THE LAIDES

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 78, 11 March 1882, Page 409

THE LAIDES

The Hon. Lady Hamilton Gordon is holding receptions at Merivale, Christchurch, every Tuesday at 4 p.m.

A very handsome swimming dress, designed by a lady, is on view in one of the shops in New Plymouth. The competitors in the coming races are to wear dresses of this pattern, the price of which is the moderate charge of one guinea only. The dress is without seam, woven from top to bottom throughout, with four holes left for the arms and legs.

At the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, to witness the performance of the " Colonel," Lady Gf-ordon wore a black velvet evening dress, white and gold cap, with crimson rose ; Miss Gordon wore a dark red. evening costume j Mrs Richardson wore an evening dress of black and gold ; Lady Tancred, black costume, with black cap ; Miss Richardson, pale cream costume ; Miss Lockhart, white evening dress, with crimson flowers ; Mrs A. Ollivier, evening dress of pale blue ; Miss E. Leech, pink pompadour costume, with pink asters ; Miss Leech, black satin costume, with ecru lace.

The Bishop and Mrs Cowie gave a conversazione to a large and distinguished circle of guests at Bishop's Court on Saturday evening last. Aniongst the visitors were all the members of the Senate of the University now sitting in Auckland, Bishop Eedwood, and most of the clergymen of the city and suburbs, His Worship the Mayor and Mrs McCosh Clark, etc., etc. Some part singing by Mrs Pierce, Mrs Grlover, and Mr Rice, was performed at intervals during the evening. So great was the concourse of guests that the library was lighted and thrown open.

We have before us a number of the new Christcliurcli paper called Society. It appears to be a very well got up, well managed, and amusing paper, in most respects, a faithful copy of the Observer, even to shape and tone of paper, and print, We notice that " Ariel," a lady occupying a high position in fashionable circles in that city, has consented to "do" the "Belles, past and present" of Christchurch. The belle for the present number is Mrs Louis Neville (Miss Isabel Eouse.) The editor, in introducing "Ariel" to the public, says " that every effort will be made to do fair justice and to interest — to give pleasure and not offence. Just so. That has always been our own best endeavour in the long series of belles which have adorned these pages, nothing extenuating, and setting down naught in malice, writing always in a kindly and reticent spirit " to give pleasure and not offence." DRESSES AT THE BAND CONTEST. The band contest at the North Shore on Saturday last attracted a great concourse of people. There is not much to see yet in the gardens, except the high concrete wall and the very handsome pavilion entrance. There were a few pretty dresses on the ground. We noticed the following costumes : — Mrs Brigham : Black satin dress ; black sateen dolman ; black bonnet. Miss Marion Kelly : Dress of pink gingham ; white hat. Mrs Alexander : White mulled muslin dress ; black silk sash ; black lace hat. Mrs Kensington : Pink cambric dress, trimmed with white lace ; black lace hat. Miss Chambers : Dress of cream Madras muslin and cream hat. Mrs Howard : Very handsome black satin dress, trimmed with ribbed velvet ; white bonnet. Mrs Pulford : Pink cambric dress, trimmed with cream lace ; white straw hat, trimmed with crimson satin. The two little Misses Firths had dresse of cream oatmeal cloth ; white straw cherry-ripe hats, with white feathers. Miss B>. Plumley : Dress of dark grey silk, with sash and trimmings of a lighter shade ; white straw bonnet with spray of forget-me-nots. Little Miss G-eorge : Pale blue lustre, trimmed with blue satin ; white straw poke, trimmed with ombre blue satin. Mrs Waterhouse wore a black silk, with brocaded satin, beaded dolman ; black lace bonnet, with spray of white flowers. Mrs Stevenson : Dress of royal blue silk, trimmed with white lace ; black satin dolman ; black lace bonnet. Mrs Predk. Ireland : Dress of dark brown silk, trimmed with pompadour, and chenille fringe to match ; cream lace hat ; red Japanese parasol ; coral ornaments. Her two little girls were dressed in tussore dresses, trimmed with brown, and white straw hats.