TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 20, 25 January 1911, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Possibly to stimulate interest in the ,, Vvi! , festival of Empire, the proVan ty moters have decided to add Fair. 1 an all-British "Fair of Fashion." The brief cable to-day unfortunately does not mention whether the show will set out the evolution of to-day's fashions or merely display present modes as a revolution on last year's shapes. The artists of the comic papers have already :£ n Kuf.. Se< L he cr «K>line and the *m i -i h^ k , by jow1 ' and the inevitable historian lias traced the "hobble" back to ancient Hebrew times. 13 c lresently a saga will find Babylonian bricks scored wtfh perfect representations of umbrella, verandah, roof, beehive and milk-dish hats, and a patient geologist will unearth a high-heel print on a bit of old red sandstone. If that ban of lashion" only gave an array of the fashions for the past fifty years it would be worth a trip to see how the game of In and Out has been played through the decades. "From low to high doth dissolution climb" in fashionable heels as in all else, and then the. swing is from high to.low. The pendulum, sways eternally between -the Loos& and the Tight and the Long and the Short. Generally woman is satisfied with four dimensions for dress, andperhaps, the "hobble" and "the" hat, reveal an effort to find the fifth. l Some years ago girls' names aeroplaned „,, „ to Aurora, far above Mary, Mary, the plain ground of Quite Contrary.' 1 Mary. Field and forest, flood and fireworks have yielded their tribute for the christening, and the sweet Alices and gentle Annies scarcely dare raise their modest heads among the Rhododendron and Azalea, girlhood about them. Yet a Mary (once Princess May) is Queen Consort of Britain and the Dominions Overseas, and it is a safe propiiecy that the registrars of births will have many a Mary to record. A quaint proposal has been made that the Marys, Marions, Mays, and Marthas of the British Empire should subscribe for a Coronation gift to Queen Mary. Loyal, vice-royal Auckland (still aglovr with the furnishing of the Governor's Eesidence there) has led off with a meeting of the dear "M.'s," but, apparently, the girls were coy — were not. the Marys ever shy/—a nd the gathering was not large enough to do any business. Perhaps the order of reference is not extensive enough. The telegram yesterday did not show whether the Mariannes, the Marias, the Maries, or the Miriams were to be invited to pay up. It is hoped that thero will be no jealousy between the Mays (also the multiples and sub-multiples of May) and the Marys (also the multiples and sub-multiples of Mary). The Marthas are perhaps in the happiest position, and may be able to nicely play the role of peacemakers in case of any unseemly wrangles. Such a gift from the Empire's "M's" will surely please QueenMary, and it will help to gain a further lease of life fox* a name of fragrance and music. Busy, bustling Auckland, "the cynosure of wondering eyes," The Northern has a brave Mayor, Cynosure. Mr. L. J. Bagnall. He has expressed concurrence with tbe note of warning against land-booming sounded by Mr. D. M'Laren in The Post the other clay, after a visit to the North. Mr. Wilford, Mr. M'Laren, and other recent, callers at Auckland have spoken well of the progressive city which, with the aid of a good round of suburbs, has a population closely approaching 100,000. The praise of the beautiful sister city by Wellington men should surely be convincing evidence to our brethren of the north that the people here wish their kinsmen all good fortune. 'The references to the "boom" were given in kindness, for the protection of .the Auckland public, and had no savour of rancour or ill will. The evidence that has accumulated during the past fortnight goes to show that The Post's comment at the beginning of the controversy was well founded. There is a danger that the very good times in Auckland may disturb the equilibrium of even steady, stable people, and they may be led into commitments for which they may bitterly repent within a few years. Auckland, the gate of a great rich area, can look to long years of prosperity, but it will be well for the citizens to-day to beware of the speculative fever. "The battle of gas with electricity oa . _ the floor of the ChanA Protracted table Aid Board is not Controversy, yet near an end, for all the heat and flash. At the board s meeting yesterday there was a regrettable bout, ot personalities between several members after one had suggested that the Lighting Committee (engaged on the problem of the City Council's and the Gas Company's tenders) was packed with city councillors. It is alleged that the council, eager to secure a triumph over the company, is prepared to tender electric energy below c ? sb - Tliis charge has been denied by the Elecfd-ic Light Department. It is necessarily difficult for the public to sift the contentions and claims of the rival factions, but the ratepayers may rest assured that if the corporation secures the contract and carries it out at a loss to the municipality keen eyes will detect that lobb and vigorously proclaim £ A , n y T re P or <> by the Charitable Aid .board s Lighting Committee has yet to be approved by the board as a whole, and the City Council has yet to review the terms offered to the board. The council is in a delicate position. It is eager to secure a strategic advantage, but it has to be on guard against sanctioning any unfair procedure- in the fight with the company. The council Ti. n .S- lU y Mmc in for severe censure if it is proved that the corporation's tender is below the paying point. The council can take it for granted that the general body of ratepayers has no wish to be concerned in any scheme that may unfairly haras*, private enterprise.

"Do we intend to do anything further regarding that section for a hospital at Hutt.'' queried the Rev. H. Van Staveren at the meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday afternoon, lne members seemed surprised. "I don't intend to let the matter drop," continued the speaker. "We are going to make our financial arrangements for the year, and if we can save a couple of thousand pounds in rates, why shouldn't we do it, Mr. Chairman? Why ehould it eat up interest every year? We don't have to pay rates, but there is no reason for it to be idle. T hope some 6cheme will bo evolved co that we should realise on it, and save rates for charitable aid." The chairman, Mr. J. G. W. Aitken said that he had had the matter in hie mind, but the difficulty was to find a. way 1 of working the thing out. If any member had a suggestion, notice of motion could be given for its consideration. Mr. B. R. Gardener: "I am rather surprised that Mr. Van Staveren had not done 'X. He dropped the matter like a hot potato., Ifojurthe.£ dificueskm took place.