A LADY’S LETTER FROM WESTPORT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 931, 3 January 1890, Page 9

A LADY’S LETTER FROM WESTPORT.

December 27. One of our local “ characters ” leaves by the outgoing mail to rejoin his well-to-do kindred in the Old Country, after a residence of more than half a lifetime in the colonies. Mr George Holmes, or “Old Geordie,” as he was familiarly called, will be known by scores of readers of this page, for, rough diamond as he undoubtedly was, Geordie was a universal favourite. True, he was only a liverystablekeeper; but what of that ? His career had be°n a checkered one, and he could tell you tales of the early times that would wellnigh make your hair stand on end. Apropos of this : when Bishop Suter (now Primate) visited the West Coast a short [time ago Geordie drove his Lordship through the Buller Valley, and many were the stories, grave and gay, told both by the Bishop and his worthy Jehu before they reached the Lyell. Some of these anecdotes I have since heard recounted, and they were amusing to say the least of it. Geordie Holmes wasn’t a vain man, and did not affect much “style” in the matter of dress ; indeed, it was only when there was an election going on, and he had to rally up the voters, that Geordie even troubled much about his personal appearance, but on such occasions as that referred to he came out in gorgeous array. Clad in a bright scarlet coat, his well-worn “ wideawake” replaced by a tall shiny hat, Geordie handled the ribbons of his spanking team in fine style, flashing about the town and suburbs with meteoric brilliance. His last appearance in this guise was at the recent mayoral election, when, after the declaration of the poll, so elated was old Geprdie because “his man” had defeated the rival candidate that, hastily donning the red coat once more, he mounted a horse and careered through the town in triumphal fashion, He had his “fads,” and we knew it ; for on dark and stormy winter nights, when his cab was in great requisition for the conveyance of ladies to a ball or dance assembly, old Geordie was sure to be in a grumpy mood, for he hated taking his horses out in bad weather for anything so frivolous as dancing. Nor was it wise on such occasions to keep him waiting, for, as he had long distances to traverse, if the ladies were not ready

when he called for them they ran the risk of being left to reach the scene of festivity as best they could. Having safely conveyed his fair patrons to their destination, however, nothing would induce him (except upon very rare occasions) to turn out again and drive the weary revellers home in the early hours of the morning ; and if upbraided afterward for his lack of kindness in allowing ladies to walk home- through wet and muddy streets, he would usually retort—“lt -vvar’nt kind of them, anyway, to expect ’osses to he fetched out again i’ the wet and cold.” Well, goodbye, Geordie; we all liked you despite your eccentric ways and whimsies, and perhaps, men with far greater pretensions would not be missed from amongst us half as much ! It is always pleasant to hear of courageous deeds, whether performed by old or young, and certainly our colonial

youths, of either sex, are rarely found wanting in that most admirable quality of courage of which the poets so love to sing. Here is a case in point. The other day a baby girl, but five years old, wandered from her home to the banks of the Buller, and straightway fell into the river, when a young lad only nine years old, named Robert Issell, managed, with praiseworthy readiness and courage, to save the little one from what might well have proved a watery grave. Such gallantry in so young a lad deserves honourable mention, surely, if nothing more. By the way, the other evening I examined a very handsome testimonial addressed to Mr W. R. Haselden, by members of the Westport Naval Volunteers. The work of illuminating, &c., had been entrusted to the hands of Mr Buick, a watchmaker of this town, who has executed “the commission with exceptional taste and skill. Set. in a costly frame, it forms a suitable present from thecorps. to their retiring Captain.. . tu Why do ladies, as- a rule, make better canvassers and coin collectors than their lords ? Let the gentlemen reply ; they know why, you may be sure. The Mayoress and Mrs Hughes collected

L 25 15s 6d last week for the Westport Navals Band, the sum being, very acceptable, as it. went toward relieving the men of a debt incurred for new instruments, music, &c., with which they were burdened; The money was presented to rhe members by the Mayoress last Saturday evening, when the Band, in return for the courtesy shown by the energetic canvassers, gave some of their favourite selections, by torchlight, upon the lawn. The pleasant character and financial success of the All-Nations’ Bazaar, now being held at the Palace Rink, afford ample proof that this form of raising funds has by no means lost its attractiveness. The promoters of this bazaar, which is in connection with St. John’s Church, have evidently gone to a great deal of trouble to have everything as bright and cheerful as possible ; and really the scene presented when the proceedings are in full force is more than usually picturesque and animated. The exquisite taste of the decorations, the pretty and well-chosen dresses of the children who so cleverly execute the Maypole dance, and the sweetly assiduous attentions of the fair assistants, all contribute in no ordinary degree to the general attractiveness. The stalls, which are decorated and arranged with rare skill, are richly stocked with useful and ornamental wares, and some of the art needlework and painting for sale is of an elegant description. Needless to say it is not an easy matter to note the dresses worn by ladies in a crowd. The most one can do under such circumstances is to gain a general idea of colouring and effect. Certainly, the gallery was an advantage, and there during the evening one has a capital opportunity of observing the bright spectacle below, and watching the everchanging gay groupings. Of course the usual oddly-dressed people you may sea in every large gathering are present among the rest. It is amusing, though, to note how some ladies will persist in adorning themselves without the least re-, gard to taste or beauty, either in colour or arrangement, while others will recklessly disguise shape and form by wearing the most extraordinary and heterogeneous collections of things. The exceedingly beautiful tints now in vogue require to be worn with the greatest discretion. For instance, the soft, delicate shades of pink and foam green, in which fair women look so charming, when worn by their dark-complexioned sisters make one feel that it would have been decidedly to the advantage of the latter had they studied effects before adopting such trying tints. However, the stallholders and their fair assistants—the latter in fancy dress—have been mindful of these points, with the result that the classic and continental costumes are particularly tasteful, and certainly the quaint-looking miniature men and dainty little maidens who trip so blithly round the maypole reflect infinite credit upon the young ladies who' trained them.

Judging from the large attendance last night, when at one time there could not have been fewer than six or seven hundred people in the hall, I should say that . the bazaar will realise a large amount. At any rate it is furnishing quite a pleasurable topic of conversation, occupation and profit during the holiday week, and unstinted thanks and praise are due to those whose indefatigable labours have been rewarded by such an unqualified success.

Both St Canice’s Church and St John’s were suitably decorated for the Christmas festival. At the formei, Farmer’s “Grand Mass,” with Kyrie arid Gloria by the same composer, were given with fine effect; while at the latter Jackson’s everbeautiful service was sung by the choir.