A Lady's Letter,

Manawatu Herald, 11 February 1896, Page 2

A Lady's Letter,

I — — — — Wellihqtok, Feb. 8, 1898. iivst Wednesday night, a splendid ins rum ntal Concert was gilred itt I T-i ma- 1 Mali by H-rr Balling (late >;f JS isvu) nnd Mr Maugban Bainett. Hen Bikings Viola Alia plityiug is cert a v n y worth going far to hear. Be plays entirely from memory and manages to get the most lovely tone out of bi« instrument, and after eaob item was enthusiastically recalled. The duets for viola and piano were also excellent as also were Mr Barnetu's pianoforte solos, he also being encored. Among the large audience 1 saw Lady and Miss Hector, Mrs W. H. Levin, Miss Levin, Mrs Wallis, Mrs (Dr) Adams, Mrs' Duncan, Mrs Pynsent, Mrs Goring, Madame (Jarlton, Mrs Wardrop, Mrs and Miss Boss, Mrs and Miss Holt, the Miuses Grace, Gore, Williams, Stowc, Wilford, Dyer, Izard, Lennedy, Moorheuse, Butts and others. A very pleasant little dance was given by Mrs Friend at Karori last Tuesday night when a number of guests drove out from town in drags, and as it was a lovely moonlight night the drive to and fro was very much enjoyed. The house was prettily decorated with flowers and. evergreens, and the supper was daintily laid out in the green-house, while the dining-room was used for dancing. Our hostess wore black silk with full elbow sleeves of green moire edged with jet and lace ; Miss Friend wore white silk trimmed with chiffon. Among the guests were Mrs Beddard, handsome white satin trimmed with pearl embroidery ; Miss Chapman sky blue silk cre*pon with hero and there a bunch of violets ; her sister wore piok silk Ciopon with frills of white ohiffon on the bodice ; Miss Fairchild black satin trimmed with jet ; Miss Gore also wore a black jet trimmed gown ; Miss Cooper, salmon pink corded silk trimmed with white lace ; Miss J. Cooper, very pale lemon brocade ; Miss Queenio Eliutt, very pretty white bilk gown with large sleeves' and trimmings of silk oripon and. fichu of white chiffon ; her cousin Miss Murison (Dunedin) wore a similar gown ; Miss Hislop, wore grey material trimmed with soft white silk bow* ; Miss Quick, black velvet and silk. Yesterday afternoon, we again bad the opportunity of hearing Herr Balling perform, this, I am sorry was for the last time, for be leaves by the '• Gothic " to-day for Germany. With the addition of Mr B-irnett (piauo) atod Mr Aired Hill* (violin) talent, we spent a very enj >yable hour, and heard some splendid music. The audience consisted chiefly of ladies, many of whom wore very pretty summer toilettes, so I raußt try and remember some of them. Mrs MePberson'a gown was of lightish violet Bilk spotted with white and prettily trimmed with oream lace and violet velvet, small black straw bonnet with pale pink roses ; Mrs Rhind wore a pale fawn gown with a deep oollar out in four pieot-s ot moss green moire and bordered with a pretty red, fwn and yellow striped trimming, Ifflill black Btraw hat with brown tips and green ribbon ; Mrs Lowe, navy blue gown with yoke of earn op*n lace fastened on the shoulders with blue ribbon bows, green straw bonnet with pink roses and lace wings; Miss Williams white spotted muslin with lace frill*, small black hat with pink flowers; her sister wore a ■uylish pink shot silk blouse with ejru lace frills or the shoulders, black ci&pcn shirt and floral toque; Lady Stout, becoming blaok and white gown trimmed with jat, very pretty bonnet composed of white chifftn and satin, and jet ornaments ; Mixs Q lick, white drill costume, pretty white straw hat edged with jet and trimmed with long white fathers and blaok ospreys; Miss El win, goblin blue crepotJ with fold collar and belt of black silk, large black straw hat with pink roses and shot ribbon ; Miss Turnbull, light browb jacket and skirt, Mac* that silk blouae, and white Btraw sailor stuped hat with a thick ruoh of black and white ribbon all round and ihe brim caught up at the baok with a b>w of the name ribbon, this was ft French hat. Mrs Levin and her family left ! yesterday by the " Gothio " they will remaiu in, England about three years. Lord and Lady Carberry oame out in the "Gothic" a few weeks ago, for the benefit of their health, and have taken Mr W. N. Werry's house, which is situated on a high elevation, commanding a beautiful view of tbe whole town and harbour, and was recommended by the doctor as being ih°. most healthy situation to be had here. You will be sorry to hear that Mr Watson, President of the Bank of New Zealand, met with a bicycle accident last Monday, unfortunately breaking ■ n • of bis legs, but is I am glad to >ay pro<jres: iog very favourably. Sioka.