THE SOCIAL WORLD

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1574, 24 June 1920, Page 24

THE SOCIAL WORLD

Announcements of engagements and contributions of interest relating to weddings and social gatherings should be sent to Lady Editor, “Sporting- and Dramatic Review” Office, Auckland. In all cases the writer’s signature and address must be attached (not for publication). Photographs of wedding groups will be reproduced by arrangement.

Wagner said “Music is a Woman.”

Lady Lockhart has returned to Auckland after a holiday at Rotorua.

Mrs. F. M. B. Fisher, Wellington, and her daughter, left for England by the Port Nicholson.

Mr. and Mrs. O. Bunny, Masterton, are spending a holiday at Rotorua.

Mrs. J. R. Gibbons, of Wellington, has returned home after a seven months’ visit to Hobart.

Miss Quinton, of the Wellington Diocesan Office, who has been granted a year’s leave of absence, is on her way to England.

Mrs. M. Wilkin, Christchurch, left by the Marama for San Francisco on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. F. A. Dorn.

Mr. and Mrs. David Nathan have returned to Auckland after a visit to Rotorua, and have taken “Cintra” (Hon. Arthur Myers’ residence) for the winter months.

Mrs. J. A. Comrie and Miss Comrie, of Auckland, left by the lonic to visit Mr. L. J. Comrie, who is attending Cambridge University.

Mr. and Mrs. McVicar, Miramar, have returned to Wellington from a visit to Auckland and the northern districts.

. The engagement is announced of Miss Bertha Young, second daughter of the late Mr. R. O. Young and Mrs. Young, Epsom, Auckland, to Mr. Robert Hutchinson, of Hawera.

The engagement is announced of Miss Marnie Buckleton, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Buckleton, of Auckland, and now of Wellington, to Mr. G. Sharpe, of Sydney.

Mrs. John Hopkins, wife of Mr. Hopkins (director of the Dandies), who left Wellington last month on a visit to her parents in Glasgow, is held up in New York, with no prospects of obtaining steamer accommodation until August.

A handsome presentation of a hand-painted Doulton vase and a travelling clock was made recently to Mrs. J. Caselberg, of Masterton, who was treasurer and an active worker for the local Red Cross Society.

The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of the Auckland Civic League: —President, Mrs. A. Kidd; vice-presidents, Mesdames Geddes, Williamson, Ferner, and Miss Melville; hon. treasurer, Mrs. Ferner; hon. secretary, Miss Hardy; executive, Mesdames Mitchell, Brown, Dupree, W. Black, Mathias, Michaels, E. K. Black, Warnock, McLean, Ferner, and Miss Carr.

Mrs. W. B. Craig, Auckland, with her son and daughter, and Miss G. Fullerton, are now in London. Mrs. Craig’s chief reason for going to the United Kingdom is to see the grave of her son, Lieutenant A. C. Craig, R.A.F., who was killed in Scotland in February, 1919, while mountaineering on Ben Nevis. Miss Gwen Fullerton, only daughter of Dr. Fullerton, is going to school in Switzerland.

True motherhood is the greatest of all the creative arts; mothercraft, the most vital and complex of the sciences. Life has never received more than a tithe of that which Nature destined for it, owing to lack of mother-nurture. Genius has never fruited to full bloom and potence, because mothers have so seldom realised the greatness of their task.” —Arabella Kenealy.

A military wedding took place at St. George’s Church, Geelong, Australia, on May 26, when Miss Bertha Phillips, only daughter of the late Mr. J. G. Phillips, and Mrs. Phillips, of Geelong, was married to Mr. Stanley Bagnall, only son of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Bagnall, of Auckland. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. J. B. Rentoul, assisted by the Rev. J.

T. Lawton. The bride wore primrose georgette over satin, with a beautifully beaded over-dress and a train of charmeuse. Her veil was of primrose tulle. Miss M. Lowden and Miss B. McDonald were the bridesmaids. Captain A. Phillips was best man and Corporal Phillips was groomsman. Mr. and Mrs. Bagnall will make their future home at Turua, near Thames.

Wellington papers announce the engagement of Miss Isla Stewart, daughter of Mrs. Alex Stewart, Masterton, and late of the N.Z.A.N.S., to Mr. F. R. H. Brice, of Marton; also of Miss Katie Mackenzie, daughter of Professor H. Mackenzie, to Mr. T. D. H. Hall, of the Department of Agriculture, Wellington.

The ball given by the GovernorGeneral of Australia and Lady Helen Munro Ferguson in honour of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on the evening of his landing in Melbourne was a most brilliant function. Nearly 2000 guests were invited. There was a heavy fog outside, but fires burned brightly in the cloak and reception rooms. The frocking was magnificent. Jewels locked away for years were again worn, and gowns

in keeping were seen. ’ The scene was almost dazzling in its brilliance. Gowns of cloth of gold or cloth of silver gave shimmering sheath-like effects, others scintillated with beads thickly encrusted on ninon or tulle, and tiny jewels and iridescent minute sequins were worked up with gold or silver thread or floss silk, some of the hand work being exquisite. Tiny aigrettes made from curled tips made a charming headdress, and the long curled strands were at times seen as a fringe trimming on gowns. Jet bandeaux and clusters of osprey, and tissue flowers or leaves, were much in evidence as circlets for the head, and surpassing all were numbers of beautiful diamond tiaras.

At St. Saviour’s Church, Sydenham, on June 9, the marriage was celebrated of Miss Kathleen Muriel Anderson, only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Anderson, of Colombo Street, and Mr. Walcot Brett Wood, of Ranfurly Street, St. Albans. The Rev. W. P. Hughes officiated. The bride wore a lovely gown of white souple satin and crepe georgette, simply fashioned, and with a train of white brocade lined with georgette and finished with tassels falling from the shoulders. A tulle veil was worn with a circlet of orange blossoms. The bridesmaids were Misses Eileen Wilson, Miss Marian Wood, and Miss Jamieson. Dr. Colin Anderson was best man.

Miss Gertrude Courtney Dix has set Melbourne society by the heels (writes a correspondent in the “Sydney Sun”). There is no one in Victoria to-day, excepting perhaps the Prince of Wales, who is receiving so much public attention. Her dresses and doings have formed the subject of most animated conversation in all circles, but particularly in the small set known as Society. At quite an early stage of the festivities, Miss Courtney Dix confessed to eight dances with the Prince — and she wished to hurry to her father’s home in East Melbourne to dress for that night’s Federal Government House Ball. An Australian girl, Miss Dix is the only child of a well-known public accountant of Queen Street, and a great Red Cross worker. She does not “put on side” — even her social enemies say that of her. She regards the Prince as a very nice boy, and a lovely dancer. “It is true,” she said, “that I was never introduced to the Prince. I did not except t-o be. But it is equally true that we know each other now. It happened like this. I was at the first ball at Federal Government House, and my first close view of the Prince was when I was dancing with Captain Duggan. As soon as that dance was over the Prince came over to me and asked me to dance. We danced. We just suited each other. He is a beautiful dancer—he works the one-step and fox trot into everything. How many times? Let me see, it’s not so many times as I know people are saying. Let me count them up. Yes, we have had eight dances together—but I am going again to-night.” When the Prince first saw Miss Courtney Dix she was wearing a white tulle frock, fashioned with the new farthingale effect, the' extended hip line being defined with, small pink rose buds. She “came out” two years ago at a ball given, by Mrs. Ross Soden, of Grong Grong„ and of the Prince’s festivities she has only missed the State Government House dance and Thursday night’s Matron’s Ball at St. Kilda. The Prince has made it easy for her—she has been in everything, and her every movement has been watched with something approaching envy—a. convenient word —by Melbourne’s dowagers. She has even had a private view of the great battle-cruiser, H.M.S. Renown. “And Ihn having a ripping time,” declares the dancing; partner of Royalty.

Miss Gebbie, house secretary of the Palmerston North branch of the Y.W.C.A., has resigned her position owing to ill-health. The resignation was received at a meeting of the board of directors with expressions of regret, and as a mark of appreciation a presentation of a grey suede handbag was made to Miss Gebbie by the president (Mrs. L. A. Abraham) on behalf of the board. The position will be filled temporarily by Miss Beattie, of Christchurch. * * * * According to the Australian correspondent of “The Post,” the Prince of Wales had a very unpleasant experience at the Melbourne Town Hall. There was a Hospital Funds ball there, and all and sundry had been allowed to buy tickets. Too many people were present —many of them with no conception of good manners. The floor was so crowded with would-be dancers that practically no dancing could take place. Members of the committee tried to clear the floor a little. Then the Prince and a big official party arrived, and confusion became worse confounded. The dancers made a little space and the Prince led the Lady Mayoress out to dance. The people crowded around to that extent, staring and jostling, that the Prince and his partner were forced to stop. The crowd moved back somewhat, and again the Prince tried to dance. Again the unmannered men and women crushed forward, and the Prince, with every evidence of annoyance, led his partner from the floor. After a discussion, the official party moved towards the supper-room. Even then, they got through the jostling mass with the utmost dif--ficulty. While they were at supper, the crowd was appealed to to make room, and the committee was anxious to rope off a space, but the Prince would not allow that. The people, he was sure, would make room. He re-entered the ballroom with a young lady, and tried to dance. Again the people pressed on to the floor, and he had to stop. Sir Lionel Halsey mounted a dais and asked the gentlemen present to clear the floor —the dancers to dance and the onlookers to get back to the sides of the room. An attempt was made to do this. But only a few measures were danced before the implacable pressure from behind forced those in front out on to the floor again, and the Prince found himself and his partner hemmed in by the crowd, and stared at as if he were a zoological specimen. The Prince and official party left the Town Hall almost immediately.