A Lady's Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 6 October 1894, Page 3

A Lady's Letter.

Wellington, Oct. 4th, 1894. You will, doubtless, be wishing to hear how the Musical Festival is progressiug. On the opening night the theatre presented, as you cau imagine, an animated scene, and was crowded in every part by an enthusiastic audience, who went away in a happy frame of mind, feeling that their most sanguine expectations had been realized. Yes, I may safely say that the Festival has so far been a complete success and that the enterprising committee has much to be congratulated upon. " The Lobesang " and " The Creation " formed the programme for the opening night, the soloists being Madame Bristowe and Mr Charles Saunders, of Melbourne and Mr John Prouse, Mrs Parsons and Mr Gibson. Mr Saunders and Mr Prouse had a hard fight for the laurels of the evening and they were both so good that I would not like to say which finally carried them off. Madame Bristowe, the soprano, has been ill and could not do herself justice, although her most exacting solo " On Mighty Pens " was a triumph. The choruses were grand and the orchestra fairly excelled itself and when ever there was a sign of an interval between the numbers there were the most hearty bursts of applause that have ever been heard in the Opera House. Hiß Excellency opened the proceedings in a speech from the stage and afterwards heard the performance from the centre row in the dress circle. He was accompanied by the Countess of Glasgow, who wore a beautiful gown of white with dull pink sleeves and a fawn brocaded satin opera cloak. Lady Augusta Boyle wore black and Lady Alice Boyle, cream. Miss Thurston, who is staying at Government House, was also of the party, and wore white, and Lord Kelbourne, Major Elliott and Captß. Clayton and Preston were also present, besides a very large and fashionable audience. The effect of the stage was excellent, all the soprano voices being grouped on one side and " clad " in white with pink crossed sashes and the altos on the opposite side in white with sky blue Bashes. The tenors and basses then formed a black and white back ground and the orchestra was well arranged in the foreground, and all was effectively decorated. On the same night Mrs G. Hutchison gave an " At Home " to about 100 guests. It was a very enjoyable dance and all tb.3 arrangements were : perfect. The splendid champagne supper was quite a feature, and the music of King's band was also good. Mr and Mrs Hutchison received, the latter wearing white brocade and pearls. Among the guests were Lady Buckley, Mrs and Misg Ray-, nolds, of Dunedin, Mrs and the Misses Grace, Mr, Mrs, and Miss Duncan, Mrs Newman, Mrs H. D. Bell, Mr and Miss Pearce, Mr and Mrs W. Johnston, Lady Augusta Boyle, Lord Kelbourne and many others. Last Friday night Lady Glasgow gave a small dance at Govt. House, there being about 20 couples and these were all dancing people. The rooms were most beautifully decorated with flowers and tall palms and ferns, and were prettily lit with coloured lamps. King's band supplied the music for the programme which included a Scotch Heel. Lady Glasgow wore a magnificent gown of pale grey and pink satin with a long train trimmed with deeper velvet and lace. Lady Augusta Boyle wore pink tulle with clusters of pink

roses. Among those jfrSsetifc were the Misses Johnston, Douglas, Gore, Grace, Duncan, Williams, Reynolds, [zard, Grierson, Buller, Mills, etc. Two engagements have recently been announced — that of Mr Thoiflas Walter, son of Mr John Walter, who is well-known in connection with the London Times, and Miss Gore, eldest daughter of Mr R. B. Gore, of Wellington, and that of Mr Henry Hadfield, son of Bishop Hadfield, and Miss Bessie Tuckey, second aughter of the Rev. E. H. Tuckey, of Wellington. Next week will be a very gay one for there are already invitations out for no less than three dances, to be given by the CJourite33 of Glasgow, on Monday, by Mrs John Duncan, on Tuesday, and by Mra Izard sen., on Thursday. SlflNA.