HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 113, 16 May 1906, Page 1

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL

By Penelope. Wellington. THE COMING SESSION. . Parliament Buildings are beginning to show signs of the approaching session. Charwomen are busy scrubbing and sweeping, and one is apt to fall into buckets and over brooms unless ono walks warily. The hammering ol carpenters, too, is hoard in the House, and the officers wear a worried look as if the shadow of approaching politics was clouding their spirits. The talking shop—even when the shutters are up—is one of the cheap sights of Wellington, and visitors are generally taken there to gaze upon the luxurious surroundings of our representatives. There is really little wonder that many of them grow so drowsy in those softlypadded arm-chairs. From the gallery we noticed each seat was ticketed, and one—Sir William Steward's—was doubly labelled. Visions of an exciting contest between the gallant Major and a rival rose before our minds. On closer inspection, we found both bore the Waimate representative's name. It is a little sad to find the old familiar faces ousted by new men, although, in the unknown and untried, there are always possibilities—often, alas, unfulfilled. One noticeable move in the Gehofal Post is that of Mr Fisher, who has reserved a front bench in the Opposition ranks, and is to occupy the seat where Mr Buchanan, spruce, rosy-cheeked, white-hairedj and boy-ish-figured, was wont to sit. Bellamy's is now a desert of chaotic chairs and tables, and the great lobby, where probably more and sincerer politics are discussed than in the Chamber,, stripped pf all its settees and carpets. Only the library is always in order. The reading-room upstairs is a most delightful place. It is partitioned off by book-cases into i cosy alcoves, some with windows and others with fireplaces, and when the fire is lit, a great arm-chair waiting, and a favorite book to hand, there is little else to wish for. Those,- and they are many, who are granted the privileges of. this splendid library, have much to be grateful for. Strangely enough, there are seldom many students reading there, but that may be from lack of time, not from want of inclination. At present, despite the atrocious weather, the grounds about Parliament Buildings are pleasantly green, and the gardens of Government House are also being " redded up " for Lord Plunket's coming. The Hon. Kathleen Plunket, who went with Mrs and Miss Braithwaite to Ceylon, will shortly be back in New Zealand. At present there are no signs of the season being gay. Some hostesses are in mourning, many have gone Home, and as yet there are no pleasant rumors of dances, public or private.

THE MAORI IN TOWN. There have been many Maoris in Wellington recently, owing to the Native Land Court being held here, ans to visitors they form a most interesting feature of our streets. Their dress is quaintly unconventional. Summer or winter they make little or no difference, and go about wrapped in great rugs or shawls, even when the pakeha women aro wearing hoUands or musline. They rejoicein color, and'revel in shrieking tartans, and form brilliant splashes of color occasionally as they stroll along—they never hurry. The hotels near Parliament are favorite lodging-places of theirs, and the other day half a dozen wahines with accompanying babies found a pleasant, though damp, resting place on the lawn in front of Parliament, close to a large white label entreating people not to walk on the grass. I have hanging in my hall a very fine orangedyed kit made in Parihaka, which a Maori lady, sauntering by, caught sight of. I resisted her entreaties to sell it. It was not for sale, and she went away sorrowful. But she came back the next day with a number of small bags tied up in her handkerchief. Would I change my kit for these? Eyen when I politely refused, she lingered so wistfully round the coveted bay that I had at last gently but firmly to direct her attention to the door. A TRIO OF MUSICJANS. The event of a rather dull week has* been the Andrew Black concerts, which were certainly most important to musical Wellington, who talked enthusiastically over the great baritone's temperament, voice, and culture, as well as of the charming violin-playing of Miss Sinclair, and the wonderful pianoforte playing of Mr Borschke^ Mr Andrew Black is much thought of at Home, and of course is a personage • here in the musical world. But it was a thousand pities he had to sing in the Town Hall. To begin with it is a white wilderness of a place, too big to be filled—except for a free political meeting, with a possible row as a postscript—and the unoccupied seats are depressing, and. caqse an annoying echo. On tl}e evenings ef the" concert, too, the famous picture by Hunt was being exhibited, and folk "had to pass the door of the large hall, and' climb up the stairs" to get to the rooms where it was hung. The noise they made caused much wrath among the musical enthusiasts, and their bad language, even if unexpressed, probably cancelled all the virtuous effect the picture might have exercised. Mr Black —though a wonderful singer—is most unmusicianly {n appearance He is prosperous and burly and cheerful, with eye-glasses and a turn-down collar, and his hair is the ordinary length. The appearance of the pianist, however, satisfies all demands for artistic individuality. He is very pale and boyish, and his auburn locks fall over his collar aiitl ripple on either side of his face. The disadvantages of this coiffure ai'e obvious when the stress of musical emotion is greatest, for the pianist's locks then fall over hi sface. At first he shook his head violently to try and clear his countenance, and, when this jygs iufsffwetual, brought his hand,' in' magnificent flourishes, and brushed back his wayward tresses. Sympathetic women yearned to tie bacjv hj« hah' with a 'little bow or blue ribbon on either side of his head, or to present him with some invisible hairpins. Really exquisite as was his playing, many frivolous people in the audience were mpre interested in the Y-agai-les of his hair, and when he! camebuf to bow watched eagerly to see if it would fall over his face. There must be some reason perhaps as old as Samson—fpr musicians M-oaring thejr. ' haw long. Paderewski's aureole was as Avellknown as his playing, and it was a constant grief to his devoted retinue that he would crown it with a top-hat. Without the incongruous head-gear he had the head of a melancholy angel Miss Ethel Sinclair, Mr Black's vioH.nl lst > I* » RlWTOiiigly Mm\ mh with a woiiderhjl command of her instrument. Of all her selections, Doohok?s Humouresque " delighted most. '

MUSIQ fi4ll i|HE. SIGK." Very often in Wellington musical people organise concerts for the. poor <"X! .tlifl fjiok. TW mto the -Qlci Men's Home, the Hospital, and the Asylum, and their efforts are hugely appreciated. On Tuesday of last week a most stormy evening, a party organised by Mr J. F. Carr, who is one or our most delightful concert sino H ri uy to tliVHiiuV<§ *pr ~£hrdn'lcM vahds. This is the splendid building erected with the money raised at the great bazaar opened by the Princess of Wales \y.ljea m Wellington. '$},£„ "H wa4 to be called the Home for Iripurables, but that depressing name was altered. It stands on an eminence'in the Hospital grounds overlooking N>iwttfiWH, autj at night is 4"v'"brilliant Tuc- on Wlth all its' Windows ablaze. All one. end consists of two great windows, forming semi-circles, and enclosing spaces where the invalids may ha fife hi i-ljo Any and P,iijt>,v th.t! yiew'.'! 'Tlia two large wards are full, and the concert was held in the women's ward, all the inmates being in bed, but eagerly interested in the hour's programme made short, so as. not $g \yuary ttio audjenpfi. Songs, musics,' find recitations were all gay, and one could hear feeble laughter and see smiles on many of the wan faces. But this Homewhere Hope hardly ever enters -— h many times sadder. {.Jian a hospital, and it is little wonder 'if Nurse Tewsley, w.h'o is in control, under the Matron of the Hospital, finds it a sad responsibility. But it is a mos.fc pcaus-* i ful haven tor poor, worn-put bodies.

Outside, the wind howled and the rain came down in torrents, but only enhanced the warm, spotless comfort of the ward, with its flowers, its blazing fire, easy-chairs, rows of snowy beds, and vivid red screens and draperies. The nurses, too, look so sweetly cheery in their fascinating uniforms. A number came from the Hospital to attend the concert. Miss Amy Hyde was one of the singers. She has a charming voice, and sang a coon song, " Kentucky Babe," delightfully. Miss North Barrett, recently arrived from Melbourne, also sang sweetly. Afterwards Miss Payne entertained the guests and performers in the sittingroom downstairs. The littlo concert was much enjoyed by the invalids, one little girl, suffering from spinal disease, imploring the performers to come again soon. By the bye, apropos of music, a young girl with an exquisite voice, Miss Lilian Irviiie, sang before Mr Andrew Black after his concert. Great things are expected of her later on.

ABOUT PEOPLE. On Saturday last the Premier, Mrs Seddon, Miss May Seddon, and Mrs Frank Dyer and her little daughter, left for Sydney for a month or three weeks. Miss Foster, of the Hutt, Us visiting Gisborne. By the Rimutaka left Mrs W. A. Fitzherbert and her family. I hear Miss Fitzherbert is to be married at Home. Mr and Mrs Martin, from Martinborough, Mr and Mrs Sim and their little daughter, from Dunedin, were all passengers by the same boat. Mrs Hope-Lewis, from Auckland, has been staying with her daughter, Mrs Guy Williams, in . Hobson Street. The two Misses Gibson, of Philholme, Martin, are guests of Mrs Malcolm Ross, and Miss I Walters, of Carterton, who has been sta3'ing with Mrs Stolt, has gone home. The two Misses Somerville and Miss Butts are in Hawke's Bay, enjoying the Hunt gaieties. The- former are guests of Mrs Perry. Mr Owen Cox and his niece, Miss Bonsor, returned to Sydney last week. A large farewell tea was given last week by Miss Palmer for Nurse Rees, who left, in charge of poor Captain Mayoss, by the Rimutaka. I hear that there is very little chance of the Captain's recovery, though he may linger for some time. Many friends gathered at Miss Palmer's to wish Miss Rees a pleasant holiday. Lord Pluuket arrived from the South on Saturday. Lady Plunket, who is not very well, is staying at Bishop's Court. Captain Bingham is in attendance on His Excellency.

WINTER NEEDLEWORK.

The loveliest examples of needlework are being shown in the shops now that the evenings are drawing in and one has time for sewing. Hardaiiger embroidery, such as the Norwegian girls wear on their picturesque dresses, has many admirers. It is worked on canvas, not the Berlin variety, and even in the cheaper cheese cloth is entirely satisfactory. It is a combination of drawn-thread work and point-lace stitches, and is often worked jn coloured linen tlireatls. The "little Puritan collars are charming in this embroidery, and the new fronts—merely strips of lace or needlework stretching'from a collar of the same work to the belt— look most effective when the centre of the band is Hardanger work, Qut'Jmed with tiny ruffles of Valenciennes lace. Some very new and quickly-done fancy-work is the stencilling. I saw a pair of charming curtains of twilled unbleached sheeting—there are infinite artistic possibilities in this com-mon-place material. They harj deep hems, and ahoye was a row" of stiff blue tulips and green leaves, painted in oils in flat conventional style, and outlined with coarse black embroidery thread. The effect was most artistic', with a minimum of trouble. The same idea might be carried OUt in coloured linena, button-holed _ on. The new cushion-covers are fascinating. One— for a nursery, surely, seeing it bears with it a moral—has on it a group of .children watching a naughty boy reaching from a very high shelf a large pot of jam. Below was, " AJJes gutes kommt yon oben. " ? -* All good things came, fi'tmi en high." Another quaint cushion-cover had a cluster of conventional oranges and foliage printed on it, and only required outlining and touching here and there with silks in the same colours.

For those with some skill in painting, there is no work so dainty as decorating one of those exquisite evening scarfs of gauze or chiffon. The material must be stretched across a frame or box, and not laid on ajiyr thing while you are painting ij>, or the pattern will he, blur-red. Black chiffon, with etematis or purple ohvyesantheniums painted on it, makes a perfectly ideal wrap for elderly shoulders, and anything lovelier than white gauze strewn with faintly-tinted full-blown roses is hard to imagine. Oil-colours may be used for this, or water-colours with some medium; and the effect may be enhanced by introducing i^W^k or sequins, *'-■*".