A Lady's Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 18 August 1896, Page 3

A Lady's Letter.

Wellington, August 15, 1896.

I will begin my letter this week by telling you about a very nice little dance which was given by Mrs Gore last Monday night. The decorations irere very much admired, the drawingroom, which was cleared for dancing, was decorated with lovely pink and white camellias, the mantlepiece being a mass of them, and the gas globes were covered with pink shades which had a very pretty effect. In the supper-room, the tone was palo yellow, the mantlepiece and table being artistically arranged with yellow crinkled paper and va3es of daffodils and jonquils, and the lights shaded with yellow paper. In another room wherein our hostess received, quantities of violets and snowdrops were to be seen in every available spot. The verandah was oovered in and lighted with Chinese lanterns, made a cool retreat for the dancers. Mrs Gore received in a handsome black brocade gown, trained and trimmed with lace ; Miss Gore wore blaok satin with a yellow accordian chiffon bodice, and her Bister wore a similarly made gown except that the bodice was of pale blue accordian chiffon. Among the guests were Lady Augusta Boyle, who wore pale yellow satin veiled with chiffon ; Lady Alice Boyle in white satin veiled with figured chiffon and slightly trimmed with ecru lace ; Mrs H. D. Bell in black brocade ; Mrs Collins also wore black ; Mr and Mrs Beddard, Mr and Mrs Pearce, the Misses Duncan, Cooper, Hector, Montgomery (Wanganui), Grace, Reynolds (Dunedin), Acland (Christohurch), Izard, Nairn (Hawkes Bay), Captain Preston, Captain Feilden and others.

Mrs Harding gave a large ' Afternoon Tea ' last Wednesday for Mrs and Miss Montgomery of Waaganui. Tea wa3 temptingly laid out in the diningroom and our hostess received in the large drawingroom, and wore a handsome black brocade gown trimmed with narrow jet edging. The Misses Harding wore black skirts and stylish shot silk blouses. Mrs Montgomery wore dark brown crepon with panels of batter coloured lace ; Miss Montgomery wore a dark gown trimmed with narrow ecru insertion. Some of those present were Sir Arthur and Lady Douglas, Mr and Mrs Bonor, Mr and Mrs C. Izard, Sir Kenneth and Miss Douglas, Mesdames Reynolds, Gee, Leckie, Whittall, Travers, Janisoh, Medley, Beddard, Field, Stowe, Rhind, C. Johnston, Brandon, and the Misses Pharazyn, Burnett, Baker, Quick, Coleridge, Reynolds, Hislop, Tabavfc (Chris tchurch), Brandon, Nairn (Hawkea Bay), Bell, Stowe, Edwin, etc.

An excellent concert was given by the Lidertafel last Friday night in Thomas Hall, to a large and fashionable audience which included Lord and Lady Glasgow, the latter wearing a handsome black gown and long brocaded opera cloak bound with fur ; the Ladies Augusta, Alice and Dorothy Boyle, Ladj Helen Boyle, attended by Major Elliot, also Mr Bhind (President), and Mrs Rhind who wore a black satin skirt and stylish black and white silk blouse trimmed with jet ; Miss Tabart, who is staying with Mrs Bhind, looked nice in a pretty pink blouse and dark skirt ; Mrs Duncan, black silk trimmed with white lace ; Mrs Reynolds, very pretty gown of cream pompadour silk trimmed with lace and moss-green velvet ; her lister wore heliotrope silk ; Mrs Fitchett, very stylish very pale fawn silk crepon gown with soft fichu to match ; Lady Stout, handsome black gown and cloak ; Mesdames Gee, Kennedy, Barron, Gore, Boss, Reid, Ritchey, Hickson, Waters, Seed, and the Misses Soed, Simpson, Ross, Barber, Barron, Quick, Lockie, Johnson, etc. During the interval, the members of the society handed round light refreshment to their guests.

On the same evening, two dances took place, one given by the ladies at the Hutfc, and the other by Mrs Balcombe Brown, at her residence in Tinakori Road. Bath these dances were very successful and enjoyable, in spite of being given on the same night. At Mrs Brown's all the large rooms ware prettily decorated for the occasion, the diningroom was used for dancing while oar hostess received in the drawing* room, and wore black silk trimmed with soft lace and yellow flowers. There were about fifty guests present who included the Ladies Augusta and Alice Boyle, who were dressed alike in sky blue satin trimmed with white lace and pink roses ; Countess d'Albans, in black silk with berthe of white lace ; Mrs and Miss Izard, the latter in a pretty cream pompadour gown trimmed with chiffon and pale pink moire ; the Misses Fancourt in yellow satin trimmed with lace ; Miss S. Johnston, very stylish pale yellow corded silk gown trimmed with passementerie and pompadour ribbon ; Miss Gore, primrose satin trimmed with chiffon frills and scarlet roses, the Misses Stowe, Williams, Grace, Coleridge, Barron, etc.

The Hutfc Ball took place in the Oddfellow's Hall there, the Hall itself and the adjoining room which was used for supper, being splendidly dteorated with flags, evergreens,

camellias, etc. The supper, whioh was made by the ladies themselves, I must tell you was excellent, and left nothing to be desired. Some very handsome gowns were worn on this occasion, Mrs E. J. Riddiford's being particularly so, it was of thick black spotted merveilleaux, with panel in front of the skirt and broad epaulettes of white satin covered with spangled net ; Mrs (Dr) Purdy, black moire antique with soft fichu like trimming of cream silk lace ; Mrs G. Pearce, black figured net over pink silk; Mrs Scales, yellow silk trimmed with black lace ; Miss Burnett, pale blue silk and white lace ; Miss M. Burnett, pretty black gown with pink sash ; Miss Fitz-

Herbert, black net, trimmed with frills of spangled net. Others present were Mrs T. M. Wilford, Miss McLean, Miss Johnston, Miss Harcourt, Mrs Jackson, Mrs Fitzherberfc, Mrs Treadwell, Miss Lingard, Mrs Oolbeck, the Misses • Wilford, the Mis 3« Mowbray and others were also present.

Mrs W. H. Quick gave a very enjoyable « Afternoon At Home ' last Friday. Several musical items added greatly to the afternoon's enjoyment. Signa.