SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1725, 16 April 1913, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Wedding at Marton. On Wednesday, April 9th, the marriage took place in the Upper Tutaenui Church of Miss Ruby Johnston only daughter ,of Sir. and Mrs. J. C. Johnston, "Willowbrook," Marton, and Mr. Joseph Pickering, third Son of Mrs. Pickering, of Wanganui. The llev. A. Porter conducted the service. The bride, - who was given away by her father, wore a gown of ivory charmeuso. draped with laco and pearls aud a veil and wreath of orango blossoms. She carried a bouquet of white flowers. Tho chief bridesmaid, Miss Jenkins, wore cream silk voile, with guipure lace, and black hat with ostrich 'feather, and a handsome bouquet. Misses Mary, Molly, and Nancy Griften, cousins of the bride, were in cream silk dresses, each carrying baskets of flowers. Tho bridegroom was attended by his brother, Mr. F. Pickering, as best man. and Mr. J, • Johnston, brother of the bride, as groomsman. Tho bridegroom's present to the bride was a gold bangle set with emeralds and diamonds. To the chief bridesmaid was given a gold cablo bangle, the three little maids each receiving a gold pendant and brooch. The bride's mother ivore black colienno, with white, and a large black hat with plumes. The bridegroom's mother wore a saxe blue costume and black hat. v Among those present at tho corcmony were Mrs. Neil, grandmother of tho bridegroom, in her BGth year; Mrs. Johnston, grandmother of tne i bride, in her '85th year; ami Mrs. Tinning, great aunt of tho bride, in her 85th year. Visitors from all parts of the Dominion were present, and numbered over 200. They were entertained at thri bride's parents' residence at "Willowbank," where a most enjoyable, afternoon was spent. The presents were numerous and , costly and included a number of cheques. Tho bride's travelling dtess was a navy blue tailormade costume, with a- pretty black picture liat with ostrich plumes.

Mr., Mrs., nnd the Missos A'Deano fTakapau, Hnwke'g Bay) nro staying at tho Lrapiro Hotel. Mrs. W. Bidwill (Rototawni) is visiting Wellington. . Mrs. Mace. "Brammertoiij" Masterton, is a visitor to Wellington. Mr. and Mrs. J. Perry (Makuri) are in town. Miss Beetham (Brancepeth, Masterton), is visiting Wellington. Mr. John MacMillan, of tho Shaw, Savill, and Albion Co./ entertained about 50 guests at luncheon yesterday. Mr. MacMillan haß been in New Zealand for some months past on a tour of inspection, and is returning Homo by the Tainul, which sails for London, via ports, on Thursday next. Among; those present were: Mr. and Mrs.' Pearce, Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, Mr. and Mrs. Shirtcliffe, Mr. and Mrs. H. Miles, and Mr. W. G. Foster. Miss D. M'Grath and Miss G. O'Flaherty returned from Napier yesterday, after attending tho triennial movablo meeting of the H.A.C.B. Society.

The Citizens' Ball. Tho very-much-talked-of citizens' ball, given in honour of Captain Halscy and the officers of IT.M.S. New Zealand, took placo in the Town Hall last evening, and was a very largely-attended affair. Probably at no oilier event of the kind, not at any rate for some years, has there been such a riot of vivid colouring, and tho effect upon entering the hall was ono of extreme .brilliance, and undoubtedly added a stimulus to the pleasurable anticipations of the evening, lied, blue, and whito were the prevailing colours used in the draping of the large hall, tho dome, which hid the ceiling from view, and which is now so familiar a feature of tho Town Hall decorations, being of draping! in these three colours, intermingled with electric lights and ropes of lycopodsurn and red flowers,' while festoons of the same colours were draped round the outside of tho galler.v. Tho space underneath was converted into alcoves carpeted and comfortably furnished' for sitting out, and (he end of the hall, screened by a huge, mirror which faced tho stage, offered great attractions as 'a, resting-place for restful moments. Miss) Prebblo, who was responsible for tho whole of tho decorations, was jtorticulprly successful itith the stage, always a uiflicnlt subject for treatment. The organ was practically hidden from sight by a perfect bower of foliage and tree-ferns, in tlio midst of which rose whito pillars wreathed with lvcopodium and red flowers, crowned with ferns or masses . of hydrangeas. Tiny electric lights added brilliant touch, nnd on tho red-covered steps which fronted tho stage were massed quantities of pink and blue hydrangeas aud red salvias, interleaved with lycopodium. A relieving efi'cct was added by a Grecian-looking summer house, under which was seated tho band. The entrance hall and staircase had also been Effectively .decorated, ' Wie foliage with ivhich the latter was banked having n most delightful bush scent noticeablo some distanco away from it. '

Supper was served in the Concort Chamber, and hero tho decorations wero extremely effective. The samo colours prevailed—draping of red, blue and white having been hung about the room and tho stage liaving been turned into. a forest of fern-trees and foliage. Tho tables were most artistically arranged by Mt. J. Godber, who was responsible for the supper arrangements. End cactus dahlias and autumn-tinted foliage formed the floral decorations, the huge silver epergno on the central table and the silver bowls at either end being extremely ornamental. Bed ribbbn streamers and scarlet bonbons with' miniature man-o'-warsmen on the outside still further accentuated' the colour scheme, while, in Keeping with tho occasion, wero miniature Dreadnoughts and tiny lifebuoys made of sugar, and destined to disappear tho way of sill pleas? ant things. Even tho simplicity of the hams ahd tlio tongues liml to make way for small Dreadnoughts and lifeboats with davits' on the top of tlicm. - . Among thoso present at tho ball wero Mrs. Massey, who wore black laco with Oriental embroidery; Mi's. Algar Williams, who was in green brocade draped over an uudcrclrcss of white lace; Mrs. W. Bidwill, who was in old rose brocado with lace; Mrs. J. Hughes, in deep blue satin with an overdress of embroidered netf Mrs. Handyside, in violet brocado drapea over tin uaderdress of silver laco, the bodico also being swathed with the samo kiud of laco; Mrs. Cecil Palmer, white satin with overdress of Royal blue ninon; Dr. Platts-Mills. blue and gold embroidered satin, draped over gold tissue; Mrs. Williamson (Pnlmerston North), crimson and gold brocade, tho bodice being relieved with cream lace; Mrs. Godlcy, white 6atin, with heavy gold embroideries; Mrs. Mathew Holmes, yellow brocs.do over an Underskirt of gold-beaded ninon; Mrs. Heard, white brocado 'vith gold and jewelled embroideries; Mrs. J. r. Luke, black satin and jet; Mrs. Harold Johnston, old. rose brocade; . Mrs. Shirtcliffe, black nino'ft over white; Mrs. J. H. N! A.,'Burnes, .black satin, ."partly., veiled with cream lace,, with overdress of black niritm; Mrs. Herdman, cream lace, with overdress of black ninon, inset with laco; Mrs. F. M. B. Fisher, black charmeuse with white lace and Oriental embroidery oil the bodice; Mrs. Morton, pink satin veiled with pink ninon; Mrs. RankineBrown, white satin with crystal trimming; Mrs. Fell, black satin with cream lace, veiled with black ninon; Mrs. Arthur Duncan, dull-bluo oharmeuse with overdress of bluo ninon, bordered with silver laco.

Airs. j. Mackenzie, black frock With whito lace scarf; Miss Mackenzie, white satin; Mrs. E. Riddiford, blue frock with a mauve sash; Mrs. .1. Dykes, white brocado frock with bodico trimmed wifli laco and pink and blue chiffon; Lady Stout, palest mauvo brocade, with bodico trimmed with cream laco and touches of deep amethyst; Miss Reynolds, black-beaded ninon veiling, black isatin; Dr. Elizabeth Uiinn, amber satin veiled with grey ninon; Miss Duncan, pink charmeuse veiled with grey ninon; Miss Russpll, white satin, with laco overdress and pink sash; Miss Mary Jones, silver tissue, veiled with whito ninon; Miss Scddon, black velvet; Mrs. Dymock,, palest blue charmeuse and cream lace; Mrs. Corrigan, lloral ninon; Mrs. Purdy, ' whito brocade and lace with diamond ornaments) Mrs. Garland, dove grey; Mrs. K. Duncan, crimson and gold brocado; Mrs. J. R. Gray, pink charmeuse; Miss Didsbury, white charmeuso veiled with jialest amethyst, ninon; Miss BeCtham (Wairarapa), pink satin with panels of deeper pink Einon and touches of blue; Mrs. IT. Ward, white satin with overdress of heavily-embroidered black ninon; Mrs. Brandon, green brocade; Mrs. W. Turnbull, oyster-grey brocado; Miss Poarco, white satin, with overdress of,black ninon and lace.

Miss H. Miles, cream lace over pink, with touchos of deeper pink; Mrs. North, pink' satin; Mrs. V. Riddiford, scarlet satin with ninon overdress; Miss Elsme Ward, emerald green ninon and jewelled embroidery; Mrs. King, black-frock; Miss Huia Bulkley, white satin with blue ninon overdress; Mrs. Knight (Englnnd), black satin; Miss M. D. Richmond, black lace with touches of white, veiled with ninon; Miss Elder, grey ninon; Miss H. Elder, pink frock; Miss Dora Wilson,' reseda green. charmeuse; Mrs. Roid, pink charmeuse with lace and touches of cerise; Miss Reid, white, cliarmeuso; Miss M. Fell, white satin; Miss Hislop, emerald green over white;, Miss Kirkcaldie; black ninon and lace over white satin; Mrs. I'inch, deep amethyst ninon over blue charmeuse; Mus. Sexton, black satin and jet; Miss Sexton, white charmeuse; Miss I'earce, white charmeuse; Miss Wilberfoss, pink satin; Miss Booth, whito satin with gold-embroidered lace; Miss Luke, pale mauve ninon lrock; Miss liolleston, pink satin f with, touches of amothyst; Miss Walfton, black ninon with diamante trimming; |Mrs. (')'S'hea, roso du Barry sal in with crystal trimming; Mrs. Wallace, black with touches of white; Miss I). Shirtclifl'o, pink frock; Miss Nathan, pink floral taffetas; Miss Davidson, black and white frock; Miss Williamson, pink charmeuse; Mrs. 'A. Levy, gold brocade and laco with sablo trimming; Miss G. Levy, tangerino satin with overdress of net and fringe. One. of the most enjoyable danfces on tho programme, and certainly one of the most picturesque, was .the Highland schotfcischc. played shortly after ten. by tho Pipe Band.