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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2058, 19 April 1907, Page 1

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL. By “1’onolopo." Wellington. THIS FIRST DANCE OF THE SEASON. Tho hostess who gives the first (Innee of tho season is a wise woman, provided the weather he not too warm for violent exertion. In these dilettante times the slightest excuse will stop those men who are not keen about dancing from getting into evening clothes, and a hot night is as good a reason as any. But on Tuesday tho weather might have been ordered with the luxurious supper and the very excellent champagne, and partners were plentiful for all the girls. The hostess, Mrs. Walter Nathan, and her trio of daughters were delightfully considerate and attentive, and wallflowers ' there were none. As usual, there was an astonishing number of pretty girls and extremely fascinating frocks, for the new season demanded naturally fresh raiment. Mrs. Nathan had on a very rich brocade, ivory strewn with large clusters of heliotrope flowers, and trimmed with line old bice. Miss Nathan’s floral taffetas was draped with lace, dotted , with tiny knots ol pink and violet velvet, the colors of the flowers oil the dainty silk. Miss Gladys wore white net, handed with radium silk, with a high belt ot silver embroidery, and Miss Sybil was in I white satin and chiffon, with the I nrettiest chiffon roses and foliage bor-

dering tho bodice. Mrs. Joseph had o.i a handsome black lace and jet gown, and Mrs. David Nathan’s lovely pink satin was made after an old picture; with hanging scarves of jewelled net and garlands of tiny roses. A frock worn by Mrs. Russell Duncan, of Napier, who has recently come hack from a trip to England, attracted general attention and admiration. It was tulle thickly covered with copper sequines, and so brilliant that it sent reflections like flames into the polished floor. Brocades and floral silks were much worn, generally with a perfectly plain round skirt, the bodice being high-waisted and considerably trimmed, and the sleeves often entirely of lace frills. One girl, Miss Watson, wore an empire frock of crepe,do chine, long frilled scarves falling from the very liigh-waisted bodice on tho full skirt, and a frilled fichu round tho shoulders was 'knotted in front. A lovely silk muslin with

most wonderful embroidery in chiffon of roses and green leaves edging the bodice was worn by Miss Fulton. Mrs. Wilford, who is so much better that she could dance, wore a delicate white tulle glittering with silver and crystal and knots of pale blue at waist and on the corsage. A very picturesque girl, Miss Percy, daughter of the recently-arrived Inspector of tho Union Bank, wore white and sa,'ttn chiffon. Two debutantes came out, Miss Vida Bristow and Miss Rena Jamieson, both most attractive girls. Among the visitors to Wellington present at the dance were Mr. Nathan and Miss Tole, from Auckland, Miss Anderson, from Christchurch, and Miss Lorna Rattray, from Dunedin. The next ball—besides the Kiwi Hockey Club dance—is that to be given by the Wellington Club in honor of the squadron. It will take place in the first week in May.

A CHARMING WEDDING. Miss Morna Fell, the youngest of the three handsome daughters of Mrs George Fell, whose marriage to Captain Erie Johnston took place last Thursday, made an absolutely lovely bride, tall, graceful, fair-liaired and dainty comploxioned, and with a very bright sweet expression. Indeed, rarely have two such beautiful brides as Mrs. Chas. Pharazyn—married the week before—and Mrs. Erie Johnston been seen in Wellington. The bridegroom is the son of the Hon. Chas. Johnston, and is a captain in the

Indian Army. The bride is sister to Mrs. Russell Dymock. Altogether the wedding was marked by an unusual amount of good looks. Mrs. Johnston is a very distinguished woman, and her frock of black chiffon, inset with lace motiffs, over white silk, was charming. The bodice was pinafore fashion over an exquisite lace blouse, the sleeves of which were dee]) overlapping frills. Mrs. George Fell, the bride’s mother, is also handsome, and looked extremely well in a black silk empire coat and gown, with a toque whose crown was all roses. Mis. Russell Dymock is most striking looking, and her rose-strewn brocade and picture hat of black velvet with long plumes fastened in front with a large green rose, was immensely admired. The three bridesmaids, Mildred, the I,ride’s sister, Miss Erica Fell, and Miss Doris Johnston wore white spotted muslins over silk, with lace yokes, and tuscan hats with drape and rosettes of pink, lavender and blue, repeated in the exquisite bouquets of hydrangea they carried. The wedding took place in the Roman Catholic Church in Hill street, the bridegroom being a Catholic. Very shortly they leave for India, Ml'- and Mrs. Clias. Johnston and their daughter going home for a trip. A pretty Uttlo incident was noted that speaks well ' for the kind heart of the bridegroom. An old servant of the Johnston family

stood, while the service was going on. at the church door with a hunch of white (lowers in her hand. As the radiant-faced pair passed out they stopped, and the bridegroom greeted his old nurse most affectionately and talked to her. The old lady was quite affected. The samp week fi cousin of Captain Johnston, Mr. Duncan Menzies, was married to Miss Willis, daughter of Major "\VilliS, of Mart oil. SOCIAL NOTES. By the Turakina last week went Lady Whitmore and Mrs. Dixon. The former, who goes partly lor her health, expects to he away about six months. The Hon. ill'. Louisson. his wife and daughter, came up from Christchurch on Saturday apd left by the Riverina for Sydney to meet

their son, 'who was studying at Home and caught typhoid fever. He is now on his way out convalescent. Mrs. AVaterfield left with her husband, who was in attendance on the Governor, on Saturday for Christchurch. Mrs. Murray Menzics and Mrs. Watson are with Mrs. Menzics. (Miss Nancarron, from Christchurch, is with Miss Harcourt. Miss Ella. Ajlamp has rptprujsd from Auckland. Dr. and Mrs. Findlay are among the many personages gone South to the, closing ceremonies of the Exhibition. Judge and Mrs. Williams and Judge Chapman and his son are in Wellington at present. DOGS AND BABIES.

A most interesting letter from a Wellington fyoman, now ill London, gives some amusing details as to smart society at Home. Dogs—preferably the plethoric pug—are much more thought of apparently than children, who are at present in the background as regards fashion. A society woman does not think it below bar dignity to wash and pet and garnish her beloved dog, but, t|iough it is a necessary adjunct to her carriage when she drives abroad, she would be rarely seen with her baby, and relegates all the delightful toil that a child involves to servants. This refers'of course to some of the pltrafashionablo women of London. The writer of the letter, visiting a titled

lady, was shown into the luxurious bedroom of her hostess. It was winter, and before a blazing (ire there was a beautiful little wooden chalet, all charmingly padded. , “That is where my darling doggie sleeps,” the .hostess explained. Tho visitor asked where the baby slept. “Oh, in tho nursery, of course!” Later on they visited the nursery and saw the child, a beautiful baby of about nine months. When the mother took it it screamed as if she were a stranger, and was only pacified when'Uhe nurse got it again. Quite malapropos of the above, there are two hints of coming modes in the letter. Stripes-are to be much worn, and all hats, except the small round ones which sit flat on the head, are given a backward tilt, the bandea,u being set in front.

OUR AMUSEMENTS. Madame Arral, who was to have mug this week, has postponed her ■oncerls, and announces she is waiting lor some of the orchestra from the' Exhibition to arrive in order to 'ive her a proper accompaniment. In lie meantime she and her husband, Mr. Harold Bassett, have taken a louse at Island Bay. Mr. Andrew Hack is still drawing big houses with lis Irish humor and pathos, though, ruth to tell “The way at Kcnmore” s quite unworthy of him. ft is ■either fish, flesh, nor good red her•ing. His singing is captivating, and n “Arrah-na'-Pogue,” which is on low, he completely carries his audiinco away with “The Wearin’ o’ the Jreon.” Tho races are held this week, nd given the glorious weather we lave been enjoying, are sure to be argely attended. The next interest-

ing production at the Opera House will bo “The Midnight Wedding,” which is so intensely thrilling that., when Hareourt Beatty, the hero, wounded in his right hand, proposes to fight a duel with his left, an excited woman in the audience called out “You shan’t, you shan’t!” In the dress-circle one night this week, a pretty girl found herself and her cavalier the focus of many amused glances. After a time, she felt sure her good looks could not be the cause of so much attention, and looking round

found stuck prominently behind into Hie back of her seat a large placard with “Engaged” on it. A woman across the circle who had been most amused felt conscious that she, too, was receiving more scrutiny tliat her appearance warranted, and found, to her annoyance, she, too, had a placard, but hers read “Reserved.” As her cavalier was not her husband her label had some point.

A NTIQUE TR EAS UR ES. A lady of Wellington has, by the death of her husband’s mother, come into some most interesting relics. For many years she has had a very fine collection of china, including a whole dinner-set of old Chelsea. Among her recently-acquired possessions is a quaint dish and stand of trellis-work in glass, very old. This was used, hundreds of years ago, to hold cut oranges,the effect of the fruit through the glass being much admired. Two handsome tall Sheffield plate candlesticks, and a solid silver spoonwarmer of exquisite shell design and of the George IV. period, are interesting and valuable. Old prints, water colors, etchings, there are many of, and a particularly fascinating needle-drawing on watered silk; at a little distance this might be an etch-

ing in Indian ink, hut, looking closci, one sees it is all worked in finest black silk, the shadows on the build-

~g—a romantic castle—being reprelented by long threads laid parallel. An old Sheraton cabinet is a fitting receptacle for many of these delightid belongings.

A NARROW ESCAPE. HELD BY A BROKEN ANCHOR. The trim little schooner Stanley, which some months ago was purchased and fitted out in Sydney as a private yacht, by Sir Brodrick Cecil Denham Arkwright Hartwell, Bart., and Mr. John Henry Broadwood, somewhat unexpectedly returned to Sydney on sth April from an extensive cruise among the islands ol the South Seas. The Stanley, with her owners and Lady Hartwell op hoard) loft Sydney on Hill'd December last, and first proceeded to Noumea. In January last the vessel fell in with the castaways of the barque Annasona, which was totally lost on Middleton reef, and, as already reported, rescued the unfotunate men and conveyed them to Lord Howe Island, from- whence they were brought to Sydney by t)io Government pilot steamer Captain Ppoj^.

Captain Henderson, the master of the yacht, states that when off Middleton reef on Tuesday, the 26th nit., a fresh S.E. gale was blowing, with

heavy rain, the ship lying to her anchors in six fathoms of water inside the outer reef. The barometer fell to 29.70, and on the following day the- gale continued to blow, and increased in fore;*. The wind liackpd to S.S.E., and the glass lull to 29.5 U, the ship holding well to her anchors

in smooth water. Oil Thursday morning, 2?o> the wind was blowing Iroin theS.S.E. with hurricane force, and at 7 a.in. the starboard chain parted, the ship dragging. They shackled on a new chain. Captain Henderson let go the third anchor, hut at 7.30 a.in. the port chain parted, and soon alter the second starboard anchor broke on the hl The ship then drifted into the breakers on the- outer reef, and at the time it appeared to he a hopeless case for the ship and all on board. The ship tumbled about in the breakers, but the heavy chain and the broken anchor kept hooking the rocks and held the ship from going over

the reef. She settled on the reef as the tide ebbed, and in tjip evfinipg the gale moderated; With the Hood tide Captain Henderson made sail, and got the ship into smooth and shallow water inside the reef. The keel ol the Stanley was damaged, and she Will IjO dockp-.j iq ascertain what other injuries have been sustained. When the ship parted her chains and went on the reef, the mean reading of three barometers was 29.10, the wind being from S.S.E. Captain Henderson said that lie had not experienced such violent conditions since the Cawavra gale at Newcastle in 186(3.

The Stanley had lost three anchor; and 100 fathoms of chain, and tiltlifeboat was smashed to atoms. All the damage was done inside one hour. The schooner lay six weeks moored inside the outer reef, and encountered three ordinary gales from various points, hut held well to her anchors.