Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 24, 11 June 1892, Page 584

Topics of the Week.

SOCIETY’S SAYINGS AND DOINGS.

AS we go to press Lord and Lady Glasgow are being welcomed in right royal fashion by the Welling-

tonians. Felicitations have also been received by His Excellency from the Northern and Southern cities, and no doubt both the Earl and his Countess will feel highly gratified at the unanimity and spontaneous character of a colonial welcome. Every one will wish Lord Glasgow a long and prosperous governorship. May the next few years be the continuance of better things, and if he sees fit to settle one or other of his sons out here, so much the better. It will be a good precedent, and we shall be delighted to make the lad a thorough colonial at the shortest notice.

Welcome the coming, speed the parting guest. Midst the salvoes of welcome to His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow and the Countess of that ilk, let us not forget to take courteous and kindly leave of Sir James Prendergast, who with the assistance of Lady Prendergast, has made the interregnum of the Earls pass so quietly and quickly. As Acting-Governor Sir James has shown himself a worthy and courteous gentleman, tactful, strong, and hospitable. He has managed to keep everyone satisfied politically, and socially has conducted the Government House regime in a manner worthy of gubernatorial traditions. Lady Prendergast has assisted him right ably. Under no Governor’s wife have things been done better at Government House. Wellington people may welcome Lord Glasgow, but they must at the same time lament the end of so successful and pleasant a social reign as that of Sir James and Lady Prendergast. An account of a reception by the Acting-Governor and Lady Prendergast appears in another column.

Very successful indeed was the second orchestral concert of this season given by the Auckland Choral Society. That to Herr Carl Schmitt’s excellent conductorship and judg ment in the selection of the various items rendered on this occasion much of the success was due, goes without saying. In the compilation of the programme he was ably assisted by a good committee, and their united efforts evoked very hearty expressions of applause from the large audience. In fact, almost every item received a warm welcome, encores in some cases being insisted on. The orchestra was far better than it has ever been, fully realising the high anticipations formed of it. Two additions have been made to its ranks—Mr P. McKean, who as a flautist is most highly thought of, and Mr G. Paque, the well-known ’celloist. There were about forty instrumentalists present, led with consummate tact and skill by Herr Tutschka.

The concert opened with a very popular overture from ' Fra Diavolo,’ admirably rendered by the orchestra. This composition of Auber’s is exceedingly effective, and betrays the French school. Mr H. Conquer’s drum solo was beautifully played, especially the gradual working up of the crescendo. The silver trumpet solo was effectively given by Mr F. Gribben. Tour's * New Kingdom ’ was most feelingly sung by Miss Rimmer, the violin obligato by Miss Freda Marsden, and ’cello obligato by Mr J. A. Beale making this a charming number, and eliciting a storm of applause. * Dame de Cieur,’ by Thiere, is a bright gavotte, and it went very well. Mr Edwards was fortunate in having a song well suited to his voice in ‘ By the Fountain,’ by Stephen Adams. He was heartily applauded. Allegro Sostenuto’ (Eaton Fleming), a duo for violin and clarinette, was splendidly rendered by Herr Carl Schmitt and Mr S. Jackson. The melodies, alternately produced by each instrument, are very effective. A recall was insisted on, and the performers bowed their acknowledgment of the compliment. A serenade for two voices, • Oh, May’st Thou Dream of Me,’ sung by Misses Rimmer and Reeve, was so warmly encored that the ladies had to repeat the latter part of the item. Mendelssohn’s * Reformation Symphony,’ admirably played, concluded the first part of the concert. The overture to * Rosamunde ’

(Schubert), was one of the best orchestral numbers. A vocal quintette, * Hark, the Merry Drum,’ was deservedly loudly applauded. Those who took part were Messrs W. Martin, H. L. Brett, A. L. Edwards, J. Ferriday (tenori), Messrs P. C. Hamerton, H. Brett, T. Charter, and G. Harker (bassi). The number was repeated even more successfully than at first. Miss Reeve’s playing of Mendelssohn’s *G Minor Concerto’ with orchestral accompaniment was quite one of the best features of the conceit. Miss Rimmer for her pretty song, ‘ Remember Me No More,’ received an encore, giving ‘ Ever of Thee ’ to the great pleasure of the audience. A mazurka by Strauss, * Die Lachtaube,’ brought this excellent concert to a close.

Dunedin ladies are well to the fore not only as regards the franchise question, but also in any matter promoting the higher education of women. The Ladies’ Club—the Kahanga—has started upon its second season, the fear that the club would disband proving groundless. These enjoy ■ able evenings will be looked forward to with the same pleasure that they were last winter. The members met at Mrs Colquhoun’s, High street, Miss A. Cargill officiating as president and chair-woman. The three presidents chosen for the year are Miss McLaren, Miss A. Rattray, and Miss A. Cargill.

The first item on the programme was a domestic drama, cleverly performed by the Misses Cargill, who excel in this sort of thing. One of the characters was a ‘ Chinaman,’ and Miss E. Cargill’s get up in this part was splendid. Miss A. Cargill was a ‘ worried mistress,’ and Miss M. H. Cargill a * lady-help.’ Mrs Henry Rose sang charmingly; Mrs De Zouche also sang. Mrs Henry Mackenzie gave a recitation, another being contributed by Miss A. Cargill. A reading from * Arnold ’ was given by Mrs J. Davidson. Miss Sise performed a piano solo, and Mrs Boyd gave a recipe for home-made bread.

A very smart and thoroughly well done affair was the dance given by Mrs Johnstone, ‘ Erin Lodge,’ Parnell, in the Masonic Hall last week. The hall is acknowledged to te the best in Auckland for dancing purposes, and the floor and all the arrangements were simply perfect. There were rather over one hundred couples present, and as the floor was perfect and the music exquisite, everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. The supper was of the most sumptuous description, being furnished by Canning’s, who are most certainly facile princeps at ball suppers, and did the thing as excellently as usual. The supper-room at the Masonic Hall is not particularly large, and there was, therefore, not much opportunity for a great display, but it was like a veritable fairy tale with the waiters as magicians. Anything anyone asked for was produced from somewhere or other, and with a despatch that was surprising. Even the coachmen, etc., I heard after from my man, were sumptuously provided for in a room below the hall. This little bit of thoughtfulness for servitors is so rare as to merit special mention.

There is always a flutter in our ‘ Dovecot, writes my Christchurch correspondent, when the ticket arrives for the * Gemischter Abend ’ given by the Liedertafel twice in the year. Last Thursday the first of this season came off in the Tuam-street Hall, which was, as usual, very prettily decorated. The lyres at each end of the horse shoe table being covered with swansdown instead of flowers, looked like snow, which was very appropriate to the season. Fortunately it was not a very cold night, and the ladies were repaid for dressing by being able to dispense with wraps for short intervals. The Liedertafel concerts continue to grow in favour, and the largest audience they have had greeted them on Thursday evening, 'lhe part singing, which, of course, is the feature of this society, was exquisitely rendered. Of the solos given by Messrs H. Weir, A Millar, A. Applebey, Mannering, J. P. Newman, and T. Barnett (their indefatigable secretary) they all excelled themselves. Mr

Wallace gave one of his delightful solos on the violin, accompaniedby Mr Sims (piano)and Mr A. Merton (organ). It seems to be all one. Mr Wallace can charm the ear and rivet the attention whether by a ‘ Moto Perpetuo ’ —a marvel of clever execution given a short time ago—or a * Largo ’ of Handel’s, as given by him the other evening.

The residents of Rangiora were very fortunate on Monday evening, and showed their appreciation by turning out in full force to welcome the party of ladies and gentlemen who journeyed up to give them a concert in aid of the funds of St. John’s Church. The kind interest of Mr W. S. Crichton, an ex churchwarden in the parish, prevailed upon the Misses Meeson, E. Turner, and A. Greenwood, Messrs C. Turner, Newman, and W. Day to give their services. Their singing delighted the audience which packed the schoolroom, and hearty votes of thanks were accorded them before leaving, also to Mr Crichton for his continued interest, though resident in Christchurch.

The Opawa people are very energetic in mat ters parochial, and fairly rival Papanui. Last Tuesday they had a good entertainment. Some members of the Fendalton Dramatic Club gave • A Nice Quiet Day,’ causing great amusement. Songs were sung by the Misses Loughnan and Gard’ner and Mr C. Turner, and Dr. Murray-Aynsley followed with a short descriptive account of ‘ The Queen’s Public Procession in London.’

Do many young ladies in this colony keep a diary’ Because if they do not, the current number of Punch strongly advises them to at once commence what may prove a valuable literary treasure. The specimen given of a young girl’s diary is singularly brief in its entries, the first being simply • Why’’ and the two following, ‘ I hate Mary Bindler,’ and ‘Joy, joy, joy.’ It would be a very good idea to keep a diaiy of this sort, and have a private reference book accessible only to the writer. Thus, under date, June Bth might come the single ejaculation ‘Ah I’ In the private notes, this would be explained by the words, ‘ Ah, what bliss is mine ! Algernon loves me ! He has told me so, we are betrothed.’ Later on the diary proper would puzzle readers of its cryptographic pages by the interjection ‘Oh '.’ The deep meaning of this, the concealed pain, the repressed suffering all appear in the private notes. June 10th, ‘ Algernon did not call this afternoon. Maude told me he was driving Miss Berseker out to the races, and I was all alone. Oh ! how fickle men are.’

Then again, later still, the diary would have a longer, but very significant word ‘ Gone !’ And the private notes would contain the melancholy description—occupying two pages—of Algernon’s last visit, the reproaches, futile explanations, tears, parting of the erstwhile lovers, despondent state of the unhappy and-never-to-be-consoled young lady. Such things are, indeed, too sacred for the general public, whose own experience will lead them to fill in the blanks of this monosyllabic diary with pages of notes taken from their lives.

A very interesting Maori wedding was celebrated the other day near Rotorua, Miss Raimapahu being united in marriage to Mr Rawhara. A number of Europeans and Maoris assembled in St. Michael’s Church to witness the ceremony, which was performed by Father Hollierhock. The bride, in correct European costume, looked very well. A dinner and dance, the latter taking place in the Puke Rawa Hall, were much enjoyed by the guests and visitors.

Bachelor dances are almost invariably exceptionally successful, and the farewell dance given by Mr Yates, of Auckland, in the Victoria Hall, was no exception to the general rule. The eveningwas simply an abominable one, the wind and rain being pitilessintheirendeavourstospoil things. The worse the weather, however, the more cheery the dance seemed to be. The floor was perfect, the music excellent, and Mr Yates indefatigable as a host. He was assisted by Mrs Upton, Mrs Hardy, and Mrs Gorrie, who acted as hostesses, and did much to make the function the notable success it was. Men were slightly in the majority, and wall flowers were therefore conspicuous by their absence—a somewhat rare occurrence in these degenerate days.

The Salvation Army are extending their borders, and on Tuesday afternoon laid the foundation stone of their new barracks in Lichfield street, Christchurch, amid a large gathering of captains, colonels, and lesser lights from the surrounding districts, followed by a monster tea at their present head-quarters, Victoria-street.

That usually quiet little town the Hutt, has been quite gay during the last few days, owing to the unusual excitement of a ball, which was given by a committee of ladies at the Public Hall. Amongst those who subscribed and arranged the function were Lady Hector, Lady Buckley, Mrs Wilford, Mrs Scales, Mrs Fitzherbert, Mrs Riddiford, Mrs Jackson, Mrs Beattie, and Mrs Purdy, (who made an energetic“secretary). The night chosen for the dance, last Friday, proved beautifully fine, and the whole affair was highly successful, and splendidly managed throughout. The supper was one of the special features, many of the delicious dishes being made by the ladies themselves ; the table was prettily decorated and arranged, and the ballroom had evidently had a great deal of trouble taken with it, for it was quite transformed in appearance from the usually bare hall into a charming room. The stage was carpeted and furnished as a drawing-room for the chaperones to sit and look on, and ferns, toi-toi grasses, flowers and drapery, hanging from the gallery, were effectively used in every direction. The floor was polished to such a degree as to be almost dangerous, but nothing serious happened, indeed, it was a great help, for the floor is entirely devoid of spring and needs a more than usual amount of slipperiness.

To find a more fitting successor to the Admirable James Crichton than the German Emperor would be a difficult task indeed. No matter whether it is a question of reviewing his cooks and scullery maids in the Imperial kitchen, or his gallant troops in the field, his whole heart is in it, and it is done ‘ with a vengeance/ But in the case of such a man it would be absurd to think that the confines of the

Fatherland bounded his enthusiasm on any subject. No sooner had his Imperial Majesty heard the result of the Oxford and Cambridge boat race, than he sent the following telegram to Professor Max Muller at Oxford : —* By right of my old and never-failing friendship for beautiful Oxford and her brave sons, 1 again beg you to be the interpreter of my heartiest congratulations to the crew on winning the boat race. So enthusiastic a lover of aquatic sports as lam must always rejoice when young men use and cultivate their strength in so rational a way. It was well done from first to last. —Wilhelm I. and R. Berlin.’

Truly, this Emperor is a man of many parts, and no one would be in the slightest degree astonishtd if his Imperial Majesty on learning the result of the Derby, were to wire to the owner of the winner:—‘ By right of my old and never-failing friendship for beautiful Epsom and her brave boys, I now beg you to be the interpreter of my heartiest congratulations to the jockey on winning the race. So enthusiastic a lover of the turf as I am must always rejoice when jockeys use and cultivate their strength in so rational a way.’ Truly, a wonderful Kaiser, this-!

The Myra Kemble Comedy season terminated on Thursday, and at the final performancethecharmingactress was presented by an admirer with a lovely bouquet in a handsome silver holder suitably inscribed. Amongst the audience during the last week were Mrs Sydney Nathan, wearing a beautiful crimson merveilleux gown; Miss Williamson, black velvet evening dress ; Miss Nearing, fawn costume ; Mrs Thompson and her daughters, Mrs Moss Davis, and others.