SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1535, 3 September 1912, Page 3

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

An "Ai Home." Yesterday afternoon a very largely attended "at home" was given by the Prime Minister and Mrs. Masssy in the Art Gallery in Whitraore Street. Most beautiful flowers had been used in the decoration of the larger room, the dais at one end being banked with plants of flowering azaleas, cinerarias, cyclamen, and bowls and stands of wattle, violets, and spring flow.ers of all descriptions. Tall vases of lilies and palms, with further quantities" of wattle, which contrasted vividJy with the green carpet on the floor, were placed about the room, while the small tables for tea were also arranged with spring flowers. A band played during the greater part of the afternoon.

His Excellency the Governor, attended by Captain Estcoiirt, A.D.C., arrived during the afternoon, and was present for some time. With him came Mr. and Mrs. . Guise. \ Mrs. Mnssey, who was assisted in receiving the guests by Mr. Massoy, wore a dark cinnamon - coloured - gown trimmed ■ with cream lace and net and a large black 'hat with black plumes. Miss- Masstsy v;?.s in a cream embroidered frock and white hat trimmed with blue. 'Among ' tho=e present were Mrs. Godley, wearing a dark .sapnhirecoloured frock, with heavy Orient! , ! embroideries and a black hat "with black and J)lue plumes'; Mrs. Guise, black and v;li.ito striped costume-and black and white hat; Mrs. Xewman, : blue coat and skirt and black hat with grey-black ostrich plumes; Mrs. Bolleston, black cashmere de soie with furs and a black hat; Mrs. Menzies, black and a violet toque; Mrs. Herdmun, blnct costume and a black to(|iu>; Mrs. A. L. Herdman; dark saxe blue velvet frock, furs, and .'a. blue velvet toque with shaded flowers; Miss , Fraser, blue costume and black and white hat with white wings. Mrs. Fisher; dark navy blue costume and large white hat. with tiny pink rees , ; Mrs;-Poplare, navy blue coat and skirt and large liat with shaded flowers; Miss Allen, cream costume, arid large black and white ha-t; Mrs. Trinn, dren amethyst costume-and amethyst net; Mrs. Stathani; ?r?y ninon frock and la.r» ; ? hat with apri-cot-coloured roses;. Mrs'. , ■ Hine, black coat and skirt and black hat with autumn foliage; Miss Hine, • navy bliio cosjum? and black ;beaver hat; Mrs. MacEwnn, black' costume and black.plumed hat; J ady Mard, black velvet costume, fraiine furs, and black hat with whits ostrich plumes; Mrs. C. Earle, navy blue coat' and skirt and grey hat; Mrs. Ahjar Williams, in black and "black hut with touches ■of white. There, were also to be seen the Bishop of Wellington, Dr. Sprott, thf Hon. James Allen, the Hon. H. D. Bell, Mr. John Duthie, Mrs. Bamrn, Mrs. Chatfield, Mrs. J. D. Grey, .the Hon. ■Tames Millar and Mi.-s Kathleen Millar, the Hon. Dr. Pomare, the Hon. W. Fraser, Mr. Guthrie, M.P., and Mrs. Guthrie, Mr. Malcolm. M.P., the Hon.'F. M. B. Fisher, the Hon. A. 1. Herdman, Mrs. Wilford.

Mrs. Collins, Miss Johnston, Mr. Iline, M.P.. Mr Wilson, M.P., and Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Scott, M.P., and Mrs; Scott, Sir Arthur Guinness, Lady Guinness, and Miss Guinness. Mr. Sidey, M.P., and Mrs. Sidey, the Hon. E. Loughnan, M.L.C., au<l Mrs. Loughntm, Mrs. Fon-onby, Mrs. T. Ward, Mrs'. Atkins. Mrs. Henry. Mrs. and Mifs M'Gregor, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Wright, Mrs. and Miss Davis, Mrs. and Miss Rpaton, Mrs. M. C. Keane, Mrs. John Blundell, Mr. Harris. M.P., Miss Lukin, Miss Fanconrt, Mr. Statham, M.P. r Mrs. Patrick, Mrs. Anderson,. Mrs\ Martin, and Miss Mart-n, .Mrs. Darlinar. Mrs. Coleridge, tbe Mioses Nathan (2), Mrs. and Mif* E. Xewraan. Miss Eeynolds, Mrs. and Miss de Castro, Mrs. and Miss Holmes, Mrs. Hales, Mr. Jlawlor, M.P.. Mr. Buick,M.P., nnd Mrs. Buick, the Hon.-Mr. J.ouisson, M.L.C., anri Mrs. Sir Joseph Ward, Mrs. and Miss Wylie, Mrs. Ewen. Hie Misses Hardins (2). Mr. Bollard, M.P.. the Hon. Captain Baillie, M.L.C., and Mrs. Baillie, Mrs Balcombe Brown, Mrs. Pollock, Mrs. and Miss ShirtdifTe, Mrs. Wolf, Mrs. and Miss Hayward, Mrs. Tringham, and many others.

Women's Reform League. A largely attended meeting of the Women's KeiOTUi League was held in the Wellington Hall last evening. Mrs. Newman, (president) occupied the chair. It was decided that a conference of delegates from the various districts should be held in November, and that on that account the' next social of the league should be postponed till it eventuated, so that visiting members of these branches would be able to attend it. Mr. Young gave an address upoa the drawbacks which fettlers in the back-blocks had hitherto been enduring. According to his statement, the Maoris were principally the big landowners, and owned air the uncultivated land, but when a European took up land he had to cultivate it to cam a living. Hβ also pointed out the evils resiiltinjf from the present land balloting system, and said that it was~one of the causes of the, loss of the best class of young men that the country had possessed, for they went to other countries in search of land to settle upon. There was, for instance, the case of the young man who wont in for ii section. It took liirii twelve months to erect a house, which was only mado (f split timber. He paid rent on the cost of the land, the surveying an.d roadirig, and often rent was paid for Toads which he. had not got near his properly at all. In cne distriot alone JJ4OOO was paid for ioads, but nothing had yet been spent there. Goods had to be taker, by pack horses, as there were no roads, and it was sometimes from three to five years before land of that description'could be ploughed. In very rough country it was a.n impossibility to take milk to the creamery so home separators were used, and the cream carried sometimes . about twenty miles to the factory. Women had to undergo fearful hardships and often did men's work. Ono ot the greatest trials was that of sickness, and the sending'of nurses to these back'districts would prove cne of. the greatest of-boons. The Weikato Hospital was training girls, <\nd in return the promise was exacted tlmt they shall give two.years' service to the back-blocks. Children often have had to go to school in tents and rough eheds, and naturally the attendance in rough weather was .bad. The development of thfsi? districts meant increased good to the community, at large. Agricultural development meant increased productive output, which wan the national wealth of the country.

At the ronolution of the address, 'Mr*. Xewnian proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was carried with aeclnir.tttiou. Twelve net members were elected to the league.

Garrison Officers' Ball. '■I'lie officers of the Wcllincton tiurri'cn held their annual ball in" thy Sydney Street .Schoolroom last evening, mid, as usual, the decoration* were ime.of the outstanding leal uses ol' the ownl. Pretty pink shades over the light, 'shed » solt glow over the rojnis, in keeping with the pink and wliiW fetoons which dianed the walls, and willi the pink pajwr roses which starred thick ropes ofMycopodiuiu caij-icd diagonally acros- the ceiling. The warlike note which was hardly suggested by this delicate colouring wa< introduced by the lance-pennants arranged in geometrical deigns upon Ihe walls, and by the sight of the stage, converted by a touch of imagination, into a fort. A rampart of sand-bags fronted the stage, and over them faced the. threatening inuzzles of the two mule guns (newly imported from Home), while :\ realistic fact of camp life was the sight of the "dixie" in the very front oi' tlu> stage. Overhead "waved"' the Union Jack, and stacked against the wall were several folded tents. The rest of the stage was purely for ornament, and ease. All_ the side-rooms were furnished as drawing-rooms, and supper was served in the gymnasium, which had been decorated with a canopy of blue and white streamers surmounted with a huge Oriental sunshade. The tables had been very prettily arranged with scarlet rhododendrons, anemones, violets, and other spring ilowcrs.

His Excellency the Governor, attended by Captain Jjstcourt, A.D.C., arrived about half-past nine, and the official set was at once formed. Taking part in it were his Excellency and Mrs. Godley, Colonel Campbell and Miss Allen, Colonel J. R. Purely, X.Z.M.C., and Mrs. Campbell, Colonel Collins and Mrs. Guise, the Hon. James Allen (Minister for Defence) and Mrs. Heard, Colonel Mason, N.Z.M.C, and Mrs. F. SI. B. Fisher, Mr. Guise and Mrs. Collins, Lieut.-Colonel Knus and Mrs. Wolf. '

Mrs. Godley ivore a gown of palest grey pa tin, trimmed with jewelled net and embroideries; -Mrs. Campbell Has in amber satin, with cream lace overdress; Mrs. Collins in black satin and lace, with a cluster of red roses; Jlrs. Guise, panelled dress of soft white satin; Mrs. Heard, white brocade, with heavy gold embroideries; Jlrs. Fisher, white satin, with an overdress of ninon and lace fichu; Mrs. \\ olf, gt-eeri satin, with overdress of black net und jewelled embroideries; Miss Allen, white chaniieuse, with ninon' overdress and crystal embroideries.

There were also present :—Mrs. Pomare, wearing black satiu with panels of silverembroidered lace and a cluster of rata flowers in her hair'; Mrs. Hughes, black satin and jet;. Miss Tumor, whito satin with lace; Mrs. Mason, deep blue satin with net and handsome embroideries, Mrs. Kose,. black lace, pipad with bliio, over a pale shade of satin; Miss Collins, white satin with overdress of jewelled net, Mrs. J. P. Brandon, black satin with point lace bertha; Miss Hay ward, blui? Ninon over deep cream satin; Miss Ratlibone, pale blue charnieu-e with silver embroideries; Mrs. Mackenzie, cream

satin with overdress of cream lace and jewelled embroidery; Miss d'Oyly, flamecoloured ninon; Miss Rine, wluto char-meu.-p with lace and fringe trimming; Miss Buick, lcnioa-colrmrcd . channelise wifh cream lace; Miss Brandon, deep rnse-pink ninon over gr?y charmens , .! ; Miss Itortun, pain .'blue chnrmoujc with silver trimming; Miss Marks ■ whife , satin; , Mrs. Dykes, violet satin with amethyst ninon tunic; Mrs. Cooper, cream satin; Mrs. C. E. Wyett, cream satin and lace; >li--i. Buddie, cream lace frock; Mrs. do Latour, black charmeu.se; Mis.s Harvey, block velvet and cream lace; Miss Shirtcliffe, grey ninon and silver embroidery; Miss H. 'Bulkier, ■ white channelise with ninon overdress; Miss Burnett, blown satin; Miss Sea'.oa, white satin with tunic of apricot ninon bordered with lace; Mrs. Shirtcliffe, black satin; Mrs. Seatoii, black satin and jot embroideries; Miss Stevens, white i-harmeiise; Miss Otterson, floral-ninon; Miss" Pilcher, doop saxcblue frock. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher and tho Hon. Dr. Pomare were present, and some members of Parliament—Mr. Ilinc (Stratford) and Mr. Buick (Falmerston).

Tha death occurred at Karaka Bay on Sundav of Mrs. J'risciUa De Hose, relict of the late Mr. F. I?. De Rose, an old resident of Wellington. The deceased lady was 73 years of age. , The Countess de- Cisneros, accompanied by Count -de Cisneros, arrived in Auckland from Sydney by the Zealandia on Friday last. " They are visiting Kotorua, and will return to Auckland at the end of the week. Mi»s Ellen Von Meyern, a well-known Auckland artist, died there on Friday, last in a private hospital, after nn operation for appendicitis. The deceased had n lar"e circle of friends locally; and her paintings-have been exhibited in various parts of New Zealand., One of her principal works 'was a fine portrait of the Pope, which was exhibited this year; and anions other portraits painted b\- her was one of Captain Amundsen. She was a regular contributor of small oils to tlie local art exhibition. For some years Mi.-s Von Mf.yci-11 was a resident of Wellington. Miss Mander, daughter of Mr. Man.ler, M.P., arrived from the south on Sunday, and is staying at the Occidental Hotel till Wednesday, when she goes north. I Miss Lorimer (Kelson) is in town. Mrs. Green (Nelson) and Miss Mackay, who havo been spending tlio past week in town, left yesterday on a visit to Wαnganui. Mrs. Maunsell (Tenui) is visiting Wellington. .

Mrs. J. D. Grey leaves Wellington today on a visit to'Titahi Bay.