AUCKLAND GOSSIP.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 600, 28 April 1891, Page 3

AUCKLAND GOSSIP.

A LADY’S LETTER FROM) THE NORTHERN CITY.

[by

A. TATTLER.]

Ths beginning of this month found ns Aucklanders unusually gay. The presence of the Earl and Countess of Onslow, the Admiral and Lady Charles Scott, fire English men-of-war and one Austrian, gave us a very good excuse for dissipation. The same conditions existed throughout part of March, but any great frivolity was forbidden by the Season of Lent. Lady Onslow certainly held a reception, and gave several dinner and evening parties, as well as a large garden party, the Mayoress following her example in the last-mentioned way. And an unusual number of weddings in March defied the general prejudice against being married in Lent. On the whole we managed to enjoy ourselves very fairly, there being a number of small private parties. But with the commencement of April there came a rush of gaiety that hardly gave us time to breathe till the ships steamed out of the harbor. Three large balls, the Citizens, Northern Club, and Government House, two “At Homes ” on board the Orlando, very large musical evenings given by Mrs MacMillan and Dr Campbell, preparations for a mammoth picnic (which however the rain spoiled), a grand choral concert, a garden party to which several hundreds were invited on the Parnell Tenuis Lawn, several race meetings, and a number of smaller dissipations were compressed into a fortnight. Night after night the nine o’clock gun from the flagship boomed out oyer the gathering of “ fair women and brave men ” at some fresh scene of festivity. Morning after morning the five o’clock gun disturbed our first slumbers. But the ships are gone now, followed by many a sigh of relief from the beads of households, and by at least as many sighs of regret from their susceptible daughters. The ” Rapid” only is left and she is going away on Saturday. A French man of-war has since come in, but very few of us feel competent to embark on a flirtation carried on in French, and the English of these Officers is most elementary.

Tre Cbryfanlhemum Show, which opened on Thursday and lasted for three days, was a great success. The Choral Hall was very prettily decorated, and presented the appearance of a vast conservatory, with nikau palms, fern trees, and cabbage trees forming a false roof, and intercepting the view of the bare and ugly reality. A fountain in the centre of the had cooled the air, and gently murmured among the surrounding reede. The blooms were very fine, This is only the second annual show held by ths Chrysanthemum Society, and the progress made since last year tn the variety and pci feet ion of these handsome flowers gives the best proof of the good work which the Society has done. The member’s subscription is five shillings a year, and they are entitled to the full value of this sum in different varieties of chrysanthemum plants. There were nearly two hundred bouquets entered for competition—most of them being remarkably handsome. On Thursday evening a promenade concert attracted such large numbers of people to the show that we had great difficulty in getting round. Ou Friday the Society provided afternoon tea for all visitors. It was presided over by various ladies who were kept extremely busy for a couple of hours. Among the hundreds who were present were the Governor and Lady Onslow with their two pretty little fair-haired daughters Lady Gwendoline and Lady Dorothea. Saturday night was perhaps the most successful of any. It ended with the sale of cut flowers, bouquets and some of the pot plants, by auction. At 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, the usually quiet Princes street presented a very gey a; pearanee when the Tandem Club held their first meet. For some time the smart carts; with well-groomed horses and showy equipments, daibed up to the Northern Club from various directions, and took their place in the procession. Some of the teams were inclined to be restive and their drivers had to keep them on the move. In all ten or twelve teems started, besides a few other carriages and one or two riders bringing up tfia rear-, i When all were assembled, Lord and Lady Onelow drove out through the gates of Government House and took their place at the head of the procession. The Governor is a very good whip, and it was rumored that be intended to drive a four-in-band coach, in which he has often gone to the races, There was a little feeling of disappointment, therefore, when ha appeared sealed in a Victoria.

Many of the drivers were known to be rather inexperienced in “ tandem tooling,” and soma sympathy with, and anxiety for, the ladiss who had ventured out in certain carts was expressed by spectators. Only one accident, however, occurred. The sufferers were two officers from the Rapid, who came a frightful smash, the shaft-horse being badly hurt. The two Rapid (truly they were “ too rapid ”) men are anxiously awaiting bulletins as to the health of the injured animal. If the horse dies it will cost them £4o—if the horse lives, £2O will cover damages. Apart from this mishap the meet was a great success, the drive through pretty country, the novelty of the occasion, the wondering admiration of pedestrians at the dashing cavalcade, and the acceptable afternoon tea before returning to town, being voted by all thoroughly enjoyable. While they were bowling swiftly along the country roads a tennis match which attracted large numbers of spectators was being played at the Parnell Tennis Lawn, Miss Mowbray, the lady champion of Auckland, and Miss H, Hitching?, from Napier, were the combatants. The game was wen contested, both players hitting hard, returning just over the net, and placing well. Both, also, were very active, and took several of what appeared to the onlookers "impossible” balls. The Hawke’s Bay Champion, however, was too strong for her opponent. The ease and certainty with which she volleyed or drove, and her dexterous left-hand service (pardon the Irishism) drew forth great applause, though Aucklanders in general and Parnellites in particular were sadly downcast at the defeat of a social favorite and a thoroughly good, consistent tennis-player. It is tbs first time for many years that Miss Mowbray has been beaten by'any lady player. She was the first to congratulate Miss Ditchings on her

victory. On Monday evening, April 20th, a crowded meeting was held at which a testimonial and purse of 40 or 45 sovereigns were presented to Miss Arnaboldi, the Hopital nurse, whose accusations of mismanagement and neglect in foe Auckland Hospital led to the late enquiry under Sir Maurice O'Borke and Dr Von Mir bach. Mies Arnaboldi is a pale, shrinking little woman, with a big forehead, and a gentle, kindly manner. The publicity and the contention which her chargee have excited, have evidently tried her in no slight measure, although they never made her falter in what she believed was a duty She owed to the patients under her charge, and to others who might enter the hospital. After several laudatory speeches had been made, and the address and purse presented to her By Mr C. E. Button, she replied in a few well-chosen and earnest words. Her voice was inaudible when she commenced, from sheer nervousness, but as she proceeded, strong feeling overcame her hesitation, and she spoke in a more natural tone. Her remarks were received very warmly,* for the Auckland public regard her action all through as truly heroic. The shops are very attractive at present, as they are just opening their new consignments of winter goods. Fur and astrakhan are to be much worn on street dresses it appears, and even for evening. I have seen several dresses lat>ly, made with the new three quarter length bodice, and it has lost it first awkward appearance to my eye, but I still think it is unbecoming to most figures. Although the English papers assure us that large hats are a thfog of the past, yet many of the most stylishly dressed girls "here are wearing large felt hats, profusely trimmed with feathers. The perfectly flat, round, plate hats seem the favorite shape, for deft fingers can twist them into almost any shape to suit their own taste. The tiny bows or butterflies, flower wreaths or feather-tips, which (for-

nished with narrow velvet strings coming from the back, and tying under the chin) are dignified with the name of bonnets, are very dainty. - Ball-dresses are all made slightly trained at the back. Fewer net and tulle dresses were worn at the balls this year. My experience is that they are far more expensive than silk, because so much less durable. Hair dressing still follows Greek models, and is worn in very high, carelessly arranged knots at the back of the head. Sometimes a ribbon encircles the “Grecque,” and is fastened with a bow in front. Occasionally, too, bands or strings of pearls appear in the waved hair which is drawn back from the forehead. And some people wear a tiara of diamonds. But for the most part, no ornament whatever is worn in the hair. I have not been in the way of hearing much new music lately. “ Beauty’s Eyes ”is a very pretty song which is very much heard here. I fancy “ Daydreams ”is an old one, but I like it. The " Polish Dances ” are both brilliant and satisfactory music for pianoforte performers. They. have become too popular in Auckland, especially No. 1, which you are certain to hear at every afternoon tea or musical evening you go to. Grieg’s music is not nearly so hackneyed here, although it is very widely played now in England. A “ Wedding March” of his is one of the quaintest, most fascinating, and at the same time most puzzling compositions I know. Our music lately has been of a less highclass character. Waltzes, polkas and barn dances have charmed our ears instead. The “ Huia ” waltz, a local composition, sounds very well when played by a band. But the most haunting dance time is that of the polka “ Who’s that acalling,” which is perfectly irresistible to anyone with two legs. I don’t know how a cripple would feel on. hearing it, but in my opinion it would be base cruelty to play it within ear-shot of a one-legged man. The memories recalled by the classic destrains of " Who’s that a-calling” are so vivid and overpowering that I must drop my pen and abandon myself to their despotic sway.