FLOTSAM AND JETSAM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5714, 18 August 1897, Page 3

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM.

" llitl; I.ml, Ikre',< mi miiii/iii;/ icfinf one linn\;: tli'Miifli hi he yura, 1 litl'l /JitV, on rri'i/ j/miil iiiillion'/y,"-JliislMsiioi'i: in Scie.ol for (-canilal. Wr.M.ixn roN, Monthly. OUlt KEW (JOVIUtXOIt, Wellington certainly looked its very best as the Tntanckai, with Lord JinnI'nrly and his party on board, steamed slowly up to the wliarf on Tuesday. A little haze gave softness to th< l hills, the many Hags lent their vivid colour and motion to the scene, and the harbour was only faintly rippled by the tiny brcwe. On cither side of llio barrier on the v.harf, masses of people had been lorn; standing, and two hours before the ceremony, the J'osl Ollicc steps were occupied by a number of toll; to whom time was evidently no object. They must —lil;etlieehihlin"\\ r e are Seven"—have taken "their little porringers" and eaten their dinner there.

Looking from the lower balcony of the walelttower at the end of the wharf, the ships seemed alive wilh men and buys who crawled up the rigging and hung in extraordinary attitudes in perilous places. We ourselves were in a somewlmt giddy situation up there in the tower, and we all liehl on as we looked down at the citizens and their wives and daughters gathering on the dais. Ahoyc us there was another balcony, seemingly only frailly supported, and we watched some very heavy people mounting to il with apprehensive groans. To be Ihittcncd out beneath timber and other people's forms would he a most unroniantie and unpleasant mode of exit from this world. The tower did give a little wobble as the Tntanckai touched the wharf, but we were all too busy gazing at Lord and Lady Jianfnrly to feel very nervous. There they were—the long-expected—-with their two little girls. Tlieyotmgcr's skirls were tightly held by a pleasantfaced elderly dame, whom we afterwards heard had been in the service of the family nearly ail her life. Tho little maid's tiny hauls were clutching the railing and she was gazing curiously down on the sea of smiling upturned faces below. From the band came the strains of" God Save the Queen," and with lifted hat, the Governor stepped from the gangway to the wharf and then on to the dais. it sullied as if the cheering would never start, and one loyal young lady near me was alirosl beginning il herself. However, it came at last, aud vigorously, too, started by someone near the dais, and echoed and re-echoed from far down the wliarf and from the masses on the ships. It was a hearty welcome, and Lord jianfnrly could have no reason to doubt the sincerity ot the greeting. He is not blase wilh all the pomps and vanities that pertain to his position as the Queen's representative, and that may have been perhaps the reason of iiis slight nervousness, for which everyone liked him the better. His cocked ha! lictrayed him. He tried it lirst in one position, then in another, and linally put it on his chair and sat on

And after all our new Governor is not ml-haii'cd. His hair is dark auburn, and his face thin, keen and intellectual, with delightful lines of humour round the month. He is lull and slim, and very young-looking if, as the papers slate, he was foriy-one on Saturday. lie was dressed in a very handsome uniform. Lady Jiaufurly is of middle height and dark haired. \\ hen we lirst saw her she looked somewhat pale and lircd, but, as the cheers came again and again, her colour and her smiles came back, and she was charming. Two things about her appearance have greatly impressed llie ladies here: lirst, she worn ear-rings—and not small ones—awl secondly, her hair was cut- in front in almost a straight fringe. J hear rumours that the hair-dressers' shops are already crowded with girls anxious to follow the fashion, and that many others are getting their ears pierced, but J feel sure this report emanated from a masculine source, and was probably originated in the clubs. Lady lianfuiiy's hat was a beautilul bit of colour in her otherwise quiet attire. It was bright pink with a quaintly crinkled lirim, and trimmed with pale roses and a very line black osprey. When she sat down she look off her cloak, a sumptuous wrap of sable, all syey and gold and brown as llie sunlight fell on il. Under it she wore a skirt and jacket of black brocaded material with soft white laces in front falling lo the waist. The {little girls—the elder has her mother's clear-cut features—wore green—lrish green—and dainty Tuscan lints, trimmed and tied down over the ears with green ribbon. A dear little child in white, who had been—proudest of the proud—carefully carrying an exquisite bouquet, all daffodils, violets, and lons yellow satin streamers, presented it to the Countess, who handed the one she had been holding lo her elder daughter. From an artistic point of view there was much disagreement between the bouquet and the hat—a fact of which Lilly Haulurly was probably painfully aware. Then followed the addresses, and we could now and then catch a word. The last address was presented by a silverhaired velcran whom we were assured was the oldest inhabitant, lfe and Lord lianfurly had seemingly quite a nice little chat, What they said we knew not, but they nodded and smiled at intervals, and appeared beautifully unanimous.

Then pranced round the " lierv untamßl" steeds with the Governor's carriage behind, and they plunged and hacked and generally showed oil'. In(teed, finally, the Governor in his carriage had lo he tak«> down the wharf under the charge of four policemen, and make his entry inlo Wellington thus. Tim noise and the crowd all'ected even the staid old cab-horses, whom one saw here and their doing a little war dance to show their sympathetic loyalty. As the Governor's carriage got fairly under weigh, a distant howl proclaimed the haka of welcome. Eyen from the end of the wharf one could see beyond the handsome triumphal arch erected by the Fire Brigade, the tossing and waving of the mats of the Maoris, as they stamped and twisted. Hut this would have been (lie last straw to the horses' nerves and the dance had lo he stopped. I.OVAI. .MAOKI3.

TJic Maori clement was strong and vociferously enthusiastic. In the procession Iby followed close behind the Governor's and Lady llanfurly's carriagps, and actually swarmed up (ho bauk and on lo tlic wheels, uttering Hieir guttural cries. To the Countess and tier little daughters they must haw seemed strange folk to govern over, but indeed the vice-regal party appeared to enjoy the novelty, and the little girls smiled and wed their handkerchiefs delightedly, W)ien the procession reached Parliament Buildings, one stout dusky lady nvatlied in a large plaid I sliani, marched iu front of one of the hands, and behind a corps of volunteers, keeping perfect timo to the. martial music that crashed out behind her back. And in the evening there was more dancing of halms by the light of the illuminations, while the groan of bagpipes mingled with the more familiar sounds of a band. And as yet to others as veil as to the Maoris, the Government House carriage is a sight worth looking at. A little crowd collected near tlic /Joor of the 33.1.0., the other day lo see Lady Itanfurly emerge from her first shopping expedition. Jtis not at all usual this in the Colonics, but ijt is a sincere compliment all the same, and is owing lo Lady llanfurly's reputation for beauty and charm that reached us long before the Tutanelfiii eamc back.

Till! NATiyji llOlilf. A crowded house listened to tlic very long entertainment given by the New Zealand Natives' Association. It was good on the whole, the tableaux especially, showing that any amount of trouble had been taken, though there were too many figures in them, and a want of artisticgroupiugrouudsomccentral point Tho angels that swung by wires from the roof in the tableau "At tho )?ortal" i were cither nervous or ill-balanced, for

so much iliil they oscillate, that I was in momentary expertinn of seeing one, lit least, present lier heels instead «r licp prclty face to tin 1 audience. Miss Ivittv lihtney snng charmingly, especially a coquettish little Irish diily, " doing to Kildare," ami the well-known '•Two is Company," to which—in a newspaper report tlio next day—they gave the weird title" Twoly Coy "! Mr 'Wilford's songs roused the audience to the highest pitch,of enthusiasm, andthey howled and stamped even after he had been recalled twice. I need hardly remarl; the ballads were of a comic character,

Lord Jianfnrly gave " his patronage" but not his presence. He does not intend to appear otlicially at any function until after the conversazione on Wednesday. lint the dressing was gayer by far in the circle, and there were multitudes of white gowns and cloaks. The two most striking dresses were both worn by dark women. One was made in a lea-gown style of cherry velvet with full sleeves and cut slightly low at the neck, It fell away from the throat and opened over creamy tulle or chilTon or material of that ilk, which was cut low and square. Round the neck of the velvet lay square talis of cream lace. The other dress was a harmony in ilatVodil, and the idea was exquisitely carried out. The gown itself was pale yellow brocade with twists of leaf-green velvet, and a lovely cloak of golden tan lined wilh orange silk, and capcd with brocade only half disclosed and intensified the more delicate colouring of the gown. tSome little unrehearsed effects in tin: tableaux were very amusing. In one a donkey occupied a prominent position, and he, wiser than his generation, saw no reason why he should not exhibit his paces. Ados in another tableau rose up as the curtain was lifted, hut a chubby brown buy restrained it lirmly but kindly, and though it wriggled a little, kept it pretty slil l . Some tiny mites, too, though!, standing in one position a decided bore, and varied il considerably. Hut il only undo the picture more eh.inning to see the dimpled little great-eyed angel swaying her palm branch gaily as she held on to the tall white-clad figure beside

Ims i:.\n:i,u:.\TY s uvix II is strange—to say (lie lead of it—to see men—respectable married men. ton, many of them—wan.loriug about at breakfast-time in evening dross. Vet such was tin' mcintiflioly sight in many a home in Wellington Ihe oilier morning, Ono amid hardly blame tlieni il —willi Ihrii dressclollics-tlicy omitted to jmt mi their company manners, for there issometliing painfully cold-blooded in issuing out into the jjaviili light of day in such aitire. The hour is a somewhat awkward one, 100, and one wuithl fancy late in llie afternoon would suit everyone better, Lord lianfurly inI'linled. There was much wattle about- the rooms, and it* heavy though deliyhtkil perfume made one gentleman laint and two or three feel the air oppressive. But men have much lo loot thankful lor ill these social functions. A Drawingroom At Hume, where elaboratelydressed and eoilTnred women stand waiting their turn in one dense, hot struggling mass of feminine humanity, and where bouquet, I rain and diamond-; are nil heavy loads on llie mind, ns well as the person, must be n trying ordeal indeed. AN AFFABLE EXCEUESrr!

Does Lord lianfurly sing comic songs ? A country settler, when he lirst caught sight of one of ourilluslrioits Governors, exclaimed, " Why, he ain't no different from any oilier man!" 1 had reason subsequently to endorse this view, lor il fell to my lot to Irivelon ''a liuer" with this particular Exeellency. The great man was chummy, smoked n good deal, was always "on" for a game at cards, One night when we got up a dance, he sailed in for the prettiest girl aboard—a second cabin passengei —and annexed her for the evening. J am sure Lord lianfurly would not do thai. The great man's dancing was execrable; but, of course, Lord lianfurly's is perfect-. During an intent,l the great man sjiij; a comic song, a weird ditty belonging to the earlier part of the century, which commenced: - So, Sir, you've cine at las', 1 tliobght you would come htfore; I've v.'.dUl with my buiuict on, From one till half-past four, We live in an age of progress, and if Lord llniifiirly it'wv sing comic songs 1 am sure that he can beat this.

" TIII; (ismnux oveii TJIKIIK !" If a Governor be fji't'iil and godlike a slill greater personage is lo lie found in flic Governor's raid. It was the great man himself who pointed lliis out lo me. I learnt from him that on hoard it certain boat a steward approached a lirstcnhin passenger and implored him to discontinue smoking, as the part of the dec!; where lie lounged was tabooed to smokers. The lirsl-class passenger replied, " Why don't you .stop that man over there with the big cigar and leave my cigarette alone I " " Oh!" said the steward in awed voice, " that gentleman over there is Ik Gmriwr's m/tl!"

Tot,H i!V AX i:illTOtt. It was a sad-looking, hald-lieadcd, up-coitnlry editor who was talking, ami he said— I was sitting in my sanctum which is also the sanctum sanctorum of advertisers, when it tall stout man with one eye, dropped in, whom ] recognised, alter a moment, lo lie Scabs, the billsticker, disguised in n new suit of clothes. " What oil! .lack," said I, "is it a funeral 'i " is'o," he replied sorrowfully, " I've just got married and wantn good send oil ." " All right Jack," said J, "half-a-crown down and you gel il 1" He paid (lie money and ] pushed on one side an article in which 1 was giving Lord Salisbury a friendly hint about his foreign policy and prepared for more prolitablc business. Said .Jack- "My wife has writ it down herself," and he handed me a dirty piece of paper. I read it as follows" The hricd looked J porO'ecly luvcly in a yclow saline dress trinied with grcene and a piuke lionet. She is the onley dorter of James J fears, Esquire, of Sull'olk." 1 gave Jack ut glowing notice, and he (lenarled, only to return a few days later—this time with his one eye in dec]) mourning and his clothes very much dilapidated. Still Ilis tone was cheerful as he said—"] want another piece in the paper." " Already!" said ] in consternation. " Only another scnd-olf" he murmured. " What on earth do yon mean!" J shouted. At this juncture a female form emerged from the shadowof thedoonvay, a female form with a llaming face and said "I 'm Maria ! He wants you to say thai lie's done with mc and will have no more tc do with me!" f wrote out the usual formula " John Scabs hereby gives notice that ou and after this date lie will not be responsible, etc., etc.," and said, "This send-off will be live shillings Jack!" "What!" screamed Maria, —"five shillings! don't pay him Jack—--1 know another paper that will he glad to do il for hal La-crown. Come away Jack'" But poor Jack was anxious lo get through the business and wjtli a sigh counted oul the money, and the pair left with the avowed intention of premising nil eternal separation with a parting glass.

A OOAT IS OPPOSITION'. Apropos of the lowa calf iu my last letter, here follows the talc of a Wellington goat: In the days before Mr Seddon «as Premier a goat was tethered in a shed at ihc kck.of tho Government buildings. In the press of political duties, the poor creature must have been neglected, for it eat first its rope, and then browsed away on some State papers which were carefully stored ia that place of safety. The hungry animal evidently found these but dry fare, for it escaped at last out of ijio door and made for green grass and, liberty. Up came Seddon and Mackenzie in time to see an exhausted man from the Stock Department wipe his heated brow and acknowledge his us try, Jock," said Seddon. "liight you are, Dick," responded McKenzie. And then ensued a scene at which a Kodak should liw b?pa

| present. For a quarter of an hour the two statesmen—''the world forgetting, by the world forgot polled alter and dodged behind that wary mid nimble goat. It was caught at last by Mr Hcddon's precipitating himself upon il. .Hislcry does not say whether it survived the shock. Foiutrsr Boss.