A Lady's Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 28 April 1896, Page 2

A Lady's Letter.

Wellington, April 25, 1896. The Chrysanthemum Show which opened last Wednesday afternoon and remained open until the follow* ing evening, was most soocessfal in every way. There was a very large attendance on the first afternoon and the tea stall did a very brisk business. Miss E. Rose gained Mrs Burnes' prize for the Bridal bouquet, and Miss A. Gore was the lucky winner of Mr D. Anderson's trophy for the best hand bouquet. The prize bridal bouquet was composed of lovely straggly white chrysantle* mums made in rather the shower shape and with the soft foliage of delicate maiden hair ferns, and moss, the whole being tied with long white Bilk ribbons, the effect was very pleasing; the other bouquet was of large yellow chrysanthemums, feathery grass and broad yellow satin ribbon. Among those present on Wednesday afternoon I saw Mr and Mrs Lane (Halcombe) the latter looking very well in a plain brown oloth tailor made gown, check waist* coat and pretty little brown toque with wings; Mr and Mrs Cecil Eebbell (Wairarapa) the latter wear* ing a black tailor made gown, pretty white satin vest and large black hat with feathers. Mrs W. Pharazyn, grey silk aipacca with revera of black moire, the waistcoat was also of the moire, small black bonnet with white flowers ; Miss Fharazyn wore a very pale blue lustre with square collars of batter lace, green straw hat trimmed with chiffon and poppies to match; Mrs Elgar (Featherston) becoming brown jacket and Bkirt faced with velvet to match, small fawn and pink figured felt hat with wings and ribbon ; Mrs Rhodes, black orepon gown and very handsome black silk and lace cape very much trimmed with jet sequins, jet bonnet ; Mrs Grace, handsome black and green gown trimmed with a narrow black chiffon ruchiug and braid work, very stylish bonnet, the crown of which was of cream and gold brocade, bound with folds (f black velvet which finished in high loops at the back and among which nestled bunches of bright violets. j I must now start and telt you about a very jolly dance Mrs Grace

gave on Thursday night. The drawing) o^m, which is a fine large long room was cleared for dancing and was brightly decorated with large scarlet hot house flowers. In the supper-room, large vases of white chrysanthemums were the principal decoration. Our hostess wore a black silk, almost entirely veiled with gold spotted black net. Miss Grace wore a pretty white moire striped gown trimmed with accordiao chiffon frills and ribbon bows. Miss A. Grace, black satin skirt and bodice covered with jetted tulle, soft pink sleeves. Among the guests was the bride, Mrs 0. Kebbell, who wore her lovely wedding gown of white brocade, the square cut bodice was covered with white chiffon and finished off with silver embroidery. Also Mrs H. C. Butler in rioh black satin with a pretty fichu of white chiffon edged with lace ; the Misses Chapman (Melbourne) lovely white satin gowns trimmed with lace; Cooper, yellow silk trimmed with long white satin streamers and ruffles of white chiffon ; Miss M. Pharazyn, soft white silk trimmed with pretty silk lace, and others.

Have the ladies in your township taken to bicycling yet ? Here, quite a number are to be seen riding about, notably, Mrs (Dr) Anson, Mrs (Dr) Collins, Mrs (Dr) Eawaon, Lady Stout, Miss Turnbull, Mrs Amelia Smith and her sister Mrs Waldegrave, Miss Kennedy, Miss Izird, Mrs Henry McKenzie, Miss Ling, Miss Stafford, Mrs Nairn, Miss M. Richardson and many others. The Ladie3 Alice and Dorothy Boyle were also to be frequently seen riding their machines. The Wellington Leidertafel are giving a concert on Monday night. It is to be a ' ladies night ' and I hear there has been a great demand for tickets, as the programme is to be composed almost entirely of new items which the members have been practising diligently for the last two or three months.

The tennis team which ifl to represent New Zealand at the Sydney tournaments next month, consists of the Messrs Collins (Christchurch), H. Parker and H. Gore (Wellington), J. B. Hooper (Auckland) and Miss Nunnely (Wellington.) lam iurt yon join me in wishing them every success.

I believe that the session begins about the middle of June. It is to be hoped that the dull time we are experiencing now, will not last until then.