A Lady's Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 7 September 1897, Page 2

A Lady's Letter.

Wellington, Bepfc. 4, 1897. Unfortunately the weather was not at all inviting for the opening of the ninth annual Exhibition of the Academy of Fine Arts to day. Con sequently the attendance was not nearly so good as it usually ip, although a large number of people visited the Gallery daring the afternoon. The Exhibition was opened by Hi* Excellency the Governor in a short, pleasant little speech, in whioh he betrayed his evident in terest in Art. The Vice-Beg*l party was met at the entrance by the President (Mr C. D. Barraud) and" members of the Council, and conducted to the stage. Lady Ranfurly was very handsomely dressed in dark mos3 green velvet, the bodice being made with a full vasque and tied with a satin waist band. The gown was also trimmed with sparkling passementerie to match, and her toque was of green velvet wish a full beefeater crown of some soft creamy lace and trimmmed with high gi'een tip*. Bhe also wore a lovely sable fur necklet and carried a mufif to matoh. Lady Constance Knox wore a dark brown frook and eaok-back jacket of the same, and a pretty brown ptraw hat with silk frilled crown and loops of ribbon. A visitor who was also of the party and whose name I did not catch, was gowned in dark maroon cloth with a bodice of velvet to match trimmed with jet, and a i green velvet toque with bunches of violets and a high black aigrette Captain Alexander, Lieutenant Ward and the Hon. Mr Hill-Trevor attended His Excellency. ()thjrs : present I noticed were Sir Robert and Lady Stout, the latter wearing a tailor made suit of dark brown cloth braided with black and a black straw bonnet trimmed with tip3 and red velvet wings ; Lady Buckley, black cloth costume ; Miss Barraud, black | jacket and skirt, light vest and toque of black straw with flowers ; Mrs L.

Wilson, wearing a black crepon gown trimmed with yellow under black lace, gold and black bonnet ; Miss Wilson, green mottled tweed, floral toque j Mrs England (Foxton) fawn cloth costume with black lace front, small felt hat to match with black ribbon; Mrs Rhodes, black silk credon, velvet cape and chiffon and jet bonnet ; Miss Nunnely (Waikanae) dark tailor made suit and ! white sailor hat ; Mrs (Dr) Fell, handsome gray brocaded cloth, jet i bonnet with ecru lace wings ; Mrs Strang (Foxton) blue tailor made costume, white sailor hat and .eable fur necklet ; her sisters, the Mißsei Reid wore blue jackets and skirts and large black feathered hats. Delicious tea and cakes were thoughtfully provided and handed round during the afternoon. Among those I saw assisting at the tea table were Miss M. E. Richardson, who looked very nice in a bright brown cloth costume with a white chiffon vest, large black velvet hat with feathers ; Miss Mabel Hil), wearing a black gown and velvet cape with far, black lacs hat with flowers ; the Misses Henry, blue tailor made suits, sailor hats ; Miss May Lingard, brown costump, hat to match with wings, also Mi3s Smith, Miss Blackett and others. The Earl and Countess appeared \o take a great interest in the pictures. Lady Ranfurly's own exhibits were in themselves an extra attraction to the Gallery and were much admired. Her work is quite a new style to us here, and is of a very pleasing character. On Thursday Mrs Menzies ga've a large afternoon tea at her residence in Hobaon Street, as a ' Farewell ' to her daughter Miss Minnie Menzits who is to be married on Wednesday. A few present were, Mrs Fitzgerald, Mrs Bremner. Mrs and the Misses Ban-on, the Misses Williams, Mrs and Mit?s Hutchison, Mrs and Miss Brandon and others. Mrs H. D. Bell leaves for England nest week. Mr Bell is to accompany her as far as Australia. Most of the ladies who went down south for the Golf Tournament have returned after spending a very enjoyable week in Christchurch. I eee that some of the shops are already showing new prints and summer costumes. Some of them are very pretty, but as far as I can see, the style of dress this summer will be almost, if not quite the same as last, that is cotton blouses and skirts, and white or coloured muslins very much befrilled and lace-trimmed, and what could be prettier or cooler ? I was looking at eome new and decidedly novel Bunshades the other day. They were all quite plain out- . side, made of silk eatin and most elaborately lined with shirred chiffon of different shades, with a little ruche ju?t peeping out round the edge. If you are, or have to be economical, you can just turn your last year's sunshade in side out, and s'ill bs in* the height of fashion. Now this id a hint worth remembering and acting upon, for last summer all the elaboration, if you recollect, was piled on the top, while how, every imaginable garniture is plaoed merely as a lining, the top being left severely plain* Siona,