A WOMAN'S LETTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8124, 23 April 1906, Page 3

A WOMAN'S LETTER.

(Specially Written for the Age>. WELLINGTON, April 21. The holidays are now a thing of the past, and with them fade away perhaps the hapoiest recollections of quite the finest and moat enjoyable Easter we've had for years. Easter Monday was certainly a day of weddings—six times the organ of St. Peter's Ohun:h nourod forth the strains of the Wedding March, and six times the Vicar was called upon to perform the marriage ceremony. Quite one of the prettiest wead ings was that of Miss Ruby Holmwood to Mr Arthur Ballunce, of Ballautyne and Company, and who is often heard on the concert platform. The pretty bride looked most winsome in her wedding gown of mouasiline-de-suie ovet silk. The full skirt was insertioned with broderie anglaiae, the same trimming forming a yoke and vest on the folded bodice. Her wedding veiU which was raised by a coronet o: oranße blossoms, bad been worn by many of the bride's ancestors. The bride was attended by Misses Vida Bristow and Kathleen Osmond, as maids of houour. They were daintly frockerl in white book muslin, the full skirts being frilled almost to the waist The bodices were finished with pretty drooping berthas edged with lace. Their hats were also of mublin, and thoy carried bouquets of scarlet geranium and autumn leaves. Mr Rolaud Robertson acted as best man and Mr W. Leatham as groomsman. Mr Cyril Towsey played the w,edding march. After the ceremony a reception was held at ivira Holmwood's residence, Kelburne, where afternoon tea was served, on the lawn, under oover of a largo marquee, The long table was most tastefully arranged with white and red flowers and festoons nf greenery. Manv speeches were made proving the popularity of the young bride and bridegroom. Later in the afternoon Mr and Mrs Ballance left oy train for the North The bride's travelling dress was a gown of brown zibiline, the long American coat being finished with a gold buckle. Her hat was of brown satin straw on which rested a long violet shaded feather. A beautiful for (the gift of the bridegroom) was also worn. Mrs Holmwood's gown was of cigar brown orepe-de-obine over glaoe, and her hat of brown straw was relieved by a cluster uf violet ribbon. Mrs Mills (grandmother of the bride) wore a gown of dove grey; bonnet to match. Mrs Moss a very becoming costume of violet oluth, the long coat being finished at the back with velvet buttons: a violet hat with bows of floral rib bon wan worn. Mrs Platts-Milla wore a gown of black nccordeonpleated voile; smart black hat. Mrs Briatow, Russian coat and sttirt of check tweed with violet tiimmings, pretty bat of same shade. Mrs Osmond,' handsome cown of black spotted net over block glace. Mrs Richardson, tailor-made of mixed tweed, white feather bat. Mrs Kane, black and white gown. Miß Jiykee, becoming gown of purplo Cloth; hnt to match. MissMee, smart costume of cream cloth,'the long coat being trimmed with green velvet; hat of green leaves. Mis 3 Tregnar, • tailor-made of nacy cloth; her pretty hat being of white chiffon; a white fur was also worn. Miss Bendall, oream serfee Eton costume. Misa Mills, pretty frock of white embroidered muslin; red hat. Mis 3 Brandon, long cream Empire coat, cream skirt; iiat trimmed with ruby velvet. Others present included Mesdames Palmer, Holdship, VennelL Kerr.ber, the Misseß Tamer, Keniber, Shannon, Kane, Seed.

Mrs 0. H. Mills gave a very enjoyable tea last week at.her charm- I iag residence, "Waiiua," the guests of honour being Mrs Morice (Greymoutb) and the Misses Brosnlee. The table decorations in the diningroom were much admired, being large silver bowls filled with Begonias of wonderful size and variety. A, large pumber of guest? were present, among them, being—Mrs Seddon, the Misses Seddon, Mrs Michie, Mrs Russell, Mrs Ohrietie, Mrs Reid, Mrs Kilgour, Mrs Merchant, Mrs Hamer, Miss Harris, Miss Macdonald, Miss Cowper, Misses Hislop, Miss Shannon and Misa Oaldow. Miss Finch's marriage to Dr. Futman will take place on the 26th of this month. Dr. and Mrs Henry and their little daughters have returned to Wellington. Miss Mee will leave very shortly ," for Sydney to join the Omrah en route for England.. Mrs and Miss Hamer are contemplating a trip to England in a few months. A wedding was quietly uolebrated on Easter Tuesday at Westport, when Miss Eugenie Orowther, v eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Herbert Orowther, was married to the Rev. L. York, of Reefton. The bride has many friends in Wellington, where she lived for many years, her father being in the Customs office. Two little maids, who attended the bride, Miss Tui Orowther and Miss Violet Powell, were quaintly frocked in white silk with deep belts of tangerine. Their bats were of white chiffon, and were wreathed with autumn leaves. Mr and Mrs York have left for England and the Continent, where they will spend their honeymoon. On Thursday evening "Utopia Limited" was staged for the first time in Wellington by the Williamson's Comic Opera Company. Like all of Gilbert and Sullivan's works, it has a decidedly refined vein running through, at the same time \ being fall of brightness and hn- . moor. , The f rooking, which adds i .argely to the success of spy play, - ie simply perfection. The curtain - tlsss on a soene, a blaze of ooloar. ■ Many maidens are gracefully reolinIbg oo the grasiy slor ea of the

"Island of Utopia," robed in clinging drapery of rainbow shades; the colours moat tastefully blended and eaob aa sho singß waves to and fro a large palm leaf. The King's youngest daughters, "Princess Makaya" and "Princess Kalyba," two modest maidens who have been kept ignorant of the ways and .wickedness of the world, and live in mortal terror of the wrath of their English governess, are clothed aa puritans in soft grey orepedechine and jswelled gicdlea, which is a pretty contrast with the bright colouring effect the other frocks afford. Miss Oelia Ghiloni makes a perfect Lady Sophie, and looks moat handsome in a gown of oyster grey satin, wearing a large picture hat also of gray. She sings "When But a Maid of Fifteen Years," with much taste and expression. Mies Olive Godwin, the King's eldest daughter, on who's return from Girton to the "Mand of Utopia," the whole plot is based, sings a very pretty duet with Captain Fitzbattle axe, called "Words of Love." Her frock on this occasion is cream duohesse satin, trimmed with beautiful insertion At the "Court Drawing," a brilliant function heid at the Palace, wears an elegant gown of white crepo-de-chine, and beautiful diamonds, her, full court train being composed entirely of ruchings of white chiffon. "Utopia Limited,' is an opera one could B«e many times and enjoy it more and more the better acquainted one becomes with it, which 1 think, applies to most of Gilbert and Sullivan's operas.

There are endless amusements to bo enjoyed here at prusent—Williamson's Comic Opera Company at the Opera House, Bostqck's wonderful circus on Jervdis Quay, end the "All Nations Fair" at the Town Hall. One wonders where all the people come from, each entertainment being crowded to the door. At the latter, one could only get a glimpse of the stalls by peering over or between hats and people. This, I should say, suggests flourishing business. Perhaps the chief attraction of the Fair is the dancing by numbers of children, some fair as lilies, others dark as gypsies; some wee tiny dots of barely four summers, flitting about in fairy frocks of blue or white tarlatin. One of the most uncommon, and at the same time most weird, dances was the "French Flower Dance,", performed by eight small girls in frilled frocks of mauve and pink Bilk. The graceful movements in dancing and posiug aleni speak for tiie wonderful patience and paina Miss, Estelle Beere has taken in training the children, who number, 1 believe, on e hundred. •