Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 16, 16 April 1892, Page 392

Topics of the Week.

SOCIETY’S SAYINGS AND DOINGS

POOR Lord Glasgow ! Everyone appears to be attempting to raise prejudice against him before he arrives. The Australasian papers have made fun of his trip round the city consulting AngloNew Zealanders and merchants, while the London correspondents and Home papers tell every sort of discouraging and disagreeable story against the man. He has slid his own relations into the billets of A. DC.

and secretary, but surely that is no great crime. We all do that, or would do if we could. A lot of nonsense is talked about log rolling, or, as it is sometimes more inelegantly termed, ‘ back scratching.’ Human nature is but human nature, and whose back in the world should a man scratch but that of a friend or a relation ’ Patronage, like charity, begins at home, and to cavil at a man for looking after friends in preference to outsiders is merely an exhibition of stupidity which might be mistaken for envy and spleen.

If the persons appointed to public positions are incompetent, of course the case is different. The amount of intellect required of an A. D.C. to a colonial governor is not, however, overwhelming. The possession of brains is not a positive necessity. Captain Guthrie, it will be remembered, filled the post very fairly, and it would be severe to suppose that the new A.D.C. will not be a man of equal intellect and capability. One correspondent says the Earl will have to economise, and will therefore be unpopular. This is incorrect. Lord Glasgow will, lam informed from most trustworthy private advices, not attempt to economise. He will spend money freely, and it must be confessed that the ideas of entertainment held by the average naval officer are smart enough and lavish enough for anyone.

Let the new Governor be judged on his own merits, not on reports from Home papers or foreign correspondents. The old proverb of * Give a dog a bad name and hang him ’ is more true than people generally believe. If His Excellency sees that we are prejudiced against him, he will probably feel affronted and show his resentment, and a good friend may be lost us. An unpopular Governor is bad enough when we have got him, and to make ourselves believe that Lord Glasgow is to be that unhappy being is the surest way to make him, willy nilly, assume the unpleasant r6le.

The dance given by the officers of H.M.S. Tauranga in Wellington was as enjoyable a function as has ever gladdened the hearts of the girls of the Empire city. Dancing was kept up on the upper deck until midnight. King’s Band supplied the music, and the Hoor, or rather deck, was beautifully smooth. The decorations were admirable. The whole deck was covered in with flags of all nations, the seats, lounges, etc., were most artistically draped with flags, and

the whole was beautifully lit by electric lights. Supper was served below in the waid-room. The cabins were all most hospitably thrown open; in fact, everything that was possible seemed to have been done to ensure everyone’s enjoyment. The barn dance looked very pretty, the couples dancing right round the whole length of the deck. The party was chaperoned by Mrs Gore, Mrs (Dr.) Collins, Mrs Arthur Pearce, Mrs Izard, and several others. The search light was exhibited during the evening, and its wonderful power in illuminating the harbour and town aroused universal admiration.

The evening reception given after her dance by Mrs Godfrey Knight was an immense success. Between thirty and forty guests were present, including Captain Pike and Lieutenant Pelly, of H.M.S. Tauranga. Amongst the others were Mrs Collins, Miss Robinson, the Misses Henry, the Misses Harding, Miss S. Graham, the Misses Haise, and Messrs Cooper, St. Hill, Anson, Brooksmith, and Richmond. Miss Knight wore a pretty soft white silk gown.

New Zealand is to lose one of its most popular singers, and perhaps absolutely its finest tenor, in the person of Mr T. M. Jackson, who recently created so favourable an impression all over the North Island when on tour with the Auckland Opera Company. In his native city by the Waitemata Mr Jackson’s loss will be felt very severely. His voice is one in a million, and he has always been most liberal and kindly in his use of it. During the last few years there has never been a concert, benefit or otherwise, of any importance, in the programme of which Mr Jackson has not had a very prominent place. His performances in Amateur Opera gained him considerable kudos, and he has lately improved in acting. Mr Jackson goes to Melbourne, where he will make his debtit as a professional singer. A farewell concert is to be tendered to him, and if gratitude and friendship are not things of the past, it will be the biggest affair of the sort ever seen in Auckland.

The Wellington Orchestral Society has given the second of a series of chamber concerts with great success. They are held in their practice room in the Dresden Company’s Building. They are fast becoming the most popular concerts in town, and I believe most people prefer them to the large concerts, which are still given by the same society three or four times a year. Among the best items were Boccherini’s Minuet, arranged as a double string quartette, one of Mozart’s quintettes, Haydn’s * Hymn to the Emperor ’ with variations, Kummer’s ‘ Concertino ’ for flute, clarionet, and piano, two songs by Mrs Dodswell—Pinsuti’s ‘Love is Undying,’ and ‘Caro Mio Ben,' and a violin solo by Miss Henry. One pleasing item was a very quaint arrangement of ‘Three Blind Mice’by Mr Alfred Hill for three voices. The trio was encored, and created a favourable impression, and had the further advantage of having been composed by a Wellingtonian.

The Dunedin hunting season opened on Saturday, the meet being at Mrs Jones’ residence, where so much hospitality has been met with in previous seasons. The hunt starts this year under the most favourable circumstances. The hounds have never been in better condition. Eleven couple of harriers constitute the regular pack. Poole again carries the horn, and the size of the pack having justified an additional whip, Campbell has been selected as second horseman. Pioneer, Paban, and Waitangi are at the huntsman’s stables—a trio that would do honour to any establishment.

From a ladies’ point of view, I suppose the Regatta at Pine Island on Saturday was a pronounced success. Certainly there was a good muster of both young maidens and old damsels, the middle-aged also being represented. The trip up the Auckland harbour is a pleasant one, and the most timorous are confident that there will be no qualms of mal demer. The various yachts, open boats, and steam launches which careered erratically around the ferry steamers kept the scene lively, and if only the arrangements

had permitted people to get home at a more reasonable hour the afternoon would have been perfect. Moonlight hath charms, it is true, but so hath (unromantic as it may sound) dinner. Chilled and hungry, it is no wonder that it was a somewhat moody shipload that were landed by moonlight on the wharf just an hour or so later than anyone expected.

It was very evident that people were saving their Easter gowns, for there were few new ones. Mrs Haines, her sisters, and a number of lady friends were on board Mr H. Haines’ yawl rigged yacht, the Ngaire. In Mr J. Webster’s craft were the Misses Von Sturmer, Miss Clapcott, and

others whom I did not recognize. Mrs J. M. Brigham, wearing a black silk skirt, small black and white bonnet, fawn jacket, and handsome furs, was on board the small steam launch which followed the races. Her husband acted as umpire. Mrs Weetman, her sister, accompanied her, wearing a navy blue gown, the seams finished with gold cord. A small bonnet to correspond and fur pelerine made up a very becoming costume.

There is probably no man in the colony more widely known and liked than Bishop Julius, yet he is quite a ‘ new chum ’ so far as New Zealand is concerned. Partly because of his originality of thought and fearlessness of expression, and partly by his daring disregard of effete of old time conventionalities of his order, Bishop Julius has male people his friends who have never even seen, much less spoken to him. It is only a week or two ago that this rather truculent and combative churchman astonished people by eloquent enconiums on beer as a beverage, and held outfearf ul threats of vengeance against bad brewers should the necessary power fall into his hand. The worthy Bishop’s latest hobby is Walter Bentley, the actor, who has during the past month or so been delighting New Zealanders all up the coast. Bishop Julius lavishes praise on Mr Bentley, and declares stoutly that the theatre can be, and is in such cases, a great power for good—a belief shared by most large-minded people throughout the colony.

The shots of Nelson have not been very successful during the deer stalking season just closed. For one thing stags have been both scarce and shy, and perhaps, too, the shooting has not been all it might. It is to be hoped, says a correspondent, that our local sportsmen will be more fortunate later on in the slaughter of quail than they have been in the matter of deer. Quail are plentiful, lam told, and some excellent sport will be obtainable in Nelson istrict.

It is hard to get people to go to anything for which they have to pay nowadays. Everyone appears to like to get as much as they can for nothing, but object with a pertinacity worthy of a better cause to part with a sixpence, however laudable the object. The attendance at the concert given in aid of the Athletic Cricket Club, Nelson, should, for instance, have been far better atttended than it was. The programme was a most excellent one, and the entertainment quite one of the best held in the district. The gem of the evening was Mrs Houlker’s rendering of Gounod’s ‘ There is a Green Hill.’ The exquisite song was given with great feeling and sympathy. Mrs Patterson is the lucky possessor of a very sweet voice, and her two solos were much appreciated. The other lady soloists were Mrs Hoult and Miss Reeves , both of whom sang admirably. The Rev. Mr Chatterton did not seem to be in such good voice as usual, but the Rev. Mr Kempthorne and Mr Bennett contributed musically to the evening’s enjoyment.

Mrs (Judge) Richmond gave an excellently done small dance in Wellington a few evenings ago. It was, I believe, given for her visitors—the Misses Shaen—who have lately arrived from England on a visit to New Zealand. Dancing was kept merrily going until past midnight, the diningroom being used for the purpose, and King supplying the music. The house was prettily decorated for the occasion, chiefly with pot plants and flowers. Mrs Richmond received in a handsome black gown, and Miss Richmond, who arrived from her trip to England about a month ago, wore a very handsome lavendersilk gown, trained, and trimmed with black lace : Miss E. Richmond wore an exceedingly pretty gown of soft pale green silk, trained, and trimmed with bands of green velvet. Dr. and Mrs Fell were there, also Captain Pike and several of the Tauranga officers. Miss Izard, wearing a pretty pink silk gown with Swiss belt and girdle of silver passementerie ; Miss Pynsent, in white silk ; Miss Cooper, in black ; Miss Medley, in pale blue ; the Misses Gore in I lack with pink roses were the best dressed girls. Am >ngst the men were Messrs Hadfield, Turnbull, Butterworth, St. Hill, etc., etc.