A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 612, 25 May 1891, Page 2

A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

SOCIETY NOTES. I Auckland, May 18. Last week I rashly bound myself to say somen thing of two events which were fresh in my memory then. Now they are things of the - past, and Ido not feel inclined to allude to them at any length. The first was a delightfl ful afternoon we .spent on board the “Chamn plain." A boat, manned by eight sailors, a came into the nearest bay for us, and we en--0 joyed the pleasant little sail across the harbor to the North Shore, where the man-of-war . was lying in dock. We were struck by the laughing and merriment among the sailors, 5 and also by their smart, jaunty appearance. Arrived on board we were reoeived most e courteously, and shown over aome portions of the ship. The Captain's quarters ara e almost luxurious, and the officer's mass-room 1 very comfortable. We partook of a dainty little repast which could hardly be called a" afternoon tea,” since the cup which “ cheers, but not inebriates," was dispensed with, and r champagne substituted in its stead. We had as pleasant a time as visitors to a war-ship generally do, and thought just as little of the very different and terrible scenes which might one day be enacted upon her decks. Ths . officers are very fond of mnsio, but not in the way that Germans are, There is no piano on board—in fact the only musical instruf ment that they boast is a mandolin, the owner t of which could by no means be persuaded to exhibit his prefliienoy. As tbe day declined we were rowed home again, ending our s pleasant expedition in an undignified way, n but one productive of much amusement, by 1 being carried ashore—the tide being low. On Saturday (May 9,h) a second tandem c meet was held. The procession was not e nearly eo imposing as on the first occasion, j seven or eight who had driven then, being away. The diminution in number was, howI ever, held by some to be quite compensated _ by the improvement in quality, represented by one or two new drivers. The Earl of 8 Onslow beaded the cavalcade in a smart new dog-oart. His horses were high spirited, and ■ more than onoe the line of teams had to stop t till the restive steeds were in hand again, 1 That His Excellency is a recognised authority - in sporting circles, or riding and driving, is shown by the fact that he was selected to fur- ; nish a monograph on these subjects in a 5 series of articles in which W. G. Grace ; handled “Cricket." This by the way. On the following Wednesday Mr and Mrs j MacMillan entertained a lage number of goests . at an evening party. Many were rather I misled by the infnrmality of their iovitations, which ran something after this style, “ The 1 French officers are coming, and we have askel • a fsw people to meet them,” Taught by previous experience what our hostess understood > by 11 a few,” I was not surprised to find over > sixty guests assembled. The question of t dress is a difficult one when such invitations ( arrive. On Wednesday evening every variety f of attire from full hall dress to morning cos- [ tume appeared. The former, however, largely predominated. Mrs Morrin wore a handsome grey toilette, beautifully made and fitting perfectly. One or two birds, the exact tint ! of her dress, ornamented the bodice on the ' left shoulder, and with her long grey kid 1 glove’, gave an air of finish to a stylish and artistic costume. The evening was not wholly devoted to dancing, songs and in- , etrumental pieces varying the programme. The same uncertainty about hnw to dress was noticeable at another musical party the following rvening. Two poor unfortunates who arrived in short morning coats and found their follows all wearing dresi clothes looked the picture of misery. Had fl'ght bsen possible after the appalling discovery they would have fled. But they only made it when at the entrance of the reception room, wi'h their hostess a few feet off waiting to welcome them. I noticed a remarkably pretty drees that evening worn by Miss Kilgour. The color was a grey wi'h a heliotrope tint. The skirt was of some woollen material. The boding was made of velvet the same shade, out from under tbe arms to the middle of the waist, back and front. The V shaped space was filled with soft folds of the same material as the skirt, which were carried over theshoulders. Full elbow sleeves of the woollen material were caught in a deep band of the velvet, long points of which rat> up among the folds towards the shoulder. A full frill of whits chiff on edged the low ntok and the sleeves. On Friday Mrs Stevenson, of R«muera, gave a very enjoyable dance. Unfortunately, I was not amongst those invited, so I shall not bs able to give you any details of ths dresses worn, On Saturday (May I6th) despite the gals which had lasted for three days, and the occasional tremendous,storms of rain, Queen street was unusually full of ladles shopping. The monotony of the house grows unbearable after two or three days of wet weathen Everyone was wearing winter clothes. Furs appeared at every turn, and long jackets to walking dresses seem quite established in favour. I had almost forgotten to mention ths meet of the Pakuranga Hunt Ulub. It was really the first of the season, the one I formerly described being in the nature nt a preliminary cantor. They could not get q hare, eo the hunt was forced to follow a drag, Mrs W. Bloomfield’s fine riding was much admired. She took her fences in splendid style, and at the same time preserved a graceful seat, never sacrificing appearance as some really good riders do. It is a great mistake, for a woman may look either her best or her worst on horseback. That evening one of the fortnightly Gnahunga dances was held in the hall. They ere pleasant little gatherings, very S'ciable and informal. They always break up early, entail very little expense for refreshments, and dancers are not expected to wear evening dress. But there is quite as much enjoyment as at the most elaborate entertainment*. J noticed Miss Gould amongst the mtjst indefatigable dancers. I notice by ths English papers that the rinking mania whioh)attaoked us two or three years ago has now visited England. It is not likely to be a more permanent revival than it was with us.