WELLINGTON TABLE TALK

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 21

WELLINGTON TABLE TALK

(By ERIE.) If there is any truth in the law of compensation, truly our coming winter should be an ideal one. Such a, socalled summer as the one ending, will require much compensation in succeeding seasons. I hear women on all sides longing for the winter drapery, not altogether from love of novelty or curiosity to see the new fashions, but because their summer clothes are absolutely too C'hillv. ’ # •* * * * Furs are to be a feature in the wear for the coming winter, both as trimmings • for every sort of outside garment “from bonnet to boots/-’ but whole jackets and cloaks, are to tempt us beyond what we can bear. Happy are they who can possess themselves of these comfortable wraps, but it is said they are (most of desirable ones) very costly. The old-fashioned argument in justification of spending a lot of money on dress of any sort, “that it will last such a long time,” is quite useless nowadays. Nobody wants their things to long, as in consequenoe of the rapid changes of fashion/ these expensive possessions quickly lose tlieir value because they are out of date, both as to shape and make. Clearly, in dress is not going to he one of the virtues practised in the 20th century. * * * * One lady who- sent home for an evening dress for wear while Royalty' . is in New Zealand, has got word from her London dressmaker that she is sending her one trimmed with sable, and the cost of the fur is £6O! . * * * * A dismal rumour is going about, that the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will only spend three days in Wellington. How many anticipations will have to foe out out of the: programme! Of course the Royal Mourning will pre- ' rent the Duchess from showing u» any /-■Very lovely dresses or jewels, except diamonds or pearls. London society has already pronounced that black is not nearly so becoming as bright colours to; our Royal ladies. V * # if- * Vc The Indian troops were a great novelty to us, and everybody enjoyed see- , ing them. Tlieir very picturesque uniforms were exceedingly admired as they rode along, and one felt as if they had come out of a set of pictures of Eastern life. The splendid figures of the horsemen with their swarthy complexions and intelligent expressions in many, accompanied by a grim, resolute look, made one feel it was much better to have those men for friends than foes. *»■*** The Gourkas we know so well by repute, and the lithe, active fellows with their strong, springy step, quite fulfilled our ideas of what the Indian troops would he. It’s a pity Lord Roberts did not have a few regiments of them with him in -Africa. They are exactly the sort of men the “slim” Boer would rather not meet. One disappointment we felt in seeing the Indian soldiers —Where were the jewels' we had heard so much of and did not see? Knowing that many of them were potentates , of great wealth and position

in their oivn country, we expected te bare seen a blaze of fabulously splendid .■jewellery —in their dress, their swords, and their trappings. It was, however, conspicuous by its absence. * * * =* * Upon making, inquiry concerning this point of some officers on the E t alnousie ; after the march, we were informed that they were told, “that it was not. etiquette in this country for gentlemen to wear jewels in the street.” Consequently, those that belonged to their uniforms were worn under their tunics! One officer unbuttoned his coat and displayed a. necklet consisting of two rows of magnificent diamonds. Another wore a large cross set with emeralds of such huge proportions, that if any but an Indian Prince had them, one would think they were “'manufactured. 55 Another had earrings of large uncut rubies. Another’s buttons were of gold stones, and many dazzling possessions that made the heart of the mere European woman recklessly break the tenth commandment. •X- * vr * *aColonel Dabclah (who is a Prince with a. very long, Indian name) announced that iie means to came* back to New Zealand oil a visit of his own, and he then wants to buy some horses here. Most of them; complain of the discomforts of the voyage, and they say the Dalhousie is a very slow boat to travel in. * * * * * The Indians were most obliging and courteous in complying with a greatnumber of requests that they would ; write their names in birthday books. They first wrote their rank in the English army, in English, and underneath, their native titles in Hindcstani. Lord Roberts’s cousins (Hon. C'apt. , and Mrs Raillie) went down to see the orderly who saved the Field-Marshal’s life at Delhi. He is now a very old man, and very stout. ITe listened to all the interpreter told him of who they t . were ivitli, a grim, impassive expression; but when they produced Lord Roberts’s photo with his autograph, he broke down utterly and cried like a child on seeing it, kissing it passionately. He is one of the Gourka. orderlies whose pictures are in Lord Roberts’s book, “Fortyone Years in liffliad’ He was a person of great interest to all the visitors to ' the Dalhousie, but he is infirm and old, and sleeps a good deal of his time in his cabin. ■w *::* -x Amongst other beautiful things which_ the native l troops showed several visitors were some exquisitely embroidered and jewelled dirks and sheaths; also some “presentation” swords which must have been priceless, considering the quantity of jewels in them. They were very good, even only to look at. .>/! * * * * * t It was greatly to be regretted that the orowd in and about the Dalhousie forgot all the rules of politeness and pushed and shoved in the most unmannerly, even boisterous, manner. Many „ ladies got their clothes torn and were only too- thankful to get away without other injury. It was mortifying to, see" the grave displeasure and disapproval of the Indian visitors at the grievous boorishness and insolent curiosity of some of the white crowd. * * * -Jfr * The meeting called by the ladies are getting up a bazaar for the fund for;*: the Home for Incurables, in the City" Council chamber,, was largely attend-* ed by a very representative class. The... chamber was quite full, and the various items concerning the bazaar were debated with! great interest. There is a very widespread feeling that it is a thing that we ought to accomplish at once, as the home is so sadly needed, and! everyone present had gone with the object of offering help in one shape or another. That meeting crystallised the feeling, and it is now gone from the abstract stage to the personal one. There is a doubt now if it will be competent for the Duke and Duchess to open the bazaar, but all that can be ascertained before they come here. * * * a -xLady Douglas sent a long list of propositions and ideas, but there was not time to consider them at the public meeting, as there was so much other business, and tlie time so limited. The idea of a separate Memorial Ward, in memory of those of our brave boys who have fallen in Africa, is not to be entertained just now. When the home is an accomplished fact we may then hope to see such, a ward erected as an ad- / dition. The stalls are to be made as Maori as possible, and will have frontal boards -painted red with white Maori designs like the Patakas, etc. It is to be called “The Maoriland Bazaar.” ***** Hon. and Mrs C. H. Mills have gone into the Ministerial residence at the lower end of the Tinakori road.

Dr and Mrs —Macka.y (Nelson), have been visiting Wellington this week. Mrs Mackay is Lady Ranfuvly's cousin. •K* X- * * Dr and Mrs Martin, accompanied by "Miss O’Connor, have gone for a trip up the Wanganui River. •* - -***•*■ The friends of Lady Douglas will regret to hear she has been confined to her bed for some days’* with a severe chill. * * * * Mrs Thomas Rose, -we regret has been seriously ill at lier residence, Go elder's Hill.