Gossip from Sydney.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 948, 12 September 1918, Page 9

Gossip from Sydney.

DEAR CHIUSTABEL,— spring in the air, manne- * * quins in the best shops, and a brief interlude in the I.W.W. case — for Mr. Justice Street has been ill for •a few days and the impatient public must wait—-Woman finds time to try ■on new hats.

This season spring millinery SO' far as the more expensive shops lead the way is a class apart. In October, no doubt, headgear labelled "Race meeting" will be displayed. And in this warm , climate one hopes good sense will then prevail and that the summer hat will be of light weight and possess a reasonably widet brim. At present roguish little straw toques, some of them with the long straight quill feathers (torn from some exasperated barn door fowl) sticking straight up in front, are the craze.

On other shapes, with high-dented peaked crowns, two disconsolate looking little birds, pressed flat against the crowns towards the front, are the only trimming. They are in vivid yellow, huff, blue, or crimson colouring. The high black Welsh hat with its chin .strap of black velvet ribbon {adorable with a young and pretty face) is having its last fling. It will be too hot for our sunny September days.

While fashion experts predict the . waning width of skirts, and there are whisper's of the return of the tube, the new spring blouses of the. ''smart" afternoon species certainly belong to "the period of the bustle. Elaborate affairs of finely tucked georgette, of ' «repe de chine > of silk and lace, they have a waist belt and three or four tiny raffles that form a basque which is exactly like a frilly Pierrot collar in the wrong place. On the white silk or georgette creations each frill is edged with very narrow black - silk as is the waist belt. No doubt the wearers will flatten these basque ruffles down a liti tie bit. As they appear on the manner, ■quins they are a sensational novelty, ancf make slender girls look like French dolls. As extra specials—and perhaps the final edition of the blouse -de luxe—they will have a limited vogue at fashionable "at homes."

1 This week, the last in August, the Australian Institute of Mining Engineers is sitting in conference at Newcastle. Almost entirely surrounded, by •coal in this centra, member of the conference are going down shafts and making themselves better acquainted with the latest devices in mine machinery and so forth. Amongst the delegates is Mr. H. J. H. Blow, UnderSecretary for Mines, of Wellington. Mr. Boyd Benniet, Inspector of Mines for the Northern District, New Zealand, and Inspector J. F. Downey, from the West Coast, South Island, are also at this gathering of keen intellects. They will turn their faces towards the Dominion on September sth.

The Hon. A. Xc. D. Fraser, M.L.G., still a very sick man, though he is going abdut, is in Sydney.- He is getting medical which it is sincerely hoped may restore his health.

Now that the Dominion's last batch of invalided soldiers are home in their own Isles, the New Zealand Government Agent's office is normal again. During the brief stay of the Fern Leaf men in Sydney a few lines in one of the papers mentioned their arrival and rashly suggested that citizens should show them special attention. Then the fun began. From early morn till late in the afternoon the New Zealand office 'phone buzzed like a hive of bees.

So far as the busy Chief, Mr.. Russell Blow, could sorb out the inquiries, two-thirds* of the local car owners in Sydney offered to motor the . New Zealand troops anywhere they wanted to go. In off moments a steady flow of invitations toi lunch or afternoon tea poured through the receiver. In addition, of course, were the arrangements previously made by the New Zealand Reception Society for the entertainment of the heroes. The latter lived through the rush—and liked it. But an expert staff of switch-board attendants would have been necessary if the tumult had continued a few days longer. Before the New Zealand Government Agency's small staff were taken home in an ambulance, stricken with telephonitis, the New Zealand troops left for the Dominion.

That our present Lord Mayor, Mr. Joynton Smith, shows an admirable sense of duty in his official position, is very apparent. Like his predecessor, Mr. R. D. Meagher, he makes su point of presiding in a very business-like and helpful manner at committee meetings, which have either patriotic or charitable aims in view.

Mr. Joynton Smith, who does not look as if he had quite recovered from the effects of his serious operation early in the year, is at present greatly interested in a movement to raise funds for one of our smaller women's hospitals. He is also immersed in the task of pushing along the procession of patriotic days. These smart business men—if less acceptable in the social sense than some of Sydney's bygone Mayors—are of inestimable value at a time when what 1 is familiarly known as "Raising the Wind" is the chief pastime of the community.

Miss Stella Power, the lucky young Melbourne soprano who had Melba as her musical godmother, is engaged to a Sydney man; —Mr. Billy O'Rourke.

Colonel Reynolds, head of the Australian Flying Corps, is home on special duty which is connected with aviation work in general. It bears the intangible name "Air Mission/' but will serve the solid purpose of giving valuable advice on winged efficiency to our Defence authorities.

Mr. Smith, M.P., is over her© on a visit from New "Zealand.

The I.W.W. ease—re-opened by the return of an important witness Scully —is still the star turn at our Supreme Court. Busy men and women hurrying to their shops or offices in the early morning have the exhilarating view of scores of eligibles waiting in a long queue outside the portal of justice. There they stand a shameless crowd of wasted man-power. Their one objective —the nauseous details of 1.W.W.-ism servted up hot before the Law in all its majesty of wig and gown. When evening comes they will buy the latest papers and chortle over the way "We" are winning the war in Prance! **x * * Appearing now in a revue) at the Tivoli is Miss Eye ELelland, a recently returned Australian, who has been on the other side since she was a small child. Her father is living in Christchurch. New Zealand, though the family formerly belong to- Sydney.

Mr. H. Y. Braddon. M.L.C.—his aunt) was the Miss Braddon whose novels thrilled the youth of- 20 years ago—has been appointed to a newly-made position in Washington, U.S.A. It is described as Australian Commissioner in America.' The duties pertaining to it are to organise our trade and other problems that will arise after the war. As a leading; business man and Australian superintendent of Dalgety's, he is a highly-trained commercial expert. Mr. Braddon has accepted the Commonwealth's offer, but only as a temporary appointment. At present, anyhow, he does not seem eager to: settle permanently in the United States. Presumably, he will do the pioneer work. Later? There is usually some politician who can be found ready to pack up for such a billet at the shortest notice. The new Commissioner is a son of the late Sir Edward Braddon,who was knighted when Premier of Tasmania. * * •* * The new Consul-General for Era-nee, M. Campana, has arrived and taken up his official duties. Tours discursively, Rona.