A Lady's Utter.

Manawatu Herald, 14 July 1894, Page 3

A Lady's Utter.

Wellington, 12th July, 1894

There is very little of interest going on. at the * House ' but the fact of the matter is that most of the Ministers are ill. I went down to the Ladies' Gallery on Tuesday afternoon and there was the Premier, looking wretchedly ill and muffled up in*a -great coat and comforter, and Mi\*W. P. Reeves, who was speaking, but one could not hear a word, his voice being so hoarse, looking equally pile and wretched. Yesterday Sir Patrick Buckley put in an appearance at the House for a short time— very unwisely, I think, as it was an exceedingly cold day, and said a few

words in a whisper and tried, hard to T take an active interest in everything, bat' it was too much for him — one could see that. The Hon Mr Ward is much better, but is not yet able to be present and 1 should hardly think he will be able for some time, to help ta carry on the work of the House. Several of the members are stricken ■"with influenza, indeed, so miserable v were they all the day before yesterday, that it was rumoured that the House would adjourn for a fortnight to allow them to recover, but I have

heard nothing further, so I imagine that they have valiantly decided to try and spare the country that expense. Sir Robt. Stout and Capt. Russell are both looking very " fit " and quite ready for any amount of fight and work.

Mrs George Hutchison gave a very pleasant "At Home " on Monday night, it taking the form of a small dance, there being about 70 or 80 guests. Being Monday night there were quite a number of M.H.R.'s there— l saw Sir Robert Stout, Dr Newman, and Messrs Fraser, J. G. Wilson, Duthie, Montgomery and McNab besides of course our genial host. Everything, including the champagne supper wa_ done in firstclass style and Mr and Mrs Hutchison proved themselves to be excellent entertainers.

Mrs Hutchison received in a beautiful gown of dull green velvet and Honiton lace and among her guests were the Hon. R. and Mrs Pharazyn, the Hon. R. and Mrs Oliver, Mrs Newman, Capt. and Mrs Johnston-Stewart, Major Elliott, Capt. Clayton, Mrs and the Misses Grace, Mr and Mrs Werry, Miss Duthie, Mrs W. Johnston, Mrs Tolhurst and many others. Two nights afterwards, Mrs Johnston Stewart gave a most enjoyable small dance at Government House, His Excellency the Governor and Lady Augusta Boyle receiving with Mrs Stewart. The exquisite floral decorations were quite a feature, the mantle pieces being covered in artistic designs carried out with maiden hair ferns and deep scarlet hot house flowers. The staircase and hall were also beauti- , fully decorated, and also the dining room, this being carried out iv scarlet and white camelias, and the | conservatory looked quite like a | fairy bower lit with huge Chinese j lanterns, ' Mrs Stewart wore a lovely gown j of palest silver grey satin brocaded ! with black and trimmed with jewelled embroidery and diamond ornaments, Lady Augusta Boyle wearing a beautiful rose pink satin frock softened with fine cream lace. Lord Glasgow led off the first set of Lancers with Lady Hector who wore a handsome soft grey silk trained and trimmed with steel and ' white lace. A Scotch reel was danced during the evening Lord Glasgow, and in fact the whole house party, taking part. It is very quaint and pretty, and is becoming quite general here now. Among those present were Dr and Mrs Collins, Mr E. Pearce, Mr and Mrs H. D. Bell, Dr and Mrs Adams, Mr and Mrs J. P. Maxwell, Mrs Grace and the Misses Williams, Johnston, Grace, Barron, Hector, Gore, Moorehouse, etc. The Star Boating Club's annual ball takes place to-night, and as it will be a brilliant affair, I will send an account later on. Signa.