SOCIETY

Observer, Volume 6, Issue 154, 25 August 1883, Page 8

SOCIETY

By mistake Mrs H. S. Canharn's name was omitted at her sister's wedding last ■week as chief bridesmaid. She looked charming in fawn-coloured silk, and rendered assistance in tho games and music in the evening. Mr and Mrs Forman, of Hautapu, inaugurated the opening of their new store with a dance, which was well attended, and proved very enjoyable, the host and hostess being indefatigable in their kind attentions to tho guests. A recherche supper was provided, and the band was under tho load of Mr Sibley. Tho farewell dance to Miss Chitty, at tho Thames, was the best gathering of the " jam tarts " for some time. All the wotild-bo's of note were present, apparently enjoying themselves. Tho dresses worn wore very neat and stylish. The honour of belle lay betwoen Miss Wolff and the youngest Miss Stewart. Tho best dancers were Mrs Hicky, Mrs Bvassey, and Miss Ensor. A farewell ball was given in the Public Hall, Herd's Point, in honour of Miss Freers, who is about to leave the district. There were about fifty couples present, and the whole affair turned out a great success. Miss F. was considered the belle, and danced very gracefully. Dancing was kept up until daylight. Mr Triphook was the pianist. At a wedding at Remuera on Tuesday last, the bi'ide wore a navy-blue dress, trimmed with a . lighter shade of brocaded silk and white Honiton lace, the dress being beautifully finished. The skirt was gathered and puffed with revers and square scolops. The bridesmaids wore fawncoloured lustres, trimmed with light brown satin and white lace, the bodies being beautifully gathered and guaged. Mrs C. wore a light brown Bilk, trimmed with a darker shade of brocaded silk.

The Ponsonby monthly "At Home " _ was> literally crowded out on Friday, the 17th inst., there being hardly room to dance. Miss Douglas - was, a 9 usual, the belle j she wore a dress of whitelace and pale pink flowers. Mrs Quick wore & skirt of blue silk, with a white brocaded satin over-dress, which suited well the fair wearer j Mrs Dawson, dress of black satin ; Miss Oldham looked exceedingly nice in white Indian muslin,tastefully trimmed with crimson roses — a very 1 pretty dress ; Miss Harley, black satin j Flood, blue sateen — a rich dress j Miss Halida,.. looked very pretty in a dress of pink silk and white lace ; Mrs Bees, black silk ; Miss White,, blue dress pink roses ; Miss Farquhar, pink dress, black velvet body and lace ; Miss James, bluesatin dress and cream lace ; Miss Langsford and Miss H Langsford wore pretty dresses of cream nuns-veiling, and crimson flowers j Miss H» G-eorge, blue dress, and lace. The first installation of the new Order of the 1 Eoyal Eed Cross, founded by Her Majesty for . ladies and nurses who have rendered distinguished . service in tending sick and wounded soldiers and sailors, took place at Windsor Castle. The Q.neen received each lady who was to be' honoured with the decoration singly, and in the most gracious and cordial manner affixed the cross in each case to the shoulder of the recipient. The Princess Beatrice assisted Her Majesty, who remained seated during the ceremony, as she is still sensible of some weakness in her limbs. Each lady in turn knelt before the Queen, and kissed hands on rising. The cross is an extremely pretty ornament, as well as being one which the very noblest and proudest might be glad to wear. A profile portrait of Her Majesty in gold forms its centre, and from this branch out four arms of a cross in. blood-red enamel, bearing the "legend, "Faith, Hope, and Charity," with the date 1883. Th& ribbon by which the red cross is suspended is blue, with crimson edge. A collation was served > to those nurses who had been decoratftd in a special apartment of the Castle. The select ball to commemorate the twentyfifth anniversary of the Loyal Parnell Lodge o£ • Oddfellows, No. 4750, was a great success, Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather^ there were fully fifty couples present. The hall was tastefully decorated with flags and the lodge banner. The stewards (P.G-.'s W. Emery, W. McEvoy, J. W. McEwin, 0. M. Bracewell, Bros. B. Cowan, J. Ccwan, E. Hodgson, and A. Heywood), deserve great praise for the manner in which they worked to make tha ball a success. T-he caterer (Mr B. Cowan) supplied the refreshments (which were ample and of the first quality) in his usual creditable style. The music (cornet, piano, and violin) was supplied by those wellknown favourites, Messrs Beed, Davis, and Morris. P.Gk J. W. McEwin made a very efficient M.C. During the evening several songs. were rendered by gentlemen amateurs in pleasing; style. The Secretary made a few remarks upon the £ ! :->ncial condition of the lodge, uud stated that t: ; ey *eve no-v po?jH:«iodof £600 in property and ciisb.., and that Uit» lodge wa» except ionalbr^, free fv;-in ?:ck members. During the past |K s they had icat eac mc-.f-har b«.- deftfeh. The proceedings tv'.'k hi'oiighi to a close nt •« o'clock HH.mr. r when all -v-.!^ h-.vrno ".■ svy vvoll pleased with their i night'--- '.^ir-ctnunneTit. Tho following nve n few of the most noticeable of v.'Q iudiea* dresses:— Mrs Wheatleigh, black velvet body, plaid skirt (a very pretty dress) ; Mrs Bracewell, black silk ;. Mrs Lynch, black silk ; Mrs Clarke, blue aateen, white lace ; Mrs McEwin, black silk ; Miss McCarty, cardinal dress ; Misa McDerraott, black silk } Miss McDermott, black silk, scarlet sa^h ; Miss McDermott, brown silk j Miss Clarke, combination crimson sateen and velvet, trimmed with white Maltese lace (the belle of the evening) ; Miss White, in brocaded black silk, was a closesecond for honours ; Miss Tyler, black silk, with, beaded trimmings ; Miss Hay ward, white lustre, tastefully set off with white satin ; Miss Moore, blask Telvefc polonaiae, black silk skirt ; Miss> McLean, shaded brown satin; Miss Barrett, prune-coloured velvet dress, gold jewellery. STEEEff DBB9BES. Miss Main : Black velvet dress ; velvet hat to* match. Mrs Hunt : Peacock-green satin; black beaded bonnot to match. ; Mrs C. L. Macdonald : Pratty black velveteen dress ; princess bonnot. Mrs Honeyman : Eloctric-bluo cashmere costume ; blue princess bonnet. Miss Shephard : Wine-coloured dress ; stylish, twoed mantle ; black turban. Miss Dyer : Poacock-groon cashmero, satin, trimmings ; green plush bonnot. Miss Mary Slater: Brown plaid costuano ; black. Langtry hat with tartan ribbons. Mrs W. Rattray : Prune brocaded silk drosß ;:. black satin dolman ; sealskin cap. Mias Cissy Stone : Poacock-blue cashmoro , costume ; peacock feather tujrban. Mies Connor-O'Brian : Black cashmoro skirt j. black volvot Nowmsrk&t jacket ; hat to match. Miss Flynn looks charming in a dark-green-droßS, richly trimmed with satin, hat to match. Miaa Jonnio Isaacs : Myrtlo-green Newmarket ulstor ; stylish beaver hat with ostrich feathers. Miss White (Thames): Very stylish grey carmelite dress, trimmed with lighter satin. ; black . velvet hat. / Mrs George Walker: Handsome black silk dross ; very pretty black bonnet, trimmed with autumn loavos. Mrs Cobley : Black cashmere, handsomely 1 trimmed with black satin ; prune plush bonnet,very ladylike. Miss Mary Firth: Navy-blue serge drees; black cloth jacket ; large black beaver hat with. ostrich feathers. Miss Carrie Haultain : Dark brown serge dross ;: black chip Gainsbro' hat, trimmed with Spanish lace and sunflowers. Mrs Gordon-Aickin fnie Miss Donaldson): Pretty myrtle-greon costume, with valvet trim- - mings ; stylish hat with green feathers.

Mothbb Swan's Wobh Sybitp.— lnfallible • tasteless, harmless, cathartic; for fererisluaeßS^ rest lessneas, worsts; eonartii>ation*.lß. afrdxtfcgistoL: MosesHobs & Co., Sydney, General Agents.