WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 13, 27 March 1912, Page 64

WELLINGTON.

March 23.

Changes. Polities loom largely in the public mind, and there is much excitement. His Excellency the Governor has arrived from Auckland, and will be here for a few days. Government members and their wives are in town from all parts of New Zealand. At Awarua House great preparations are being made for a move, a difficult task, as it has been the home of Sir Joseph and Lady Ward for somewhere about ten years. Under Lady Ward's regime there has been a great deal of entertaining, and Awarua House has a reputation for hospitality that is rot bounded by political considerations. It is probable that after leaving Awarua House Sir Joseph and Lady Ward will go South for a time, and spend the three months before Parliament reassembles in resting after the turmoil.

Old Girls’ Association. The annual At Home of the Wellington College Gid Girls’ Association was held with much success at the College on Saturday afternoon. After a. little formal business in the way of electing a committee and a new secretary in the place of Miss Holm, whose resignation is regretted, came afternoon tea and an entertaining little programme. School Colours carried out in yellow sunflowers With dark centres decorated the tea tables, and all the arrang ments were well carried out. Miss M;-.'an, headmistress of the College, woi pale grey erepe de chine, embroidered in grey, and * grey picture hat; Miss Holm, blue ▼oile with a paisley pattern, blaek hat with blue berries; Miss Newman, black and white striped ninon, and a black Kat; Miss Flux, dark blue tailor-made, and a blue hat; Mrs Bradley, blaek and white striped taffetas, with black soutache, and a blaek hat; Miss Eeelesfleld, navy ’tweed coat and skirt, green hat with blue wings: Miss Ballinger, a ninon dress with lace yoke, tagel hat with tiny flowers; Miss Wilson, white lingerie dress and rustic hat: Miss Richardson, grey voile, and floral hat. Pretty and Popular. Much interest attached to the departure of Miss Rita Simpson, "ho is one of Wellington's prettiest and mst popular girls, and is to be ma' d to Mr Hobson, in London, in two n iths’time. Mr R. M. Simpson takes hi- daughter to the Old Country, and Miss Elsie Simpson, who goes, too, will be her sister's bridesmaid. Miss Hilda Miles, who !» now in South America, on her way toEngland, will also be one of the bridesmaids. A number of farewell teas have been given for Miss Simpson, among the hostesses being: Miss Miles, Miss Watson, Miss Ewen, and Mrs Whyte. Miss Simpson wore saxe blue shantung, with 1 raided rovers, and a blue hat with black wings; Miss Watson, a mole grey souple doth braided in mole, blaek and white plumed hat; Miss Miles, pastel messaline. with soutache of the same shade, an<l a net guimpe; Miss E. Simpson, blue eolienne, with embroidered lawn collar and cuffs; Mi-s Ewen, pale blue shantung anil blue and white hat. Mr Simpson s house on the Terrace has been taken by Mr and Mrs Stewart, from Napier. Mrs Simpson intends to spend the winter in Sydney, and Miss Margaret Simps after a visit to her sister, Mrs A. Young, will travel about. Many Passengers. When the lonic left the wharf for London there was an animated scene. So many will known passengers were on board that a crowd assembled tn make their farewells, ami at times R was difficnlt to move. There wore many people to see ~(1 Mr and Mrs Berries, and •Wryone hopes the long sea journey and London advice will restore Mrs Berries to health. Mr Berries hopes to lie back

in New Zealand when Parliament is in swing again. A large contingent of Christchurch people were on board the lonic, among them being Mr and Mrs Ell worthy and their children. Mrs Ellworthy's sister, Miss Ada Julius, is travelling with them. Then Colonel and Mrs Goring (Hawke’s Bay) were also passengers, and intend re-visiting the Old Country after many years’ absence. Among people returning to England after a few months’ visit to the Dominion are Mr and Mrs 11. H. Bridge and their small son and Mrs Jones, and Mr Moore Brown. The two latter have been most of their time at Rotorua and Taupo, where Mr Moore Brown has been fishing. They have visited New Zealand several times for the same purpose. Dr. and Mrs Elliott left by the same steamer for their holiday trip Home. Mr and Mrs Coghill-Peacock and their family travelled by the lonic, and with them went Miss Margaret Knox, who had a great many friends to wish her bon voyage.

An Important Infant. Anything to do with the Seafield family is of interest to New Zealand, as it was in this Dominion the present 'Earl was born and he did not leave it until after his marriage to a daughter of the late Dr. Townsend, of Christchurch. Lord and Lady Seafield have an only child, a girl of eight, who, it is said on good authority, may succeed to the title in her own right, as the Earldom of Seafield is one of the few which can descend in the female line. The nearest male heir is the Hon. Trevor Ogilvie-Grant, who is living at Karori, near Wellington, and to him and his wife (formerly Miss Hardy-Johnston, of Christchurch) a little son has just been born. The Barony of Strathspey, also a Seafield title, will descend to him and, of course, to his small son, who is therefore perhaps the most important infant in New Zealand at the present time. The mother of the present Earl, with her daughters, left Oamaru a good many years ago, and they have since been living in England. Personal.

Mrs. de Castro’s tea was in honoiir of Miss L. Turnbull, whose marriage takes place before long. Purple asters and coreopsis decorated the rooms, and music and recitations helped to amuse the guests. Mrs. de Castro wore saxe blue soutaehe with narrow Russia braid, and a transparent yoke; Miss Turnbull, a pale grey souple doth, and a black bat with wings. Mrs. and Miss Seddon, who have been away nearly a year for a trip to England, returned to Wellington on Wednesday with Mr. Tom Seddon, who met them in Sydney. Mrs. Aforiee (West Coast) and Mrs. Bean (Christchurch) were in Wellington when they arrived. Invitations are out for the marriage of Miss Bessie Fitzgerald and Mr. Ward, which is to take place at -St. Paul’s proCathedral on April 15th. Miss Dolly Webb, who is to be one of the bridesmaids, has come over from Nelson and is at present staying with Mrs. Menzies, Thorndon Quay. A slight postponement has been made in the date of the marriage between Miss Phyllis Riddiford (who is a daughter of the late Mr. E. J. Riddiford) and the Rev. Leonard Sedgwick. The ceremony is now arranged for April 24, and Mr. Sedgwick, who has a living in Wiltshire, is at present on his way from England, to which he will return with his bride. Miss Riddiford's sister, Mrs. Michael Lindsay, is expected from India in time for the wedding. Mrs. W. Pharazyn returns to England by the Moldavia, and Miss Ethel Wilson, Palmerston North, accompanies her. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Clifford and the Misses Clifford are off to England again quite soon, and have taken passage by the Malwa. The Athenic, which leavee for England next month, is already a full ship. Dr. and Mrs. Anson hare let their house at the Hutt ami are going to England to see Dr. Anson's mother, who lives at Windsor, where her husband was a canon for a period of forty years. Mr. Hugo Anson accompanies them, but his elder brother is already in England at one of the great universities.