A Lady's Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 19 March 1896, Page 2

A Lady's Letter.

Wellington, March 15, 1896. Sir Boberfc Stout opened the an- j nual exhibition of the Wellington Art Club last Saturday afternoon. It is very interesting to note the improvement, year by year, of the ?O3al , young artists, the majority of whom '

are or have been pupil 3of Mr J. Nairn. Some of the productions this year are really excellent. Miss Hill is showing several pictures, which include a portrait of Mrs Harry Marshall ; the portrait is life size and three-quarter length, showing the figure standing in an easy position and wearing a quaint and pretty evening frock of white and pink. Mr Nairn's best exhibit is a splendid life size portrait of Mr D.. M. Luckie, who is so well-known here. Miss M. Burnett has some pretty little sketches on view, so also has Miss Nina Jones of Nelson. Among those present on the opening afternoon I noticed Lady Stout wearing a pretty plum coloured shot silk gown trimmed with black lace, gmall jet bonnet trimmed with ribbons and flowers to match the gown. Miss Shand, of Dunedin, who is staying with Lady Stout, looked nice in white spotted muslin trimmed with lace ; Mrs B. Goring wore a pretty pale pink muslin, sprayed brair roses and leaves, tiny jet bonnet|with pink flowers. Miss Percy-Smith, who has lately returned from a trip to England, wore a very light grey and . blue flecked with graduated revers of goblin blue silk edged with jet, pretty black hat trimmed with chiffon and a high spray of bright yellow and crimson roses ; Lady and Miss Hector, Countess d'Albans, Mrs Collins, Miss Calder (Australia), the Misses Lingard, Blackett, Kebbell, Moorhoiise,* Hill, Stowe, and others. Miss Medley and the Messrs A. and J. Hill gave a very enjoyable . chamber concert in the Exchange Hall last Wednesday afternoon, It was the first of a series to be given every fortnight. On this occasion Miss Medley contributed twd firstclass pianoforte solos and also played Mr Alfred Hill's violin accompaniments. Mr John Hill sang four pretty little songs in his usual good style, and was loudly applauded. Miss Medley wore a pretty black figured gown with three box pleats on the front of the bodice of pale blue velvet edged with jet, the same trimming was employed on the cuffs and collars. In the audience I saw Mrs Jellicoe wearing a handsome black and white check silk trimmed with black silk and jet, small green straw toque with cream lace wings and cornflowers ; Countess d Albant, in a brown cloth dress with black satin sleeves and three or four bands round the skirt of the same, large black straw hat with butterfly bows of lace and, very dark red shaded roses. The German Court Bingers gave another concert here last Thursday night, as they were passing through from the south. The Exchange Hall was packed and every item on the programme was most enthusiasm* tically encored, but I fancy Miss > Laura Fisher claimed the most attention, her singing being very fine. Mr Alfred Hill assisted and played a charming violin solo. Madame Meiz, another of our local artists also added to the succes of the concert by her singing. On this occasion Madame Von Vahsel wore a lovely pale pink and white brocade gown trimmed with crystal bead fringe and soft white lace. Madame Merz -wore black satin with a Watteau train ; Miss Fisher looked very nice in a plain black velvet gown the only trimming being a bunch of scarlet/flowers on the corsage; Miss Moßurney, the pianoforte soloist wore a soft white gown trimmed on the bodice with pale pink. In my next letter I am going to tell you about the new winter and Autumn fashions. SIONA.