Our Dunedin Letter.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 967, 12 September 1890, Page 4

Our Dunedin Letter.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) jj ,i September 4. Dear Max,—Wo are all so excited about the great topic of the day—the strikes—that everything else seems to sink into utter insignificance. But I daresay a feminine mind may take an interest in the doings of the gay and thoughtless during the past fortnight. On Wednesday wo tasted once more the delights of the ball-room. A few of the bachelors were the hosts upon this occasion. The dance was held in the Choral Hall, which was tastefully decorated by several lady friends. The floor was splendid, and ns the music and supper were also of the best, we passed a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The dresses were brighter than usual, black being more the exception than tho rule. Miss Dymock, I thought, looked exceedingly well. She wore a green net gown, with a wreath of small deep pink roses brought from tho waist behind, over the hips to the front, theu falling apart again. Miss Shand also looked very pretty in white, with scarlet poppies on the skirt, and a few fastened in her hair. Miss .Sievwright wore black; Miss Ross, pale yellow silk; Miss Neill, white; Miss Mary Williams, pale green fisherman’s neb over satin of the same colour; Miss Sise, white. I saw a very tasteful dreßs of pale yellow not, with single daffodils sewn almost all over the skirt. The wearer was a brunette, and had some of the yellow blossoms fastened in her hair. These must have had a shorter existence than their artificial sisters on the gown, although daffodiiis are amongst those flowers which best retain their freshness in a heated atmosphere. We did not break up until past two, notwithstanding that ‘ the pleasure of our company ’ had been ‘ requested by the Cinderella Dance Committee.’ Last Saturday week a concert was held in All Saints’ Schoolroom. There was a large and appreciative audience present. The stage was very prettily decorated with bright liberty muslins and silks. Couches and easy chairs standing about, the pots of evergreens, and toi-loi, gave it more tho appearance of a drawing-room than of a platform. Mr J. Cargill’s humorous recitation was the item most enjoyed by the majority. He was encored twice, and each time his dry humour provoked afresh the merriment of his hearers. Miss Fitchett executed Chopin’s Scherzo in Bminor with great brilliancy, and received loud applause. Her touch and rendering are equally excellent. Her extreme nervousness may perhaps have slightly marred the general effect. She made a charming picture beading over the keys, in a dress of white mousseline de laine, with a blue pattern running through it. The bodice was made loose, with a Swiss belt, and high sleeves full to the elbow. A ‘Romance’ (Vieuxtemps), and a ‘Cavatina’ (Raff), Mr McLean’s two contributions, were received with all the acclamation they merited, and his selection of encores was very happy. Mr A. J. Towsey performed ‘ That day ’ (Piusuti) most artistically and with great pathos. He was also warmly encored, and responded with a bright little song about a rosy apple and a lover’s quarrel, two very sweet things. I liked Mrs Belcher’s reading very much. Her voice, though full and sweet, is perhaps better suited to a drawingroom than a large building. She wore a terra, cotta tea-gown, with a deep grey front. Miss Treseder sang two songs—‘ Dawn, gentle flower ’ (Bennet), and ‘ Rest ’ (Schubert). She has a very pleasing voice, fresh and sympathetic. The entertainment was brought to a close by the amusing quartet, 1 Johnny Schmoker,’ in which Messrs Howlison, Martin (2), and Manson took part. The Dunedin Liedertafel gave an invitation concert in the Choral Hall on Friday last. I think it was a great pity that as many as five of the items should have been instrumental or orchestral. A Liedertafel concert ought to stand upon its merits. We have had so much music of this description during the past winter that when we get the opportunity of a change in the way of really good men’s choruses we like as much of it as possible. Of the soloists Mr F. L. Jones was the most appreciated. He sang ‘The Raft,’ by Pinsuti, with remarkable dramatic force and great musical feeling. Mr W. F. Young was encored in ‘ The ‘ King’s Highway.’ He repeated the last verse, 1 Dainty maid of high degree,’ beginning, as we all know, in the minor key. Unfortunately the accompanist, Mr 3. Timson, played a prelude in the major, thus rendering it almost impossible for any but a professional to commence correctly. The result was chaos, and the general effect of Mr Young’s pleasing performance totally spoiled. Mr T. Hunter sang a ‘ Serenade ’ (Storch) very well, and Mr Jago’s solo, ‘ On the water’ (Abt), was also enjoyable. The Liedertafel excelled themselves in all their choruses, seven in number, particularly in ‘ Tho true sword’ (Weber), which wassung with great spirit and ‘ go.’- In fact, the vocal portion of the concert far exceeded the instrumental in excellence. I did not think Herr Winckelmann at all did himself justice in his ’cello solo, ‘ Thome et variations ’ (‘ Fille du Regiment ’) by Semis. Mr Barth played < Whcro the

bee sucks ’ in a pleasing and correct manner. He Also played with Mr Timson, Weber’3 ‘ Jubel Ouverture’ as a pianoforle duet. The windows of the drapers’ shops are beginning to look bright with spring millinery and light materials for our new costumes. 1 noticed one sweetly pretty little bonnet that would suit a brunette to perfection. It was composed entirely of daffodils, with loops of black velvet ribbon peeping out between tho flowers, and had a broad ritu of black quilled velvet. But one can only catch fleeting glimpses of tho tempting confections displayed. Standing before shop windows is very unpleasant just at present, with groups of idle mon dawdling about, arguing, sympathising, grumbling, of conferring together. On Monday afternoon the crowds were so great and excited that once I Was forced to take refuge in the doorway of a shop. A mass of angry men poured along towards the police barracks. In the middle were four cdnstablbs escorting a struggling, red’-facedj codtleSs, batless genllontan id board and lodging at liei’ Majesty’s ‘expense. This hapless wight was haranging the multitude and gesticulating angrily. But tho purport of his words was lost in the babel of many tongues, and the four stalwart policemen pursued the even tenor of their way, unconcerned at the noise and shouting around them. It is a relief to know our mayor, Mr John Roberts, is a man with a cloar head and far-seeing eye. Should any serious disturbance arise he will quell it if that is possible. And there are vei;y alarming rumours afloat. Being but a prosaic housewife, and no gifted ‘lord of creation,’ I do not venture to form an opinion on the rights and wrongs of so weighty a question. Let the men fight it out amongst themselves, say I. To me the women and children are tlie chief consideration. Already in these early days do I know of cases where tho wolf is approaching the door. The strikers themselves are comparatively well off. But there are people who have had to join the Union, and then have been turned off by employers who were unable to continue their business from various reasons. Thus it is the onos whose sympathies are entirely against the strikers who must suffer most; for, being only ‘ out of work,’ they are getting no aid from their Unions. They have, so to say, fallen between two stools. It is on the little ones this dreadful state of affairs will fall heaviest. I have always been struck by tho healthy, well-fed looks of the children playing in the streets of our colonial towns. But now it will probably not be long before the rosy chubby faces become paler and thiuner, and the little urchins storming in to mother for the piece of bread and butter with sugar sprinkled on it, or bread and jam, will have to wait, because bread, butter, sugar and jam are not so plentiful as formerly. Already prices are beginning to rise. We have all our storerooms filled in readiness. Alas! there are many houses where the stock of provisions is running low, and the purse weighs very light. And worst of all, no likelihood of replenishing it for several weeks to come. I have just returned from an organ recital, held by Mr Arthur Towsey in St. Raul’s ProCathedral. During one of the organ soli an offertory waa collected for the funds of the shureh. And it ought to have been a large one, for everything on the programme was excellent, both as regards selection and rendering. Mr Towsey’s organ playing is a real musical treat. Melbourne will gain in him a thorough musician and a first-rate conductor. The ‘ Larghetto ’ (Symphony D), Beethoven and Bach’s ‘ St. Ann’s Fugue ’ were perfect, and were it not for the sacred edifice he would doubtless have been applauded to the echo. What an instrument an organ is under the management of a really good player! How it stirs our very souls and arouses us all! Mr Jago sang ‘ Arm, arm, ye brave’ (Judas Maccabteus) in a masterly manner and with good taste. Mr McLean played his violin solo, ‘ Meditation ’ (BachGounod) with his usual perfect musical feeling, and the mellow tone of his instrumentaided the marvellous effect he produced. A duet, ‘ Love Divine,’ from Stainer’s ‘ Daughter of Jairus ’ was also a great success. Mrs and Mr F. L. Jones were the performers, and their voices blended exceptionally well. Mrs Williams was heard to great advantage in ‘Oh Lord, Thou hast searched mo out ’ (Bennet). The choir of St. Paul’s church sang three anthems. They seem very well trained, but as they were, no doubt, on their mettle, one cannot say what they would be in an ordinary weekly service. It is considerably over two years since I attended St. Paul’s, and the choir lias changed hands within the last eighteen months, I believe. Barbara.