CHIT CHAT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1061, 30 June 1892, Page 15

CHIT CHAT.

On account of the death of Sir Harry Atkinson, the Citizens’ Ball is postponed until Monday next. Coming events—Tennis ball, sth July ; Mr McDuff Boyd’s concert, sth July ; Government House ball, 7th July ; Ovide Muism c incerts, 7th, 8 h, and 9 h ; and Star Boating Club ball, on the 15th.* A pleasant rumour is afloat that Lady Glasgow intends to give a dance every fortnight throughout the session. By this means any great crush will be avoided, and everyone will be asked in turn to really enjoy a dance on the beautiful Government House floor. It is to be hoped that this report is true, as we would all rather go to a ball where dancing is possible than to a crush where we are merely tantalised by the springy floor and good music. Those who have not received invitations for the dance on July 7th, therefore, will be able to console themselves when their turn comes a fortnight later.

A great number of Christchurch girls are coming to Wellington for the Session. Miss B. Loughnan will be staying with Mr Loughnan at the Club Hotel ; Miss Murray-Aynsley will be staying with Mrs Adams at the Terrace ; Miss Tabart will be coining later on to stay with Mrs Wardrop ; Miss Studholme will probably be staying part of the time with Mrs Biker in the Tinakori road, and, towards the end of the Session, Mis 3 Reeves will will be staying with Mrs W. P. Reeves. It is to be hoped that our supply of partners will be equal to tho demand for, besides the Christchurch bevy, there will be girls from many other parts of New Zealand.

The girls of Christchurch seem to be club mad this year. They have a Waihine Club, which meets every year at a member’s house, and a certain number of the girls sing, play, act, or recite for the amusement af the others. Of course, t>a is a great feature of the entertainment, and it is rumoured that on club-days no Waihine can eat liar dinner with any iuteresb. Then there is a chib which reads Shakespeare one diy a week. Tois club is not peripate'ic. but meets at the house of tho founder, Mrs L >max-S.nith. More tea, and in ire intorferenc i with the subsequent dinner of the uieinbjrs. Yet another chib exists, which als i devofes its energies to Shakespeare. It meets at Mrs Wilding’s home in Opaw.-i, and contains very nearly the same members as both the other clubs, so that three days of the week are regularly taken up by club-work for most of the Christchurch girls. In the summer months these give place to ont-donr clubs, such a 3 the Girls’Boating Club, which has now existed for many years, Tennis Clubs, and so on.

In Wellington we are less energetic. There was a club here which died a natural death a short time ago, and which had for its object the learning of poetry by heart. Another ladies’ club is just starting, which meets once a week to play whist. It is to be hoped this will survive the excitements and distraction of the Session. Time will show. On May 4 Miss Katherine Arnold, daughter of Sir Edwin Arnold, the poet, was married to Mr Edwin Hamilton, sou of Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Ve3ey Hamilton. It is announced that the Queen offered Lord Salisbury a dukedom in the event of his retiring from power, but it is doubtful if the Premier will accept the honour. ■ Masterton gossip says that Mr Castelberg, the well known local merchant, is shortly to be married to an Auckland lady.

| From Modern Society I clip the following details about the Hon. Mr Nugent, who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment the ocher day for insulting a lady i.i a railway carriage : —Baron Martin used to emphasise his sentences on prisoners at York Summer 4ssizss by saying, ‘ And, prisoner, you won’t see the Lager run.’ Sir Peter Ellin might have reminded the Hon. Patrick Greville yesterday that ho would miss Ascot. For some years Mr and Mrs Patrick Nugent have been well known residents of Ascot, and only lately they sold tho lease of their place Ravensbury to one of Lord Cork’s sons. The Hon. Patrick has plenty of money. He inherited most of the fortuue of the Marquis of Westmeath, and owns the family castle of Clonyn in Westmeath, which was left away from Lord Greville to him. Then his wife was a Scotch heiress, with a flue estate in Dumfriesshire. The Greville3 are literary. Lady Greville has written a book, and Lady Violet Greville a play. The Hon. Patrick’s description of ‘six months’ hard,’ if he wrote it, would take better than either of them.

It appears from the following, which I clip from a chatty column ‘Mainly about People’ iu the L mdon Star, that Miss Harwood is not altogether a stranger t > London :—Miss Lucia Harwood, who appeared with some success at Wednesdays, matinee.at the V&ndville. in Mr B. W. Findon’s play, ‘ The Primrose Path ’ (oddly referred to in the Daily News tho other day as ‘ The Primrose Party ’), was one of the clever young people whose names were regularly found on the Lyceum playbills some years back. After leaving Mr Irving, Miss Lucia Harwood went off to the Antipodes, where she blossomed forth as leading lady. Since her return to England last year Miss Harwood has not been seen upon the London stage so often as might be wished. Her brother, Mr Robb Harwood, i 3 now a most valuable member of the Haymarket Company.

An old resident of Wanganui, Mr J. F. Anderson, is about to leave for Auckland. Mr Anderson is much respected in Wanganui, and much regret is felt at his departure.

The coreligionists in the colony of our popular Agent-General, Mr W. B. Perceval, will have noted with much satisfaction tlie honour done.him by His Holiness the pope in conferring upon him the Knight Commandership of St Gregory.

I clip the following somewhat romantic story from the Hawera :—About two years ago a resident left the town for tho south, where he resided until recently. For the past thirty years he had been seeking the whereabouts of a married sister, whom he had lost sight of so long ago, but could get no tidings. A short time back he returned here, and found that his sister and family had rented a cottage belonging to himself, but without being aware that it was her brother’s houss until the latter’s appearance on the scene. Of course, the meeting, as may be imagined, was a happy one.

Pierro Lrti, tho French novelist, '.?ho has been recently elected to a seat in the French Academy is a great admirer of the East. When on shore at home (he is an officer iu 'the French navy), lie lives and dresses entirely in Eastern fashion. He is an immense favourito with the novel reading section of the fair sex iu France. II s ho .Its are, w th one n > tableexo pHon, most, laudably froo from infection.

Poor L uly Fox, who died so suddenly the other day, was an admirable wife and took a great interest in her husband’s ern carle against intemperance. When the Foxet lived at Wast.oe, in the R-.ngitikei, nothing pleased Ltdy F x more than to entertain a largo ircaio party of children from M-rtin or Folding. She was a good hearted lady and at ue Ohri-tian. I’he nows of tier death w s, I hear, received will great regret in the llangitikai, where her many kindly deeds are still hell in peoples’ memories.

Lady F>x was -seventy-eight years of age, sod was the daughter of Mr William Halcomb', of Pouiton, Wiltshire, Mr W. F-dlett Halcombe, residing near Waitara, being her cousin In 1842 she was married to Sir William, then Mr Fox, at the village of Marlborough, after which event they sailed in the ship George Fife, Captain Pyke, for Nelson, landing at the end of the year.

The last days of Pompeii, Bulwer Lytton’s beautiful story, was, I believe, produced as a drama in Loudon some years ago, but it has now been made the subject°of an opera, produced quite recently at the Crystal Palace, under the title of ‘ Nydia, the Blind Girl of Pompeii.’ Nydia Is one of the most charming heroines in English fiction. The opera was voted a success.

Palmerston North possesses a precocious child, who, having been told not to disturb his brother’s home lessons on the score that his tuition cost four guineas a quarter, remarked: ‘Do you pry, mother V * Why the master ought to pay my brother for making him work so hard.’ I’m afraid the master would hardly view the matter in that light.

A pretty wedding took place at Ashurst last week. Miss Agnes Gertrude Aiken, of the Bridge, late of Feilding, being married to Mr J. Newsome Clapham. The bride looked very pretty in an ivory white fould dress, with wreath and reel of -'range blos3oni3. Miss Elsie Crichton, first bridesmaid, was dressed in a cream and blue delaine dress, and the two Mi33es Clapham wore white dresses with crimson sashes. The bride had a very pretty bouquet of whitechrysanthemums, mignonette, and maiden hair fern.

The Dobson-Kennedy Company, who performed in Palmerston last week, advertise that the dresses worn in their production of ‘ the Lidy of Lyons ’ cost .£250. They were made in Masterton.

An Assembly dance, held at the Drill Hall, Marton, on Friday last, was a great success, visitors being present from Wanganui, Feilding, Palmerston, and Bulls, and darcing was indulged in'by about GO couples until 130 a.m. The ball was one of the most successful ever given in Marton, and great credit is given to Mr Mirmaduke Smith, the popular bank manager, and Mrs Smith, upon whom most of the work of arranging the affair involved.

Mr Bruce, one of the candidates for the Rangitikei seat, wants to see bachelors taxed. This is a dodge, no doubt, to secure the moral support of the ladies, or is it just a joke ?

I am glad to notice that Miss Morrison, of the Dunedin Tailoresses’ Union, is meeting with great success in Auckland. Arrangements are in progress under which the lot of the women workers of that city will in future be made brighter by a fairer scale of wages. This is a distinct success for unionism—on reasonable and just principles.

The Otago University Dramatic Club are ambitious. They have taken the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, for the 14th and 15th of July, and will produce ‘The Rivals.’ Tne University football and tennis teams are going there tho same week, so ‘ The City of the Plains ’ should be very lively. It- is a pity the Dunedin young fellows cannot come to Wellington. They would receive a hearty welcome.

The Dunedin branch of St. John’s Ambulance Association are organizing a special course of lectures for the ladies. A good idea.

Every advocate of Women’s Franchise will be glad to notice that the Government have made the .piescion their own, a clause in the new Electoral Bill granting the franchise to everyone over 21, irrespective of sox. Tho ‘ nutmeg grater ’ voice of Mr Fish will doubtless be heard in strong opposition, but, as far as regards the subject, the great Fish will be merely a weak little minnow.

If Mr ‘ Sydenham ’ Taylor were not a benedict, I should recommend him to follow Mr Weller’s advice ‘ Baware of widders for on the opening day of the House he caused some amusement by presenting a perfect batch of petitions from Sydenham widows. Joking apart, Mr Taylor is a kind-hearted man, and his espousal of the cause of ‘ weak woman ’ does him no small credit.

The Palmerston North Lawn Tennis Club held their annual ball on Thursday last. There were about 30 couples present, ai d the aff.ir wis a gruat success.

A j it sunflower stems to me a curious thing, bit a lady correspondent of the London Standard describes a handsome bonnet ‘formed of a jet snnfl over.’ The framework of the bonnet is li k. d with lilac silk, which is arranged r o form quills round the brim, jetted lace f i ling over it. The sunflower is raised, and the silk appearing behind it in bo .vs serves to throw it out ; the strings are of black velvet. Floral bonnets ;<re much worn. A single water-lily with a few buds and brownish green leaves, formed one bonnet, mounted on an open rush crown ; another was of hydrangea blossom (the blue-green, not the pinkflowered kind), and very effective, this, ioo, mounted on an open-work crown.

How some of tlie correspondents of New Zealand country papers do gush, to be sore. I clip the following from tho Waipahi correspondence of the Clutha Leader. The epistle refers to a Leap Year dance, and begins thus : ‘ Will you go to Waipahi, bounie laddie, O ; to the spinsters’ leap year spree, bonnie laddie, O? where the girls their partners choose, and no laddie dare refuse, and the lassies wear the trews, bonnie laddie O.’ Then as to the costumes :—‘As for an account of the costumes, it is utterly beyond my powers of description. The assemblage was a beautiful, bewildering kaleidoscope of stately forms and lovely faces, sparkling eyes and glossy tresses, satin, silk, and velvet dresses, trimmed with rare and costly laces, ribbons, crimson, red, and green, serges, muslins (sic), velveteen, navy b!u~, broche trimmingg, and gloves to match.

From Auckland I have heard privately that the Ovide Musin concerts were an immense success. The Choral Hall was

packed to the doors at the second per* M. Musin’a violin playing is very highly spoken of.

The important parish of Parnell, Auckland, has welcomed a new incumbent, the Rev. George MacMurrny, who until recently has had charge of St. Paul’s, Ballarat, and was a canon of Ballarat Cathedral. A social gathering, presided over by Bishop Cowie, was held last Friday at the Parnell Hall to welcome the new incumbent and his wife.

The Napier amateurs are producing the beautiful comedy drama ‘Alone’ for the benefit of tho Farndon Cricket Ground Fun 1.

The Hawke’s Bay Caledonian Society’s annual ball came off at Napier on Thursday night last, and was a great success. Tho Garrison Hall had been most tastefully decorated for the occasion, and there was a very large attendance. The ball opened with a march of H ighlanders, to the music of the pipes, and there were, in addition to the ordinary dances, several Scottish reels, flings, seauntreaus, etc., danced in costume. The M.’sC. were Messrs N. Kettle, T. W. Bear, W. P. Smith, Robert Smith, Thomas Sidey, C. D. Kennedy, and J. G. Swan. The floor was in excellent condition’, and Newbold’s band provided very good music.

Lily Dampier, the Australian actress, who with her father, Mr George Dampier, will appear at the Opera House in Christmas week, has just obtained a divorce from her husband, aMr Watkins. The marriage was a secret one in England, without the consent of her father. Mr and Mr 3 Watkins never lived together, and the husband is now in America, or Honolulu, or Timbuctoo, or somewhere—at any rate, Miss Dampier doesn’t know where he is. She got a divorce, but the case ought to be a lesson to all young actresses. It was simply yet another example of the old proverb—marry in haste and repent at leisure.

The Rev. Father Kehce, the Gisborne Roman Catholic priest, is immensely popular with his congregation and the Gisborne people generally. He is a splendid musician. Last week he gave a musical evening, which was largely attended, and was a great success. After a capital concert, in which Mrs Innes, Miss Adair, and several other ladies and gentlemen prominent in Gisborne society had taken part, the room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up for some hours. Father Kehoe, as it may well be imagined, was warmly thanked for his hospitality, which was shared by members of all religious sects.

There was very general regret expressed in the Ladies’ Gallery at Sir George Grey not being present owing to illness. Our New Zealand G.O.M. is a great favourite with the ladies of Wellington.

Sir William Fox is laid up in Auckland with influenzi. He is over 80, and influenza is very dangerous to aged people. Sir William, however, has a wonderful constitution, and I hope to hear soon of his complete .recovery.

The Home News says that heliotrope is still the leading colour. We do not see very much of it out here just now, but then English ladies are blossoming forth in butterfly summer costume, whilst we are shivering. Sealskins and heavy woollen dresses are more appropriate at ]>r sent in Wellington than the light, airy fabrics described so enthusiastically by the English fashion papers jest to hand.

By the way, talking about England, the ‘pretty month of May’ was something awful for weather. 4 lt only suited ducks,’ 8a y 3 one writer. We, who grumble so much at a Wellington winter sometimes, ought to be thankful we are not often trea ! ed to the sort of weather Londoners hive to put up with in spring.

Everybody will be glad that when the Ringaroomi returns she will bring the Orlando with her. Wo shall look forward to a good round of festivities when Lord Charles Scott arrives with his flagship. Naval men are delightful as partners, although some of them do dance so badly.

The leading dressmakers must be very busy just now, as everybody seems to be coming out in new evening gowns. Some of the English novelties in evening dresses sound very attractive. Listen to this :—Some new models of evening dresses are very pleasing. For example, a gown of rose-de-chine bengaline, with corselet of ruby velvet, enriched with gold and ruby-coloured stones ; the skirt is bordered to match, and the low bodice, also to finish the elbow sleeves. The bodice is cut quite off the shoulders.! n old-fashioned style, and a deep frill of handsome old lace falls almost to the waist all round the bodice, except just at the back, from whence hangs a Watteaupleated train of ruby velvet.

A double wedding took place at St. Andrew’s Church, Wairoa, East Coast, last week, when Misses Annie and Caroline Winter, of Wairoa, were married to Messrs Watson and Drysdale, of Tuharo,

Lord Glasgow and his aides-de-camp were entertained at dinner the Wellington Club on Saturday evening. Mr lolhurst occupied the chair. Those Horrid Reporters. —Mrs A. —You have a most surprisingly accurate knowledge of Mrs B.’s character. Pressman— Yes. I aaw a good deal of poor 33. during his honeymoon at the Lakes when I was up, and heard everything he had to say about his wife. And then I jotted down just the very reverse in my note b -ok !

Sir Robert Stout is said to be very fond of lollies. By the way, teetotallers are very fond of sweet things, and so also are non-smokers. Sir Robert, as everyone knows, never takes a * wee drappie.

Dunedin is to have a Choral Scciety. Nearly all the leading local vocalists have promised to co-operate.

Mr Walter Leslie, the popular member of the Hansard staff, and a well-known artist, passed a portion <>f the recess on a trip round the various islands of. the north and south of the Colony, visiting them on the Hinemoa. He made oyer 150 sketches and paintings, all of which are very interesting, It is a pity Mr Leslie could not be persuaded to exhibit bis sketches somewhere in Wellington, as they would, I feel sure, be much admired.

By the way, Mr Leslie, when visiting the Sounds, had for a fellow-passenger on the Hinemoa tho genial Attorney-General, Sir Patrick Buckley. When the banquet was given to Sir Patrick last week Air Laslia sent the gue3t a most beautiful card of congratulation. The C'rd was of opaline, and on it wei’e painted a sea-lion and a penguin, as seen at the Auckland Isles. The little picture is exquisitely done, and will no doubt serve as a pleasant memento of an interesting trip.

At the Government House reception, during a lull in the conversation. —Mrs A. So George is to be married next month. Is he making a good match 1 Mrs B.—l believe his ‘ fiasco ’ is in every way suited to him !

There was some slight discussion in the Ladies’ Gallery as to the mover and seconder of the Address-in Reply not appearing in tile evening dress customary on Buch occasions. One silly old lady, who is evidently a stickler for the traditions, said it was ‘ disgraceful.’ Query, If ever women sit in the House,. will they wear * evening dress V Here is s question for a ladies’ debating society to thresh out.

Madame Millie Yiola, an Aeronaut, has arrived at Invercargill from Australia. She will make balloon ascents, descending by meaus of fl parachute, at various places iu the Colony. Such sensational and very dangerous exhibitions ought to be •» prohibited.

Mr A. Holdship, son of Air G. Holdship. late of Auckland, distinguished himself lately in the Oxford ’Varsity cricket field In the Freshmen's match he scored 26 not out in one innings. There are a fair number of young New Zealanders at Oxford and Cambridge this year.

A brave woman. In a Melbourne tnaper I read that Miss Dendy, ot the Trar!alaon State School, was proceeding to her duties, accompanied by a boy four years of age, and when crossing a bridge over Traralgon Creek, tho little fellow slipped into the water, which was running rapidly. She immediately jumped in up io her neck and rescued him.

X correspondent say 3 Amongst tho passengers by the Kaikoura was Captain Nflash (I think the name is), late of H.M.S. Ringarooma, of the Australian squadron, who has fallen a victim to some obscure mental disease. At periods during the voyage the unfortunate officer seemed to be quiie himself, and would converse rationally on almost any subject. Unluckily these calm intervals were nearly always followed by a bad break out. At Plymouth Captain Neash appeared to have perfectly recovered, and made himself very agreeable to his fellow passengers, pointing out the sights of the Sound, Devonport Dockyard, etc. As usual, however, these few bright hours in the course of which the poor fellow talked quite frankly of having ‘ been mad, you know,' were followed by a relapse, and whilst he was being got ashore at the docks it was deemed advisable to keep the passengers out of the way.

Miss Jessie F. Kells lms been appointed JuSTnt Wi»» Auckland Free Library. There were 60 applicants.

Two marriages camd pT at Cardiff, Taranaki, last week—Mr Gj W* eon of Mr P. F. Ralfe, of Cardiff, to Miss C. G. Ralfe, third daughter of the Jate Rev Jno. H. Ralfe, of Okarito, Westland; and Mr George Bates to Miss Richardson, both of Opunake Road, iff two couples are well known in the district, and have been very heartily congratulated by their friends.

A ladies’ golf club is to be formed at Roslyn, Dunedin. Golf is a splendid game for ladies, and I should like to see a Ladies’ Golf Club started in Wellington.