Society.

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 131, 17 March 1883, Page 420

Society.

The ball given by the Wairoa South dancing* class was a great success. Miss K. 0. wa3 the acknowledged belle. For twelve years Lord Berwick, who has just 3iicceeded to the title, lived on his yacht, with his wife, summer and winter. At the Opera " Maritana " a young lady in a dress with cardinal satin body and wearing pearls in her dark hair looked remarkably well. We hear that the Wairoa Harmonic Society are making rapid progress under the able tuition of Mr Rhodes. The society purpose giving a concert shortly. The remains of a villa of the time of Hodinaw, with Mosaic pavements, statues and busts, have been found in one of his properties of old Rome by Prince Torlonia. A marble sarcophagus, in inaraory of Admiral De Coligny, has been for two years employing Grustave Crank, whose " Winged Victory " is in the Luxembourg Museum. The two ladies who chaperoned such a bevy of young ladies occupying scats in the dress-circle are to be complimented on the nicety of their dresses and general appearance The bride and bridegroom (Mr and Mrs P. 0.) appeared quite happy driving through Queen-street, Onehunga, on a recent Monday. The bride looked charming in a pale cream dress with cream lace trimmings, and a lovely pale blue bonnet. As an instance of the ridiculous lengths to which worship of " the grand old man," Mr Gladstone, is carried in England, we may refer to the fact, that the papers are slobbering their admiration of the fact that " a consumptive lady " sent him a book-mark, and he wrote a nice note acknowledging the donation. A certain noble English Viscount, who divorced his first wife and then sought to touch up his tarnished escutcheon with the wealth of Miss Maebay, daiighter of the American millionaire, has got delightfully snubbed. The young lady declined the preferred honour, and, in doing so, announced again her intention of only marrying an American. Grossip lovers are, however, much exercised over the fact that she omitted to fix the date.

A subscription dance took j^laee at the Southern Wairoa Hall last week. There was a large attendance, and the evening was a most enjoyable one. The floor was in good order, and the dance music was excellently rendered by Mr Arthur Eady (string band). The success of the entertainment was in a great measure due to the energetic and popular Mr Crichton. Mrs Edwards, of Ahipara, gave a dance to the young folk of the district last week. That it was a complete success may be judged from the fact that there was not a single wall-flower during the evening. A picnic was contemplated, but, owing to the continuous wet weather, had to be abandoned. The absence of Miss A.M., one of tho best lady dancers, was noticeable. At the ball given by the School Committee at the opening of the new school at Wairangi, 50 couples were present. Miss Nelly was evidently candidate for the honour of belle ; she -was dressed in cream silk, trimmed with white laco. Her sister Mrs M., wore a brown silk, trimmed with black velvet, and competed for the honour of belle with Miss Nelly. Mrs John M. wore black lustre, with sky-blue bows, and plain linen collar.

On Thursday last, a brilliant company assembled at Rock Yale, Whakahara, to assist at a double wedding. Miss T. A. Webb and Miss Kate Simpkins being the brides, Mr J. Young and Mr Or. Webb the happy bridegrooms. The wedding should have taken place on Wednesday, but the unavoidable absence of Mrs Sills caused a delay. On arriving with the necessary moss baskets, flowers for the brides, &c, all was in readiness on Thursday when the wedding duly took place. The dresses were tasteful and elegant. The costumes of the brides were of delicate cream satin, suitably trimmed with lace, ornaments, orange blossom and white flowers. The brides were attended by four bridesmaids. Miss Webb, Miss M. C. Webb, Miss Lizzie Webb, and Miss A. Simpkins, all most tastefully arrayed in pale blue, with cream lace trimmings silver and coral ornaments ; Mrs Sills wore a lovely and effective costume of black and white cobwebby material, enlivened with slashes of vivid carnation silk in three shades, relieved with real cotton lace and old point, and gold, rubies, turquoise, and cocoanut ornaments. At the breakfast speeches were made by many of the guests. Mr T. Webb, of Aratapu, in a neat and witty speech, wished the young couples all happiness. The newly -married couples left for their new homes in the evening. The district band was in attendance at night and played some lively airs when the bridegroom Mr T. Webb, with his usual energy, arose from his bridal couch, and regaled the band with cake, when they dispersed remarking that it was the driest wedding that they had ever attended. Another pretty and novel wedding was solemnised at St. John's Church, Napier, by the Rev. De Berdt Hovell, assisted by the Rev. Woodward St. The bride was Miss Linda Marie Weber, eldest daughter of Mr Charles Hermano3 Weber, of Thompson-road, Napier (one of Hawke's Bay's oldest and most popular residents), and the daughter whom he has just given away has always been one of the most popular young ladies here. Though only a debutant of last season, she has been considered by many belie of Napier for a very long time. She is also *a very brilliant pianiste. She was dressed in a rich cream silk profusely trimmed with lace, and the bridal veil was also rich atd beautifully worked. She was accompanied to the altar by Miss Elison, who wore an elegant shrimp-pink checked silk, pretty wreath and long veil, and Miss Lourie, wbo wore a beautiful electric-blue silk wreath and long veil, and also by Miss Hilda Weber and Miss Fulton (sister to the bridegroom) . The latter young ladies wore cream sateen trimmed with lace, cardinal sashes, wreaths of leaves with cardinal edges, cardinal mittens and cardinal stockings. On leaving the vestry at the conclusion of the service, Miss

Hilda Weber »and Mias.FulJxm preceded' "the bride and bridegroom down the centre aisle of the church, scattering flowers out of the pretty baskets they carried, for the newly-married couple to walk upon ; ifc had a novel and pretty effect. The lucky bridegroom, Mr Arthur R. W. Fulton, is the eldest son of Mv James Pulton, M.H.R., Taieri. Mr and Mrs Arthur Fulton will reside in Wellington. The wedding service was a choral one, and the church was crowded. Mrs Weber (mother of the bride) wore black satin, cream bonnet and cream gloves ; Mrs Fulton (mother of the bridegroom) wore a lovely ruby silk, with moonlight leaves trimming it, cream bonnet ; Mrs Elson, handsome blhck silk beaded, black bonnet trimmed with heliotrope ; Mrs St. Hill, black satin, cream bonnet ; Miss Hill, blue dress covered with Madras muslin; Mrs De Berdt Hovellwore a pretty dove-coloured dress, cream bonnet, Mr Charles and Mr Arnold Weber supported the bridegroom. Miss Lourie, one of the bridesmaids, left for England in the May Queen a few hours after the ceremony.