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Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 141, 15 June 1892, Page 5

Captain Edwin wired from Wellington ab 12.10 p.m. as follows :—" Indications d or unusually cold weather."'

The average New Zealander is far too busy an individual to have leisure at his disposal for the examination and explora-y^y tion of the beautiful spots which'bave been-^ so bountifully scattered over these islands. Thero is, however, bub libble doubt that our exquisite scenery is a very valuable asset. Europeans are beginning to bire of Swibzerland, the Riviera is becoming vulgar, and even Egypt, bhe aristocratic, i 3 being over done. To the wealthy lounger, with plenty* of money to spend and a taste for romantic ' and picburesque scenery, Now Zealand is becoming a posibive haven. Unfortunabely, the people.at Homo are so grossly ignorant of New Zealand as a civilised country, they will persist in regarding us all aa ■--■■■ Maoris—and men eating Maoris ab that, lb is therefore a very valuable assistance to the advancement of tho colony that the "New Zealand Graphic" is giving in its admirable series of articles, " New 7ealand • Illustrated." This week Whangaroa Harbour is chosen. The views given are ' numerous and admirable examples of the • art ,of illustrated journalism. The account of bbc "Boyd Disaster" is the best thab has been published.

A meebing of the Ponsonby Rowing Club 4 will be held bo-morrow evening ab the Ponsonby Club Hotel, to consider the besb * course to adopt with regard to the removal of bhe presenb shed on Shelly Beach.

Tho next quarterly communicabion of the Grand Lodge ot New Zealand Masons will be held in Wellington, on Friday, July 29bh.

Winter seems the ■ mosb appropriate season for. fancy dress balls, and greab aro the searchings of heart experienced by all those invited to this popular kind of enbertainment. Some of our society men have had latent longings—since the opera season began—to see how they would look in a costume of the period of, say, Queen Elizabeth. They contemplate their elegantlyshaped nether limbs, and hail with pleasare the splendid chance afforded them; of displaying their rounded contour. If ,V"* the invibubion gratifies tbe men, how much / more satisfaction does it not afford the" ladies? Little knots of them gather round the five o'clock tea-table, and discuss " Whab shall 1 wear?" wibh unabated interest. Ib is difficult to obtain new and yet pretty ideas for such an importanb occasion. But the •• New Zealand Graphic " has bhis week * provided ibs readers wibh no less than, bwelve illustrated designs for a fancy-dress ball. Tho letterpress accurately describes * each costume, and the two pages given'-to this interesting subjecb will, no doubt, prove very acceptable to a large section of bhe community. Even those who do nob actively participate in the pleasures of masquerading, will derive some amusement from looking ab these excellent pictures.

It is a mistake to suppose that Polar research has cost enormously in human life. Despite all the greab disasters, 97 out of every 100 explorers have returned alive.