Society.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 89, 27 May 1882, Page 164

Society.

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— Ponsonby dance shortly. — Mrs Whitaker purposes entertaining very extensively during her sojourn in Wellington. — Miss Eliza Aitken's marriage -with Mr Aitken Carried takes place very shortly. — Mrs Justice Gillies gave a very select and recherche luncheon party last Friday at her charming residence, Rocklands. — Mrs Ohurton, Parnell, gave a very enjoyable little dance. Tlxe youth and beauty of Parnell were well represented. — The first of the Onehunga dances takes place shortly. Persons "wearing hobnail or copper-toed boots will be refused by order of the lady patroness. — The Bemuera dance in the pretty little social Hall on Thursday evening last was well attended. We don't know a place in the province where there is a better floor to dance on, or prettier giros to dantfe with than at the Eemuera. —The first of the Remuera Hall "Social Unions " will take place shortly. No doubt there will be a splendid muster of " our society people " who accepted Mrs McOosh Clark's invitations to her private dances on Saturday evenings 'after tennis. " One who knows "has informed us that our " champion lady tennis player," Miss Woolnough, is engaged to Mr Eller, the, well-known City ' Sate Collector, and that the charming Miss Jennie Isaacs will shortly make Mr Kohn, our popular 'fellow-citizen, happy. 7 -i-We hear that Herr Carl Schmitt's oratorio, , to take place in June, on behalf of St. Benedict's -Catholic Church, will be, a grand affair. Miss Bleazard is expected to take the soprano solos, assisted by Miss Stephenson, Mr Edwards the tenors and Mr Mahony the bass. Herr Schmitt has distributed the other leading parts to Messrs Harker, Edmiston and Corbett. — The latest thing in evening dress for men of * fashion in England is to have Ijheir dress coats slashed with' satin. White waistcoats are also much worn. It is true that some distinction should be made between the costume of the guests and that of the waiters, for not long ago a hostess, making up a set of quadrilles, asked one of the waiters to choose a partner, thinking he was a guest who had not been introduced. Our Waiuku correspondent writes : — On account. of the bad roads and high priced tickets, not so many put in an appearance at the dramatic entertainment and ball as was expected. The entertainment passed off without a single hitch. .Messrs Miller and Adolph played excellent music. Among the ladies' dresses I noticed the ' following :— Miss Fagan, black merino, trimmed with scarlet, silver jewellery ; Miss S. Fullerton, black grenadine, pink trimmings; Miss A. 3?ullerton, black lustre, trimmed with pink and white ; Miss Mowbray, black and scarlet ; Miss Watson, black mermo, silver jewellery; Miss Crawford, black and white ; Miss Adolph, black and scarlet, silver jewellery ; Miss Dean, black lustre. The dancing was absolutely superb. . How very unfortunate that the invitations for the first Onehunga subscription dance are issued for the same night as the first Ponsonby "At Home," vie., Friday June 2nd. It is an awkward contretemps, and, so few are the number of dancing men in this community, it will very likely damage both dances. We trust better arr angements will be made for next time. It is impossible to cut oneself in 'two, "How happy Could I be with either, were t'other dear charmer away !" but both at once ! Traiment I '"■■■ £*-Mx Hood's concert last Monday evening at the Choral Hall, was, we regret to say, but thinly attended. The entertainment throughout was of 1 a pleasing nature, and those present by the lavish manner in which they bestowed their applause, showed that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Mr Hood has, during the little while he has so- ' jqurried with- us given undoubted evidence of his "•'' musical ability and we trust at 'no yery remote peri^s|he will favour us with another concert, ' whe£fwV;hope and believe he will, be greeted by

a larger audience. The programme iucluded three high-class pianforte solos, by Mr Hood, all rendered in a masterly manner. Mr Q-ooch sang 11 The lost Chord," and "Swing on old pendulum" in his usual style. Miss Corbet contributed " The Chorister " with much sweetness and expression. Mrs Bevitt sang " One morning, oh so early," very successfully, and Miss Walker, Miss Kempth'orne, Messrs. Blaydes, Corbett, Stuart, Edmiston, and last but not least Mr Angelo Forrest materially assisted in the evening's entertainment. — The eventful night has come and past, and Mr Abbott's lovely little bijou Opera House has been opened by a really talented and brilliant company. The dress circle on Tuesday last was crowded with the strength,; the wit, the youth, the beauty of Auckland, and as the curtain rose upon the opening scene with the gleams from the sunlight falling on the gay decorations, the sparkling faces and lovely dresses of the ladies, one could not help thinking of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The inaugural address was very poor ; surely there must have been some mistake somevrhere ; surely something better than that might have been evoked out of the talent and genius of Auckland. All the arrangements were excellent both for comfort and for safety (we might be excused, however, for suggesting that gentlemen oxight to have some place less exposed than the lobby for leaving their overcoats). The orchestra stalls were crammed, but the parquette was not so full as might have been expected. The gesthetic dresses worn by the three rapturous maidens, the ladies Saphir, Ella and Angela were very good. Ella's was of pale blue, cut very low with shoulder straps, very loose and yet clinging to the figure, and belted at the waist ; Saphir wore white, with bands of gold and gold band in her hair, which was worn in a coil on the top of her head ; Angela wore a dress of lizard green, with sunflowers trailing over it and a gold band in her hair. The Lady Jane was dressed in black satin a la Japanese with blue sateen Wattean train, and a large sunflower in her hand, and sunflower fan. Each carried in her hand an aesthetic instrument, harps, cymbal?, pipes, etc. Patience wore the milkmaid's dress of pompadour print made short, with laced bodice, red stockings, and black shoes, large white hat with wreath of flowers. Her voice is very sweet and pleasing, and its freshness and charm quite unconventional. Miss Andrea Nararro as the Lady Jane, is the life and soul of the piece as far as the acting goes, and kept the audience in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Of the men, in spite of our old friend Eiccardi, who was, as always, excellent, commend me to Bunthorne. Nothing could be better than Mr Verdi's rendering of this most amusing character. He was attired in grey velvet (old gravy colour) with large white turned down collar and cuffs, and necktie of the palest blue. His hat was blue, with black rim. He wore knee-breeches, grey stockings and black shoes. Grrosvenor, the second Besthetic poet, has a brown velvet suit, cut and worn in the same fashion. The gallant Colonel and his oflicers wore the uniform of the Dragoons, scarlet coats, black trousers, silver helmets with scarlet plumes. The prettiest scene in the play was in the glade Vhere, by the streamlet sit, and recline, the three rapturous maidens, while Q-rosvenor sings to them " His most aesthetic, very magnetic" song of "The Silver Churn." We Tenture to say every one will be pleased with " Patience."

DKESSES AT THE OPERA. Mrs Alf Isaacs : Black silk. Mrs E. Isaacs : Lavender silk. Mrs. Gillies : Black satin dress ; lace cap. Mrs Jas. Williamson : "Wine-coloured silk. Mrs Coupland : Striped pink satin dress. Mrs Stevens : Dark blue silk dress. Miss Mowbray : White cashmere dress. Mrs Jim Philson : Maroon silk dress. Mrs Saunders : Dress of white silk. Miss Kelly : White China silk dress. Mrs Lewis : Black silk dress. Miss Burton : Dress of dark maroon. Mrs Lawford : Black velvet ; cream cap with crimson ribbon. Mrs Laishley : White silk dress, with blue silk bodice. Mrs B. Tonks : Wine-coloured satin dress 3 cream lace cap. Mrs Isidor Alexander : Black silk dress trimmed with wine-coloured brocaded velvet. Mrs Churton: Black silk; cream cap, with crimson flowers. Mrs Murray Moore : Fawn-coloured silk dress, trimmed with white lace. Mrs Frederick Ireland : Dress of pale-blue satin. Miss Churton : Dress of white sateen, trimmed with beads en corsage. Mrs Nelson and Mrs Tebbs both wore black silks. Mrs Haynes : Dress of pale-blue satin, trimmed with cream silk and lace. Mrs Aitken and Miss Aitken wore dresses of white silk. Miss Lawford: White cashmere dress, with white satin bodice. Mrs Geo. Henderson : Plain black dress of Madras muslin. Miss Clayton : Dreps of white muslin, trimmed with white lace ; blue flowers en corsage. Miss Lewis : White silk, trimmed with white beaded lace ; crimson flowers en corsage. Miss H. George: Peacock -blue cashmere trimmed with plush of a lighter shade. Mrs Knight: Mourning costume of black, trimmed with black lace. '■' Mrs Flood : Pale-blue muslin dress, trimmed with white muslin and lace. Miss Fairburn and Miss Mabel Fairburn both wore wlaite satin. Mrs Cecil Gardner : Black silk dress, trimmed jet trimming. , ! Miss George : Peacock-blue cashmere, trimmed with plush to match. Miss Hughes : Blue sateen, trimmed with cream lace. Mrs C. S. George: Fawn cashmere dress, trimmed with pompadour; wreath of white .flowers. Mrs Scherff : Black silk dress and crimson flowers. Mrs D. Nathan : Pale pink crape dre9s, white brocaded satin opera sloak trimmed with swan's down. 1

Mrs Thompson : Crimson velvet dress, with grey sleeves. Mrs T. Mprrin: Black satin dress with iridescent trimming, made with Bhort sleeves and long suede 'gloves. Mrs Greenwood : Lovely dress of crimson satin, with sash of pink plush. Her three little girls were with her, in dresses of white satin trimmed with swansdown. The contrast was vavessante.