WELLINGTON LETTERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 154, 15 June 1932, Page 4

WELLINGTON LETTERS

ODD NEWS AND CHAT. When we arc patiently grappling with frosts which destroy our flower beds, and unemployment problems which distress us greatly, it is quite refreshing to read letters written from the Wellington district- which bring a refreshing chance of thoughts. This writer, in conversational vein, says “There is a very nice new dancing club opened at tho Hutt to which many young peoplte go to dance and enjoy it immensely. They have a few old-time dances but mostly keep to the modern ones. This is an innovation which is being very successful there. “Do you know that I had quite a shock in church this morning hearing an extract read from the Book of Job. Job said ‘I shall escape by the skin of my teeth’—and in my ignorance 1 had always thought that modern slang! •‘At the Taita (near Lower Hutt) there are quantities of Virginia stock out and so many flowers about, and still some autumn leaves left, also rows of bon-fire salvias looking beautiful. The Mayoress is sad over tho way flowers have been cut by frost in her Stoke’s Valley garden. She says you are more helpless with frost than anything, for you can shelter from winds, supply water, alter soil, but are still baffled by frosts. “Everyone is interested to see tho Olympic eights rowing off the Petone beach. They have been boarding in Petone as the beach is so suitable for practise work They are wonderful to watch. “It was pleasant to go once again to the exhibition of pictures at the Wellington Art Gallery. I saw Dr. Carberry taking round Sir Truby King and I wondered if he had bought anything for he has some fine pictures already and is a good judge. Mrs Self was also at the Art Gallery with a friend, and Mr Self —whose pictures you admire—has a very clever picture hung showing two horses in a cart pulling a load of sand. It is already sold. “There are many delightful pictures at the exhibition. Ono by that artist you inquired about is of the latest Parisian school. It is too funny. Wild scrawks of gaudy, impossible colours represent a sea or river flowing between something that might be hills on one side, and a flight of imagination could see a village on the other. At the back of the village is a row of blue edifices. Some say they are trees. I have my own opinion about them I Well well! and farewell.” ANOTHER- LETTER. Another Wellington correspondent (an artist) speaks about the Art Exhibition in her letter also:— “The exhibition is exceptionally large —far more in the way of flower paintings and still life than formerly. All tho eight pictures done by Mr Welch are charming. Mr Nicoll’s are excellent but he does not show as many as usual. One of his is such a clever picture of ‘Mickey’—an Irish terrier. Someone, whose name 1 do not know, sends a very clover painting of a setter dog and several puppies, one peeping on its mother’s back. This sold at once. There is one by , the most weird work you ever saw. The sea is in wonderful stripes of very dark and pale blue, the hills are green and crimson, the clouds greenish. Large blobs are in the foreground, some pale blue, others green. 1 say the latter blobs are trees, others say meat safes! Another weird picture is a group of nudes —many with long hair. All the bodies are yellow except one, which is bright rose. Nearly al) are in dismal attitudes of despair, and behind them are broad green bands—perpendicular—which I think must be tree trunks, but there are no branches and they do not continue to the top of the picture. “Before ending I must tell you that I heard the carillon again on Friday last. I went right up to it to hear Mr Clifford Ball play the bells, but found it best to be about 100 yards away. They are most beautiful—such an asset to the town. It was a perfect day for sound—quite still. He played “Annie Laurie,” “Drink to Me Only, 1 ’ with such sweet variations, and “The Lass with the Delicate Air.” Now ho has Iteft New Zealand, but wo shall have Miss Watkins.”