Wanganui in Wisps.

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 975, 20 March 1919, Page 9

Wanganui in Wisps.

I>EAR ChRISTABET.,,-- ; THIS week we had our first autumn show^—a sort of consolation effort to make up in part for the , November 'postponement. Exhibitors and exhil>•ited, travelling showmen and the public generally rose, to the occasion, and the Show was voted a great success. The number and wonder of necklaces, iihe glitter of glassware and the volubility of those paying for' tent space, left nothing to be desired in that respect, -and the weather was like mid-summer. The marvel of the shows is that they go on, for at least every third person one meets seems in duty- bound to explain that she cares nothing at all about the show itself, and is only there to use up -a ticket subscribed for a member who, in his turn considers it his duty to be -a member. -

, Chautaqua has been and is gone, Big Brown Tent" being always well filled by the audiences, of whom many did and many didn't .enjoy the i scheme. New Zealand • theatre-goers 'are not easily pleased, so the great art,ists tell us, and it was hardly to be im'.agined that Chatauquacould manage "what others- have failed to achieve. As entertainments pure and simple—that -•is' shorn of the uplift and other silly -nonsense—tiie programmes were much like other good ones we have enjoyed. There was, however, the novelty of the tent, lectures, and absence of scenery and fittings, and the pleasure of seeing round us many friends seldom 6een at the theatre or the pictures, but they were coached out by Chautauqua.

"Word has been received in town that :fche Aotea Home _ will be. closing this month and that the staff will disperse. Mrs Upham (Nurse ~Ruth Cameron) is •on her way out, also the Misses McDonald and.McDonnell and. Sergeant Sleight. These went out to Egypt to open the Aotea Home and have been on duty there ever - since, . • • ~ .. *

' Mr H. M. Douglas, well-known here, has decided to remain in Masterton, •where he has been engaged 'since his return, from active service. Bis many friends wish Mr Douglas good luck and added' prosperity to the now-to-be firm of Bunny, Burridge and Douglas.

"'; Miss Ruth FaJrburn' has returned from! a. visit to the South Island. '

•'•■" Mjb Durrant, - widow of the late Captain Durrant, Dunedin, and her two * little children are visiting Mrs McMillan/ St. John's Hill. Captain Durrant ■{who.wwars r Mrs McMillan's nephew]) was -well-known in Dunedin. He distini 'guished himself ■ as an expert engineer at the war, and fella victim while leading his men. " •

Mre Hastings-Moore, Gonville, has left for a health to; Rotorua. Mr a-nd Mrs Hedditch have also gone.

Mr and Mrs J. E. Armstrong went to Wellington during the week in anticipation of the return of their only remaining son, Private Gordon Armstrong, who was on the Hororata.

Mr Thomas Higgie, a very old resident of this district, died suddenly at Hawera during the week. The late Mr Higgie, who had lived here since 1849, was a farmer, and always most •interested in the progressive movements of the town. and country, being «one of the founders of the Wanganui

Farmers' Union and an active; member of many local:bodies. ■ * ■ ' ; ■ *-'■■ "■•■ * '' * Mrs Gibbons' and children, who have beeii visiting Mrs Baddeley, Wicksteed street, left at the end of the week for tiieir home up-river. * •■■• * * . * , Miss Tennent, Mathieson street, who has been away on a long holiday to Invercargill, returned during the week. * ,* * , . . * - The drought broke on Saturday night after most people had retired, and the beneficent rain poured steadily all through the night. Everything looked beautifully fresh on Sunday morning to greet the sun when lie rose. '■■.'■ Whirivwind.