A BELLE OF THE PAST.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 53, 17 September 1881, Page 8

A BELLE OF THE PAST.

Mrs Cracroft WiLsbN,«ee Miss Laura Munro. About seven years ago the Board of Education, when issuing the programmes for the scholarships, issued also an intimation — that for the first time in Auckland girls would be allowed to compete for Certificates of Proficiency. A few ladies consequently, from one of the first schools here, went up in fear and trembling, and underwent the ordeal of a three days examination. Seven were so fortunate as to obtain certificates. Of these girls Miss Laura Mimro, daughter of Judge Munro, was one. She was then a very pretty and very charming girl of fifteen, with eyes blue as forget-me-nots, a straight nose, dark brown hair, and cheeks the colour of the palest rose. She had a fashion of making funny little moves with her mouth, which made one laugh, but were wonderfully attractive. Her elder sister Elsie was also in iier day a noted belle, having married Mr Curnow (one of the masters of the Grammar School), and went with him to Cbristchurch. Thither, after a short season in Auckland, went Laura on a A'isit to her sister, and took the Christchurch magnates by storm. They had thought Mrs Curnow pretty, but Laura was adorable. She created quite a furore, and was almost mobbed when she went into society. Can it be that the Canterbury girls boast of so few good looks, or that the Auckland belles are really so very charming, for this sort of tiling has happened more than once. However that may be, one of the millionaires of Christchurch — a man twice her own age — succumbed before the charms of the fair Aucklander. He followed her up here on her return, and, after a short interval, she became Mrs Cracroft Wilson, and is now one of the leaders of society in Christchurch. Her good looks, which she inherits from a family renowned for handsome women (for the Munros and Fairburns are cousins), have not deserted her. Many people say she is lovelier now than she ever was, and she has all the added charms which great wealth and position give. She is a qtieen rose now, and no longer one " of the rose bud garden of girls."