TEA TABLE TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 15

TEA TABLE TOPICS.

Wellington, January 27. Mr and Mrs Bland Holt have been welcomed back here with crowded houses, and " Saved from the Sea " proved a most interesting and exciting affair, and was watched with the greatest interest; at the same time, it occurred to me that there was a certain amount of " playing to the pit," which was a great pity, and will probably injure the quality of the audience, if it does not the quantity.

Mrs Bland Holt looked very nice in a simple fawn gown, well and plainly made, then in a pretty summer white costume, with a pretty round hat to match, tied under her chin. In the last scene she wore a handsome claret velvet corselet and skirt and a blouse made of cream muslin, with large blue spots. Miss Watson also wore pretty "fishwife" costumes, and in the picnic scene looked particularly well in cornflower-blue and white and a large flat straw hat, trimmed with poppies.

Wellington wind will have accomplished a record, I think, as it has driven the Circus from the disputed place behind the Opera House to the Drillshed, where, if neople are a little crowded, they will at least feel safe from a sudden and awful collapse of a great extent of canvas! One can imagine such an undignified scene of confusion and hasty, crawling exit, "chairs" and "wooden, backless seats" all making frantic efforts to escape, and the animals and wind howling together in awful concert

Professor Peart's grand dive off the topgallant yard of the Nelson was witnessed by a large crowd of people, and disgust has been expressed that only about eleven or twelve pounds was collected from such a large number of people in aid of the Benevolent Institution and the Home for the Aged Needy. But as the crowd was very largely composed of the genus " small boy," who does not carry much wealth in

his little pockets, and many others besides who did not look as if they had too much wealth, I thought it was not srich a very bad collection, and the <£2s they will get with the Government subsidy will be much better than the proverbial " poke in the eye with a sharp stick/' The old folks and others will probably have to thank Professor Peart for a good many little extra comforts.

I hear that the Rev Otho Fitz Gerald is going to England for two years to take charge of a cure in Staffordshire, no doubt to get experience of the working of a parish in England, and that he will then return to the Colony. He will be very much missed at Newtown, where he is much appreciated, and has done much towards the raising of St. Thomas' Church, so lately consecrated.

Mrs Werry and her little daughter have left town for Paikakariki for a month or two. Lord and Lady Carberry are occupying Mrs Werry's residence while she is absent.

I hear that the Liederkranz is going to meet next week to decide if they will continue their society as at present constituted during the next season. I hope the whole affair will not be given up, as their concerts were very successful and enjoyable, and each one showed a vast improvement on the last, and we were looking forward to some more of their pleasant reunions this winter. Go ahead, and success be with you, say I.

The Hinemoa has left again for a long lighthouse tour, and there were several lady passengers again, including Mrs Hales and Miss L. Seddon. I hear that Captain Fairchild is not going to England to bring out the Theresa after all, but the builders are to be responsible for her safe conduct out here.

Mrs and Miss Hadfield left town last Saturday for Mr H. Hadfield's residence at Otaihanga, from whence they return to Marton.

Mr and Mrs Firth have returned to Wellington after a pleasant trip down South.

Miss Armstrong (Palmerston North) is staying with her sister, Mrs Hudson, in Wesley road.

The Festival Choral Society have a very ambitious programme for next season's concerts Mendelsohn's " Elijah," the " Cavalleria Rusticana," Dvorak's " Stabat Mater," and the " Golden Legend" again. I have been told by a lady lately from England that you should pronounce Dvorak as if it were spelt " Chorak." How in the world does this " arrive," I wonder ? English is evidently not the only language that is spelt quite differently from the way it sounds. lone.