Social Gossip

Free Lance, Volume VI, Issue 282, 25 November 1905, Page 8

Social Gossip

By Christabel.

THE Wellington College sports were held at the College Ground on Friday afternoon, the weather being perfect and the races most exciting and interesting. The attendance was very large, and some lovely frocking was the consequence. The afternoon tea arrangements were splendid, three long tables being arranged in the gymnasium, which was beautifully decorated with chimps of arum lilies and trails of ivy geranium. Those responsible for the sports arrangements are to be congratulated on the very pleasant function, which passed off without a hitch of any description. Master Groodbehere, the clever athlete of the College, scored heavily, and was presented with a handsome travelling trunK as one prize, which most conveniently carried his other trophies. As bis chums remarked "He's bagging the lot to-day!" • • • Amongst the large crowd of onlookers I noticed • Mrs. Firth, wearing a gown of grey voile, anid very stylish grey toque. Mrs. Ward was wearing a pretty black hat and grey cloth costume. Miss Seddon^s gown was of royal blue silk voile. Misa May Seddon was in white, and blu~ hat. Miss Morrah wore pale pinir mmslin : Miss I. Morrah, white and green muslin ; Miss Avis Edwin, pink , Miss Harding, blue voile ; Miss M. Brown, very becoming gown of rose pink muslin, over white glace, and white lace hat. * * • Miss Freeman was in brown voile. • Mrs. Walter Fell wore brown* taffeta. Mrs. Hales was in dark cloth, and black and white hat. Miss Hattie Munro (New Plymouth) wore a very pretty gown of biscuit voile, over pale

green silk, and hat wreathed with pink roses. Miss Miles wore a pale blue and white check blouse of soft silk, and white skirt. Mrs. GorangJohnston's gown.' was of pale blue linen. Miss Dot Brewer wore a cream cloth, gown and) pretty hat. • • • Miss Vara Fulton wore a white embroidered linen frock, and pale green hat with roses. Miss K. Mackeillar's gown was pale green miusJin, and her hat was relieved with pink. • • * Miss Jessie McKellar (New Plymouth), returned by the Orient boat Orontes, and ai rived in Wellington bv the Maheno. Miss McKellar went on to New Plymouth by train. Miss Florence Brandon also returned from England last Wednesday. • * • Mrs. Watkins gave a very pleasant little tea last Tuesday for Mrs. Farley, of Tiniaru, who is the guest of Mrs. Lawrence Watkins. Miss H. Munro, of New Plymouth, has been staying with the Masses Turner, Kelbume. • * • Much regret was expressed when the sad news of Mrs. H. C. Butter's death was announced. It is only a year or two since the Hon. H. G. Butlei, A.D.O. to Lord Ranfurly, and hib wife and daughter, left to make their home at Dinan. Mrs. Butler was a Miss Abbot, of Wanganiui. la a letter received by this 'Frisco mail, the writer says • — "When in London I saw Harry Butler, looking very well and jolly. He told me that he and Mrs. Butler and the children have been over for a few weeks, and were leaving nex 4day for France. Tfaey are all well and very happy, and don't talk of going back to New Zealand to live. ' • * * In the account of Miss Cohein/s marriage last week, the bridegroom's name should have been Mr. Solomon Cohen. • • • Miss Barbara Putnam, of Karon, the olever young dancer, has been very busy in Auckland, training th© dancers for the Catholic display, which was most successful. Miss Putnam was doubly encored for each of her own dances. • • • Mrs. W. Derry, who has been residing in Auckland, is on a visit to Wellington.

Mrs. J. B. MacEwan is in Auckland, visiting Mrs. Lyon. • * Mrs. Seddon is spending a few days, in Taranaki. • • * Miss Brenda Haoon is on a visit to Christchurch, and is the guest of Mis,. Moten Anderson . Mr. and Mrs. Stuart-Menteath, who have been visiting relations in Scotland and England, returned by the Rimutaka. • * • Mrs. Legge (nee Miss Gwen Flanagan), who has been living in Tasmania since her marriage, arrived last weeK on a visit to her mother. • •» Mrs. Holmden (Bulls) has beein visiting her daughter, Mrs. R. Webb, Kelburne. • • • Mrs. Pitchett's large circle, of friends ar© pleased 1 to hear she has returned from Otaki greatJy benefited in health. • • • Mrs. and Mrs. Clark-Johnson and their daughter return to New Zealand next month, travelling by the Tongariro. Captain and) Mrs. Rose' come by the same steamer on a visit to the colony. The Lady Principal and staff of the Girls' High School have, issued invitations for their annual garden party and sports, to be held' this afternoon. • • • Mrs. Aubrey Barclay (Dunedin) is visiting her parents, Sir Ediward and Lady Osborne-Gibbes. • • • On Wednesday, November 22nd, a pretty wedding was celebrated at the Primitive Methodist Church, Webbstreet, when Mr. Frederick Hill, son of the late Mr. Frederick Hill, was married to Miss Helen Johnston, whose father, Mr. Henry Johnston, of Stratford, gave her away. The Rev. J. Dawson was the officiating clergyman, and a great many guests were present. The bride wore a very becoming gown of ivory silk crepoline, with panel of Limerick lace, full court train and the usual veil and orange flowers. . * • The bridesmaids, tour in all, were Misses Myrtle and Millie Hill (sisters of the bridegroom), and two little

cousins of the bride, Misses Eileen and Minnie Adams. The two former wore cream crepe gowns, handsomely trimmed with satin and aocordeou>-pleated chiffon, their pretty turquoise blue hats giving relief. Their gifts from the bridegroom were pearl brooches, the younger one's receiving greenstone pendants, which they wore with dainty white frilled muslin frocks and pretty pale bonnets. Mr. William Hill acted as best man for his. brother. After the ceremony, a reception was held at the residence of the bridegroom's mother, Wallace-street, when the guests were entertained' at afternoon tea, and the many handsome grifts were admired. Mrs. Sill wore a handsome gown of blaok crepoline, trimmed with silk and chiffon. Miss Maud Hill looked very well in eau-de-n'il, with green hat and pink roses; Mrs. Henderson, grey crepe-de-chine, with black chiffon toque; Mrs. Scott (Palmerston), grey silk voile, with Tuscan hat, with silk roses; Mrs. James (Dunedin), black silk voile, with handsome silk trimmings, champagne hat with roses ; Mrs. Warwick, handsome black canvas voile, satin and lace trimmings, chiffon bonnet, with pinik roses. • • • . Miss Elsie Warwick wore a stylish anesne serge costume, champagne hat, with shaded roses; Mrs. George Hill (Hawera), creme silk frock, black picture hat; Mrs. Adams, brown ©repoline, hat to match , Miss Hendersouij blue voile, and black picture hat; Mrs. Downes, grey silk voile, and hat to match ; Miss Olive Henderson, cream voile, and vioJet hat; Miss Vera James, white silk dress; Miss Hill (Oriental Bay), black silk voile and black picture hat; Mrs. Prentice, black merveilleux, picture hat. » • • Mrs. Richards wore blaok crepoline, white chiffon hat, and ostrich ploimes Mrs. Thomas, black voile, with hand, some lace, and hat to match; Miss Neil son (Featherston), cream voile and hat Miss Lindsay, brown, costume and hat; Mrs. S. Roberts, blue costume, hat to match; Mrs. Reed, blue silk frock hat to match ; Miss Hunter, black brocade dress, and hat to maifcoh. • • ♦ Dr. and Mrs. Collins have returned from Rotoruia. • * • Mr. G. Pharazyn returned' from England last Wednesday, being a passenger by the Orontes.

Mrs. D. M. Reeves and Miss Reeves, who have been on a visit to England, have returned to New Zealand. * * * The marriage of Mis& Rome Fitzherbert and 1 Mr. Latham is to take place at the Lower Hu;fct on Saturday, December 2nd. * • * Mrs. Ainelius Smith has leturned from Invercargill aaid Christchurch, where she has spent a delightful five weeks with relations. * * * Misses Fell, who were staying foi race week with Mrs. Neave, have returned from Christcxhuich. * • • MiSv Wallis, sister of Bishop Wallis, arrived from fin-gland, last week, and is now a "iiest at Bi&hopscourt. * » • Mrs. Johnston and the Misses Fannie and Louie Johnston, who have been residing for some years m England, intend returning to the colony after Christmas. "Maheno," according to Mr. Haiold Beauchamp, means "passing away.' A heap of local people, principally persons interested m shippang and commerce, foregathered in the magnificent saloon of the Union Steamshap Company's new turbine steamer Maheno at 1.30 on Wednesday, and "passed away' a very fine lunch indeed. In case that people should imagine that turbines are something new, it is necessary to state that they represent the earliest foirm of steam power applnoa/fcion. Turbines are blades against which steam generated from, the boilers force itself, expanding the blades like a fan, and driving the screws of tlhe steamers. It is an exaggeration of the water millwheel principle, or the paddle-wheel — the steam taking the place of water. • • • A large heap of Wellingjton's greatest people lunched. Mr. Beaucbamp showed his complete ignorance of turbines or their principles, and said tthat if you yelled "Mac!" down the engineroom, the engines would stop, because everybody down there was bound t,o be a Scot. Mr. James Mills, the managing director, was recommended for a K.C.M.G.-s .p by Mr. Beaiircibamp, and it was shown in no uncertain way that had it not been for the Union Company, Captain Cook would not have left Yorkshire, and we shouldn't have been bom, and New Zealand wouldn't have been discovered. And still the head, office of tihat ereat Company is in Dnnedin. Mr. Mills, you will have to see about itt • • • The two or three speakers who spoke seemed to wonder how the Union S.S. Company ever thought of doing away mbh the old mud-hookers of thirty years agio, and getting modem steamers. The simple reason is thait the company comprised go-ahead men like Mr. James Mills and Mr. Kennedy (the popular local manager), and the skippers and the chief stewards .and the eeamen. But the company has been specially fortunate in its managers and skippers, and the secret of its success ■has been in finding the right men to do its work. The Mahemo's chief steward was evidently born for the position. His name implies as much Beveiridge — what a name for a man who orders your champagne glass to be filled every five minutes! Used to be cnief steward on the Manuka. One wave of Beveridge's arm, and you have tibe menu of the world to choose from. £unch? We should smdle! • • ■* It is said that Mr. William Smitn, who has managed Te Aro House -o successfully for the last seven and ahalf yeais, is likely to pull up stakes and return to the Old Country m February next,. The news, if correct, will oe received with much regret, for Mr. Smith's geniality has won him hosts or friends. • • • The public are warned that there are imitation shillings about. We ourselves were taken in, but have used the shillings. In fact, we have eaten them. i£ disc of chocolate, covered with silver paper ; obverse, King Edward's head and "Vote for Sura/tma Tea French chocolate.' ; reverse, royal arms. Pretty smart idea, warranted not blended with cheap or inferio--blends. • • • The first calendar for 1906 is to Ixand — that of the New Zealand Fire and Marine Insurance Company, of which Mr. Charles A. Ewen is the Wellington manager. The calendar bears tihe portrait of much-tattooed King Tawhaio of early days. A coloured view of Auckland, harbour, with Rangitoto in the background, and a picture of the company's headl office in Auckland, are shown. The net revenue of Fhe company for 1904 was £425,000.

A fearfully solemn ceremonial took place at Godber's, Cuba-street, on Wednesday night, when the Wellington Accountants Students' Society met to enjoy themselves at dinner, and listened to words of wisdom from, Sir Robert Stout, Mr. John Duthie, Mr. fibber, and others who seize the&e social opportunities to talk, talk, talk. After-dinner speaking in Wellington ha^> become a plague, and the biggest kind of bor© Known. Mr. C. P. Powles, tihe much-es-teemed president, was in the chaar, and the bright spots in the gloom wei -> supplied by several singers and elocutionists'. The cheerful "Jimmy" Dykes was Jake a ray of sunshine in a cellar, -and Mr. Arthur East, who possesses a splendid bass voice of much purity in the lower regastea*, and of good compass, sang with fine effect. Other gangers likewise scored!. We have only one recommendation to make — that the Accountant Students' Society should give a dinner to accountant students next year, and eschew people who give advice and talk politics. • • • The needle of the compass poants north, but within the compass' of Lambton Quay a good miany hands point East and East. East and East have been strengthened by another East from the west, and! the trio are now engaeed in pointing to all points of tho colony wherever there is land or houses or property to be bought, sold, or given away. The strengthening of the firm means that th© said firm has been working overtime to worry through the work that shows up all the time. Hence, Mr. Arthur East, from 'Frisco- and London,. You mitrht cast your eye over some remarks of East and East elsewhere in this issue 1 . • • • Messrs. Sidey, Meech, and Co., auctioneers, hold a most important auction sale at their mart on Tuesday evening, December 12th, at 7.30 o'clock. The land that will come under the hammer is known as "The Chinaman's Gardens," Island Bay, and has been sub-dividedi into thirty-six fine sections ; indeed the finest in the go-ahead suburb. The blocks are large, and the auctioneers state that the electric tramway brings the block within fifteen minutes' journey of the General Post Office. • * * Thle quite phenomenal advance in, the building, growth, and population of Is-

land Bay, due, in ajarge measure, to the passage of the tramways to th«j suburb, has made land rather difficult to acquire. The fact that this splendid area of good building land is now no longer "locked up," gives intending purchasers an unique opportunity of ■obtaining sections that are desirable in every way, and which must, in the natural course of things, be much enhanced in value in the near future. The terms of sale are of the usual easy description, ten per cent, payment on the fall of the hammer being necessary.

An Ideal Christmas Present. — Call and see J. N. Isaacs' Special Christmas Enlargements. Mr. J. N. Isaacs, Man neis-streefc, has just engaged a firstclass Black and White Artist from London, and can now turn out Enlargements better and cheaper than anyone else in New Zealand. Price, to suit all pockets, from 7s 6d each. — Advt.