Wellington Gossip.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 997, 10 April 1891, Page 5

Wellington Gossip.

April 8. Since I last wrote the Easter holidays have come and gone, and the town has once more settled down to business.' Save for those who went away for the few days, the holidays were rather melancholy affairs, as there was nothing whatever going on in the town. Ladies one and all voted them desperately tiresome, as most of the servants went off for picnics and other festivities, whilst their mistresses cooked, dusted, and swept. For this last labour the new patent broom, which runs upon wheels revolving a circular brush, much upon the principal of the lawn mower, is an inestimable benefit, as the cloud of dust which usually flies before the broom is non est, and not a speck upon the carpet is left after the ‘ Lightning ’ or ‘ Great Kapid ’ has passed over it.

But revenons a nos mouions, the volunteers spent an enjoyable timo at Palmerston and the bowlers at New Plymouth, especially as they came off victorious in nearly all the matches. Those who travelled by both lines during the holidays regarded the Manawatu line as incomparably the better, one of its primary advantages being that there is- no necessity to eat a passoverian breakfast —that is a breakfast eaten in haste at some unearthly hour in the morning, when one has not the faintest desire for it—previous to leaving upon one’s journey as one must when travelling by tbe Government line, where refreshment cars are an unknown luxury. On this line one has to content oneself with a hasty gulp of scalding tea or coffee, ‘ with a slight sloky slavour,’ as they say in ‘ Olivette,’ which one sometimes manages to secure at a passing station. One of the greatest injustices of which the Government has ever been guilty is the levying of the property tax upon the Manawatu Bailway Company. I think there would have been few dissentient voices had the Government given the Company a bonus as some recognition of the vast benefit which has accrued to the public at large by the successful carrying through of this work; so stupendous and daring an undertaking for a small number of private citizens. In different parts of the Colony others might have been encouraged to go and do likewise had the Government done somewhat as I suggested. Now the outlook to enterprising companies is much that of the betting novice who, when making up his book, found that were his most sanguine hopeß realised, he only stood to lose a hundred

pounds. With railway companies they must be prepared—in the event of failure—to lose a large sum of money, and in the event of success to have the majority of their earnings taken,by tbe Government, instead of being distributed amongst the shareholders. This injustice is one which it is hoped will not long bedim the escutcheon of a Government on which appears the motto ‘ Liberal!’ But to turn to lighter subjects. The Rimutaka, guided by the hand of the popular Captain GreeUstreet, has once more steamed into our harbour. Amongst the passengers were Mrs Rhodes and her niece, Mrs Elsdalo, well-known here a few years ago as Miss K. Moorhouse. The Rimutaka sails from Lyttelton on the 18th of this month. We are this month going to lose a wellknown citizen, Mr J. S. M. Thompson, having joined the firm of Thompson and Co., practical engineers, of Castlemaiue, Victoria, whither he°and his family go. It is understood that a dinner will he given to Mr Thompson by his fellow-citizens, who wish him and Mrs Thompson every happiness and success in Australia. During this month several weddings are to take place, noticeably those of Miss Barclay and Mr Travers, Miss Graham, of Karori, and Mr Tavaner, of Feilding ; Miss Didsbury and Mr Moss ; and Miss F. Brandon with an Ashburton gentleman, whose name has escaped me. All through the summer the Saturdays have been most disappointing, a fine one being a most exceptional thing. Every day during the week might be simply ‘ Queen’s weather,’ hut on the half holiday the heavens were sure to weep, so that cricket, boating, tennis, and every outdoor enjoyment was crushed. Last Saturday the keenest disappointment was felt, for on that day the first meet of the United Hunt Club was to take place, and all the members were to appear in their spick and span new costume. The hunt was to have been held at Miramar, the property of the master, Mr H. D. Crawford; but the rain descended in torrents, so that tbe meet had to be postponed until Wednesday, when not being a holiday it will naturally not be so successful.

The following rather amusing story is copied with, horror into an English paper from a Brisbane one;—‘ The Duke of Clarence, the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, has been looked upon as very “ soft,” but recent events have proved that beneath a vacuous exterior there may be a current of humour. Some years ago he found himself without money, and wrote to his grandmother, the millionaire queen, for a supply. He ought to have known the old lady better, She sent him back a letter of good advice, but no money. “Collar and cuffs” did the best thing with the letter —he sold it for 30s, and at a recent sale some fool bought the same letter for £l6.’ The English paper thinks this paragraph bespeaks great want of loyalty amongst the colonials. The Harmonic Society are practising for the performance of the ‘ Creation,’ wbioh Is to take place on Thursday evening. Mr Millar is coming from Christchurch to take the principal tenor solos. Society is just now in a complete state of stagnation, preparing, no doubt, for the whirlpool of gaiety which it is hoped will begin with the session in May. Winter costumes ara still agitating the minds of ladies and also of gentlemen, for it iB quite a mistake to think that they, at least the younger portion, do not give a considerable amount of thought to the matter. Recent arrivals from Home often remark that the dressmakers are very much behind the English fashions, but I think the tailors are even more bo. The gentlemen who import their clothes—and many do so more from economy, perhaps, than anything else—are seen with loose coats scarcely shaped at all to the figure, whilst most of the tailors here still make their customers ‘gimp about the middle ’ But to return to ladies’ fashions. Some very pretty large heaver hats are to be seen trimmed either with vyings or tips. A lovely pale tan silk beaver was adorned with a long ostrich feather, the heart of which was of tan colour, whilst the tips wore pure white. In shape it was almost crownless, with a knot of brown velvet at the side. Tiny toques of velvet are made, always trimmed with jet trimming, butterflies, and ornaments of a 1 shapes, and little coloured birds placed here and there amongst the puffs of velvet whioh stand up very high at the baok, whilst the front is kept perfectly flat. Some of the tailors here have begun making tweed costumes, so far very successfully, lit being beyond reproach. For elderly ladies there are some very becoming bonnets, the milliners apparently having remembered that ladies whose hair is not as thick as of yore cannot wear the tiny erections which are only becoming when placed upon a quantity of soft, wavy hair. There are good sized shapes in black volvet and velvet of various dark shades trimmed with jet and tips to match the foundation of the bonnet. Ignota.