SOCIAL GOSSIP

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 155, 20 June 1903, Page 10

SOCIAL GOSSIP

By Christabel.

WRITING to an exchange, a New Zealand girl, now in Pans, says 'If you want to appear in the height of fashion wear a flat hat as nearly as possible resembling a large dinner plate, hang a little curtain around it, and there you are ]ust as if you had recently walked on a Parisian, boulevard. There is another fashion still more trying— as practised in the Solomon Islands. In fashionable circles, I understand that, instead of adorniniP 1 your head with a dinner plate, your head adorns someone else's dinner plate. This is a fashion from which it is considered quite impossible to recover, and no ladies' paper seriously advises i^— even for the tropics' * * * Paris has decided that the hair is to mount aloft once more. Indeed, the low coiffure has never been universally adopted by the wise. Parisian women, who study", with excellent results*, their individuality and dress their hair accordingly, always in a certain measure following the reigning mode, but retaining in the main the coiffure that suits best their style of features. _ The smartest London women show signs of following the Paris lead a.nd raising the ooil once more to the crown of the head. * * * A decided innovation in the display of wedding presents was made at a recent London wedding, where very little iewellerv was shown, and no silverware. It is said that the reason was the very strange forms the wedding eifts

had taken an up-to-daite motor-car and a grand piano being amongst them. * * * Does this idea for a new ball dress lecommend itself to any of my gul readers ? In Sydney, the notion is extremely popular. Over a foundation of silk or satin a full skirt of tulle is drp'ied, and over that again a second skirt of a different shade. The effects produced are unique A charming gown was a white silk foundation overlaid first viith white tulle, then with pale green, over which a delicate Dink skirt was laid with excellent results. * * ♦ The trimming is slight, as the gown is so decorative in itself, but there was a line of dainty chiffon roses in blush pink with equally delicate green leaves down the skirt, to meet a flounce of cobwebby lace that did not hide the tints of the diaphanous draperies beneath. Another of these filmy effects is obtained with a dark blue draping of tulle over a pale blue foundation, white chiffon coming over the dark blue, and then a veil of pink. The effect is impossible to imagine or describe but really, though a. little startling:, it is very lovely A trail of pink roses is the only trimming required on this dress. * • • A thoroughly successful social was organised at Johnsonville on Friday last, when an entertainment was provided by the Johnsonville Dramatic Club who performed an amusing play, "The Three Hats." The following members took part • Mrs. London the Misses Evansi, Moore, Y. Willis, and Messrs. Dunlop. W. Moore F. Julius, H. Bowler and P. Willis. * * * Miss Louie Molineux (Ohristchurch) is on a visit to friends in Wellington. * • * Mrs and Miss Hacon have gone to Auckland for the winter months, and are the guests of Sir Logan and Lady Campbell . * * • Miss Denniston (Christchurch) has been staving with Mrs Tolhurst. * * • The Misses Mcc have gone to Wanganui for several weeks.

Tho Misses Cuff (Khandallah) left by tlie Essex for South Africa. Miss Cuff is to be niamed, and will reside in Rhodesia, and her sister will reinaia w ith her for some months. • * •* Mis. G. S. Munro, and her daughteis Emmie and Mabel, were also passengers by the Essex. Mrs. Munro is taking her daughters Home in order that they may resume and complete their 1 studies at the London Aeademj of Music. Miss Emmie's specialty is the piano, aaid Mabel show s exceptional talent as a viohniste. • • • Miss 1 Koch's assembly, last week, was much enjoyed by all the guests present. Mr. Fleming's band supplied the music. Miss Koch wore cream satin Miss L. Koch, a black gown. Mrs. Batham wore a handsome black dress. Amongst the guests were The Misses W. and E. Eliott, L. and H. Hickson, Spragg, Roskruge, Laishlev Meadows Mills, Taplin (Palmerston), Palmer-Clarke. Fisher, Holmes, Parsons Batham, Ashbolt Liddle Putnam. Grant Richardson and Messrs. Palmer, Spacer Fussell, Nathan Russell, Wilson Ward, Hollis. Richardson. B Lund ell Sommerville. Pavitt. PyeSmith, Ashbolt, Cooke,Hickson, Holmes, etc. • • • An emterprisingiphotographer has introduced a novelty in photographs on satin. Brides especially are enthusiastic over this development ,and are photographed on to a piece of the same material as their bridal gown. Girls' hockey clubs are being formed with great enthusiasm at Akaroa, and now the Napier maidens, who have allowed tfoeur energies to sleep for the last few winters, have once more commenced play with several strong teams, and intend toi make a strong bid for the championship. • * * Mrs. F. OB. Loughnan has returned to Wellington. • • • Roller skating is the fashionable pastime both in Napier and Christohuroh. In the latter town a veiry successful "skating at home" was given, at the Colosseum, by Mrs. G. E. Rhodes.

Many of the Christchurch girls have become graceful and accomplished Tinkers. * # The marriage of Miss Mabel Studholm (Waimate) and Mr. Mostyn Jones, was celebrated on May 30th, at Durban South Africa. * * * Otaiki is a sociable little place, and visitors from our town speak in the highest tennis of the hospitality extended bv the resident® there. On Wednesday last one of the most successful balls ever held in the district took place in the Town Hall, under tihe auspices of the Otaiki Tennis Club. Miss Chorley supplied the music while extras were played by Miss Kibblewhite and Mr. Whitehouse. A committee of ladies superintended the supper, which was delicious. Dancing was maintained until the early hours of the morning, the guests being very loth to leave. * • • Many charming gowns were worn, and amongst the guests I noted . Mrs. (Dr.) Clay, in blue satin, with spangled tulle ; Mrs. Harper, wearing white silk. Mrs. Coventry wore black ; Mrs. Rawson nink silk, veiled with black lace ; Mrs. Costello, a black merveilleux gown. Mrs. Kibblewhite also wore a pretty black gown and scarlet flowers. Miss Kibblewhite wore a dainty soft white silk, relieved with sequin trimmings. Miss Seqjief (Wellington 1 ! looked very sweet in white isilk and lace. Miss Marsh wore a heliotrope gown and Maltese lace, which looked exceedingly rich. Miss Whitehorn wore cream cashmere. Miss M. McWilliam wore cream tucked ailk. * • • Miss Simcox looked well in, nink, with lace insertions; Miss P. Wills, in black lace. Miss Almao looked charmime in cream relieved with black : Miss Wilson, in soft white silk; Mrs. Brown, cream tucked silk ; Mrs. Mcßain. grey satin. Mrs Gosling (Levin) wore white; Mrs. Tarit ail black ; Mrs. J. J. Booth, black, enhanced with red berries: Mrs. W. Booth, a handsome trarple velvet ; Miss Young, white and blue. * * • The crentlemem of the club looked 000 l and comfortable in their tennis

flannels. Among them I noticed Di. Clay, Captain H Whitehoin, Mcssis Costello, Lint* W. and G. Whitehorn, Perm, Winchester, Hawkins, Simcox, Locker, etc. The huntsmen of Rangitikei have added vet another to their long list of successful balls for the function held in the Mart on Dnllhall, on Friday, June 12th may fitly be descubed as brilliant. Visitors from all parts of the district were present, and the clear frosty night was an ideal one for dancing. The committee woiked untiringly and too much praise cannot be erven to the secretary, Mr. Geo. F. Bishop. Both floor and music weue voted perfect. The ladies and gentlemen of the Hunt Club wore the colours, the former in the form of a chiffon chou. and the latter the usual "pink" waistcoat and lapels, giving a happy touch of brightness to the scone. Great interest was taken m the handsome trophies which were competed for next day. At the conclusion of the ball, three aheers were most heaitily given for the farmers and three for the master (Mr. Dan. Riddiford). Many lovely gowns were worn. Amongst those I observed were Mis. D. Riddiford, m black satin, with sleeves of lovely old lace. Mrs. Keiller also wore black. Miss Keiller wore a noticeably pretty gown of ceilse satin, over a much-flounced petticoat of ecru net Miss N. Wilson, soft yellow silk Miss Balthorp, white, with berthe of glittering net. Miss S Montgomery had on white satin, with lewelled embroidery Miss Larden, black, with diamonds and old lace, Mrs. A. Fitzherbert, black, with a handsome lace collar, Mrs. J. Hammond lovely pale green brocade gow n , Mrs. Levett black , Miss May sin ore, a becoming gown of powder blue velvet , Mrs. "Bob" Bryce a very pretty dress of white lace over amber satin. * * * Mrs. Bill was in block , Mrs. Dalrymple pale pink , Miss Ross, cream , Miss R. Ross, a very fresh-looking gown of yellow silk , Mrs. R Jones, black and silver. Mrs. R. Fitzherbert, black Miss M Willis, pink brocade Miss Duncan, handsome white brocade gown Miss Kane (Wellington), white satin and sequin net. Miss Tennent, black Mrs. Wotten, piak brocade and ecru lace Miss Frood. black, with beautiful Irish crochet collar- Miss Es&m pale errev . Miss Marshall, pretty gown of shell pink chiffon and rows of narrow pink ribbon , the Misses Jepherson, in white brocade, Mrs. Still, white. Miss Taylor, cream . Miss E. Riddiford. ecru net over satin, Mrs. Beckett black gown, and amber Mrs. J. Bull black. Miss Fullarton-Smith,

and JL^s M. Smith, pictty white gowns. The Point-to-Point" was tins -\ oil urn on a lound course on Mi Bob Bi\ce's estate The day was glonoush fine and crowds of people tianspoitod themselves thither in coaches ami traps of all descriptions on horseback, or on bicycles — Mrs. D. Riddifoid Miss N Wilson Miss Daniel. Mrs Bivce, Miss Maunder Mrs. Bea.ttie, Miss Fullaiton-Smith were all riding. Most of the ladies driving wore long, warm coats and I noticed several pretty zed hats. # * ♦ Mr. Aithur Holmes, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Woodville has lfbigned that position to take a> dosition on the staff of Messrs. Abiaham and Williams at Palmerston {Continued on page 13.)