NOTES BY THE DUCHESS.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 46, 30 July 1881, Page 518

NOTES BY THE DUCHESS.

— A curious story rames from Christchurch, showing lioav Mr Hannaford, who sells so many (Avomen !) Avas one day sold himself. AMr Le Noze, of the Customs in Christchurch, not finding any of the Southern beauties to his mind, sent up to Mr Hannaford instructions to procure him a Avife. He sent his photograph, and asked for photographs of the ladies. No less than six ladies answered the advertisement inserted in the Auckland papers, and their photofraphs numbered 1, 2, &c, were sent down outh. One Avas selected, and Mr Hannaford paid the passage doAvn, and other sundry expenses, Avith confiding and unsuspecting innocence. The lady Avas duly married on arrival, but from that day to this the unlucky agent has not seen the colour of his money, Mr Le Noze repudiating the debt entirely, and iioav T. B. may be seen interviewing the captain of the steamer who took the lady down, trying to recover the passage-money from him ; but the captain don t see it. 7— l do not often take much notice of artiqles Avhich appear in The Free Lance, but Avhen I read such language as the following I

am compelled to notice it on behalf of the Anglican congregations :—" Let any of our readers repair to fcjt. Mary's, or All Saints', and we are certain, like ourselves, they will be filled with astonishment ; that any conore^ations calling themselves Christians could be guilty of working their pastors to the last gasp. Aged and worn out horses we put out to grass, but our ministers are to be worked till they drop dead in harness." If the writer of this paragraph had been better informed, he would have known that Archdeacon Maunsell, though an old man, is hale and strong, and glad and ready to do his work, which is a labour of love ; also his congregation are perfectly satisfied with his ministrations, as indeed they well may be ; moreover, that he has large private means upon which he might retire at any time if he pleased. As to Mr Bree, he is an older man in every way than Archdeacon Maunsell, and is often physically unfit to do his work ; but I am authorised to state that he has been ottered a retiring pension of £200 per annum, secured to him on good terms, and that he persistently refuses to accept it, preferring to die in harness, much against the often expressed wish of his congregation, who would fain give him ease and rest ; but if lie prefers to work, who can gain say him ? Let us hear no more of this cant about aged and worn out horses. —The burning question in New Zealand among women is, our domestic servents, how to procure them, and how to treat them. There is an old adage, a good mistress makes a good servant ; and most people remember the answer of the Scotch cook, who, when given warning, refused to go, saying, "If ye dinna ken when ye hae gotten a guicl servant, I ken when I hae a quid master. " It is full time that we recognised that the old fashions have passed away. Life long attachments between mistress and servant are now very uncommon. In former times they were of common occurrence. With new ideas, increased intelligence, and superior education, changes have taken place with our domestic circles which we must meet as we are

best able, but to ignore them is to bring in chaos. Servants now claim a higher status, demand more liberty, and more privileges than formerly ; and mistresses, if they wish to retain the services of respectable servants, will have to admit this claim. But this once admitted and acceded to, a respectful obedience shoiild be insisted on. If a young woman does her Avork well and thoroughly she should be allowed as many evenings to herself as possible during the week, and one day every two months, in which to make her purchases. How should we feel shut up all day and every night without a breath of fresh air, save on a Sunday ? We should live and let live. But in return the young woman, who kindly consents for a very liberal wage to assist us in our kitchen and house-work, should give us single-hearted, conscientious service, not eye service merely, as so many do. For a household to work smoothly, the 'mistress herself should know how everything ought to be done, from the concoction of a souffle or curry to the washing of a saucepan, and. should insist upon thorough cleanliness and order. A little cheerful help from a mistress makes a servant more contented, and more careful to please. When I hear some women complaining bitterly of their servants, and changing them often, I always fancy there must be fault on both sides. A servants' home is about to be inauguratec 1 by Miss Sarah Smith, in connection with the Young Women's Institute. From her can now be obtained a list of better class respectable servants wanting places. But her fee 61 five shillings to mistresses is, I think, too high, and will interfere with the success of the undertaking. A fee of half-a-crown would, in the end, pay better.

— There are three or four very important changes in the style of ladies dresses. The bodices are made with much fewer seams, and come to the -waist only in front, or in a point just below the waist. Sometimes they liave belts and buckles ; but more often in rich

materials a belt 'is made, very deep, of some four or six cross-cut folds of the material. Flounces have yielded to puffs. These are box plaited or kilted at the top, and then at the other edge gathered, so that they stand out much after the fashion of a man's trunk hose. Casings and gatherings appear on every dress. Sometimes the whole front is a mass of horizontal drawings half an inch apart. Hitherto we have run into extremes on the side of slimness ; the present fashion will be the reverse of slim. What can be more opposed to slimness than a thick and wide band round the waist, and a series of gatherings below it ? — I am told that in the seats at the lower end of the new Church of St. Sepulchre's, nothing but a confused murmuring can be heard ; you might just as Avell be outside the building. The great height swallows up the voice of the officiating clergyman. A readingdesk and sounding-board would remedy this defect. —The rink of the 20th inst. was very well attended, though we still miss many old faces, or rather, I should say, young faces ; for instance, the Misses Whitaker, Fenton and Lawford, who never appear. There Avere some new men present, and the girls were giving them furtive and searching glances, but no introductions took place. What could Mr Tyler have been saying on behalf of the Ladies' Committee to Mr Townshencl at the door ? Looks rather critical. -— The Cinderella dance at Mount Albert on the 21st inst. was not so well patronised as usual, so many things came in the way. On the same night Mrs David Nathan gave a large evening party in honour of her sister, Miss Montetiore, and the "Pinafore" children had a ball given them in the Lome-street Hall by Mr and Mrs Hamley. This last of course was the great attraction, especially to the men. — Black will be much worn throughout this year, but it will be relieved by colour. One of the many new features of the present fashion is that most of the black dresses have the trimmings lined with a coloured satin, which peeps out unexpectedly here and there, without much design. The effect is exceedingly novel and pretty.