A LADY'S LETTER FROM FEATHERSTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1162, 8 June 1894, Page 15

A LADY'S LETTER FROM FEATHERSTON.

Dear Aunt Ellen,—l have been to bid with the neuralgia that I was quite unable to write last week as I intended ; betides mother would not let me roam about At my sweet will.

I was disturbed in the midst of pleasant dreams ft few mornings since by the clang of the school bell, which at the best of times is not very musical, but perhaps I am prejudiced through past rem in licences. On this morning it; wag unusually discordant, ayA getting up and locking out of my window I saw a great blaze, and soon ascertained that Searl's Club Hotel was in*flames. I visited the spot shortly afterwards and found nothing but a heap of smouldering ashes. Much sympathy will be felt for Mr Searl, as he had spared neither trouble nor expense in making the Club a bold pa lice.lent.

By the way we have had quite a number of tires lately, and it is a remarkable fact that they have nearly all broken out between the bewitchirg hours of one and three a.m.

Since dear Mr Seddon and Sir li. Stout emancipated us poor women aud gave us the franchise, hew much more civil and poiitu have become the " late lords to us." I was much amused to hear the new word of endearment, a few days since. I made a call and the door was opened by the gentleman of the h juse. On enquiring if the lady was at home, he cheerfully asked me to walk in aud sit down and be would call the "Bojb!" A short time previously it would have been, Missis, come down, there's a young woman wants to see you, and this same gentleman was one of those who used vehemently to protest against our being freed.

Fratherston has its Smiths. Its well known "James,"its popular "Charlie,-" also itt * 4 Chips/' and likewise its black* smith, the latter only by profession, not

name. A charming, kind, elderly man, ao attentive and polite to us girls, I am only longing for tho summer to come round

again so that we can have a picnic down the lake side for he always gives us an outing, and such beautiful ferns are to be found iu Sleepy Hollow.

Little baby Pilling looked such a jolly good-tempered wee mite as I saw it yesterday; its robe was a marvel of fine cambric beautifully worked, and embroidery. She had on, oh, such a lovely pair of tiny bootees knitted and finished off in a manner seldom seen, and could only have been done by a really clever needlewoman.

Featherston, with its many natural advantages, is far behind other tnwnshiiß in many respects. Now, we have no reading-room. True there is a library under the management of c urteous Mr Fry ; but then when we want to change our books it is not pleasant to be stared at by some horrid man who is perhaps getting measured for a pair of boots, for our library is in a bootshop, nor can we meet and have a social chat a 3 otherwise we might. It was hoped that when the new Town Hall was talked about, provision would made for a library and reading room ; but alas, we women are not represented on the august Town Board, otherwise it would have been different. I do hope that at the next election some of my sex will do battle tor us and contest some of seats at the board if no better will come forward —well, 1 think I will!

I saw Mrs Heiley in town last week, she was dressed in deep mourning, havit g lost her only little girl very lately. We, that means tho lady portion of the township, are at present in a state of flutter over the coming "Town Hail Ball," and what shall we wear many are the private and confidential chats we have with Mrs Connolly and Mrs Toogood, and some startling as well as some most becoming costumes may be expected but more anon. Becky Sharp.