Wanganui Gossip.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 999, 24 April 1891, Page 5

Wanganui Gossip.

Dear Doha. —That old time worn subject —the weather, which as Edna Lyallsays, is always so sa f e and congenial a topic for conversation, baa been pretty well exhausted here lately. Certainly divine Nature seems to be using us rather shabbily, cold raiD, with sadden gusts of wied, being the order of the day for the past week or two. Fortunately, with the advent of winter, comes warm, furry garments suitable to the season. I saw some lovely plush jackets, with the new style of collar, at Hogg’s drapery establishment. These are going to be very fashionable this winter. Felt hats and toques, iu every shade of cloth and velvet, are now worn; the latter have usually a bird’s wing, or a bow of ribbon at the side. I noticed one not long ago ; it was made of dark blue velvet, and bad a com plete bird nestling in the front, with its tail sticking straight up in the a r. Talking about birds, there must be an enormous slaughter carried on continually among these feathered to meet the demands of fashion. In on« window alone, I counted dozens of beautiful plumaged creatures , there were birds of paradise, kingfishers, and iSeveral tiny things, not much larger than butterflies; all of which, had their market value fastened by a tag at the soft little breast. The Faust Family of Bellringers, have just completed a sea* on of three n’ghts here to crowded houses. Their entertainments are very enjoyable, although their playing on the bells is not to be compared to the same performance by the Lynch Family, which travelled through the Colony about three years ago. Several local entertainments are on the tapes, and will eventuate in the near future ; chief among them being the famous opera •Mikado,’ which the musical society has now in close rehearsal. One of the most delightful walks, or rather climbs, round about here, is up to Durie Town. There is no pretence to a town there at all, being merely a cluster a pretty villa residences, on the top of one of the green hills overlooking the river. There is a fige view to be got from there of the town, spread out like a panorama at one’s very feet, and of the surrounding fields dotted with sheep and cattle, whilst to the left is the coaßt line, with the blue sea stretching far away in the distance ; the white wave 3 quite distinguishable as they break on the shore. But away, far away, beyond all these, can be seen the top of Mount Egmont, but his snowy crown is almost sure to be enveloped in a haze of oloude, so it is difficut to get a glimpse of him. But to descend to more prosaio matters. It is truly astonishing, considering our many aquatic advantages, at the great

scarcity of fish here. It is certainly not for want of peraerverance on the part of fishermen. Every day rows of silent devottes of Isaac Walton may be seen seated all along the wharf, with line in hand, gazing pensively into the depths of the placid water, but I don’t think anj body has ever oaught a fish there yet. Sally Bras 3.