AUCKLAND LETTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 3

AUCKLAND LETTER

THE WINTER. SHOW. (Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, July 20. Last year’s winter show —the hr st exhibition of the kind for about dozen years —marked a distinct advance on anything of the kind previously attempted. Last year’s show was good. This year’s function “goe a one better.” The exhibits of one kind and another are about four timv s us numerous as those of last year, ami the space occupied by all the things on view is proportionately larger than that required in 1922. For many years past we have been urged to “encourage local industry,” and the present exhibition demonstrates in the most convincing way that local industry is worthy of encourigement fo: the bulk ul the manufactured go- ds of one, kind and another on view arc every bit a 5 good as the best. th.’.m. of the kind imported from the obi world. TOO SOON OVER. So excellent is the general effect produced on the mind of the visitor t> the show by the multitude of interesting objects assembled fWAhin (he four large, sheds on the central wharf (each shed as commodious as a large public hall), that the brevity of the season has been the theme 01 mineral regret. The trouble, and expense of holding the show have, been very great. Had it been possible to keep 'the exhibition open for two or three weeks there, can be but little doubt that it would have been freely patronised all the time. AV hat Auckland needs is a- big Agricultural hall, with ample room for the effective display of exhibits at what is now .recognised as perhaps the. most popular annual exhibition of its kind in the Dominion. THE LURE OF AUCKLAND. A friend of mine who quitted Auckland some 18 months ago in order to occupy a responsible, position rn London, in writing to me by the last incoming mail, expresses himself as pleased with his prospects in the Old Country, but longing for a sight of our Queen City, which was formerly his home. “London,” he says, “is a wonderful place, so wonderful that one has to see it to realise its “pull.” But I often find myself when pacing the Strand or Oxford Street or some other famous thoroughfare wishing I was back again in little old New Zealand —and Queen Street. I suppose I am not likely to revisit the Dominion for many years to come. But I snail never forget it or cease to look forward to the tiniq when I shall see Auckland again.” Well, this city has its drawbacks —climatic and other — but it certainly seems to possess a fascination for most of those who have once come under its spell. I have met Aucklanders in many lands rn the course of iny wanderings and always they have spoken with affection of “Akarana” and of their hope tej see it once more. i AIRS GUAIAIIDGE. “Auckland Star” recently referred to “the political Airs Gumbage who was never happy unless she was miserable.” Dickens lovers will of course recognise the allusion as being to “the lone, lorn Mrs Gummidge,” in “David Copperfield.” .Perhaps the Parliamentary correspondent of tho “Star” was the victim of a typographical error. And perhaps not. Anyhow 1 am afraid people do not road Dickens as they formerly did, a view that is confirmed by an Auckland dealer in second-hand books, whom I happen to know and who tells me that Charles Garvicq is more popular with many readers to-day than Charles Dickens, and that a Garvice novel will always command a quicker sale than a book by either Dickens or Thackeray. THE “FLU.” The ’flu is once more with us. Happily, at any rate so far, the cases reported locally, though fairly numerous, have not been of a very serious kind. Some Auckland doctors recommend a throat-gargle consisting or salt and warm water (a teaspoonful of the former to a pint of the latter),, and a crystal or two of Condy s. Iheie is another throat-gargle not usually recommended by the faculty, but nexettheless extremely popular and usually “taken at bed-time.” It consists of hot water and something else (not procurable at a chemist’s) with sugar and a slice of lemon.