A Lady's Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 19 July 1894, Page 3

A Lady's Letter.

\Velltn&ton, 12th July, 1894. The Empire City is indeed a gay little place during the session, and already many people are be^ r ginning to tire of the ceaseless rrfond of balls, small dances, calls, C%fternt° n teas an^ fashionable concerts. There seems never a day some excitement, and to- - night — for instance — we have the choice of three functions — the Wellington Guards annual ball, at which Lady Augusta Boyle has promised to present the prizes, private theatrioals to wind up with a dance, to be given by Mrs (Dr) Purdy, and a dance to be given by Captain and Mrs Rose, in honour of their silver * wedding. Then the following night Mrs W. Johnston is to give an "At Home," and two nights afterwards the ball to be given by the Hon. R. and Mrs Pharazyn at 1 homas' Hall takes place— and so it goes on, and the invitations continue to pour in from week to week until the end of the session, when there is a lull, and most of the young people, who have, naturally been much in request, seize the opportunity of visiting their friends in the country to recoup. The Star Boating Club's annual ball, which took place at the Garrison Hall last Thursday evening was a very brilliant and successful affair, between three and four hundred guests being present, these including the Earl of Glasgow, Lady Augusta Boyle, Captain and Mrs Johnston Stewart, Miss Holroyd and Major

Elliott, the vice-regal party being met by the President of the Club, Mr Edward Pearce, and the captain Mr W. H. Field. The first set of lancers was then formed, Lord Glasgow dancing with Mrs Field, Mrs Stewart with Mr E. Pearce and Lady Augusta Boyle with Mr Field. The decorations were the most beautiful I have ever seen, the oval ceiling being hung with flags, the bandstand in the centre being surrounded with palms, and the walls most artistically draped and furnished and decorated with palm trees, which had been oonveyed from the bush, and quantities of flowers, Chinese lanterns, etc., were also employed with excellent effect. Everyone, of course, was there, and there were a number of beautiful dresses worn, bat were I to dilate upon them, I should fill columns,

The Wellington Art Club . held their exhibition of sketches on Saturday afternoon at the Art Gallery, Lord Glasgow formally opening it, a very large and fashionable gathering assembling during the afternoon, the ladies supplying tea, etc., and Minifie'a band the music. Mr Nairn is a large exhibitor, his drawing being perfect, but his colouring occasional^ crude and unsatisfying. Miss Mabel Hill sends a large number of studies, all of them clever, and several shewing more promise than anything else in the room. Mr R. A. Anderson and Mr John Baillie both show excellent work and marked improvement, albeit the lattei is often at fault in his drawing. Other interesting work is contributed by Signor Nerli, Messrs Madden, But ler, Menzies-Gibb, W. E. Fairbrother, W. H. Parsons, Bickerton, W. C. Smith and Palmer, and the Misses Holmes, Richardson, Stoddart, M. Williams, Barnett and Dransfield, and the Hon. J. 0. Richmond and Miss Richmond contribute several little gems of Nelson scenery and these make up the list of the most noticeable in the room. Signa.