SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 53, 17 September 1881, Page 9

SOCIETY

[We shall esteem it a favour if any of our readers (especially those residing in the suburbs and country districts) who can spare the time, will jot down for this journal any notable features of the social re-unions — balls, parties, at homes, concerts, picnics, &c. — which, they may attend. We don't want to hear whether Jock flirted with Annie, or Mr B. was attentive to Mrs K. Those are private details, and. no business of ours or the public's. It is, however, interesting to know how many people there were at a dance, whether any " society " swells were present, also if the rooms were decorated in an unusual way, or any pretty dresses worn. We shall also be invariably glad to hear of any festivities which are coming on. Communications will be kept strictly private, and (though they may not appear in print exactly as forwarded) will be used. Items intended for insertion in the current issue should reach this office not later than Wednesday morning. — Editor Observer.]

— Mrs Tonks gives a dance next week. — Mrs Reader Wood gives a dance at Parnell on Friday next. — Mrs R. Laishley gave a very pleasant childrens' party on Friday evening last. f* — Ponsonby -was well represented at Mr Cranwell's concert last Friday evening. — The bachelors of Ponsonby are getting up a waltzing party in the Ponsonby Hall. — Mrs Bartlett, of Symonds-street gave an enjoyable party last Monday evening. — A Tauranga correspondent writes : The Masonic Ball, two concerts, and one tea-fight are looming up on the near horizon. j — Mrs Quick, of Ponsonby gave a jolly little hop last Saturday week. Pat Lundon was there, I and as usual enjoyed himself immensely. — Montague Smith's fancy dress ball at Gisborne proved a great success, and the local ladies literally gush over their host. — A Rink dance is proposed to be held shortly in the Choral Hall. Mrs Isaacs is canvassing the ladies for subscriptions, and Mr Mowbray undertakes the delightful task among the gentlemen. — The Bachelors' Ball at Tauranga, though of the usual sandwich -and- scramble -for-it order, seems to have been a success. None of our correspondents have, however, said a word about the dresses ; Mrs Wm. Jordan, who appeared resplendent in purple velvet, being the only lady mentioned. — The entertainment given by Mr Barry's Elocution Class on Tuesday week was most succesf ul. The readings and recitations were excellent, the dialogues were good, the songs and solos very pleasing, and the lollies and oranges profuse. All free, gratis, for nothing. But it was very naughty (to speak quietly) of the large audience not to say thank you. — There is a splendid opening for a really firstclass " society " journal in Dunedin. The day Advertiser, which used to be more or less readable under Bracken's management, has now become a heavy weekly, without any individuality whatever, and dreadfully dull. Whoever starts a really amusing and independent paper down there will coin money. — Mrs Whitaker gave one of her delightful "At Homes " on Thursday evening last week. About sixty or seventy guests were present altogether, many of them coming in from Remuera after the amateur performance there. Dancing was kept up till a late hour, and it is hardly necessary to say the evening proved thoronghly enjoyable and a great social success. — There was a desperate attempt made on Wednesday the 7th instant to resuscitate the Auckland Skating Club. The word had been passed round at the Parnell dance for every one to come who could, and the band was in attendance as an experiment. About thirty people turned up, there was a little more life amongst the skaters, and the evening wound up with a dance which was an utter failure. Nous verrons ! — The Teachers' dance in the Beresford-street schoolroom came off with great eclat on Friday, the 9th instant. About fifty people were present, and the musical portion of the programme — a very good one — was supplied by Miss Leech, Miss Wright, and Mr Bruce. The supper-table was prettily arranged and decorated; and the viands proved first-rate. Altogether it was a very pleasant and happy re-union of teachers and their friends. With commendable carefulness the dance was not prolonged to too late an hour, as most of the parties concerned had to be in class at the Wellesly-street School by 10 o'clock the next morning. — The North Shore "At Home" which wound iip the season proved a great triumph, the room being well filled, and the gentlemen much in excess of the ladies. Mrs Ned. Burgess was considered the belle, her dress of soft white Surafc trimmed with swansdown being really pretty. Miss Quick in black cashmere plentifully sprinkled with beads, and Mrs Durance in black silk trimmed with brocade, also looked well. Although there was a distinct understanding with the committee that none of the ladies were to come in ball costume, the dresssmakers and milliners must have taxed their ingenuity to have produced the many handsome combinations seen in the room. Altogether, the dance was one of the pleasantest re-waions the North Shorers have recently enjoyed. — On Thursday, the Bth instant, the annual ceremony of installation of the Worshipful Master of the Prince of Wales Lodge, E.C., 1338, took place at the Masonic Hotel, a large number of the craft being present to do honour to the newly -installed Master, Bro. Major-General J. W. Grossett. The ceremony of installation was most impressively conducted by Bro. P.M. Dr Dawson, who acted as Master in place of W.M. Bro. Rattray, absent from New Zealand on business. The following are the names of those elected as officers for the ensuing year : — Bro. W. S. Collins, Senior Warder ; Bro. J. P. Clark, Junior Warder ; P.M. Bro. W. Skinner, Treasurer (re-elected); P.M. Bro. M. S. Leers, Secretary (re-elected); P.M. Bro. Wilcocks, Director: of Ceremonies; Bro. Major Pirie, Organist; P.M. Bro. Rev. C. M. Nelson, Chaplain ; Bro. J. M. •

Lush, Senior Deacon ; Bro. E. W. Burton, Junior Deacon; Bro. A. W. Gardner, Inner Guard; Bro. Dr Grant and Bro. W. S. Pulford, Stewards ; and Bro. Porter, Tyler. At the conclusion of the ceremony, which was carried out by Bro. P.M. Dr Dawson in a manner that drew forth the highest enconiums from all present, the Brethren adjourned from labour to refreshment, doing full justice to an excellent banquet prepared by Host Whitaker. After the solids had been disposed of, the Brethren returned to the lodge room where they found tables laid with fruit and wine. The chair being taken by the Worshipful Master, the toasts usual among all good and true Masons were disposed of, the intervals being filled in with some excellent singing from Bros. Gordon Gooch, Angelo Forrest, Pirie, Skinner, Dr Dawson, and other brethren with a vocal turn. The evening's proceedings terminated with " The Tyler " toast, proposed by P.M. Bro. Moat, and honoured by those present in the accustomed manner. — Mrs Whitaker's children's party on Tuesday evening enabled a large number of youngsters to have " a rare good time." The elders who were present worked hard to amuse the children, who enjoyed themselves immensely. — At Mr.s Whitakers dance on Thursday week the young ladies of the house looked charming in blue and white. Miss Lawford was in black and old gold, which suits her style of beauty admirably. The Miss Fentons appeared in virgin white and Miss O'Korke in Slack. Miss Shepherd wore maze; Mrs J. E. McDonald, black and white, and Miss Isaacs pink and black. The hostess herself was in black decorated with some superb lace. — An amateur concert and theatrical entertainment of an unusually interesting character was given on Thursday evening last in the new Hall at Kenruera, which has been fitted uj> so I luxuriously and tastefully as to almost resemble the private theatres attached to Mrs Ereake's and other great houses in London. The walls are decorated with plaques representing various mythological deities, the curtain is of maroon baize, there is a pretty drop scene painted by Mr Thornton, and the fittings etc. are all the most fastidious " currant jelly-ite " could desire. On Thursday evening the Hall was packed to excess at a very early hour. Though the entertainment did not commence till eight, there was not a seat obtainable *at half -past seven, and those who came late had to content themselves with standing room in the passage, or else to retire discomfited. The e.vening commenced with a vocal and instrumental concert, to which Mesdanies J. M. Clark, T. Morrin, Misses Larkin, Lodder, Woolnough, Kempthorne, Fenton, Corbett, and O'Sullivan, with Messrs A. Clark, F. Corbett, Edmiston, J. E. Pounds, and Herr Schmitt contributed. Where all were so good it would be invidious to single out any special performer, for exceptional eulogy suffice it to say almost every item was warmly re-demanded, and Herr Carl Schmitt met with a very cordial reception. The great event of the evening was, of course, the farce. Amateur performances, as a rule, are a most melancholy business. Nine times out of ten the management select some preposterously difficult piece, mid the result is that the unfortunate actors are laughed at by friends and ridiculed by enemies. _ When, however, a bright and cheery little farce is chosen, as was the case on this occasion, things are very different. From first to last the performance of the "Area Belle " at Remuera went " merry as a marriage bell," and the audience applauded throughout with genuine enthusiasm. The heroine of the piece, the pretty Penelope, was played by Miss Jennie Isaacs, who (despite its being her first appearance on any stage) acted with a chic and vivacity that surprised and delighted the lookers on. The contrast was admirably supplied by Mrs T. Morrin, as Mrs Croker I (the missus). This part is by no means a grateful one to undertake, but Mrs Morrin scored every point, and displayed much unconscious humour. The chief male character, that of Pitcher, the policeman, fell to a very old amateur "star" — Alf Isaacs, whose Clatide Melnotte at the Theatre years ago was well remembered by some of those present. Alf is not so slim as he " used to was," but he still retains considerable histrionic ability, and kept the house in roars of laughter by his drolleries as the amorous bobby. The only thing we couldn't stand in his get-up was the fair wig. Did anyone m "the creation of cats" ever see a policeman in blonde curls. Mr Yonge, as Tosser, played up to Mr Isaacs capitally, and the supper scene was excellently acted all round. Mr Pounds appeared as Chalks, the milkman, a part which is made a good deal of sometimes. He acted quietly and well, but did not attempt any elaboration. Altogether, the entertainment proved a huge success, and when the company broke up, some to adjourn to Mrs Whitaker's and others to go home, it was universally admitted that the evening had been a most enjoyable one.