LIFE IN THE CITY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 8084, 7 March 1905, Page 3

LIFE IN THE CITY.

Life is a journey; on we go Through many a scene of joy and woe,

The Squadron. Departed. — A Naval At Home,.- Guns and Girls. — Damhtg on the Deck.—Approaching Teas.—Departures uml Arrinds. — A Late Engagement.—Wellington Choral Society.--Rerirai of {lilbcrt and Salliran — A Veteranactor.—Two Talented Musicians. A Ladies Club. — An Innovation. — Realistic Pictures — Some Entertainments.

The squadron has departed, and with it many new-made friends of Wellington folk. Perfect weather and a good deal of entertainment made their visit here pleasant. Particularly lovely was the harbour on Monday afternoon, when the Admiral returned the hospitality he had received by giving At Home on the Euryalus. It was a delightful affair. The guests were received by Admiral Fanshawe at the head of the gangway, and then passed on to the many officers who were ready to show off the wonders of a first-class cruiser. The band played bright music during the afternoon, and all sorts of dainty refreshments were served in the ward-room. Later on dancing was indulged in on the main deck, and, as the girls wore their airiest summer frocks and partners were many, much enjoyed. The squadron festivities are over, but some gaieties are looming ahead. A polo ball is talked of, and various teas are mooted. Among these is one given by Mrs O'Connor for Mrs Moorhouse, who, with Mr Moorhouse and Mr and Mrs Studholme, leave shortly for Home, via Central America. Others who are going Home within the month are Mr and Miss Bertha Miles—the latter may possibly make some stay in Dresden for music—and the Miss Pollens. Mr and Mrs AY. Nathan ancl their daughters returned home last week. They are at the Royal Oak, looking for a suitable house. General and Mrs Babington have moved into Mrs Joseph's house in Hobson-street. A recent engagement that has resulted in many congratulations is that of Mrs Travers to Colonel Wood, who is on furlough from India, but intends to give up the service ancl settle here. Colonel Wood's mother and father live in Nelson.

There is an unusual amount of interest about the revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. The older folk will go for the sake of the association, and the younger out of curiosity to see Avhat their elders enjoyed years ago. Patience is put on on Thursday, with Dolly Castles in the title role. She is said to be daintily pretty, with a good voice, as befits a sister of Amy Castles. It is almost incredible that Howard Vernon can be still to the fore. Twenty-three years ago he is remembered taking the same part as he will on Thursday, and even then he was not at all a young man, but possessed of an inimitable stage presence, though his voice was never ver*; good. Miss Ghiloni is said to make a very fine Lady Jane. Wellington is proverbially unmusical, and musical societies here have, as a rule, short and rather exciting lives. But another attempt is to be made to promote music by the creation of a society called "The Wellington Choral Society," conducted by Mr Maughan Barnett. The two first works to be produced are Gade's "Crusaders," and Mascague's " Cavalleria Rusticana." A Savage Club is. also being organised, Mr Wilford, who has a very considerable gift for entertaining with recitation and song, being a moving spirit. A most excellent concert, judging by the programmes, is to be given next Tuesday, by Mr Cyril Towsey and Miss Amy Murphy. The former is a very talented pianist, and Miss Amy Murphy's singing is immensely admired. She has received the compliment lately of having been asked to take a leading part in opera.

There has been some discussion here as to the formation of a Ladies' Club in Wellington. There is little doubt it is needed, for many reasons, and now that the Economic and the D.I.C. have no permanent abiding place, women have no refuge where they can fix up a refractory veil or wandering tresses, and a Wellington gale is not calculated to improve one's appearance. There is no idea at present of a residential club. Merely a set of rooms for lunch, tea, reading, etc. Women having half an hour to spare can see the latest papers, and little teas or lunches could be given in private rooms—a great boon' to the housewife with yearnings after entertaining, but with refractory and incompetent servants. Country members would find such a Ciub invaluable. Of course, it would need an efficient manager, who would be economical and tactful, and produce the best results with the least expenditure. A suitable building would be another difficulty. Sites in the heart of the town would be very expensive, and out of town woidd be out of the way. However, if the Wellington women are in earnest, these are not insuperable difficulties. While on Clubs,'it is whispered that the Wellington Club—most conservative of institutions —is considering the question of having a monthly ladies' dinner.

The Biograph has drawn great audiences, ancl it was certainly deserving of its success. It is a marvellous show, most realistic and fascinating. Indeed, some of the pictures are so life-like that they are ghastly, notably the shooting of two spies, one of whom is not killed at the first volley and crawls feebly about on his hands and knees till despatched with a second volley. That is hauntingly horrible. The Kent hop-pickers were charming, especially the three babies who solemnly strip the hops in imitation of their elders. The Gordon-Bennett motor-car race was most vivid and exciting, and the tense silence of the audience, as the cars dashed along the roads, was only broken by murmurs of relief as each passed on its whirlwind way without an accident. The films are extraordinarily long and very clear, and altogether it is far and away the best exhibition of this kind that has ever been here.

Lady Ward gave a girls' tea this week for Miss Appleton, of Melbourne, who has been staying with her. A competition filled up the afternoon. Each guest had a label pinned on her back, and had, by questioning others, to guess what she was. One unfortunate girl was an oyster, Mr Chamberlain, a whale, a bottle, and Mr Aitken, and guessed them all in turn, for, as soon as one is guessed, a fresh label'

is pinned on, the winner being the one who guessed most. The struggles between those who wanted answers and not questions were amusing. Little Pat Ward went proudly about with " Lord Plunket" pinned on his velvet tunic.

Mrs Fulton gave a very enjoyable entertainment on Friday. For some time a number of young people have been rehearsing "Ici on Parle Frangais," and this play formed the first part of the programme, supper and dancing filling up the rest of tho time. Those acting were Misses Fulton, Stafford, D. Stuart, Hoggard, and Messrs Hjorring, Bridge and Sutton.