the Choir, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves, departed. About twenty members of the Victoria League were present, and helped to entertain the guests. The League is to lie congratulated upon the splendid arrangements made by them for billeting out the members of the ( hoir, and the ready response made by citizens. 181 being arranged for. Miss Mowbray, who is lion, secretary to the Victoria League, has had a most strenuous time for the past fortnight, and on Sunday, when the arrival of the Choir was so much delayed, spent the day at the telephone answering anxious inquiries-, but having the glori - ous gift of a cheerful disposition, she has come through the ordeal in triumph. Who says that the days of chivalry are over? Not so. One day as I was walking down Queen-street during the past week, judge of my surprise to see one of the “fruit hawkers” on one knee tying the shoe-lace of a charming-looking girl, much to the delight of his brother hawkers, who Would evidently give him a roasting later on. Afternoon Tea. Mrs. C. V. Houghton, of Gladstoneroad. Burnell. gave a large tea on Friday afternoon, which was most enjoyable. The drawing room and large square hall open into each other, and form a charming room.. Mrs. Houghton stood just within the hall, and received her guests, who then passed on into the other rooms and on to the verandahs. Tea was laid in the dining-room. The tea table looked lovely, with dainty trails of autumn foliage. with touches of yellow and red. A novel effect was produced by the vases being higher at one eifd. The whole effect was most artist id. A delicious tea was handed round by a bevy of girl

friends, among whom were the Misses Kissling, Devore. Florence Walker, Kenderdine and Kathleen Holmes., Our hostess wore a lovely amethyst charmeuse frock with a tunic of netted silk fringe to just below the hips, the loose ends then hanging to the edge of the skirt, and a guimpe of gold net embroidery; Eady Lockhart wore a smart frock of tan cloth with artistic embroideries and a pretty toque to match; Mrs. Lucas Bloomfield wore a tailored suit of dark grey, beautifully braided, and a lovely

hat of Royal blue ehip swathed with cerise tulle ami massed with shaded cerise Howers; Mrs. Mitehell (England) wore a pretty shade of turquoise blue cloth, a lovely hat of smooth silk beaver in the same tone, lined with black, and some lovely feathers on it: Mrs. 11. O. Nolan wore a velvet frock in a deep shade of turquoise blue with a guimpe of gold not and lovely embroidery, a large black hat and lovely furs completed a charming toilette; Miss Dorothy Nolan looked nice in a pretty shade of amethyst ami lovely white furs; Mrs. G. Roberts wore black cloth coat and skirt with facings of black braid on white cloth, and a black hat: Mrs. Grant wore a pretty blue velvet frock and a large bat of blue lined with black; Mrs. Sweet wore a blaek velvet coat and skirt with black silk braid, a brown fur toque muff and stole; Mrs. Leo Myers wore black with a superb long musquash eoat trimmed with fur. large black picture hat; Mrs Drummond Ferguson wore grey velvet eoat and: skirt, and a pretty grey hat with shaded blue feathers; Mrs E. D. O’Rorke wore cream cloth coat and skirt, and a pretty amethyst flame velvet toque: Mrs Seymour Thorne-George wore a black cloth coat ami skirt, and a lovely blaek and gold toque; Mrs Fred Waller looked: charming in blue doth suit, with black braidings. and a blaek velvet toque swathed with white lace, and a pink rose at one side; Mrs John Reid, dark grey cloth eoat and skirt, and a black toque; Miss Jessie Reid, dark blue suit, and a smart blaek seal toque with wide band of coloured embroidery, seal stole: Mrs Herbert Kissling, dark brown doth coat and

skirt, with brown silk braidings, and a pretty blaek toque with band of sable fur. sable muff and stole: Airs Rankin Reedi wore a smart grey doth suit, and a black and white toque: Mrs Holmes wore a grey velvet coat ami skirt, and a smart blaek ami white hat: Miss Kathleen Holmes wore a pretty white doth coat and skirt, and a large black hat; Mrs Aubin wore a blue and gold striped ninon over silk, with large hat to match; Mrs Louisson looked well in a smart white cloth frock, with edgings of black velvet, a large black beaver hat. and black furs; Mrs.P. Lawrence, dark blue coat and skirt, and a large black charmouse hat with ospreys; Mrs Colegrove wore blaek velvet, and a black toque with a touch of jet; Mrs Derry, bljick charmeuse coat and skirt, made with sailor collar, and many rows of machine stitching, a dull black straw todue with large flat bow at the back of cerise straw; Mrs John Smith wore blaek velvet. and a black hat with feathers; Miss Ashton wore a-pretty shade of grey, and a blaek hat and black stole; Mrs Archdale Tavler wore dark blue, and a smart .hat; Mrs Shame looked nice in dark blue, ami a blaek velvet hat; Mrs Frasor wore a smart blaek toilette: Miss Edith Isaacs, a smart black velvet suit, and a large hat of cerise satin lined with blaek and trimmed with black feathers; Mrs Svdnev Nathan wore a blaek velvet coat ami skirt, with wide bands of silk braiding, and a lovely big blaek bat: Mrs Grierson. Miss Grierson. Mrs Mvers, Mrs and Miss Erson. Mrs C. Brown. Mrs Smith. Mrs and Misses Devore (2), Mrs Upfill, Mrs Clark, Mrs Edmunds. Mrs Beniamin. Mrs and ■Misses Lindsay (2). Mrs Arnold. Mrs G. Kent. Mrs Chatfield. Miss Prickett, Mrs Sholto Douglas and Miss Douglas, Mrs Whitney, Mrs Wilson, Mrs die Clive Lowe.

The New Order. A new order of things has been introduce.l into the Northern Club. On thO first and third Tuesday of each month! inembers may bring their women folk to dine with them. Needless to say, the innovation is welcomed by the said women folk, who are looking forward to the first of these parties, which takes place oh Tuesday, the 4th July.

Training College Exhibition. The Auckland Training College during the past week has been converted into >u| exhibition, and a very interesting om+, too. Each student prepared an exhibit to illustrate a lesson, and the result was in most cases very clever. There we rd some really clever models shown, from ;i beautifully furnished doll’s house to the Battle of Waterloo. A perfect suit of armour was made out of bits of tin, and even the humble ‘‘patty pans” were made use of in a perfectly adjusted pair of scales. Mr. Cottrill, the Science Master 1 , had some clever models in full working order. This room was most interesting. Another room was filled with very, clever drawings done by school children! in Leeds, kiddies of eleven or so, and

mostly Jewish children. Much of the work was wonderfully good. Each evening lectures were given. The most interesting ones were those of Mr. T. W. Leys, Mr. Mulgan, and Mr. Milnes. The latter gave a most amusing paper ou. “Schoolroom Humour.” Impromptu Dance. Quite one of the pleasantest little dances of the season was that given oil Friday, June 30, by a number of young folk in the Devonport Parish Hall. The night was fine for this time of the year, and the invigorating atmosphere had a great deal to do with the spirit that was infused into the dancing. The committee were: Messrs G. Ansenne, E. Napier, J. Graham, and F. R. Foster. The chaperons were: Mesdames Napier, Jo<* Ansenne, Sinclair, and Foster. Personal. Mrs. Carr and Miss Carr, Mr. and Mrs. T. Cotter, Misses Cotter and Mr. Harold Cotter are some of the lucky folk who will be in Delhi to witness the Durbar. Mr. and Mrs. E. D. O’Rorke and their family intend leaving Auckland in a few months’ time for an indefinite sojourn in the Old Country. Their absence will leave a big blank in social and sporting circles. Mrs. T. Cotter and Miss Milly Cotter, who have been on a visit to Sydney, returned in the Maheno on Monday. Mrs Garlick and her son left Auckland by the Maheno for Sydney to join the Orsova, which leaves for England on July 8.

PHYLLIS BROUN.