A Lady's Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 9 August 1894, Page 3

A Lady's Letter.

Wellington, Aug., 7th, 1894. We went to a very nice little dance at Government House last Friday night, it heing the second given by Mrs Johnston Stewart. There must have been between 30 and 40 couples and only one ballroom was used and even then, of course, there was no crowding whatever. The decorations, as they usually are at Government House, were simply lovely, the ballroom, drawing rooms, hall and supper room being all beautified with artistic designs in ferns, flowers, pot plants, tall palms, etc., and the whole was softly lit with shaded lamps, those in the hall casting a rose pink colour over everything and those in the drawingroom being of yellow silk draped with lace. The Scotch Reel was danced but not quite as enlhusitically as usual, owing perhaps to the fact of His Excellency not taking part. If really well done, it is pretty and graceful, but if the reverse, it is quite the most awkward spectacle one could behold, and this is probably what makes many people avoid even trying. On last Friday evening they danced the Eiqhtsome, but, as a rule, the Foursome is about as much as can be managed. Both Lord Glasgow and Mrs Stewart received and Lady Augusta Boyle also stood with them. The dance was a short one — from 9 till 12 o'clock, this sensible custom having been started by Lady Glasgow when she first arrived in New Zealand and carried out ever since. Mrs Stewart received in a very becoming gown of soft white muslin striped with silk and wore diamonds in her hair and on the corsage. Lady Augusta Boyle wore a beautiful deep pink satin frock, slightly trained and softened with lace. I noticed among the guests Mr and Mrs Dan Riddiford, who came down to town last Thursday night in order to enjoy some of the Sessional frivolities, the latter wearing a black gown with knots of flowers. Miss Keiller, who came down with them, was also there, wearing a pretty yellow silk frock. Others present were Mr and Mrs Loughnan, Capt. and Mrs Russell, Dr and Mrs Fell, Mr and Mrs C. Izard, Mr and Mrs Ed. Brown, Mr and Mrs Mantell, Col. Fox and the Misses Brandon, Duncan, Dransfield, Williams (of Hawkes Bay), and Medley. The Montague-Turner Opera Company have been drawing good houses and on Saturday night, when the Governor and party were present, they gave " Mavitana " most successfully. The weak point among the principals is Mr Walshe, who now takes the parts usually taken by the late Mr Turner, but he is certainly improving. Miss Montague is wonderfully good. She is a born actress and her voice is still fresh and telling. Although well-known to us as a singer (in the person of Madame Goldenßtein) Miss Staunfcon has this season made her debut as an actress before a Wellington audience and has already established herself a favourite, Mr Farley is as good as ever. I think his voice has improved, if anything and style is decidedly improved. Among those I have seen present during the season are the Hon. J. G. and Mrs Ward, Mrs and Miss Seddon, Lady Augusta Boyle, Capt. Clayton, Major Elliott, Lady Buckley, the Hon. W. P. Rseves, Mr and Mrs J. G. Wilson, Mr and Mrs D. Riddiford, Miss Keiller, Dr and Mrs Collins, Mr and Mrs A. Pearce, the Misses Menzies, the Hon. Laucelot Walker, the Misses (Walter) Johnston, Mr and Mrs H. D. Bell, etc., etc. Signa.