Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 201, 7 May 1904, Page 8

Social Gossip

By Christabel.

WKa.eall hoping that the rumour of a 'Mayor's Ball," to welcome the new Govemoi , has really some foundation. It would be so appropnate, as the Mayor is also om Ball" was one given by hospitable Mi ThiHne during hu> term of office, ana SthS' expense nor trouble was spaied Smake ?t delightful. Then, the Hon CJ Johnston^ too, did a great deaUrf Xtai taming- It was whilst he was ma^o hal g Lord Camngton visited us X Australia, and our then mayo, ?Se .ealised that there was a social as well as a municipal side to the ma you al seat. • * * Tliere are great hopes also of a Stai Club ball thkseason. For many years this was considered the best ball or every season, and many girls paid the hosts the pretty compliment of coming out" at this function. Increasing popularity made it difficult to accommodate the guests, and it was hoped that the Town Hall would have been ready this season. However, if the club decide to give their ball at Sydney-street after all it will be looked foiwa,rd to with much pleasure. • • • Mis Hisl op entertained a numbei of guests at an afternoon tea on Thursday _a farewell foi Mrs. C. Cooper. • * * The High School ''Old Girls' Association aie giving an "At Home" to then fi lends at the High Sohool, on Frida\ May 20th. Progressive euchie and van ions competitions will occupy the time until 10 o'clock and then foi a feu houis there will be dancing lhe "Old Girls'" ball will be held latei on in the reason.

Mr. and Mis. W. Levm aie also on tnear way back to New Zealand, Mr. Levin, iuiviugi ©tiled from the Army. * • * The ' Country Gn 1" will nevei oomplann of her welcome to Wellington, foi on eveiy appearance laige and enthusiastic audiences have greeted her witili applause. There is much pretty frocking but a short glimpse of the exquisite walking gowns worn by the "electioneering ladles" did not enable one to appieciate their beauty ayS they desenved. • * * Mlss Florence Young's first gown was ol oalevt pink ciepe-de-chme with veny wide bands of jewelled lace, which glittered most effectively with every movement. Hei laige hat was trimmed with roses. Later, she wears a very becoming black ball gown, with black net ovei-diess, much trimmed with jet and silver embroidery, and lovely diamond ornaments. • • • Miss Ghiloni was much admned as the Pnncess, and her di aperies — one could not call them "gowns" — weie most artistic One, of old gold silk, with vei v handsome turquoise ornaments, was extremely rich and Eastern. The choius giris looked bright, and pietty to<" and the Hiawatha dancei s were char-miner especially the "fluffy" blue gnls. One frock, of white satin, with ovei -dress of beautiful black lace, was a woik of art. • • * A Christchurch paper says that of all the open as staged, "My Lady Molly" was d uite. the prettiest. The grouping and fiockine were charming. In this the ladiies of the chorus wear quaint cie'hteenth cental y frocks, and carry wands with floweis, and the men have half hoops of roses. There is some pretty dancing, too. * * * Mr. and Mrs. Robert Levin have retuined from England, and spent a few days in the Wairarapa before settling down jn their new lesidence. ♦ * * Mr. Morris E. Wood, the representative New Zealand footballer, was mairied to Miss Clara Lenoie Ritchey, eldest daughter of Mr. Theo. H. Ritchey, late of Wellington, on sth April, by special license, at St. Mary's, Timaru, the Venerable Archdeacon Harper officiating. The bnde looked very nice in a white accordeon-pleated silk gown, handsomely trimmed with lace, and the bi id'esmaids, Misses Maud and Milly Ritchev and Miss Gowing, looked very smait in blue tweed costumes, and large picture hats to match.

The church was beautifully decorated, and tiie wedding was a very quiet, one, only the near lelatives of both families being present. After the ceremony, the guests^ were entertained at the residence of the bride's parents where the usual toasts were proposed and duly honou-red. The bride's travelling dxess was pale blue frieze, faced with cieam cloth and a large picture hat covered with violets. The happy couple left by express train ion Lyttelton, en route to< Auckland, wheie Mr. Wood has been transferred. • ♦ • Mis. Wood will be a decided acquisition to musical caicles in Auckland, and her loss will be much felt by her large musical connection in Christchurch, for some years. She was the recipient of many handsome presents, a Lipp piano being amongst them. As Mr. Wood is retiring from the football field, he also> received many tokens of esteem from various branches of athletics. • * • Mr and Mrs. Call Haitmam passed through Wellington last week, en route to Otaki, Mr. Hartman having been promoted by the bank authorities, from Jnvei eargil]. Mrs. Malcolm Ross gave a very jolly aiternoon tea last Wednesday, when a novelty m the way of competitions wa^> introduced. The guests were requested to guess the contents of thirty bottles or packages, by smelling them The articles were scattered about in all uit eotions, and so "keen on the scent" did the girls become that the guessing went on whilst they were having tea. "Imagine my luck," said one guest "I struck a bottle of kerosene while I was eating such a delicious cake!" The winner (Miss Ewen) received a pretty veil sachet, and Miss Christine Smith, as lunner-up, carried off a bottle of scent The tea-table, in the diningroom, was very pretty, the centre, of pale green, being hand-painted with a design of autumn leaves Mrs. Re=s leceived. wearing a orett^ blouse of blue Roman satin, and point lace collai with a voile skirt. • • • Then c were only one or two married ladies present, it being a girls' tea Mrs. Fulton wore a dark green tailormade gown Mrs. Gilruth had on a lovely black and white gown and a thct'dip hat with lone; ostrich feather Mrs Stott wore a pretty gown, a,nd a I'hck hat Misses E. Stafford, Y. Fulton W Miles. I. Nelson, C Smith. L Ewer. R. Butt G. Riley, E Stuart Oanmbell, Denniston, B. and G. Hislop D. Pollen Quick and E. Heywood were >•> mp. of the guests.

Miss Barniooat (Wanganua) ifo staying ,n Wellington just now. ♦ * • A vei y f askicmable wedding took place at Christ Chuieh, Wanganui, last Thursday, when Mr. Lamoe Stedman, eldest son of Mr. E. Stedman (Napier) wias married to Miss Ethel A. Christie, second daughter of Mr. H. F. Christie, of Wanganui. The church was elabotately decorated for the occasion by the old girls of the Wanganui College, of which the bride was a popular scholar for a number of yeairs. The bride, who was given away by her father , was beautifully attired in a white ivoiy satin gown, handsomely ti mimed with chiffon and true lovers' knots, having a transparent yoke. She woi c the customary veil, and wreath of orange blossoms, and earned a shower bouquet. * * * Miss Chiistie was. attended by three bnde&maids The Misses Doiothy and Gladys Christie and Miss Joan Jergins, who also woie very dainty gowns of v lute silk, with ehifton fichus, and white felt hats with ostrich feathers. Each of them carried crooks, surmounted with bonze chrysanthemums, and they made a veiy dainty tuo. They also wore gold bar biooches with "1904" set in p&arls the gifts of the bridegroom. Mr. Stedman was attended by Mr. Knublinej - * who acted as best man, and Mr. Nelson Stedman (brother oil tht bridegroom) was groomsman. The seirvice, which was fully choral, was conducted by the Rev. T- B. Maclean, Mr. Naylor piesidmg at the organ. • • » After the ceremony a large number of lelatives and friends were entertained at me residence of the bride's parents, St. John's Hill, a large marquee being erected on the lawn for the occasion. When the usual toasts had been honoured, the happy couple left by the afternoon tram for Palmers-ton, en route for Chri&tchurch, where the honeymoon is to be spent. Mis. Stedman's travelling dress was navy zibilene, trimmed with lace and pale blu-e panne velvet. * • • Miss Marjome Robinson (Nelson) is here, visiting fi lends. • ♦ * Those lucky beings who have departed IM. Louis-wards are not the only Wel-hno-tomans contemplating trips. By the Mokoia, next Saturday, quite a number leave for Australia, on pleasure bent, amongst them Mr. Miles and Miss Bertha Miles, Mrs. and Miss Muriel Waildegrave, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Tilu'iidell and Miss May Bundell, and Mr Coates, the latter joining the boat for England at Sydney.

One of the mobt charming weddings that has taken place recently was celebrated at the quaint little church, St. Ronans, at Muntai, on Thursday, April 28th. The bride was Miss Lillian Louise Wills (pet name Poppet), youngest daughter of Mi. and Mis Frank Wills of "Lalla Rookh," Muntai, and the bndegioom was Mr Albeit Kirington Exley, eldest son of Mi A. h K\St. Kenan's Church was lavishly decorated with beautiful flowers and quantities of lycopodium, and tne "Bay" «.b en fete. Bunting was djsplayed wherevei possible, and the ferry boats were gaily decked IMon the "'busses w Inch met the guests, and the hoises that diew them w-e.e festooned with evergieens and floweis A prett- incident took place artei the ceremony, when the school-children scattered flow ei -petals on the path ot the biide and bridegroom as they lett the church. The ceremony was perfo.med by the Rev. J. D. Russell of Petone, and was choral and Mrs. Russell, of Chnstchuich, played the Wedding March." • ♦ • The budewas given away by her fathei and looked exceedingly sweet in a trained gown of ivory meryei leux with flounces of ve.y beautiful silk Maltese lace and chiffon, caught here and there with orange flowers Her tulle veil was becomingly ananged over a coronet of orange blossoms, and she earned an exquisite sWer bouquet. Her two sisters, Misses Nellie and Violet Wills, were the only bridesmaids and wore pretty Jesses of coral pink, with large cream velvet p cture Eats and black ostnch tips. I hey also wore gold neck chains and earned floral muffs, the rift of the bridegroom Mr Arthur Williamson was best man, and Mr Ernest Blundell groomsman • * * Afterwards, a number of guests were entertained at 'Lalla Rookh," the iesidence of the bi ides pa. ents. Mrs Wills received the guests, and woie a very handsome gown of black flake voile and pretty black and white bon-net. Mrs. Grant the bride's g.andmother, wore a black sulk gown. M.s. Exley mothei ol the bridegioom, wore a stylish gown of black merveilleux, and a hat ot chenille, with pink loses. The wedding luncheon was a very lecherche repast, and conspicuous on one of the tables was the wedding-cake, with decorations and trails of uatuial white flowers. Everywhere about the house were exquisite chrysanthemums, Mr. Wills being an enthusiastic amateur gaidener • * * There were several toasts, each being drunk with the greatest enthusiasm. The Rev. J. D. Russell, m proposing the health of the bride and bndegroom, made a witty and bright speech to which Mr. Exley replied. Mr. Williamson was equally happy in proposing "The bridesmaids," and Mi. Blundell lesponded. The toast of the "Bride s Parents" was pioposed by a very old friend (Mi. Tustin), and Mr. Wills of course replied. Mi. Shoitt completed the list with the "Bridegroom'- Paients." « • • Aftea the wedding lepast, Mi. and Mrs. A. E. Exlev dro\e to the Hutt en route to the North, where the honeymoon is being spent. The bride looked very winsome in a tailor-made gown of blue cloth, and a pale blue felt hat, with soft blue nbbons

and bunches of Parma violets Many veiy handsome presents weie leceived, amongst them being a piano, puise ot sovereigns, cheques, nnd some old sil\ei, lovch lace, and fms • * * The maiuage of Mi John Stewait Geddis youngest son of Mis. Geddis, of Harbour-street, Ponsonby, Auckland, and Miss Ethel Jonnson, second daughlei of Mrs W G Johnson, also of Ponbonby, was quietly solemnized on Thui sdav afternoon April 21st, at the lesidence of the brides mother, Seymourstieet. The Rev. R. F. Macmcol officiated. The bride was given away by her eldest brother, Mr. W. Johnson and woie a beautifully-made, trained 1 dress of cieme voile, with hip yoke of creme satin ribbon, open stitchery, and French knots. The skirt was pm-tucked, and inserted with lace, and finished at the foot with a finely-shirred flounce. She also wore' an embroideied tulle veil oven a coronet of orange blossoms, and cairied a pretty shower bouquet. •» • » Tie bndesmaids weie Miss Ivy Johnson a id three little nieces of the bridegroom No-a Bonk, Eileen Geddis, and Ella Weston. Miss Johnson woie a tasteful and pretty dress of clianiDagne silk voile, the sknt finished with an ao-cordeon-pleated flounce, and inserted Tnth lace. The httle maids vrore dainty fiocks of creme silk, with yokes of satin ribbon and fagotting, the skuts tucked and inserted with lace, creme socks, and red shoes, and they ca.i ried baskets of brieht ied flowers and maiden-hair ferns. The bridegroom's gift to the first bridesmaid was a gold bar brooch with opal and sinnhire bee, and to the little "iris pearl initial brooches. • • • Mr. J. G. McDougall acted as best man The bride's e^oing-away dress was of dark blue faced cloth, coat and skirt with stitched bands, blue silk vest, and pietty white felt hat edged witli benvcr and trimmed with white satin 1 lbbo'i and long white ostrich feather.

The man who drives the royal mail, The maid who carries the milking-pail, The stockman on the cattle run, The sportsman with his dog and gun, The watchman going his nightly round, The miner woiking underground, All make themselves from cold secure By using Woods' Great Peppermint Cure