SYDNEY GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 70

SYDNEY GOSSIP.

Bt Cigaretie,

The piincipal topic of conversation in Sydney just now is the resignation of the Gcvernor-General. Universal regret is expa^sed throughout the Commonwealth, for the genial Lord Hopetoun is a public favourite. Unaided by the Countess, whom Australians find stiff and stand-offish, he has won a place in the hearts of the people entirely on his own merits. His keen, intellectual face is full of kindliness, and he possesses the Inestimable gift of tact, without which in this democratic country no Governor can succeed. During his term of office he has spent £19,000 out of hi& own pocket over and about salary and allowances. He finds it is impossible to fill the position of Governor-General on the meagre £10.000 allowed as salary, and it is certainly out of the question that he should be expected to use his private resources for the benefit of the Commonwealth. Hence his resignation.

The cold weather has come, but plague still continues to run its course, each day adding another victim or two to the list. Notwithstanding the great clean-up of the last visitation, there still seems to be a gieat deal left to do. In one suburb, for instance, where many Chinese have their habitation, a disgraceful state of things ■was revealed. Dark, evil-smelling dens were found all huddled together, divided and sub-divided till little more than cupboards remained for the tenants to sleep and eat 111. These were let at a shilling a week, and here at night vegetables were stored, of which John, when as-ked about-, said, "^le f-ellce to-mollow your conntlimen." So m edged in was a plague-stricken corpse in its den that the wall had to be broken down to remove it. Most of these tenements are now being demolished, 'but the disheartening fact remains that the occupants only go somewhere else, put up there flimsy partitions, divide and sub-divide, shutting out light and air and breeding filth wherever they go, until another plague spot is created. During the past few week." 50 birds and animak in the Zoo have died from plague, so the gardens are still closed to the public.

Nov." that Her Majesty's Theatre is a ruin, Mr Williamson has staged "The Runaway Girl" at the Theatre Royal, which is scarcely large enough to hold the crowded audiences which attend this popular comic opera. The music is very bright and catchy, and there is a charming duet between Kenningham and Florence Young which is a musical gem. and receives a triple encore at every performance. Florence Young (back from Europe) takes the part of the Runaway Girl delightfully. Her sprightly acting and beautiful voice, with its clear enunciation, give a sparkle to the piece, which has only a flimsy plot, while clever Carrie Moore and the evergreen Lauri provide must of the humorous element. Grace Palotta wears some lovely gowns, and sings one fetching song. "Listen to the band." but the general feeling of the public is that there is not enough, of Grace ; it seems a pity that puch a charming actress should have so little to do. However, she takes her fences beautifully in the mock steeplechase, "Follow the man from. Cook's." The fcenevy of this play is very pretty. First, the Convent Garden, where the girls are having lunch under the almond trees ; then the quay of Ajaccio at Corsica, blazing with light and colour, and firally Venice at evening, with its gondolas gliding up the cana 1 . There is no prospect of Her Majc-ty'.- Theatre being rebuilt — in fact, the cm ncr has decided not to do so. It remain* to be seen now whether some enteipiNing person will build an up-to-date opeiu hou-e. It would be an excellent speculation, for Sydney folk aie great t)ie.uie-goers, and never grudge mouey «-] ent in amusement.

Yi get.u i<ins in Sydney are now provided wjtlj. a lestaurant to suit their own particular tastes. For the modest sum of a snilLng they can have- a complete vegetarian d'nuer. In the window of the establishment a little table is set daily with a selection of viands from the menu for the day. Outr-ide enrious bystanders eve the tempting dHie'S ; inside a strange-looking- crowd of hunjiry mortals- sample them- I went in one day, determined to try their bromose and proto^e, etc. Pea soup came first — sulli ;i big basin and a whole dihh of croutoiiH. It wa; rather insipid, but I managed to swallow it. After th*t "nuttose" — fond from nuts. This was grey-look-ing '-tuff like htale German saiif-age. with a dab of jelly to make it "go."' U^'h — very nac-ty. Then "roast <roose and app'e sauce" in name, but vegetable marrow with goo^e stuffing in reality. This was better, and I sampled it. After that a. protose and' one or two other funny thing", and finally a < - up of caramel coffee. N\i wonder vegetarians look thin. A" for me. I felt like the fioi, who tried to turn into an ox, for on reading the descriptions- of bromide and protose I found one mouthful of it contit'nerl 25 per cent, more nutriment than one of meat. But rlieii I ]> ->d .«amp'ed too ni.i'i", vshcre'i*- one cor: -hou'd be sufii.ji.nt.

It loot «■ as if the two art c oi.ifcti«-s of Xerw Sou^h W.il< J s a).- voiny tn ;in><jl^.;lrule at l<i«--t. The Minister- of Kdiic.Ltion tiue.iteiif<t the withdrivt! of the Government subsidy unle-s they agreed tn unite, «-o now instead of two rival iv* cx.hjb^ioii'j theie is to be one geneial exliibiiioii m the 'pririg.

Fashion* tins winter are dec'utd!*- fi •- volous H-its 'lie flit ami frniiJe - -tj • tiont, n mixture of fin nrcl flower 1 - 1■ ! luce ; jiickiM> Ihree-qu.ir-pr length. *»v rh m' le <-Ipi.ve<- at the wii'-t. Ru'-m n h]')!: 1 -!; >i L'v«"arlv to the 'me. hvr Ion!: 'fc^i^r M"n fi _rm '<< Tim (-I'j iv. slt-eve is niu li u<-^d

are still worn close -fitting over the hips and trailing -well on the ground. Women cling to the trailing skirt, and are loth to return to the short frocks after once having experienced the charm of a train. What grace it gives, what dignity, and how well I it hides big feet.