SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1838, 26 August 1913, Page 2

SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.

Reoeptlon at the Plotisor Club. Members of tho Pioneor Gub who attended the reception which- was held at tho olub roomß yesterday afternoon in honour of Miss Mario Motto aad Miss* PhyJiia Fell had every reason to congratulate themselves upoii tho fact that they had not allowed the very unpleasant state of the weather to deter them from attending it. Thoy not only had tho plea-suro of meeting Miss Motto and her friend Miss Fell, but thoy Iliad tlio delight of listening to a. very fine violinist, who, in her turn, had tho good fortuno to bo associated with an uncommonly artistic accompanist in the person of Miss Fell. . Now and again, in tho past, Wellington has been stimulated* musically speaking, aftor thc< visit of somo practioally unknown and Unannounced musician (unknown at least out here) to find out afteii their departure, that it has had in its midst ait artist wlioso every note was a joy. It was thought that Mi*Motto might play, but mombers did not know _ all that was in storo for them dtiring tho afternoon■ Their guest was very generous. She played a "Romance" (Dvorak), Sarasate's "Spanish Dance," a Hungarian Danoe (Brahms), and Dvorak's "Indian Cazonetto." They wero played as one has soldoni or ever heard them played in 'Wellington. Also they wero very finely acoompanied by Miss Fell. Naturally. Miss .Motto's violin, the Sfcradivarius—("Tho about which _ so much has been heard was tho subject of almost revoront interest on tlio part of thoßo present, and it was not surprising that one member, remarked: "Who would boliovo that such nn insignificant-looking violin could produce such beautiful tones?" Another remarked that sho would l'atlior bo in charge of Winston Churchill's baby with tho about than- travel with such a treasure a.s the StratTivarius. Mrs. Atkinson-,-the' president of tho club, recoived'. Miss Motto woi'o a very graceful flowing goiVn of Baxo bluo figured crepe, and Miss Fell was in black charmeuso, with' gold embroidery veiled with black ninon. The vice-presidents, Lady Gibbes and Miss Kane, wero prosent, Mrs. Mackenzie and Miss Rotlienborg (mentbers'of tho committee), and various members of the club. Beautiful spring flowers decorated tho common room, and in the strangers' room, where tea was laid, tho tables wero arranged with bottls and vaises of freesias, deeply splashed and marked with orange or else with heliotrope. Thoy were quite a featufo of the decorations, and had beoli brought in from the Hutt by one of the mom bota.

Prlvato View of Water-colours. One of the mo&t interesting exhibitions of water-colours that has yet been held in Wellington was opened by her Excellency tho Countess of Liverpool yosterday afternoon in Messrs. Walter Turnbull's Art Gallery. They were tho work of Miss Frances Hodgkins, tho artist of whom Now Zealand has every reason to bo proud, and it is safe to say that much of her work Was a pleasant revelation to lovers of art in this city. Those who wero privileged to Bee her work yesterday will probably bo seen thero again and again before tho exhibition closes, and, from each visit, they will no doubt depart with some further insight into her ideals and methods. In a brief speech with which she opened tho exhibition, her Excellency expressed the pleasure that she had felt in viewing Miss Hodgkins's work, and she thought that people in New Zealand might well be proud of her, especially as she was tho first Now Zealand woman artist to' have her work hung in tho Royal Academy (England). Mr. G. Gore, tho president of tho Acadcmy of Fine Arts (Wellington), thanked, her Excellency, oii behalf of Miss HodgkinS, for having performed tho opening ceremony, and .also spoke of her father,.tho late Mr. W. M. llodgkins, president of. the Otago Art Society, and of what ho, had dono for art in those days. It is rather, interesting to know that Miss Hodgftins's work is bottor known in Paris than it is in England, all the more interesting by reason of tho fact that England is always a year or two behind Pariß in artistic movements and developments. In Great Britain, Miss Hodgkins has exhibited at the Now English Art Club, tho "International," the R-oyal Institute in London, and tho llojiJ Scottish Academy at Edinburgh, her work in every caSo receiving much favourable criticism.

Tho Countess of Liverpool, who was received by Miss Hodgkins op. lior nrri- ' val, wore a nattier blue velvet costume, | a small blue straw bat with a yellow ! wing, and black furs. Miss Hodgkins Wore a dark blue velvet costume, and a black velvet toque. Among those prosent Wore: Mrs. Massey, Miss Massey, Miss Frasor, Mrs. Field, Mrs. Chapman and Miss Chapman, Miss E. Richmond, Miss 3D. K. Richmond, Mrs. J. Tripe, Mrs. J. Hannah, Lady Findlay, Mrs. Turnbull, Miss Ilia Leo, Mrs. lioggard, 1 Miss L. Perry, Mrs. H. M. Goro, Mrs. L. H. R. Wilson, Mr! A. Hamilton and Miss Hamilton, Mrs. Reading, Miss Hardingo-Maltby, Mrs. Burnett, Miss Field, Mrs. Sinclair, and many others. Tho white walls of tho gallery formed in excellent foil for tho pictures, and tlio rich colouring observable in so much of Miss Hodgkins's work stood out admirably against tiliotu in consequence.

Lady Findlay has returned from her visit to Auckland, Miss Elsie Williams (Frimleyl) is visiting Wellington, and is the guest of Mrs. Vernon. Reed. Mrs. Bersch (Melbourne), who has beeii staying with her mother, Mrs. J. Williams, left on Monday for Aucklnnd, Where sho will meet her husbaiid on his rottirfi from Germany. She will return with him to Melbourne. Miss 01 ga LoVett, who has been staying in liawko's Bay, has returned to Bulls. ''

Mrs. Rolleston publishes on this pngo a cQpy of tho Diploma sho received from tho Dr. Rhodes School of Electrolysis. This documeut testifies to Mrs. Ro'llcrton'a Jirofloieney in romovlns oUjatfluous liair«*

Garrison Officers' Ball. Hie ball which was hold by tho officers of the Wellington Garrison last evening in tho Sydney Streot Schoolroom was a picturesque and very enjoyable event. Tho decorations were quite different from those of former yearSj a conspicuous featuro being the absence of all suggestions of a military kind, not oven itho sand-bags, or a solitary eun or two being visible. They Were, however, very light and pretty, ropes of lycopodium starred with crimson and white flowers being swung acroßS tho room and brandies of birch foliage intertwined with tho samo coloured fipwers decorating tho walls, upon which were arranged mirrors of various sizes and shapes. ■ Tho windows and : doors wore draped with curtains and the stage had been banked with flowers and palriis and comfortably furnished for onlookers. _ All tho sitting-out rooms were also furnished and decorated. Tho silpperroom was particularly effcctivo, having been carpeted with crimson felt and having all tho table decorations to match. Vases of spring flowers had been arranged upon the tables and sil* vol- candelabra with red Bliades were ornamented with a bodyguard of crimson bonbons. Lycopodium and birch decorated the walls and hero again were ropes of tho samo graceful creeper studded with flowers carried from corner to corner of tho ceiling. Mr. J. Godber was in charge of the supper arrangements. Punctually at nino o'clock their Excellencies the Governor and tho Countess of Liverpool arrived and immediately took their places in tho official set. It was formed by his Excellency and Miss Allen, the Countess of Liverpool and tho Hon. James Allen (Minister for Defence), Colonel Heard and Miss Massey, Colonel G. F. C. Campbell and Mrs. Mason, Colonel R. J. Collins and Miss Turner, Captain Hutton, A.D.C., and Mrs. Hoard, tho Hon. Dr. Collins and Mrs. G. F. C. Campbell, Colonel Mason and Mrs. R. J. Collins. Her Excellency wore a gown of grey charmeuso trimmed with gold embroidery over which was worn a _ short tunic of green ninon bordered, with gold-threaded embroidery. Tho bodice and' blcovcs were of cream net outlined with gold thread and sho wore a high diamond ornament on her hair. .MissMassoy tfas in white satin witli panniers of floral ninon caught un with roses and finished with a "deep" rose sasli; MiBS Allen, cream satin, witli draped tunio of lace and ninon; Mrs. G. F. C. Campbell, white satin, with a draped overdress of gold embroidered roso oropo; Mrs. Heard, blue charmcuso and gold embroideries, with overdress of blue floral ninion, and pink roses at tho waist; Mrs. Mason, wliito satin bordered with black, and a ninon overdress trimmed with laco; Mrs. R. J. Collins grey satin, with an overdress of black ninon, on which wero worked pointed panels of heavy beaded embroidery;--Miss Turner, bluo cliarmeuse, with touches of violet. Among others present wero: Mrs. Hughes, wearing royal bluo charmouso, veiled with ninon, ajid trimmed with white laco; Mrs. Sullivan, deep roso satin with jewelled ninon overdress, trimmed with lace; Mrs. Cowles, deep roso clia'rmeuse; Mrs. P. Brandon, blue satin, with, a ninon- and lace overdress; Mrs. Corrigan, palo blue silk, with all overdress of cream laco; Mrs. Rawdon ■Booto, white silk and laxje; Mrs. Simonsj wliito silk; Miss Brandon, yellow oharmeuso, with overdress of laco; Miiss P/earce, white laco over . black ■satin-; Mfes- D'Oyley, geranium pink ninon; Miss Bulkley, bluo charmeuso, with panniers of floral ninon; Miss Huia Bulkley, pale pink charmouso and laco; Miss Olivo Smith, pink figured charmouso and laco; Miss F. D'Oyley; cream charmouso and laco; Miss Otterson, cream charmeuso; Miss Focke, shot green and brown ninon; Miss M'Lennan, groy charmeuso; Miss Macdonnell, black laco; Miss Glover, palest pink charmeuso, with cream laoe; Miss Smith, black ninon, with touchcs of bluo; Miss E. Myers, wliit-0 charmeuso and pearl embroideries; Miss Van Staveren, wliito satin and lace; Miss R. Van Staveren, white charmeuso with panels of palo bluo ninon; Miss Mailoli, white chai'moiise; Miss Garland, white charmeuso, with laco tunic; Miss Rapley, palest pink charmeitse, with overdress of laco and ninon; Miss Bunnott, maize oharmeuso; Mfe U. King, royal bluo ninon over white satin; Miss K. King, maize crepo over lemon satin; Miss Moss, emergald green cliarmeuse; Miss Rix-Trott, black charmeuso and laco overdress; Mrs. Henderson, 'geranium pink charmeuso; Miss Wilson, whito Satin and ninon, with paimier' effect of black ninon painted with rosea; Miss Collins, crCahi charmeuso and laco overdress; Mrs. Henderardflj white satin; Miss O'Niell (Auckland), white satin, with silver embroidered overdress; Miss Miles, deep cream satin and lace; Miss Evans, palest ; bluo charmeuso, veiled with embroidered ninon. The music was sup- • plied by M'Comish's string band. A debutante of the evening was Miss Cook© (Wadestown), w'lvo woro white charmeuso, trimmed witli lace.

Airs. Carey, who has been visiting relatives in tho Wairarapa, lias gone to Hawera to stay with Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Carey.

Mts. Kinder (Waitoma) is staying with lier mother, Mrs. White, "Brae burn," Porangahau, The Rev. 0. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Fitzgerald arrived from the south on Sunday, and aro staving at the Hotel Windsor. Mrs. Hoadley (Hastings), Mrs. Gerald Stead (Christehiirch), Mrs. Quick,'and Mrs. and Miss Ettssell are among those staying at the Hotel Cecil. Mrs. Tagart (WanganUi) aiid Mrs. 'Wondhouse (Cliristchurch) arrived in Wollington yesterday, and aro staying at the Windsor Hotel.