Gossip from Sydney.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 929, 2 May 1918, Page 7

Gossip from Sydney.

Dbajs Ckbistabel, — "TOTHEN Mr. A. E. Whyfce, secretary * * of the Wellington (New Zealand) Racing Club, discussed in Sydney the ethics of racing in war time, he spoke words of plain common-sense—so far as the Dominion is concerned. But the ar t -sument*in favour of a very drastic curt-ailment—not cessation—of race meetings In. Australia is still unanswered. New Zealand takes care, with the power of conscription behind it, that eligibles who go to races go for relaxation and wear khaki. Here, thousands of young men, to whom the war is a matter of no personal concern, flock to each autumn meeting at Randwick. Mr. Whyte said very truly that human (juatnre needs relaxation as much (per- , haps more) in war time as in less anxious years. . But the failure of the Federal Government to compel young men to reinforce their comrades at the Front is behind tKe whole question. * * * * A large section of the general and v more seriou6-minded public were certainly . iritated by " the r whole-hearted Easter Carnival spirit of eligibles who crowded our nice trams,, while the daily cables frorS France turned on the tragedy.' of German hordes sweeping over heroic British regiments. This week Mr. Adrian Knox, K.C., chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, and owner of several race horses, has decided - not to enter them again till after the war. a ' ..*■;' * .'■■.■* This afternoon the four boxes in Her Majesty's Theatre were sold by auction for £676. This is for the' matinee, April 26, to swell the funds of Red Cross Day. Marie Tempest was the chief auctioneer, and from her Mr. John Hunter got the first bos for a bid of £250. He is a Sydney business man who is always most generous jm' these occasions. Mr. Sam Hordern and Mr. Lebbeus- Hordern bid handsomely for the next. «; ' ':'- 9 ■ ' « ' :.3 In "The Bird of Paradise," 5 the much-talked-of playj with its Hawaiian •'setting, Muriel.Starr is disappointing. For those who recognised long ago that the American actress had only one first-rate line of emotional goods such parts as her great success in "Within the Law," the disappointment, was not acute. Miss Starr, of course, has a big following. Her boisterous manner and crude playing to the gallery "gets" that section of the audience —-and it is in every part of the houee —to~ which the polished perfection of Marie Tempest's art makes no appeal. Frank Harvey, Louis KimbalJ. the evergreen Maggie Moore, and veteran J. B. Atholwood are the "Bird's" best feathers. How wonderfully these older stage favourites, such as Maggie Moore, live in their parts and speak their lines!

A pleasing young singer, Miss Daisy Sweet, is to be married to-morrow to Mr. Frank McEacharn, also well known on the concert platform. * . '■#■■■■ * ' * According to a Melbourne friend Miss Irene Lowe, of that city, is' the first Australian woman who has secured a degree as Bachelor of Scientific Agriculture. She is a young and brilliant University graduate who hopes later to go on the land and put her studies to the practical test. «• *.-.■■: *■■•-■•» Sydney has' been notified that Mr. , Octavius Beale, an "Australian piano manufacturer, now in has been made a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company o_f Musicians, London. This quaint link with peaceful old England is described as a "very exclusive" company. It carries with it the Freedom of London—another ancient privilege, which belongs to the days of sedan chairs and footpads who terrified such daring wights as moved out of doors after dark. * * * * - Dr. Mary PiHiat, formerly of Christchurch (New Zealand), was slightly injured in a recent London air raid. ■»■, ' . .* *'.■•. ■ # The first big gift afternoon —to stock a stall at which Mrs. Hugh Ward will be in charge—took place on the stage of Her Majesty's Theatre. Visitors, there were at least ' 200, laid down their tributes at the lady's feet, as it were, when they entered the theatre. A good musical programme and afternoon tea finished the day's good deeds. Beautiful, varied, and costly presents were handed in for the Red Cross. o « ■ ■* • More novel is the idea of a movie picture in which all the-company are well-known society amateurs. The little play is called "Cupid Camouflaged" \ and will be filmed first at the Theatre Royal by of the J.C.W. firm", then in rotation at other picture theatres. The cast includes one of the Governor's new staff, a young British officer, Captain Saltmarshe, invalided from France. Miss Rosamund Lumsdaine, Mr. James Osbbrne, and Miss Madge Harvey are also in the movie play. The proceeds of each production go, of course, to the Red Cross. * «■' « ■» Lieut. Walter Marks, R.N.V.R., formerly Commodore of bur Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, came baqk recently on furlough. He has been three years on active service on patrol- boats in /and about the North Sea. Mr. Marks is one of our most ■ skilled yachtsmen. Before the war he thrilled, other amateur sailors with his daring methods of handling his pleasure craft in heavy seas outside the Heads. When war broke out he went to England to serve in any capacity the Admiralty desired. His old club' gave the wanderer a dinner to welcome him home. By way'of making the occasion a noteworthy gathering (literally), about £1000 was subscribed . by members to the Red Cross Fund while the wine and walnuts went round.

Two well-known Sydney men, Lieut. John Pockley, A.M.C., and Captain Owen Dibbs, have been killed in the desperate fighting in France. The former f was a brother of the heroic Dr. Brian Pockley, the first Australian killed in the present war. He was in the Rabaul landing party, and rushed forward to help some wounded sailors, when a cowardly sniper in a tree deliberately shot him down. The Red Cross on his sleeves was no protection. We are now hardened to our implacable enemy's barbaric methods. But, in that opening scene of Australia's eniiry into the great Tragedy, we were all aghast at this horror. _ ■# , .*■.■■.#■ * Captain Owen Dibbs leaves a young, widow and child. A member of our Stock Exchange, and belonging to a much-respected New South "Wales family, he was a splendid type of true Australian manhood. A / genuine sport, a leading yachtsman, and with everything that" makes the world worth living in, he put duty first, and joined .' the fighting line about two years ago. Captain Dibbs' brother was killed in the beginning of the war. - ' The New Zealand Reception Society in Sydney has as president Sir Owen Co,x. Its vice-president is the Dominion's Government Agent, Mr.. Russell Blow - , who is always courteous in doing hie best for New Zealanders' passing this way. Mrs. Nixon, widow of-theHate. Collector of Customs in Wei- i; is in charge of the Hospital branch of this useful society. It is all, of course, composed-only of voluntary workers. This section visits any New "Zealand soldiers who may be here in hospital and takes them fruit or cigarettes to. the limit of its financial means. On the entertainment " side, the reception members do their utmost to give : the Fern Leaf boys ■ in. khaki a pleasant time in Sydney. None of the members are wealthy, yet there is always a. substantial sum in hand for emergencies. . ■ ■ ■ . * * . '■. * '.«.■' A New Zealand firm, the Davis Gelatine Company, is going to feel its way in this city. It means to put up a big factory at Botany on the shores of the historic bay when Sir Joseph Banks, the first botanist to land there, was once so interested in.the. strange flora . of this , almost unknown coast. To-day his aesthetic ghost—if such, a gentle shade is ever wafted over the modern hub of factories and smoky chimney tops—may ponder wistfully on the : doubtful blessings that pertain to civilisation, especially if the-wind is blowing the soot in" its direction. The Davis firm, to return to things material, has brought Mr. Park, an. Auckland architect to Sydney, to plan the new building at Botany. . ■■■* -" .• .*. ■ ■■*''..•;.'..'" *• : r A recently-passed Act of Parliament in New South Wales gently pushes judges off the bench into easy chairs at the age of seventy. \ "While the legal ;■■ ■ '■■ * ■.'■. ' ■•* .'■;■ .■' .-. .'■ ■ ■ . ;.■•'.■ : ■

brain is sometimes as astijte as ever it was, at considerably over that age, the new law wisely disregards phenomenal examples. Judges can retire with more comfort than most men on handsome pensions. Yet many querulous ■ old gentlemen, long past the Psalmist's time limit, uave hitherto not only kept' younger men off the bench, but have proved by. their irascible remarks that they are too old for their important duties. * * « * Under the new Act a very able vet----' eran, Mr. Justice Heydon, of tKe Arbitration Court, a striking 7 exception to the old-as-his-age judge, must how to--' ' destiny and retire. So must Judge- " Fitzhardinge. In the over seventy brigade is Judge Docker. And out hegoes to private life. *** . * Fashion turns demurely to slightly longer skirts. In view of the display - of silk stockings in Easter week the above sounds like a challenge. Never- ' theless, as days grow shorter frocke grow longer. On the really well dressed, that is to say quietly garbed woman, who can afford to put into cut and quality what the less fortunate recklessly throw into the outre and ex- - treme style, the vulgarly abbreviated - costume never appeared*" » • • e Transparent sleeves to the wrist-are worn with the new evening dresses. "Sleeves," >. they are in name, only, beinw so gauzy that the wearer has to get her arms into them with consider-' able care. Gold tissue is certainly the favourite relief on the filmy "black; - dresses so much worn this season. * # e # Slate grey is taking a leading place , in the affections of our well-dressed, girls. In coats of the heavy blanket-ma-terial, which are the .season's craze, it is a favourite colour. Neither squirrel nor chinchilla to trim enjoys the vogue of a long-haired wiry pelt— Canadian fox I is dyed in a very dark grey shading to a lighter tint. Yours discursively, Rona.