A Lady's Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 8 June 1897, Page 2

A Lady's Letter.

Wellington, June 5, 1897. Lasb Monday night the Opera House was crowded on the occasion of the entertainment, which was organised by Lady Douglas, in aid of the sufferers by the floods in the Bangitikei district. The programme was a varied one but was none the less attractive. It consisted of tableaux, club swinging by several young ladies, all nicely got up in Grecian costumes, skirt dancing, statuary, and several musical items which were well rendered by Mrs Levi, the Misses Brady and Pender, Mr B. B. Williams and Herr Lehmann the eminent violinist who has lately come here. Everything was splendidly arranged and carried out, the scenery being particularly good and artistic. The audience was most enthusiastic and demanded nearly everything tmcc. After the ! final tableaux, which represented "Britiannia" (Miss Coleridge] standing looking as majestic and as

beautiful as ever, while the National Anthem was sung. Mr W. T. L. Travers, from the dress circle made a neatand appropriate little speech, in which he warmly congratulated Lady Douglas on the great success of her enterprise and gave her much praise for all the trouble she had taken to make it what it was ; then he called for three cheers for Lady Douglas, and they were heartily given. Sir James and kady Prendergasli are giving a "huge" ball on the 23rd, to celebrate Her Majesty's accession day, at Government House, and on the 25th they are entertaining all, their juvenile friends at a Fancy Dress ball. The Thorndon Tennis Club have arranged for a dance which takes place on the 17th in Thomas' Hall. Mr Robert Parker, assisted by some of the leading musicians here, is giving a series of sjx chamber concerts to take place every fortnight during the winter months, each concert is to be devoted to the music of one composer only. An evening with " Schubert " was greatly enjoyed by a large audience last Thursday week. The Drapers are now displaying all their pretty evening materials in preparation for the coming festivities, and the shop assistant! are kept bard at it all day. The silk creponu, very much crinkled, in Te Aro House, are lovely, and are to be seen in all the most delicate shades, flowers, ribbons, fans (mostly feather), and chiffons are set out in tempting array and are marked at very reasonable prices. Accordian pleated over skirts are still fashionable, and are still, I am sorry to say very expensive, but they do look lovely over a satin foundation. The new imitation sealskin capes are very stylish and it is really very difficult to distinguish the material from the real sealskin. These capes also look very well worn at the Theatre, they are mostly lined with bright satins and brocades. Chiffon still reigns supreme, I saw a very pretty froek the other evening of white surah silk with a deep frill and ruche round the corsage of white satin striped chiffon which looked \ery soft and dainty. I hear there are to be a number of debutantes at the forthcoming ball. June 6. Hayman's large four storied brick warehouse in Victoria street was destroyed by fire last night. The fire started at about 10.80 p.m. and continued all through the night and this morning nothing but the four walls remained of this once large building. When tbe fire was at its height, the scene was most brilliant, the whole town appearing to be illuminated, and the sky was of a beautiful golden red hue. Fortunately it was a calm still night and the flames going straight up, np other buildings were ignited.