Social Gossip.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 181, 19 December 1903, Page 8

Social Gossip.

By Christabel.

AN mteiestmg engagement has been announced this week— Miss Zoe Johnston, eldest daughter of the Hon C. J Johnston, M L C , Karon, to Mr W. H. Levin, youngei son of the iate Mr. W. H. Levin. The marriage will take place very shortly. Mi. Levin, who holds a commission in a cavalry regiment, is spending his leave in New Zealand, and leturns to England next January with his bride, but it is his intention to return and live permanently in New Zealand. * * * The engagement has also been announced of Miss Muuel Waldeciave, younger daughtei of Mr Fiank Waldegrave, Wellington, to Mi. Sidney Wyndham Fitzherbert, son, of Mr. H. F. Fitzherbert, Paknerston North. * * * An exceedingly pretty wedding was solemnised on Wednesday December 9th, at St. Thomas's Church, New ton n, when Miss Ida May, eldest daughter ot Mr. Thos. Bland, J.P., was married to Mr. Thos. R. Julian, third son of Mr. Julian, of Waria. Taranaki. The ceiemony was performed by the Rev J. Walker, m the presence of a large number of friends. The bride was given away by her father, and looked charming m a gown of w T hite caskmeie, piettily trimmed with silk insertion and chiffon, and a tulle veil of orange blossoms. * * * Her bridesmaids were the Misses Lilian, Mabel, Ruby. and Zoe Bland (sisters of the bride) The chief bi idesmaid wore a gown of cieam voile and lace, and the voungei ones dainty frocks of pink and white muslin, each carrying a bouquet. They aJso wore gold brooches, the gifts of the bridegroom. Mr. Peicy Julian acted as best man.

and Mi. A. T. Bland as groomsman At the conclusion of the ceremony, a large reception was held by Mrs Bland at the Victoria Hall, where the wedding breakfast was laid out. Mr. and Mrs Julian afterwards left for Wanganm and t)v> Wairaiapa districts where the honeymoon is being spent. The gomg-away dress was of leseda voile, worn with a pietty toque The wedding presents were numeious and costly. » • * The membeis of the Wellington Liedertafel gave their third concert of the season on Thuisday last at the Svdncystreet Schoolroom. * * * Mis. Harold Coopei (Palmerston North) js visiting Wellington. * * * Mrs. A. E. Donne has returned from Auckland, having travelled TNfoith with Miss Crossley and party. * * * Mis. and Miss Miles are expected to arrive from Home very shortly. ¥■ *• * Hon. Geoige Jones, MLC, accompanied by Mrs and Miss Jones loft this w eek on a. visit to England and the Continent. From Sydney the paity travel bv the North Geiman loutc * * * Mrs T. C Williams and Miss H Williams aie passengers by the Noith German liner Barbaiossa due at Sydney about December 26th. The Misses M and E. Williams have leturned to Wellington, and are once more in then house, Hobson-strset. * * * Mi . Costello, manager of the Bank of Australasia, Otaki, and Mrs. Costello, have been staying m Wellington for a few weeks. Illness compelled Mr. Costello to rest. * * * The schools are breaking up, and the excitement of prize-distribution asm the air. On Tuesday the pupils of the Pipitea Private School, and their friends and relations, assembled at the Sydney-street Schoolroom and a pleasant hour was spent The pnzes were piesente 1 -! bv Mis. Hogben. who also gave a very interesting address. The report of the year's work was lead by Miss Baber, and a pretty programme of pait songs, exercises, and recitations was performed by the junior pupils. * T- * Especially pleasing was the action song, "The Sand Maidens." Some of those piesent were Mis Balcombe-

Biown, Mi. and Mi s. Percy Baldwin, Mis. and Miss Macintosh, Mrs. and Miss MacTavisli Misses Fitzgerald, Misses Richmond, Misses Newall, Mrs and Misses Gaw , Mis Koch, Miss Halse, Mis Van Slvke, Mis. Stocker. Mrs. Homy Blundell and the Misses Blundell aie expected back bv the next 'Fnsco boat. Mis. Charles Trmgham leaves for Auckland next week to meet them on then ai rival. * * * The annual sports in connection with the Star Boating Club are to be held on Saturday Januaiv Kith This is always a popular function with the membeis and their friends. The marnage of Miss Florence W'lhs, eldest daughter of A. J. Willis, Esq.. eldest daughtei of Mr. A J. Wills, secretary to the Executive Council, and Mr. Kenneth Y. Mow at, of Altimarloch, Blenheim, was quietly celebrated on Tuesday Decembei Bth. The ceremony was pei formed by the Yen. Arch. Grace at "Dumgree," Blenheim, the chaimma; lesidence of Mi and Mis. Young. The bride was given away bv her mother, and looked extremely sweet in a cieam voile skirt and soft silk blouse, with insertions of wide Maltese lace. Hei budesmaids weie A sister (Miss Elsie Willis), who wore a pretty fown ot pale blue linen, and large picture hat, and Mrs. Young's little daughter, who was daintily clad in white silk. Mi. Hairy Mow at attended his brother as best man. After the ceremony a few guests \\ ere entertained at afternoon tea. The day being gloriously fine the table w r as ai ranged on the broad verandah, which is ten feet wade, and the clusters of exquisite roses rambling everywhere made the most appropriate background for the pretty scene. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Mowut drove to Altimarloch, their future home, taking with them the best wishes of all their friends foi health, wealth, and happiness. An interesting ceremony w as the laying of the foundation-stone for the Williams Memorial Missions to Seamen Institute, Whitmoie - street, on Wednesday afternoon, December 16th. Mrs. W. R. Williams, who so generously made the handsome donation enabling the Institute to be built immediately, w r as presented with a t rowel and mallet, and, amid cheers, the donor laid the stone

Miss Janet Rutherford presented Mrs. Williams with a handsome bouquet. Speeches w ere made by the Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, His Woiship the Mayor, and the Hon W. Hall-Jones thanking Mrs. Williams on behalf of the seamen of the colon y and of other nations, all of ■whom. will find a leady welcome at the everopen dooi of the Institute The Rev. J. D. Russell honorary secretary also took an active pait in the ceremony. Afternoon, tea was subsequently served in the Ait Galleiy adioining. Amongst those present were Mrs. Seddon, Lady Ward, the Hon. C. H. Mills and Mrs. Mills. Mrs. S. A. Rhodes, Mrs. Bal-combe-Brown Mis Stealey, Miss May Seddon and Miss Powles. * # * The Central Hall at the Girls' High School was filled to overflowing on Wed~>esd'iy night, the occasion being the annual ceremony of prize-gaving. The hall had been tastefully decorated with gicenerv and red flowers, and the £firls, ' dressed all in white, looked as happy and healthy as girls could be. Evea tLosc with quite an alarming list of "fusts" and 'seconds" had rosy cheeks and blight eves, and not a suggestion of the studious bookw oim. * * * This, no doubt is greatly due to Miss McLean, the lady principal's excellent method of encouraging outdoor exercise. The High School girls can easily hold their ow n in any of the examinations, scholai ships, etc. for which they enter, and now they are becoming champions at ronning, lumping, and tennis. No doubt, in a few "ears they will excel at cricket, too, as a club has been formed, and the members are enthusiastic. * * This, of course, gives them conmlete recreation when not studying and as their muscles develop the brain rests, and they return to their lessons w ifch all the cob-webs blown away. Evidently, the Board of Governors thoroughly approve, for they complimented Miss McLean in the highest terms upon the year's work. After a short address from Mr. A. de B. Brandon, and the report, read by Miss McLean, the prizes were Dreseated b^ Mrs. Seddon, and later the Premier made a few interesting remarks e'er the pioceedings closed. * * # Mrs. Fitchett leaves very shortly on a visit to Canterbury and Otago Dr. Fitchett is ioimng an excursion party to Mount Cook.