ODDS AND ENDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 5

ODDS AND ENDS.

MAINLY ABOUT PEOPLE. With the temperature trying to get above 52deg yesterday morning, blue was the prevailing- colour of noses andi chins among the children assembling in the city. For‘this time only it was Royal blue. Talking of complexions, has anyone yet remarked on the curious effect of khaki uniforms? Against a white summer suit roost faces look quite dark; blue uniforais cause the faces of the soldiery to look quite pale, and, except on hot days, rather pasty ; but against the khaki tunic even a pale face assumes a glaring pink hue, very life the paint used on cheap Guy Fawkes’ maskp. Several women of artistic instincts declared that the combination nearly made them unwell.

Nobody succeeded in counting all the different shades of khaki in use among the l volunteers in Hagley Park yesterday, but two very energetic Pressmen got up to eighteen. .In their eagerness after distinct varieties they missed - a good deal of the march-past. The badge worn by the local Pressmen during the Royal visit festivities is a very attractive adornment—attractive in the sense that it attracts notice., No one willingly left it uncovered. It is alleged to represent a chrysanthemum, and is in all probability, a “sport” from some of the official decorations. In any case, it is so obviously a new variety, that it has been decided to name it “ Hartz Precious Inspiration,” in honour of the grower. A member of the staff of this paper yesterday interviewed a prominent professional grower concerning the merits of the new chrysanthemum, “Hartz Precious Inspiration.” It is, he says, a reflex variety with quilled florets, the stamens, monodelpilous and synamtberoua, being exceptionally prominent.' There is ho stigma, except that attaching to the wearer. The flower will hot find favour among growers, andi has'not come to stay. It is too flat to 1 be of any value, being good neither for exhibition nor decoration. "The stem is too short to make it useful for ornamentation purposes. Briefly, it is bizarre, rather than artistic. Some of the school committeemen amd children attending yesterday’s function in Victoria Square left their homes in the backblocks at five o’clock in the morning. It was dark, the thermometer stood at 24, and there was an inch of hoar-frost on the ground. Arriving at Christchurch, stiff and numb with cold, they waited 1 from, an hour to an hour and a half for the Duke and Duchess to arrive. Some of them didn’t go to the. Square at all, and when, their Royal Highnesses did arrive, they did not get out of thedr carriage, the bouquet was presented and the carriage drove off. The Duka smiled as_ he always does. But it is not recorded that anyone among that vast gathering of children, felt* any happier or any more loyal when, all was said and done. After so much expectation ' and preparation, the denouement was bitterly disappointing. Many of the volunteer companies and battalions have their special wax cries. Most of them are Maori, with much “ He 1 He! and Ha 1 Ha 1 But the, ’ most curious and nob the least effective is that of a visiting company jWe—want^-more—-beer. ” “Why can’t you cheer the boys?” demanded the Premier as he walked down in front of the stands in the Park. It was not his fault that the public did nob yell themselves hoarse. The Premier was ably seconded by Mr John Holmes, but in spite of their beat best efforts the stands would raise nothing better than a half-hearted “ hurrah 1” Before Mr Tunbridge leaves Christchurch he ought to know that the citizens have not failed to remark on the excellence of the police arrangements right through the visit. The police -don’t often receive commendation, out this time ft is thedr due. Numbers of men were compelled to fall out of the ranks* during yesterday’s review. Scratch meals, continuous travelling, and want of sleep were responsible for-the trouble, The ambulance bearers were f kept busy attending to faints. One man collapsed under the Duke’s vert- *-nrr S.R.fL immediately directed tie beaters to fee summon ed. Five men collapsed in fcwo companies -in a space at five missste*. - The Duke would have biteen ed- fcdh deep if he could' have heard the remarks of the' peepl® as he sat his splendid mount at the salutincr base. He kept hie eva® wide open too. Noticing that some of tie cadets were not armed, he expressed a modified disapproval. “I have given orders'to have the boys supplied with weapons.” said Mr Sed«sSnat ti&e feanoheco.' “ and within twentyfour, hours the thing must be done. Some poor- unfortunate, official will have to fly round. When the “show.” proper was at an end in the Park, a Moon, dame raised a shrill cry of welcome to the Duke, “Haeremai te Tuke! Haeremai to ‘ lady from Home ’!” and more to the same effect. She seemed ‘rather.,anoiduar to give the’ Duchess an orange, 1 and a long discussion with the police ensued. She' here, and made advance towards the Royal ocarriage. However, within half a dozen yards of the goal, Mr Commissioner. Tunbridge, stern, inexorable, shooed her back, and the incident closed in another shrill wail.

There is no doubt-that the Premier battled hard to make the review a record review for the colonies ; and he succeeded. There were no Imperials, not even half a blue-jacket to swell the numbers. It was all iSiew Zealand-bred, bone and sinew, all volunteer; and the result was magnificent. “ The proudest day of my life, and I’ve .had some proud days,” said the Defence Minister. ' \ Recipe for “Volunteer’ Stew.”—Send a couple of orderlies with buckets round the mess tables, after meals to collect all the scraps. . Dump these scraps into the kitchen copper, cover with water, bring to boil, and let simmer for an hour. Serve piping hot, so; that the smell at least will be tempting, and leave the unfortunate soldiers, to discover the truth for themselves. Newtown? Don’t you believe it! Christchurch I The veterans’ luncheon, was brm full of goodtthings. “By the way that was received I can see that, like myself, you are all under the influence.” said the Premier. The reference was’ to the Duchess, not to alcohol. The Premier has a grievance against the Press. The reporters failed to report his references to Waterloo Day. and-the glorious traditions of the Emnire at Wellington —the biggest feature of the whole performance to his mird. He was taken in shorthand at Christchurch. “I w : ll, ask my worthy lieutenant, Mr Ward, to take a turn at the wheel,” said the Premier, and he never noticed-his take.Some contirgenters who -couldn’t stand the smoke got up to leave the tables at yesterday’s lurcheon., “ Halt! Right about tu’ ,r ’!” come an order in stentorian tones. “ W II done; Dick,” exclaimed the men approvingly.