GOSSIP FROM THE EMPIRE CITY.

Observer, Volume XI, Issue 707, 16 July 1892, Page 2

GOSSIP FROM THE EMPIRE CITY.

[By Golden Pen.]

I should like to let you' know how the. ladies of Wellington dress. The moßt stylish ladies (perhaps not the most fashionable) wear short skirts and threequarter jackets ; I think the short skirts are much more tidy arid clean and show a neat foot. Most" of the ladies -wear shoes instead of boots, which adds to the beauty of the foot. Boas of all sorts, both fur and feather, are all the go. The fashion of wearing the hair curled at the back has quite gone out, which I think, looks much better. It is • still curled in front and on top, but when the hat is on the hair looks quite plain. Gapes of every sorb are •worn with high collars and hoods of pretty silk. The ladies of Wellington look very becoming in large white ties made of v.cry fine silk, something after the style of Miss Janet Achurch ; some are short, others reach down to the waist. The Hon. Dr. and Mrs Grace gave a large musical 'At Home ' last Monday afternoon, when a large number of guests, chiefly young people, were present, and spent a very pleasant time. Dr. and Mrs Grace, Miss Maud Grace, and Miss Annie St. Hill, of Hastings, who is staying in the house, were all entertaining, Miss Grace being away from home. Miss McClean and Mr R. B. Williams sang beautifully, and Miss Holmes and Mr Gillington both gave recitations. Amongst the guests were Captains HunterBlair and Clayton, Miss Johnston, Mrs and Miss Williams, Miss Hallowes, Mr Govett and the Misses Izard, Richmond, Brandon, Cooper, Pynsent, Moorhouse, Pynse nt, Turnbull, Gore, etc. The Misses Nathan, who have just returned from England, were there, wearing handsome English gowns, and Mr E. O'Rorke, of Auckland, who has just arrived for the session. There 'were some lively proceedings behind the scenes of a Wellington concerttheatre one night last week. A travelling young lady piano-thumper (bafore whom, if her own circulars are to be believed, such musical lightH as Sir Rubinstein, Paderewski, Sir Charles Halle", and our late visitor Kowalski fall into insignificance) was giving her farewell show. She had performed once or. twice before, at long intervals, but the unappreciative local press hadn't been able to enthuse over her. Anyhow she managed by hard canvassing to get rid of a large number of patronage tickets this time, and the circle was fairly filled. Apart from the • star ' herself, the only talent engaged for the occasion consisted of two local instrumentalists — one to play a violin selection, and the other to strum the accompaniments, and an amateur baritone. But, horror of horrors 1 the professional men refused to 'go on ' till their fees had been paid. They positively •struck,' and between them and the manageress a very warm quarter of an hour was spent' before they managed to extract the required guineas. Anyhow, the finances were satisfactorily adjusted, and the concert went on. But fancy two hours and a-half of solid piano-spanking, varied only by one mndioere song and one violin solo - the latter being the only good thing on the programme. The audience was fairly frozen out before the concert washalfover, and gradually thinned itself down to a few meagre dozen. Those who did stay were treated to some very good fun in the antics of the fair concert-giver. In the last year or two there has been in the colony more than enough of the peripatetic pianist of very indifferent powers —so much indeed, that any who come round in the future will .have to bring either established reputations or very commanding talents to ensure public patronage. The wily Mongolian is not slow to avail himself of all the ' advantages of civilisation,' even those which we enjoy as the very apex of Radical reform. The other morning two Chinamen presented themselves at the Industrial Bureau, and the spokesman introduced the other as his cousin, who ' wanted to look for workee allee same whitey man. 1 The pair required free passes to 'Maßterton. After a little 'talkee,' Mr Maokay found that they had just finished a three years' engagement at a local market garden, and concluding that no Chinaman would have

worked for that length of time without Baying his train fare to Maßterton, refused a pass. This shows the danger of a reputation for thrift. Miss ALlice MoKenzie, daughter of Mr T. N. MoKenzie, an old and respected resident of Wellington, and one of the first journalists in the colony, wbb united in matrimony a few days ago to Mr S. Jl Gibbons, of the Manawatu, formerly accountant in the Colonial Fire Insurance Company's head office. Balls are the order of the day, or rather night T should say, in Wellington, for in addition to the Citizens' ball there will be the Thorndon Tennis ball, Government House ball, Star Boating Club ball, Hunt Club ball, a leap year ball, and the Wellington Navals, not to be outdone, are giving one the night after the Citizens' ball, in the Drill Shed, and the same fixings and decorations are to be left for their use. Happy navals. The many friends of Mr Dunne, of Wellington, will be sorry to learn of his departure for the South. He was an enthusiastic footballer and yachtsman, and also a leading singer in fet. Mary of the Angels' Choir. It is pretty generally rumoured in Wellington that Lady Glasgow intends giving a dance fortnightly throughout the session. If correct, what a treat is in store for us. writes our correspondent. We shall be able to enjoy a good dance in the beautiful ball-room at Government House without being) half crushed to death, as by this means I suppose, we shall go in turn. Truly the ball is going to be kept rolling. It has been my privilege to see' some of the really charming costumes that are to be worn at some of these functions, and of which I hope to tell you more anon. One of the most meritorious amateur dramatic performances held in Wellington for some years was given in the Opera House on Thursday last, when the members of the late Thespian Club, assisted by some friends, produced Morton's comedy of ' All that Glitters is not Gold,' in aid of the funds of the Orchestral Society. The Governor and suite were present, and every seat in the house was occupied. The cast was as follows:— Sir Arthur Lassell, Mr Norwood Young ; Jasper Plum, Mr S. K. Kennedy; Stephen Plum, Mr Herbert Rawson ; Frederick Plum, Mr F. Hartmann ; Toby Twinkle, Mr G. A. Kennedy ; Harris, Mr C. Thnmson ; Lady Leatherbridge, Miss Barron ; Lady Valeria Westenleigh, Miss M. Allan; Martha Gibbs, Miss M. Kennedy. The following ladies and gentlemen also assisted : -Misses E. Barron, E. Bellairs, D. Heywood, W. Lingard, M. Allan, W. Holt, G. Kennedy; Messrs W. and N. Barron, Eliott, Clarkson, J. Hartmann, Hickson, A. R. Kennedy. J. and C. Allan. The comedy was performed with great success, and the principals came in for frequent applause. Mr G. A. Kennedy made an efficient stage manager ; while Mr Alfred Hill, who returned from Germany a few months ago, wielded the conductors baton in a masterly manner.