WANGANUI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1013, 31 July 1891, Page 13

WANGANUI.

Since my last letter the great event of the Wanganui dancing season has come off. The Alexandra Cavalry Ball is looked forward to by many who never think of going to any other dance. Some four hundred guests were present in the drill Hall on Friday night, and on Saturday the universal opinion was that the Cavalry Ball of ’9l was worthy of a place in the front rank of the Troop’s successes. Captain Watt, the newly elected successor to Major Sommerville, made his first appearance in public in his silver lace. All the sister corps were represented, and many of the country corps as well. Uniforms were plentiful but I saw several volunteers in plain clothes. This letter is not the place, nor have I the ability to speak of the attire of the ladies present. There were many striking toilettes most of which (but not all) were pleasing. On Monday evening, Col. Stapp the late commander of this district was formally presented with the address to which I have alluded in former letters. A representative gathering of officers was present Captain Sherman, the senior Captain of the district, was in the chair. Telegrams from many of the country officers apologising for unavoidable absence were read.

We have had one of the Rev F. W. Isitt’s lectures already, and are promised another next week. The one he has already delivered (‘ The Black Hero of Hayti ’) has created a great impression in the Reverend gentleman’s favour. He will have a good audience for ‘ The White Czar.’

A brief but somewhat spicy controversy has been going on in the papers here as to whether the Salvation Army did or did not ‘ make a noise ’ at one of their street services. I should not have thought there was much room for discussion, unless the advocate for the defence in this case was a deaf man. , Whatever opinion one may hold as to their sincerity and the value of their work the Army have never been accused of being quiet. Not only does our present Building Society contemplate a marked extension of their sphere of action, but a now Company is in course of being floated who are going to do business on liberal and mutually advantageous terms. On Saturday football was all the go. The Alexandra Cavalry met the Wairoas, and won ]by four points. Then For dell

played Parildno, and Kaierau A defeated Kaierau B. The Kaieraus have a good show of winning both Senior and Junior Cups, whereat I rejoice. The Wanganui Jockey. Club held their annual meeting last week. The report and balance sheet disclosed a healthy state of affairs. The meeting was sufficiently lively to show that there are many people who take a keen interest in the ‘ Sport of Kings.’ Bellamy’s has been much talked of up here, principally through the agency of one Madge, who (whatever his or her sex may be) writes ‘ A lady’s letter from Wellington ’ to the Herald at short intervals. We, who are uninitiated, always thought Bellamy’s was a most flourishing concern. The Domain Board have selected several alternative sites for the soldiers monument and a design has, as I understand, been received and approved. We shall doubtless soon see something done.