SYDNEY GOSSIP.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 34, 22 August 1891, Page 300

SYDNEY GOSSIP.

Dear Bee, August 1. One sees many New Zealand faces in Sydney just now. Among others here are Mrs Murray and her youngest daughter, who intend paying a lengthy visit, and Mrs and Miss Stevenson (Remuera), who have just returned from Melbourne. Miss Edith Isaacs is visiting Mrs A. Wilson, nee Taylor, at the North Shore, and Miss L. Durieu is also staying at the North Shore. Of the sterner sex, Mr W. Burton, so well known to Aucklanders, is always en evidence, and among the passengers by the last boat from New Zealand were Mr A. G. Horton and his son, though as yet I have not seen them. Rumour hath it that Mr Giblin, of the Bank of New Zealand here, is to return to Auckland at no very distant date. Of course Sara Bernhardt has been all the rage, houses literally packed every night, all dress circle seats being engaged for the whole season beforehand. When I tell you that for other parts of the house people begin to collect at the doors at twenty minutes to six, you will understand what a business it is to get an unreserved seat. It is known that 1 the divine Sara ’ leaves her hotel at a certain time every day on her way to rehearsal. The result is a big crowd to greet her when she appears, many people waiting patiently half the morning just to get a nearer view of the great actress. The dresses worn in most cases are beautiful, those of ‘ Cleopatre’ being more drapings than dresses —materials handsomely embroidered in gold and silver, and held in place at the waist by jewelled girdles. Her hair, of which we have all heard so mnch—a decided copper red—is always seen to advantage. The long-expected organist, Wiegand, has arrived from Home, and is giving recitals at the Centennial Hall, in which his organ is. He is delighted with the instrument, and considers it the best he has ever played on. Going through some of the shops last week, I saw at Farmer’s—a large and well-fitted establishment — many simple and handsome things for evening wear. One was a black dress of soft filmy stuff, embroidered down the front and round the hem with gold in buttercup pattern. The baby body had round the corsage, back and front, a heavy wreath of buttercups. Transparent gold butterflies on the shoulders finished the costume, which was dainty and pretty. Going to wraps, they are numerous in style and colour, but being one thing or the other, very long or very short. One I admired on a very pretty girl was of rich cream cashmere reaching to the hem of the skirt, wadded and lined with quilted gold-coloured silk, the deep yoke being handsomely trimmed with gold passamenterie, the whole being finished with an edging of soft feather trimming down the front and round the high collar. In walking dresses the rough tweeds so much worn are mostly tailormade, the bodices being either round, or with very deep tabs. The Newmarket jacket is much affected, though in some cases is made so long as to exaggerate the idea. The finishing when in these styles is either in velvet or thick silk cord. Long straight capes, with pointed yokes and pleated from the shoulder, are very much worn. In headgear there is little or no change at present. The spring goods, if the weather improves, will be shown shortly, when we may expect to see something new. The latest news of your old townsman, the Rev. David Bruce, is hardly satisfactory, he being a victim to the prevailing epidemic, influenza. His daughter, Mrs Clarke, and her husband are at present staying at the North Shore, and talk of paying a visit to New Zealand at the end of the year. Bishop Selwyn, who has slightly improved in health, left foi England with his family by the Ballarat yesterday.

A roha.