SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 85, 29 April 1882, Page 100

SOCIETY

[Announcements and contributions for this column are invited.'] — Mr and Mrs J. M. Lennox returned on Monday from Australia by the Te Anau. —The Parnell Lawn Tennis Club will hold a tournament shortly. —Mr Gardiner was married on "Wednesday to a daughter of Mrs Shayle George. — Mr and Mrs Thompson (sister of Mrs Masewell) arrived from Dunedin last week. —Mr and Mrs D'Arcy Irvine left last week for Sydney via Wellington. They expect to be absent from Auckland two months. —Mr and Mrs Snow, of Devonport, are making preparations for again starting on their ; tour round the world. — Musical circles in Melbourne are excited over the arrival of a famous musical professor named Carle Kunde. — Dr Beaney, of Melbourne, must be doing a roaring practice. He issued 1000 invitations to liis last banquet in the Town Hall. —Miss Taylor, daughter of E. Taylor Esq., of Tamaki, will be married next week to a prominent Church of England clergyman. — Mr A. Clark gave a ball at his residence, Manakau Road, on Monday evening. The supper was supplied by Mr C. Canning in his usual excellent style. — Mr McArthur, nephew of Mr McArthur M.P., late Lord Mayor of London, is at present on a visit to Auckland, and is being suitably entertained by his relatives and friends here. _ — The Saturday Afternoon Recreation Club will hold its annual social gathering on Friday evening, May sth. On that occasion the prizes . won in the archery and cross-bow matches will be presented. — Old Englyshe Fayres were all the rage for the Easter holidays in Melbourne. At one a company of Nautch girls were the chief attraction. But when did our English ancestors go in for this species of amusement ? —The Government House Lawn Tennis tournament, which has progressed to a certain stage, f will shortly be resumed. Miss Woolnough. and Mr Allan Macdonaid, M.H.R., are the favourites. The prizes consist of ladies' jewellery. — Judge Smith' gave a party at his residence Grafton Road on the 19th instant. Agreeable men, pretty girls, gorgeous spread, graceful dancing, lively conversation. Unanimous verdict ; altogether scrumptious. — At a fashionable dinner-party, the cards were round fans of various woods, the appropriate bark making a deep border, or frame around the edge. The handles were covered with , bright satin ribbons, finished by a dainty bow. — Mrs Ansenne gave a small party at her house Lower Symonds-street, on Tuesday evening the 18th instant. Although a great number were invited, but few attended on account of the inclement weather. A very pleasant evening was spent in singing, dancing, &c. —-All the preliminaries are arranged for the marriage of Mr J. A. Tole, M.H.R., to Miss Lewis, daughter of Mr E. Lewis, merchant, of Custom House-street, but the date of the marriage has been indefinitely postponed in consequence of the indisposition of Mr Tole. —The concert at Coromandel in aid of the band fund was a great success. The following are some of the dresses :— Miss F., wine-coloured silk; Mrs F., black with bead trimming; Mrsß., pink sateen ; Miss C. black, with silver ornaments. Mrs R. H., of the Tiki, looked, charming. —Miss Sykes (Maritana), was married on Saturday to Mr Everard. Notwithstanding this fact, Mr Gordon Gfooch was successful in obtaining the lady's consent to appear again in her charming performance on Thursday evening, at the Theatre Royal. — A sensation was caused at a ball in Paris by Madame Muncaskzy. Her dress was that of a Spanish Infanta, copied from a Rubens, by Worth. A gold brocade skirt, with satin creves, a damask train with red and gold broche flowers, satin-lined paniers, a huge velvet ruff, and a pointed bodice^ v these last embroidered with pearls, formed a tout ensemble to which any description does but inadequate justice. , — Miss Ethel Farrar, of Tauranga, was married last week to Lieut. Coombes of H.M.S. Navy. The ceremony was private, and took place at Gardenhurst the residence of the bride's father. The happy couple departed on their wedding tour through the Lake District immediately after the ceremony. Lieut. Coombes is a gentleman of independent means and is at present enjoying a two years leave of absence. He intends to take his bride to England. —At Mr J. M. Clark's, "The Towers," Remuera, on Saturday afternoon the lawn-tennis tournament was continued. The weather being fine, the lawn was graced by a large assemblage of players and spectators, the fair sex looking very charming in their pretty costumes of white and light blue. A number of exciting games were played, some of the ladies displaying •wonderful skill. Among those who appeared to have the best chances of winning are : Miss "Woolnough and Mr Waurner, Miss F. Whitaker and Mr Severn, and Mrs Tom Morrin, and Mr Grace. The last named gentleman, who has lately arrived from England, is one of the best players we have ever had in Auckland. The tournament will be continued, and, if possible, concluded next Saturday afternoon. — ■ A>ery enjoyable concert and ball for the benefit of the children's library was held in the Wairiui schoolroom on Easter Monday. The t programme was a good one, and very creditably gone through. Mrs Murry's signing of " Tired '" . was much admired j Misa Sti John was rather a failure as regards make-up, whiskers not being .7 considered a necessary adjunct t^eminine charma.

Dancing commenced at eleven o'clock, but we were unfortunate in our M.C., as the gentleman was so taken with the charms of one lady as to forget the requirements of his office. Mr J. Weston, of the Thames, kindly officiated at the piano, and gave great satisfaction. The honour of belleship must be awarded between three ladies — Miss Hume, black and pink sateen ; Miss Terry, white and blue, and Miss Violet Rapson, who looked charming in cream sateen shirred with pink; Great praise is due to Misses Rapson and Lamount, under whose able management the ball was got up. —The Forresters' annual ball, at Tauranga, took place on Easter Monday in the Temperance Hall. The ball-room was very tastefully adorned as a primeval forest, through which the lusty woodsmen ranged at will. About fifty couples held high revel beneath the greenery. The members of the order wore regalia, and the ladies' dresses were all so nice that it would be invidious to particularise. The fact that a thunderstorm was raging without gave the interior of the hall an appearance of more than ordinary coziness. —On Monday evening, the Rev. C. M. Nelson, on behalf of the members of St. Paul's Church choir, presented Mrs C. Williamson with a very elegant silver epergne as an expression of their esteem on the severance of her connection with the choir, owing to removal to the Lake. A very retfiercM repast was served up at the parsonage, and the presentation took place immediately afterwards. Mr Nelson, in a highly complimentary speech, alluded to the lengthened services rendered by Mrs Williamson as a member of the choir, extending over a period of over twenty years, and the regret exj^erienced at the severance which was to take place. Mr Williamson responded on behalf of the recipient. — An invitation ball interspersed with vocal and instrumental selections, given by the employes of the Riversdale Manufacturing Company, took place in one of the Company's new sheds, on Friday evening 14th April. The business formerly carried on by Messrs Bell and Co., having been converted into a very large company, who have recently spent several thousands of pounds in enlarging the plant, and amongst other improvements, have had a splendid two-storied building erected. The employes of the works thought that it' would be a most suitable and fitting opportunity of inviting their friends and neighbours to a social reunion, and at the same time they might see what strides the company were making in the direction of trying to supply them with plenty of genuine leather. Accordingly a floor in the new shed was fitted \ip in the best style possible, and beautifully decorated with flags and ever-greens, for dancing ; while the one above was used as a cloak and dressing room. Dancing commenced about 8 p.m.- Mr John Sinclair acting as M.C. ; and Messrs Bell, Prout, and Ringrose supplied the music namely, piano and two violins. Refreshments were supplied during the whole of the night, and seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed. At intervals during the dancing the following pieces were gone through, duet, Mr and Mrs Bell, song, Mr Funke, " Alice thy voice I hear," which was sung with good effect. A song by Mr Webb, " Annie still I love thee." And one by Mr Beeney, " The sun behind the hill," were loudly encored. Miss Archibold sang, " For wings to fly," very nicely ; as also did Miss Laurie " Home they brought her Warrior dead." Mr Bell gave a most amusing recitation, entitled, " The Maori King's Visit to Auckland," which created roars of laughter. Mr Hampson also gave one, in a masterly manner, entitled "The Pied Piper of Harnlin." Several nice glees were also given by ladies and gentlemen present. Mr and Mrs Bell were very assiduous in their attention to visitors, as also were Messrs Webb, Beeney, Tait and Funke, especially to the fair sex. At the conclusion three cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Bell, after which all ended there way home wishing the company every success, and quite satisfied that nothing can beat leather.