WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 26

WELLINGTON TABLE TALK.

(BY “ ERIE.”)

The transformation scene in our hitherto terrible streets and footpaths is a source of continual satisfaction to us. The nicely laid tram lines, with neat, clean wood-blocking up to the pavements makes it quite tempting to cross and recross for the pleasure of feeling how nice it all is. The white flagging that is ousting the painfully rutty asphalt on the footpaths, gives such an air of cleanliness and comfort that we cannot realise we are still in dirty Wellington. We were so tired of the old song of discontent with our city potentates that it is a very agreeable change to sing them a song of thanksgiving.

People who grumble at our nice clean tram service, shoaild be condemned to live in a town minus any such easy, cheap means of transit for a year, and they would come back prepared to be grateful instead of growling. They who have experienced electric trams out in the big world beyond us, all agree that ours are wonderfully good and up-to-date. That they are not wider, as the Dunedin cars are, is the fault of our narrow streets, and no one else’s.

The very ornamental and commodious Tea Kiosk, a picture of which appeared in the “Mail” last week, which the Kelburne Tramway Company has erected on the very top of the hill, is in itself a thing of beauty. Its curious pagodaliiko style of architecture is at once fantastic and striking, and the building is most suitable for it-s purpose. It stands on a point of the hill where the whole panorama of sea and land can be seen at a glance, and nowhere in the world is there a more beautiful and picturesque bit of scenery. The large centre hall is charmingly tinted and decorated, and has windows all round it. A roomy and beautifully appointed semi-circular buffet is at one end of this light, pretty pavillion, where active and attentive waitresses quickly serve tea and cakes, sandwiches ancl sweets, and all manner of nice things. The deep glazed verandah ru»s round three sides and will be an ideal place for afternoon tea on a hot day. The proprietress is also making very nice luncheons a speciality, so that business people can. in four minutes by the cable train, get up there and take fresh air and sun at the same time they take their midday meal.

Mr Martin Kennedy made a neat little speech in asking his Worship to declare the kiosk open. In the absence of Mr Simpson, who is chairman of the company, Mr Kennedy gave a little resume of the work and outlay of the directors. The women were amazed when he stated they had (in round numbers) expended nearly £50,000. To the feminine mind this is such an enormous sum that we felt that wee bit of tramway down to Lambton quay was much less than we imagined such a lot of money would do. The ignorance of our sex in such matters is very great.

The directors provided their guests with a charmingly dainty tea. The little tables to accommodate a party of four were prettily decorated with vases of sweet peas and roses. The weather tried its best to spoil the occasion, but the guests, were too pleased with all they saw and with the entertainment altogether to let a blustering wind and a little rain damp their pleasure. Besides all felt sublime at getting home with the cable tram so close by.

Amongst .some of the guests were Hon C. H. and Mrs Mills. Hon. Col. Pitt, Hon T. K. and Mrs and Miss Macdonald, Mr and Mrs Martin Kennedy Mrs Rhodes. Mr Bookie. Mrs Stowe. Mr Lee, Mr and Mrs D. T. Stuart, Miss Lulu Brandon, Mr and Mrs Henderson (Karcri), Mr and Miss Godber, Mr and Mrs L. IT. B. Wilson (secretary), Hon W. and Miss Fraser, Mr and Mrs Batkin. Mrs Luke, Mr and Mrs Wright, Mrs Field and Miss Hodgkins.

The Mayor made a speech full of glorification of the lovely view (if it could only be seen) and of the kiosk both as a fact and as an enterprise, and prognosticated no end of success for the courageous people who l have boldly taken it for five years at £5 per week. We heartily endorse all his good wishes for its success in every respect. A string band played in one of the verandahs very cheerfully, and if there had been a few more young people present it would have been quite easy to have had an impromptu dance to sample the floor. 1 * * *

The engagement is announced of Mr Guy Williams, of ITobson street, to Miss Lewis, of Auckland, who Is a well-known tiOtnifis 'player. * #

Another engagement is tlxat of Mr Lawson to Miss Vera Willis. # * *

Mr and Mrs Elgar (Featherston) have taken Mrs Jacob Joseph’s house in Hobson street for six months. * *

Archdeacon and Miss Faneourt aro staying for the present at -Miss Pyes, Mulgrave street. « *

Mrs (Col.) Gorton ha® been in town from Bulls to consult an oculist.

Mrs and Miss Elly Harding have gone to Inglewood upon a visit to Dr Harding'.

Mrs Beard (Greytown) is occupying her house during her absence.

Mr and Mrs A. Birch have been staying at Miss Malcolm’s. They contemplate a trip to England about April.

Misses E. and D. Harding are the guests of Mrs Tavener (Masterton).

Miss Hadfield (Marten) has taken her passage in the Rimutaka, which is ex> pected to leave for England in March. She is taking her little nephew to join his father, Rev. J. L. Dove. * * *

Miss Izard is living for the present at Miss Malcolm’s.

Mrs (Dr) Newman is returning to New Zealand by the Corinthic, which is leaving London shortly.

Miss Johnston, of Fitzherbert terrace, who has been suffering from rhumatism, has gone to Rotorua, accompanied by Mr Guy Johnston.

This Misses McVay (Napier) are visiting friends in Wellington.

Mrs Heligan (Dannevirke) came to town for the marriage of her nephew, Mr H. Brown-to Miss Lockie. * * Hon W. W. and Mrs Johnston are at the Royal Oak for the races.

Mrs Cecil Kebbell and the Misses Brandon came into town for the race days.

Mrs Collins (Queensland) is at the Royal Oak, and her mother, Mrs Roberts, Dunedin, has come up to meet her.

Miss Nellie Chaytor (Marlborough) is over on a visit to her brother Major Chaytor.

Mr Stanley Harcourt has returned from Ms long trip round the world.

The over-welcome Fisk Jubilee Singers have paid us a short visit. Their entertainment is so unique and so charming that we were very sorry they were only able to give five concerts in the Town Hall. Their melodious voices are as finely trained and tuned as ever, and their performances were absolutely delightful. The very quaint negro airs have a character entirely their own, and have so much human feeling and pathos that they appeal to their audience at once. Their perfect phrasing and ballance is really a musical treat. Miss Gibbons is the only original member of these singers and her fine voice is of wonderful compass and expression. Miss Mercer, a European member of the band, lias a finelv cultivated contralto voice. She is very willowy and graceful. and is exactly typical of Dana Gibson’s American girl. Mr Clarance Tisdale has a remarkably clear rich tenor voice, which he uses with great skill and taste. Encores were rife from the beginning of their concerts, their audiences were so carried away they never knew when they hadasked enough of these obliging artistes.

The song “My Sweetheart Long Ago” caught on so much that tht audience insisted upon Mr Tisdale’s giving it to them every evening.

Amongst the audiences were Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Cyril Ward, Hon. J. Carroll, Mr T. Wilford, M.H.R,. Mr and Mrs A. R. Atkinson, Mrs F. Dyer. Mr and Mrs Hurst-house, Miss Lucy Atkinson, Mr and Mrs A. Young, Mrs De Castro, Mrs and Misses Chat-field, Mi® P. Blundell, Mrs Hamilton, Miss Tregear, Miss Ashcroft.

A wedding of considerable interest took place in St. John’s Church on Tuesday afternoon. The Rev. J. Patterson Eer formed the ceremony. Miss Fva ockie. youngest daughter of Mr James Lockio. Majoribauks street, was married to Mr Harold Brown, eldest son of Mr W. Brown, of Messrs Leary and Co. The bride wore a lovely gown of ivory Aik with overskirts of chiffon and exquisite Limerick lace. The skirt was trained and draped, and the bodice had a deep lace yoke and frills of lace from the elbow sleeves. A pretty wreath of orange blossoms was worn under a hand-somely-embroidered veil. There were six attendant bridesmaids —Miss Laura Lockie. Miss M. Brown, Misses L. and L. Muir and two tiny children, Misses Ethel Halligan and Tottie Kirker. They had beautifully soft pretty costumes of dainty cream voile with handsome lace insertions. Their belts and picturesque hats were of the palest green, and they carried pink bouquets. Mr W. Gill was best man, and Messrs Roland Robertson, Howard Reid and R. Wilson were groomsmen. The bride's travelling gcftvm was of pale grey cloth with embroidered insertions, and a picture hat of black chiffon and plumes. A large reception was held at the residence of the bride’s parents in Majoribauks street. Mrs Lockie, the bride’s mother, had a handsome gown of black brocaded Duchess© satin.

Mrs Brown wore a black crepe de chine gown over glace silk trimmed with lace. Amongst the guests were Mrs Halligan (Dannevirke). Mrs T. K. Macdonald, Mrs J. Hume, Mrs Anderson Mrs and Miss Spragg, Mrs and Misses Hannah, Mrs John Blundell, Mrs Kirkcaldie. Mrs Hislop Mrs C. Smith. Miss Patterson, Misses Mee, Mrs and Miss Maguire, Mrs T. Lawson and many others. There were a large number of beautiful wedding present®

Miis Harold Bea uchamp and her family have been spending tlio holidays among their friends in Picton. * * *

Mr and Mrs hid. Richardson have returned from their visit to their daughter Mrs Eardle.v Reynolds, of Dunedin.

Mr and Mrs Walter Nathan and their family are expected back in about five weeks. They are returning in the Athenic.

Mrs Fitchett has returned from a long Northern trip.

Mrs Sievwright has returned from her visit to the South Island. * * *

The latest noveltv that has been received in the way of a post card, is one with a thin film attached with a message upon it-, when put into the graphophono it gives out its contents. Ihe craze for post cards is so great on the Continent that the German postal revenue benefits to the extent of 4000 francs per diem thereby.

Mr and Mrs Macpherson. of Dunedin, are making a tour of the North. While in Wellington they stayed at the Mansions.