Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 230, 26 November 1904, Page 8

Social Gossip

By Christabel.

THE weather was beautifully fine for the College boys' sports last Monday, and the attendance was very large. Fiom quite early in the day the pietty lawns were bnghtened' with the o-ay millinery and dainty gowns of the guests, the majority of whom wore sott muslin dresses. A large marquee wa» erected on the lawn, and there afternoon tea and delicious cake* and sandwiches were handed round. The spoi te themselves were most exciting, and the boys are to be congratulated upon then success. A band played between the events, and, altogether, the gathering wa& most enjoyable. Mrs. Firth wore a gown of palest grey voile, with wide folded belt of canary yellow silk ; her hat was trimmed with large, pale-yellow roses, and a grey ostrich «tole was also worn. A pretty gown was of cream taffeta, with touches of brown velvet. Anothei dainty cream frock had a beautifullyembroidered) collar, the design bein^ worked in pale green silk A becoming hat, worn by a girl recently returned from Sydney was of white and blue straw, very wide aoross the front — the crown was rather low, and of oval shape, simply swathed 1 with ribbon in quaint blue and white design. • • • A striking combination was of chocolate brown and orange. The dress was of silk, made with narrow flounoes from waist to hem. The bodice was much shirred, and 1 had the usual drooping effect. A knot of orange velvet gave relief, and with this gown was worm a large brown hat draped with brown lace, and trimmed' with large orange roses. A graceful girl, with much-ad-mired hair of "Irish gold," wore a heliotroT>e muslin dress, and hat with the same shades.

Amongst the many visitors on© met there were: Lady Stout, Mis. Fell, Mrs. H. Crawford, Mrs. Fulton, Mr» Bridge, Mrs. Hales, Mrs. Tiegear, Ms. G. Kemp, Mrs. Butt, Mis. J. P. Campbell, Mrs Haoon, Mrs. Kane, and the Misses Morrah, Liddell, Ewan, Fulton, Fell, Turner, Tregear, Lloyd Hassell, Kirkcaldie, Fitzgerald, Otterson, Burnett, Harcourt, Quick, Eliott, Drummond, Higgie (Wanganui). * * • Invitations have been issued by the Wellington Liedertafel for a concert on Friday next. * ♦ • Mrs. Hales returned' last week from her Wanganui trip, amd has since been visiting Taihape for the great celebrations. The bush about this little township is said to be looking very lovely just now It is to be hoped that a little of it will be allowed to remain. One has to go very far afield now-a^-days to get a glimpse of the famous New Zealand bush scenery. * ♦ • ' The lady principal and staff of the Girls' High School have issued invitations for a garden party in connection with the High School sports, next Friday afternoon. This* is being anticipated with much pleasure. * * • Mrs. Levien (Muntai) leaves this week on a vLSit to Nelson. * * * Aichdeacon Fancourt and his daughter are expected' back m Wellington early m January. * * » Mrs. E. Chaytoi has been visiting relatives m Blenheim. * * • A very pretty wedding took place at St. James's Church, Wellington South, on Wednesday, November 16th, when Mr. Percy Alexander Johnson, thud son of the late Mr. E. J. D. Johnson, was married to Mary, second daughter of the late Henry Nicholas Schhchting, formerly of Victoria. The ceremony was performed bv the Rev. W. Shirer, in the presence of many friends. The bride looked oharmine; in her bridal gown of white silk, the bodice being made with a deep transparent yoke. The trained 1 skirt was elaborately tucked, and finished! with beautiful lace and soft ruchings of chiffon. The veil was worn over a wreath of orange blossoms. * • • Miss Becker, as chief bridesmaid, wore a very pretty gown of cream ac-cordeon-pleated voile, and a quaint

burnt-straw bonnet, lined with rose chiffon, and trimmed with moss roses. Mi&s Olga Webber also wore a very dainty dress of cream voile, made with a Victorian yoke, and! finished with satin bebe ribbon. Her burnt-straw hat was wreathed with shaded roses. The two small maids (the Misses Olive and Mavis McLean) looked very siweet and picturesque in white silk "straightdown" frocks, beautifully inlet with insertion of valencienines lace. They also wore early English bonnets, and earned baskets of flowers. The bouquets earned by the bride and elder maids weie veiy charming. The bridal one wais made by Mrs. J. Silva, of Lower Hutt, and the other two by Mrs. V E. Nation The bridegroom was attended by Mr. Harold! Oakes. The bride was given away bv her elder brother, Mr. August Schliohting. * • • After the ceremony, a reception was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. McLean, Mem-street, where the bridal party and! intimate friends were entertained at afternoon, tea. The honeymoon is being spent in the Manaiwatu district. The bride's travelling srown was of cream hopsaok, the coat being relieved with insertion, and! worn over a cream glace silk blouse. Her becominsr hat was trimmed with vale green tulle and yellow roses. A great many gifts were received 1 by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, amongst them being a handsome silver and oak biscuit barrel, suitably inscribed, from members of the Garrison Band, of which the bridegroom is a popular member. • » ♦ The Amateur Athletic Club's sports are to be held at the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon. If the day is fine the meeting will undoubtedly be one of the most successful ever held here. The Premier and Mrs. Seddon will be present, an<dr at the conclusion of the sports Mi's. Seddon will present the cross country challenge cup' to the winner Between the events there will be hand music, and, for the smallest charge, refreshing afternoon tea 1 served at small tables on the lawn. • • • Mrs. Babington returned last week from Sydney, and left almost immediately, with the General, for Christchurch, where they have taken rooms at "Fassifern," Papanui-road. It is Mrs. Babington's intention to spend the summer months in the South Island. • • • Mrs. Edmund Goodbehere (Feildin^ has been in Wellington for a few days' shopping.

Mr. and Mrs. Beetham have issued invitations for the marriage of their daughter, Miss Thyra Beetham, to- Mr» Maimaduke Bethell, of Canterbury. The ceremony will take place at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral on Wednesday,. November 30th. A reception will be af terwai ds held at the residence of Mrs>. T. C. Williams, Hobsonr-street. » • » Captain and Mrs. Robinson, who havebeen visiting Dunedin, hare returned. * ♦ ♦ Mr. and Mrs,. Herapath (England> have come to New Zealand again and intend remaining several months in the col on v. Both Mr. and Mrs. Herapath are enthusiastic anglers. * * » Mrs. Lomax has returned to Wanganui. * * » Miss B. Fitzgerald has returned from Ban^itikei, where she has been staying with Mrs. W. Levin. \ * * * Miss Seed' is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Bowen, Seaview Terrace, Napier. * ♦ • Mr. Robinson (custodian of Parliament Buildings), accompanied! by Mrs. Robinson, leaves by the Waikare on Saturday, on a. trip to the Commonwealth. * * * To provide funds for furnishing the Home for Chronic Invalids, it has been decided to hold a bazaar about next June or July, and by this means it is hoped at least £500 will be realised. The bazaar will probably be held in the Town Hall. * ♦ • Mies Butts is visiting friends at Nelson. * * • Miss Violet Twigg, who has spent the winter months in Wellington, has returned 1 to Petane, Hawke's Bay. * ♦ • Next Sunday is Hospital Sunday, and" the Wellington bandsmen will hold a demonstration at the Basin Reserve, under the patronage and in the presence of Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., Chief Justice. In Australia a great deal of money is collected) on Hospital Sunday, leading residents doing all they can to encourage what is generally considered' an excellent idea. The collection on Sunday will be in aid of the Wellington District Hospital/ an institution so splendidly managed; and! deserving of support that no doubt the Wellington public will assist generously the bandsmen's efforts.

Mrs. Beamish is visiting her sister, Mrs. Olaud Cato, Napier. * • • Miss Cachemaille has been spending a holiday at Nelson. • • ♦ Why, I wonder, have we dancing people imagined that our City Fathers had our interests and hopes at heart. Moat certainly we did, but, alas and alack, it is wisdom not to put your trust m mayor or councillors. Just imagine, the small concert hall, built expressly for small entertainments and dances, has, like the Town Hall, only a floor with a concrete foundation! So much for pleasurable anticipations of dancing in comfort. "Wait for the new hall !" has been a by-woi d Now — my judgment may be hasty — but I venture to prophesy that most of the smaller dances will still be held in Sydney-street, despite the inconvenience of situation for Newtown residents. There is no doubt, had a good floor been laid at a "little extra expense, it would make a,, big difference' in the value of the hall, for dancin- enthusiasts consider the state of the floor before anything and this one is solid as solid can be. » » • The Star Boating Club members were the hosts at, a very pleasant little function on Saturday last. A number of ladies were invited to witness the rowing of the' "Ladies' Fours," but unfortunately, the rough state of the sea prevented th^a interesting race doming off, so it has been indefinitely postponed. Instead, there was a "whaler" race, which was very amusing. Very nice afternoon tea was handed round in the club room. The table was tastefuly decorated with _ shaded nasturtiums and large white daisies. • ♦ # Some of the guests weie Mesdames Pearce, Tregear, Bendall, Fulton, Widdor> Kins, Bridge, and F Barclay, and the Misses Partridge. Fulton, Thomas (Chnstchurch) Fitzgerald, Otterson, Harcourt, Ward, Wilson, Hogeard, Brewer, Grant Burnett. Sullivan, Borlase, and Marshall. During the afternoon there was some veiy enjoyable music, songs beine sung by Mi«.s May Sullivan and Messrs. Macbeth. Warren, Bendall, Hollis, and Newton. , • • * Mrs. and the Misses Holdsworth are expected to leturn shortly to New Zealand, after spending the last few years with relations at Home. • » * The following paragraph, in Melbourne "Punch," will be read' with interest — "At the special lequest of the Governor-General, Lady Plunket, the wife of the new ly-appointed Governor of Nerw Zealand, who has been the guest of Sir Reginald Talbot during Cup week, will, duung the rest of her visit to Melbourne, stay at Federal Government House. Her sweet face and trentle bearing have made her friends with all whom she has- come into contact. • * ♦ ''Lady Plunket is the youngest daughter of the late Marquis of"Dufferin, and has resided lone in Dublin with her husband, who hais. been discreet private secretary to Lord Cadocan and Lo* d Dudley. Lord Plunket is directly descended from an Irish Lord Chancelloi , and his father was Archbishop of Dublin Throusrh his mother he is nenhew t>f Lord Iveagh and Lord Ardilaun. They both enioved much social popularity whilst in Dublin."

It will be 1 seen by advertisement elsewhere that theie are nine candidates out for the six. councillors' seats in the new Miramar Borough. And the material is so good that, with Mr. F. Townsend in the chair, Miramar is bound to get a strong move on. John Brodie is a well-known commission agent, who has one of the nicest houses in Karaka Bay. Charles John Clawford is one of the lairds of Miramiar, and has done yeoman seivice on the Seatoun Road Board. M. T. McGrath was the con tractor who put up the Clyde Quay seawall, owns land at Seatoun, and has served the public on the Road Board. G J. Perry is one of the oldest residents of Seatoun, and is chairman of its School Committee. H. E. Richards is also one of the earliest residents ,and has served his apprenticeship on the Road Board. • • • E. J. Searl was formerly identified with the Hotel Cecil, and is now running Babington House, at Seatoun. W. C. Stephens was for many yeais accountant of the Manawatu Railway Company, and is now the secietary of two companies which have been spending money freely to push Miramar ahead . He ought to be an acquisition in matters of finance. Thomas Wardell is the Wellington member of the wellknown firm of grocers, and 1 is a shrewd business man. T. W. Witt is a hustler and a general favourite He has made his home in the borough and has done much to bring it to the front