Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 1, 7 January 1893, Page 2

Topics of the Week.

SOCIETY’S SAYINGS AND DOINGS

SINCE their arrival in Wellington, His Excellency the Governor and Lady Glasgow have been resting quietly, which must be a welcome change from the continuous public exertions. On Christmas Day there was merely a family dinner party at Government House, but they are sufficiently numerous in themselves to prevent any question of dullness arising. Besides, the whole party is noted for its geniality and cheerful brightness. A SMALL contingent of the Government House party honoured the Dampier Company at their opening performance of ‘ Bobbery Under Arms.’ The play went very well, and the acting was excellent.

Sir Charles Lilly was present at the Catholic sports on Boxing Day, and was loudly cheered and welcomed to Wellington. He replied thanking them and saying that in all probability he would finally settle down in New Zealand.

All the churches were beautifully decorated for Christmas, but the congregations were not large, in Wellington at least. Mr Tallis Trimnell was unable to conduct as organist at St. Peter’s, owing to serious illness.

A small picnic arranged by the Misses (Walker) Johnston, and Izard, Wellington, on Boxing Day, was somewhat marred by the wind. The destination was Kandallah, and the excursion would have been delightful but for the disagreeable weather. The party went into the bush where they were comparatively sheltered, though the trees moaned and groaned continuously. Here they gathered ferns and other forest trophies. Mrs Charles Izard acted as chaperone. Others of the picnickers were the Misses Izard, Johnston (four), Cooper, Richmond, Williams, etc.

The cry of ‘ no news ’ is getting somewhat ot a chestnut. Wellington echoes the Dunedin note, though it cannot account for the quietness on Scotch grounds. Town is very dull, nearly everyone being in the country. The theatre, occupied by the Holloway Dramatic Company, has been doing good business, the house being packed every night during the holidays. The Dampier Company with * Robbery Under Arms ’ have also done very well.

In Auckland the holidays were busier and brighter than they have been for years. The races were magnificently patronised on Boxing Day, and the Ellerslie course looked quite at its best. The victory of St. Hippo was, of course, an immensely popular one in Auckland, not merely because of the money won, but because Mr L. D. Nathan is so popular a man and so excellent a sportsman. Few who were they and saw the race will easily forget it, and the Nathan party must have felt proud indeed as cheer after cheer went up, first at the splendid appearance of the favourite in the preliminary canter, then at the magnificent and absurdly easily-achieved victory, and finally at the magic words ‘ All right ’—loudest then and most deafening of all. It was a grand race won by the grand horse of a worthy owner. It is now opined that St. Hippo will go for the Melbourne Cup, and I certainly hope so. He will carry plenty of good wishes and a pot of New Zealand money if he goes to the post at Flemington.

The immense concourse of people at the Ellerslie Races, Auckland, on Boxing and New Year’s Day, could not fail to impress visitors as to the vast numbers of well-to-do inhabitants in this highly-favoured and picturesque locality, so renowned for the Ireauty of its scenery. The lawn at this time of the year looks strikingly pretty, although somewhat robbed of its verdant beauty by the dry weather. Choice pot plants were massed about everywhere, and flowers of every tint, twined and growing artistically up the sides of the entire length of the spacious grand stand, which is, by the way, quite equal, if not superior, to any in the

colony. The rich, handsome, and varied costumes worn by the ladies lent an indescribable charm to the whole scene. A day spent at the Ellerslie Races is, indeed, most enjoyable, provided you don’t go too heavily on the totalisator or the wrong horse. Races, like balls, cause after regrets, heartaches, and headaches. Mrs D. B. Cruickshank ‘Craig Hall,’ Remuera (Auckland), gave a most delightful tennis party for young people. The dresses worn upon this occasion were both stylish and pretty, and the hostess, who was gowned in a handsome black silk, had spared no trouble in her efforts to promote the enjoyment of her young guests. Sad to relate, Mr Walter Stubbing was one of them, and no one who saw him bright and smiling could have surmised for one moment that, concealed by a society mask, lay hidden the severe mental depression and agony of mind which only two days afterwards led him to take his own life. As a rule suicides receive little sympathy, but there is not one of his many friends who would not have done a great deal to save the life he thought so lightly valued.

Few men have so worthily won the esteem and respect of their fellow townsmen as Mr Ed win Hesketb, w hose name is a by-word in Auckland for probity, high-mindedness, and hospitality. It is therefore not surprising that both he and Mrs Hesketh should have been the recipients of well nigh countless congratulations on the occasion of the celebration of their silver wedding. If Mr Hesketh is one of the best respected men in Auckland, MrsHeskethis undoubtedly one of the most popular and successful hostesses, and the balls and parties at the beautiful house, ‘ \§t John’s Wood,* are invariably amongst the pleasantest of the season. The silver wedding was there celebrated on December 27th with all due eclat, a host of people accepting the invitations and turning up to wish the host and hostess another decade of happy life together. The weather was not too kindly, but everyone enjoyed themselves hugely. Hunter’s band was stationed under the trees, and the music was quite delightful.

Polo is immensely popular in Auckland this season as a rule, but the holidays offered too many attractions in other directions to admit of a large attendance at the Saturday’s play. Nevertheless, an excellent game was enjoyed by Doctors Sharman, Purchas, Forbes, Messrs Lockhart, Wansborough, McKellar, Gilmore, Noble, Buddle, etc. Amongst the few spectators were Mrs Walker (Ellerslie) and her daughter, the Misses Firth, Hesketh, Forbes, etc.

The rain on the second holiday last week in Auckland damped a good many pleasure-seekers. Picnic parties suffered most. What would certainly have been a most charming expedition of this nature came to grief in consequence of the drizzle all the afternoon. Mrs A. Kerr-Taylor and a number of young people proposed a picnic to Waitakerei. They, however, only got as far as Baxter’s, where the unfavourable condition of the atmosphere detained them under shelter of a large tree all the afternoon. They were very merry, notwithstanding, one gentleman from town displaying considerable histrionic ability in the way of recitations and tales.

Amongst the guests were the four Misses Scherff, Dr. Atterbury, Mr A. E. Gilmore, Mrs Bilborough, two Messrs Parsons, Mr McKellar, Miss Devore, Mr Collins, Miss Sellers, two Messrs Hazard and their sister, two Misses Kempthorne and a brother, Mise Dawson and three brothers, three or four Misses Kerr-Taylor, Mr Bassett, Mr Gifford, and two other gentlemen whose names have not transpired. The womenfolk were cotton gowns and waterproofs with pretty summery hats, while mackintoshes and light tweeds or flannels distinguished the men.

‘ MoL'N TN Essing,’ one of the large boarding houses in Auckland, had a somewhat gloomy Christmas, owing to the

suicide of Mr Stubbing, a well-known society man and efficient teacher of mnsic. It appears that the unfortunate fellow was subject to fits of depression, and being weary of life, ended it with prussic acid. Mr Stabbing looked a very much younge' man than his years, which were on the wrong side of forty. Most people would, at first sight, have said he was only twenty-five, or at most thirty. He was a plea sant and accomplished conversationalist, played very agreeably, and wa- very popular amongst the set with whom he spent most of his time. His death created a profound sensation, mingled with intense surprise, when it was known that he had sought his own life. A letter to a friend, Jim, read at the inquest, was not without pathos, and one can

but feel profoundest pity for a man, who in the very prime and vigour of life, feels so weary as to destroy himself.

The Choral Hall, Auckland, was, of course, greatly overcrowded on the public performance of the ‘ Messiah ’ by the x Choral Society. The members deserve the thanks of the community, at least those who turned up did. Many were too lazy or too pleasantly occupied to do so. These deserve a certain amount of censure, for the least people can do who take up a thing is to carry it out properly. The soloists and the conductor too may justly complain of a want of respect to themselves. Each one on these occasions is apt to think only of themselves, and that their absence cannot much matter. This is wrong. Individually they may not be much good, but those who slip up engagements of this sort at the last moment are seldom people of individual value. Collectively their absence may, however, make all the difference.

The Otago team of cricketers wft-e not supposed to have had enough exercise at cricket in Auditland, saa little more was arranged for them by their fair friends in the shape of a dance in the Masonic Hall, Princes-street. The Misses Wilkins are credited with much of the getting-up of the affair, very ably assisted by many lady friends. The dance was a subscription one, but very enjoyable for all that. A description of the dresses is unavoidably held over until next week.

The conversazione of teachers in the Choral Hall, Auckland, on December 28th, was a very successful affair, Mr Draffia giving some very interesting exhibitions of thoughtreading, and Mr M. R. Keesing displaying to the wonderment of all his extraordinary powers of memory. Some three hundred numbered cards were distributed, and on request, by merely mentioning the number, he told all that was written upon the card. As on some of these were words in seven languages and figures representing billions, the correct replies he gave were loudly applauded. In the adjoining rooms were microscopes and other interesting exhibits. Sir George Grey sent his regrets in a very pleasant letter. Dr. Laishley filled the chair to the general satisfaction of all.

For the future, ‘ Topips of the Week ’ will be written in the ‘ Personal ’ style and signed ‘ The Flaneur. ’ Those willing to contribute paragraphs will address them to the editor.

To any lover of botany, the reckless manner in which ferns of all kinds, branches of evergreens, shrubs, and flowers, are handled during the Christinas season, must cause a thrill of sympathetic agony to shoot through his frame. These plants arc things of beauty and a joy—for a short hour or two—thus abused. In this warm climate, it is simply ridiculous to deck our churches with masses of lovely flowers and tender ferns on Christmas Eve, leave them all night without water, and expect them not to present a wilted and day after-the-ball appearance on Christmas morning. It seems to me to be the height or depth of childish folly to dot the wreaths of evergreens with floral trophies, which, parted from the parent stem, die in an hour or two.

The whole system of colonial decoration when Christmas Day comes in midsummer is at fault. Why cannot a few neat tins be procured, wreathed with ivy, tastefully arranged with choice flowers—for the best would then be given gladly—and used for adorning our churches, instead of the old-fashioned, evil smelling myerocarpa, firs, pines, etc., dying and dead ferns and flowers, which, to those who attend divine service on Christmas evening, present a deplorable spectacle, mingled with depressing odours of mis used and badly-treated gifts. Dame Nature is lavish in her floral and horticultural productions in these favoured isles, but is that any reason why we should so stupidly waste them ?

Except for the races and kindred public functions, very little has been going on in the social world during the holi-

days. Society is resting, and for a week or two there will be few functions of a private character to chronicle. The exodus has set in with tolerable severity in all the principal cities, most of the best*known people having taken country houses, and gone to rusticate and recuperate after the wear and tear of the spring and early summer—a very trying part of the year.

Amongst the most successful dances of the past year, that ot Mrs Otterson, at her residence, Avonbank, Fendalton, must certainly be reckoned. Mr and Mrs Otterson are well used to entertaining, and when they undertake to give a large party, it is a foregone conclusion that it will be a success. The dance on Boxing night amply justified all favourable prognostications. It was an unqualified success. The whole house was tastefully decorated with beautiful flowers and foliage. The drawing-room, where Mrs Otterson received her quests, looked lovely with masses of pink flowers, the lights all shaded with various harmoni-ously-blended colours. The verandah was enclosed, and made a most acceptable retiring place, full of cool nooks, for the heated dancers.

The dining-room was transformed into a tairy bower for the ballroom, and Fleming’s band supplied the music. Justoff the ballroom a most welcome refreshment salon had been arranged, where various novel delicacies had been provided, besides other delicious old favourites of supper-consumers. This room was very inviting, shaded lights, flowers, palms, etc., adding to the attractions of the table.

Mrs Helmore’s garden party at Christchurch was a very smart affair. About two hundred guests were present The grounds are particularly lovely, sloping as they do from the terrace on which the house stands, down to the gentlyflowing Avon. „ Several novelties in the way of games were introduced. For the May-pole dance, at a given signal, Fleming’s band played a lively air and sixteen young ladies, attired in modern costume, emerged from the shrubbery and danced several pretty figures, twining and untwining many-coloured ribbons faultlessly. It was quaintly picturesque, and the delighted guests insisted upon its repetition. Tennis, croquet, and other games passed the charming afternoon all too quickly.

On Thursday night Mis W. D. Meares entertained about two hundred guests at a splendid ball at her residence, * Tootooma,’ Christchurch. The new large ball and supperroom built for the occasion and adjoining the dining room, were opened. The latter room was used as a reception room, and gave a splendid view of the ball-room. The decorations were carried out by White and were simply superb. The walls were draped with red and old gold, mirrors weie placed at intervals, and nikau palms, native honeysuckle, etc., all added their beauty and fragrance.

The drive was carpeted, and formed a splendid promenade. There were numbers of seats under the trees, and the garden was lighted by Chinese lanterns. The music was Fleming’s best, the * Ta-ra-ra ’ polka being charming. Light refreshments were served throughout the evening, and at midnight a splendid champagne snpper was sat down to by the guests. When the ball at length broke up, hot soup was administered to speed the parting visitors, who expressed their enjoyment of this added thoughtfulness.

Violet Varley and Miss Graupner, Riley, Syd Deane, Bracy, and the rest of the Comic Opera Company are having a glorious wind-up for the New Zealand season in Dunedin. ‘ Ta-ra-ra-boom-de ay ’ is the rage in the South as it was everywhere, and the chorus have been hospitably entertained by various of the gilded youth. Miss Varley is first favourite, and received perfect ovations in the • Old Guard,’ • Gondoliers,’and ‘Pepita.’ The company declare themselves desolated, as they say in France, at having to leave this colony, where everyone is in good spirits. Auckland was the slowest place they struck, not only for business, but for pleasure. It was not till the last week that the Auckland boys seemed to pluck up courage to do any entertaining, though the Bank of New Zealand did its best to encourage the ballet. No example could be better than that of a general manager, and if the * boss ’ entertains the principal*. the clerks should feel justified in giving the chorus and dancing girls a show.

In Dunedin at Christinas the usual holiday weather prevailed—that is to say, the rain descended in perfect torrents, completely spoiling the holiday, and putting a stop to everything. Inscrutable are the ways of Providence, but most inscrutable of all is the weather clerk. Ever since the last holiday Dunedin has enjoyed the most perfect Italian skies and warm suns, but immediately people got a chance to avail themselves of it the windows of heaven were opened, and the watering pot brought out again. Due can only

hope that Dunedinites are of a philosophic turn of mind. Such conduct on the part of the weather might be conducive to paganism in a less enlightened community. The inhabitants of the Southern Edinboro’ have not even the consolation of the African potentate, who when the weather goes radically wrong beheads the gentleman in charge and makes it warm for his successor till fine days or clouds, as the case may be, come again.

Independently of this, however, the Christmas season in Dunedin was painfully dull. My correspondent declares dolefully things were never so quiet. Most of the people who entertain were out of town, and the opening of the tennis tournament was spoilt by the incessant wet. Rain was also responsible for the fact that the garden party which was to have closed the function could not take place. A juvenile dance was given by Miss Cargill, of the Cliffs, one night, but with this exception there has not been a private entertainment.

The animality of human nature is well brought out by a tragedy in Idaho. Those who are familiar with Landseer’s works will recall the expressive force of his ‘ Challenge ’ and 1 Combat.’ A pair of stags fight their battle of rivalry out in fierce conflict, not made more fierce by the painter than it is in nature. Sometimes these fights between the antlered or horned species occur in the presence of the female, who meekly looks on at the deadly grapple of her suitors, and quietly surrenders her affections to the winner. Near Gold Hill there has been something of the same kind enacted between two stock-raisers and a prepossessing widow, who was housekeeper to a man not in the quarrel. Each of the stock - raisers had proposed, and been accepted, and when they found out the duplicity of the widow they prepared for battle. They met at her house and fought out their quarrel with long knives, the widow looking on quietly from a doorway. The combat was altogether deadly, and when eventually the duellists fell in their agony the cause of jealousy rushed to the side of one of the dying to bestow upon him an embrace of parting devotion. The ungrateful man may have supposed that his hated rival was about to have another prod at him with his bowie. The widow may be inclined to believe this also, because the moment she was by the duellist’s side he slashed off her nose with a dexterous flash of his knife, and picked out one of her lovely eyes with the point, so that it will twinkle no more for anybody. The action of the widow resembles that of the doe which tenderly licks the wounds of the conqueror, and laments not those of the vanquished. Such is the struggle for the survival of the fittest.

The rage for progressive euchre parties has at last come to Nelson, and a very jolly evening was spent in this way at Mrs R. Kingdon’s. Some of the lucky few who were present were Mr and Mrs J. Sharp, Dr. and Mrs Hudson, Mrs L. Adams, Misses Jones (two), Curtis, Mackie, Hill (Auckland), Mr Jones, and Dr. Cressey.

Very gay the Nelson College looked with all its bunting displayed and its grounds brightened by the many pretty gowns worn by all the vast assemblage who rolled up in goodly numbers to witness the annual sports at this institution. Afternoon tea aud delicious cakes were hospitably dispensed by Miss Bell and enjoyed by all present. After a keen contest between five boys the senior cup was finely won by Blick, who beat the second boy by one point, chiefly owing to his excellent jumping. The junior cup was also closely contested, and resulted in a win for Mules (II). The prizes were presented to the successful competitors at the close ot the afternoon by Mrs Chatterton, who was herself piesented with a lovely bouquet tied with the college colours, dark and pale blue ribbons, by the smallest pupil attending the college.

A GREAT treat was enjoyed by those who were present at the performance of the ‘ Messiah ’ by the Nelson Harmonic Society. The conductor, Mr Fell, is certainly to be congratulated upon the success of the oratorio. Taken as a whole it has seldom been performed here with greater success. The soloists were Mesdames Houlker and Percy Adams, and Miss Baigent, and Messrs Kempthorne, Lucas, and Grace, and these names alone speak for the immense pleasure the large audience must have derived from hearing the solos alone without the choruses, which, by the way, were all sung with vigour, and evident enjoyment to the singers themselves. The Theatre Royal was well filled, and among the audience were Mesdames Sealy, Watts, Bunny. Raine, Mackay, Mules, Chatterton, Duff, Richmond, Fell, Pitt, Renwick, Nalder, Grace, Locking, Misses Duff, Richmond

(two), Fell, Hunter-Brown, Renwick, Huddleston, Pitt Browning, Wood, Heaps, Boor, and Locking.

Christmas festivities were observed in several social circles in New Plymouth. A delightful dance was given by Mr and Mrs Fookes, who possess all the qualities that are most desired in a host and hostess. The floor was in excellent dancing condition, the supper good, and the garden, lit up with Chinese lanterns, exceedingly pretty and alluring.

Another of the land marks of the year to look back upon will be the dance given by the captain and officers of the ship ‘ Jessie Readman ' to Marlborough folk generally. Eighty invitations, printed in gold on cream paper, were sent to Blenheim alone, most of which were accepted, though only six out of the eighty thought proper to fulfil their engagements, thus putting the hospitable ship’s company to a great deal of unnecessary trouble and expense. The Picton folks made amends for other shortcomers, and the dance was one more of the number of successful events to be noted in the annals of Picton.

The hall was handsomely decorated with flags and evergreens, lycopodium wreaths festooned round the room, and from lamp to lamp, along the centre of the hall, gigi and tree ferns, bouquets of flowers, and art muslin, and Captain Burton's motto, ‘ Semper viator per mare,’ crowning the whole over the stage arch. The ship’s company were ably assisted by the Picton ladies, so I need say nothing about the supper or table decorations, these as usual were perfect; but I must mention the ‘claret cup,’ of which all partook, and which was Captain Burton’s own special brew. The rosy dawn was lighting up the horizon ere the end of the programme came, which was an illustration of Semper viator per mare.

My Picton correspondent writes : ‘ Father Kerrigan and Father Aubrey—to whom the thanks of the community at large are due—have been visiting the Maoris at Hetane and other stations of the Sound and Port Underwood. They are of opinion that the serious nature of the outbreak of typhoid is due in a great measure to bad ventilation, improper food, and ignorance on the part of the natives of the art of nursing.’

In Hastings the breaking-up of the Heretanga School was a most successful affair, a large crowd of fashionably-dressed people being present. Mr Fraser, the head master, is a finished gymnast, and trains the boys excellently in this department, so that these exercises were most interesting and amusing to the spectators. The prizegiving, which took place the day after the gymnastic competition, proved that capital instruction is afforded in this school to boys from all parts of the colony, one of the largest prize-winners hailing from Oarnaru.

The American * gentleman ’ is said to indulge rather freely in all places and at all times in the not too elegant habit of spitting. At last American women are awaking to the extreme nastiness of the habit. I hear that in New York they are busy organising an Anti-Expectoration Association. Perhaps this characteristic of a free and independent manhood may account to some extent for American women appropriating husbands from the English side of the Atlantic.

Kowalski, musician and wit, leaves Sydney shortly for France. At M. Wiegand’s recent gargantuan supper, Kowalski (loq.) : • The chef is at least my equal. 1 try to please the ear; he pleases theestomac—a much larger order to fill.' Natu*rally !

There was a rush to Melbourne Princess’s on the night following the announcement of Fred Leslie’s death. An idea that the girls would sport tights of sable hue had circulated abroad, and many of the audience evidently anticipated a display of sentiment. Nothing unusual occurred, though. Burlesque doesn't offer opportunity for suggestions of sorrow, or perhaps the sorrow had had time to abate. Fred Leslie died of typhoid fever, a disease which lurks in sewer-gas and such things to capture men who have * lived high.’ It was probably the effect of bad drains, acting upon a constitution attenuated by good drains, that removed poor Fred. His death, following upon Nellie Farren’s break-up, sets one thinking of those cafe days in Melbourne and Sydney, whereat a party of four would * pul away some seven or eight bottles of wine and spirits without turning a hair. The Flaneur.