Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 278, 28 October 1905, Page 8

Social Gossip

A CHARMING function of last week ■was Miss Estelle Beeres apres midi of class dancing, at the Sydney^street schoolroom. A great many children from school -girl to baby age took part in the pretty display, which was watched with the greatest interest by a large audience, including Their Excellencies Lord and Lady Plunkot, tibe Hon. Kathleen Fkmket, and Captain Braithwaite. Lady Plunketfs little children all participated! m the dancing, and) performed several fancy dances with grace and much spirit. • • • Miss Beere led the very pretty "sun" exercises, and then the various pupils danced as a class and by themselves, first the older pupils and then the babies, tihe latter being particularly charming in their dainty and fairy-like movements. Really Miss Beere is wonderfully successful in training the little ones, and one wondlers how such baby minds can remember the many steps in the various evolutions. Skirt dances, hornpipes, jigs, the two-step, Spanish dances, and' many more were included in the programme, and the exhibition of waltzing wad the polka by the babies was delightful. # • • Amongst the many present were: The Mayor and Mayoress, Lady Ward, Mrs. Wallas, the Misses Setddon, Mr. and Mrs. C. Izard, Mr. and Mrs. Hairoldi Johnston, Mrs. John Duncan, Mr. and Mrs. Lan Duncarn, Mis® Ooates, Mrs. Sprott, Dr. and Mrs-. Perry, Dr. and Mrs. Pollen, Dr. and Mrs. Shand, Mrs and Miss Somerville, Sir William and Lady Steward, Mrs. Brandon, Mrs. Beauohamp, Mrs. Tuekey, Mm.

Leakie, Mrs. Hamer, Mrs. Frank Leckie, Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. W. Turnbull, Mrs. Bias, Mrs. Firth, Mrs,. Home, Mrs. Trapp, Mr. and Mrs. Forte. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd, Dr. and Mrs. Purdy, Mrs. Bunny, Mrs Mason, Mrs Pearson, Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Kendall, Mrs. Scales, Mrs. E. Donne. Mrs. Abbott, Mrs. Wiliberfoss, Mrs. Speed, Mrs. Seaton, Mrs. Van Staveren, Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, Mr. and' Mrs. Loughnan, Mrs. Henrys, Mrs De Castro, Mrs. Oorrigan. ♦ • * Everyone is really glad to welcom-. Mr. and Mrs. Brough, b'ck to Now Zealand, and the large audiences which hare greeted! "Beauty and the Barge" each evening have given Mr. Brough round's of welcoming applause. In the large audiences I have noticed : Their Excellencies Lard and Lady Plunket, the Hon. Kathleen Plnnket, Lady Ward, Miss Eileen Ward, the Misses Seddlon, Mr. and! Mrs. W. Kennedy, Mrs. and Miss Medley, Mrsand 1 Miss Fell, the Misses TitzGerald, Mrs. Newman, Miss LToydi Hassell, Mrs. 'and Miss Blundell, the- Misses Simpson, Mrs. and Miss Palmier, Ma-, and Mrs. J. B. MacEwan, Miss Butts, Mr. and Mrs. R. Levin, Mrs. Abbott, and Mrs. A. Duncan. * * • The Hon. Walter and Mrs. Johnston and Mr. and Mrs. W. Levin came dtown for the races. * * •» Miss Stead (Christohurch) is the guest of Mrs. Harold Johnston. • • * Mrs. C- Cooper has returned to Christchurch. •• * * Dr. and Mrs. Webster gave a delightful little dance on Tuesday last, about eighty guests being present. * •» * Mrs. Nelsoftx's diance last Thursday was a very enjoyable one, the pretty house being so excellently arranged for entertaining. • * • The opening of the season at the Thorndon bowling green was attended by a greater number of guests and players than usual, in spite of the blowing of a strong northerly. The club has considerably enlarged its pavilion, and gave the house-warmniig; in its wellknown liberal manner. The new upper storey of the building foirms a lai'ge

and attractive club-room, overlooking the links. This room was used on Saturday for the first time to entertain the club's many friends at afternoon tea. As this function was arranged by Mrs. John King, with the Misses Hickson (daughters of the club's president) as chief assistants, everyone's creature comforts were satisfactorily attended to. ♦ • • I noticed Mr. Jas. McKenrow abandoned the delights of his favourite game, and 'his genial face was conspicuous throughout the afternoon whilst he was attending to the guests. Although there were five rinks being used, I didn't ascertain who were the victors. I am not conversant with the higher paints of the game, and had no wish to display my want of knowledge, but a Mr "Jack" must have been playing capitally, as I heard his name mentioned quite a number of times. • * itSome of those present were : Colonel and Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Dyer, Mrs. Bal-oombe-Brown, Mrs. and 1 Miss Bendall, Mrs. King, Mrs. J. Seaton, Mrs. J. MoEldkwney, Mrs. Koch, Misses Brindley (2), Misses Wiggins (2). MissLaishley, the Misses Hickson, Mrs. Bruce, and Mrs. Mabin. * * ♦ Mrs. Jeff coat is visiting friends at Hawke's Bay. ♦ ♦ • Mrs. Amelius Smith is spending a week or two in the Sotuth Island. • # • Miss Seed has returned from a pleasant visit to Napier. ♦ • • Miss Dulcie Kennedy (Napier) was here for a few days this week. • • * Mrs. John Prouse gave a very enjoyable "At Home" at her residence on Monday afternoon, inviting her guests to meet Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brough and Miss Temple, which, needless to cay, everyone was' delighted to d!o. The pretty rooms at "Gricklewood" were gay witih flowers, some exquisite saffron-coloured rhododendron azaleas in the drawing-room being especially admired. • * « Afternoon tea, with the daintiest of oakes (made and sent from Pahnerston), was served in the dining-room, the Misses Prouse being assisted! by Mrs.

Harrison, their brothers, and 1 Mr. Stuart Seddon. Very delightful were the songs of Mr. and Moss C. Prouse, and these were listened to with great pleasure. Mrs. Prouse wore a pretty soft brown silk' voile gown, with laoe and handsome motifs, and received, her guests at the entrance to the drawingroom, and introducing them to Mrs. Brough, who stood near. * • . Mre. Brough wore a blue cloth gown, and large black hat of chip straw, with graceful tips. Miss Temple wore a navy blue cloth costume and small hat. Miss Prouse wore a very dainty frock of mousseline-d'e-soie, with lace yoke and folded belt ; Miss C. Prouse, a pretty silk blouse, and voile skirt. Lady Ward's gown was of cream cloth, with black hat. Miss Ward wore a pretty cream voile dress and hat wreathed witih roses. Mrs. Macintosh wore black silk voile, and Mactk ha,t. * • •' I also noticed : Mrs. Harding, Mrs. George Robertson, Mrs. Beiauchamp, Mrs. F. Dyer, Mrs. MaoEwan, M)rs. aind Miss Holm wood, Masses Mills, Stafford, Quick, Finch, Nelson, Johannßon Gilruth, Mrs. Ross, Mis. Tuckey, Mrs. Wylie, Mr. and Mts. C. Izard, Mrs. Finch, Mrs. Halroydi Beere, Mrs. C Tringham Mrs. Ewen, Mrs. Fulton Misses Macintosh, Kember, Fulton, Edwin, Rutherford 1 , Seddon, Kane Fraser, Butt. Hog-gard!, Stuart, Wal> son, E. Ward, and Webb. Mr. and Mrs. Brough's many friends wene glad of this opportunity to renew their acquaintance, and the afternocm. passed in the most pleasant way with miusic, tea, and chat. The Convent Old Girls' Association is arranging a progressive euchre party m connection with their stall at the large bazaar to be held! at Easter. The tournament is to bei held on the 14th of November. * • • Mrs. Mwnsell, Tenui, and her sister (Miss Perry) were in Wellington on a shopping expedition last week. * * * _ Miss Fitzherbert is visiting Mre. Leslie Harris, Dunedin. * • • Mrs. Napier, who has been on a visit to Mrs. Mills, her mother, has returned to Auckland.

Madame Chambers, well-knowm. in Auckland musical circles, is at present m Wellington. • • • Mrs. D. Exley (Christehiurch) has been visiting her relations here. • * • Miss Winter is visiting Mrs. Murison. • • * Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Stuart, of Hawke's Bay, have been staying at the Royal Oak. • • * Mrs. Brown and Muss Mabel Brown have returned from a.n extended visit to Australia, and are residing once more in Kensington-street. • • * An engagement from Iniveroargill is that of Mass Matheson, third daughtei of the late Mr. D. Matheson, to Dr. William Ewart. • • • Mis. and Miss Knight (Dannevirke) were dm Wellington for a few days last week. • * " At a pleasant luncheon givein un Australia recently by several naval officers the table was decorated witih gilded baskets filled with beautiful pink rose®, tied with large bows of pink chiffon, and sprays of maidenhair. • * * The frockin-g in "The Walls of Jericho" is said to be very pretty. One of Miss Beatrice Day's gowns, her first, is an evening one of palest blue, lavishly embroidered in a design with gold threads. Near the hem of the skirt are two flounces of lace, beaded with gold galon. Later on she changes this for a smart house dress of eanarycoloured silk, the skirt and bodice almost completely covered! with flounces of narrow Vafleneiennes lace in a shade of cream. « * ♦ In the last act we see Miss Day m. a walking dress of cream muslin, patterned with large mauve roses. The colour is repeated in the waistbelt and on the bodice, and a small round straw hat is added, trimmed wifah shaded roses and touches of mauve nibbom. • • • Miss Emma Temple's prettiest gown is of hand-painted muslin. The* posters for "The Walls of Jericho" are most noticeable. They picture an angel blowing a trump, and' the waJls, shaken to their foundations, are topping over on all sidies. The new play is a "hit" at the doings of Londlom "smart" society. « • « The session is drawing to a close, and already many visitors are wendong their way home, and thoughts generally are travelling Cup-wardls. There wall be a great gathering in Ghristchureh this year, and more people than usual talk of going from here. • * * Spring goods are always fascinating, and one is tempted to linger long in the region of sihop windows. Have you noticed the new parasols of Japam'ese design? — with many more ribs than usual, and long, slender handles. Some of these are hand-painted in designs of Japanese lilies. Ohers are of plain, coloured silk, and will be very serviceable for the summer months. • * » Quite the daintiest are of chifion, and frilly and fluffy, reminding one of garden parties and real mid-suinimer days. More useful and distinctly smart are the embroidered parasols, especially those in white, with the stamped old English embroidered 1 covers. They would surely last one a life-time if cleaning were possible, and look very seasonable and appropriate with a linen frock. • • • In Australia the favourite design in floral muslins is sweet-pea, with wisteria running a close second. Our summer muslins have plenty of pink roses of various shapes and sizes plentifully scattered on them, and! there is no doubt that the delicate delaines and muslins are unusually dainty, be their colour lilac, pink, or any other shade. » • » Australian brides are indulging onoe more in the luxury of a long 1/isit of bridesmaids. At a recent marriage ten. maids preceded the bride up t/he aisle, and then formed an archway with their flower-bedecked crooks, under which the bride and her fatiher passed. AD the maids were frocked' in pure White, and five wore wreaths of forgetmeHnate, and the other five wreaths of tiny pink roses. • • • Velvet collars are once more being introduced on our cloth coats. A pretty contrast woun this week was a violet velvet collar on a grey dress.