Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 6, 11 February 1893, Page 122

Topics of the Week.

SOCIETY’S SAYINGS AND DOINGS

IT is to be hoped that Captain Edwin will stay his tempestuous hand, and treat His Excellency the

Governor and the Countess of Glasgow, with their large accompanying party, to fine weather during their trip round the Sounds and up the West Coast. Most people are now so familiar, either personally, or by illustiated description, with the magnificent scenery which will surely delight the vice-regal party in this expedition, that any detailed account of it would hardly prove of interest. The beauties of the wooded cliffs, the grandeur of the waterfalls, the varied attractions of the bays, lakes and inlets, now sparkling in the sunshine, and then rich in unapproachable moonlight effects ; the fishing, boat-racing, music, picnics, etc., etc., which are now part and parcel of this wonderland of Neptune, and haunt of mermaids, need no praise here. To be appreciated, they must be seen and participated in by the lovers of nature in her varying moods and modes.

Before leaving Dunedin, Lord Glasgow received a deputation consisting of the Hon. W. D. Stewart, M L.C., Mr W. Hutchison, M.H.R., the Revs. W. Bannerman, J. Gibb, A. P. Davidson, R. R. M. Sutherland, Messrs A. C. Begg, E. B. Cargill and Captain Thomson, from the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland, who waited on His Excellency at the Grand Hotel, with the object of presenting him with an address of welcome. The Hon. \V. D. Stewart introduced the deputation. His Excellency made an appieciative reply.

The Vice-iegal party visited the Roslyn Woollen Factory, which was effectively decorated for the occasion, the Man-

ager taking great pleasure in initiating his honoured guests into the mysteries of combing, etc. Several other visits of interest were paid, besides driving through the suburbs to view the scenery. In one short week more has been done than in many preceding ones.

ON Monday week, by special train to Invercargill, His Excellency The Governor and the Countess left Dunedin, occompanied by Lady Alice Boyle, Mrs Alexander Boyle, Mr Clayton, A. D.C., and Colonel Pat Boyle. A large crowd assembled upon the platform to see them off. The Hon. J. G. Ward, the minister in attendance on His Excellency, also went with the party to Invercargill. Among those bidding adieu, were Dr Stenhouse, Mr N. Y. A. Wales, Mr Justice Williams, Mr C. Haynes (Mayor), Cr. Carroll, the Hons. G. McLean, R. Oliver, W. Downie, Stewart, and S. E. Shrimski, M.L.C’s. ; Messrs J. Allen and J. Mills.

On their airival at the Bluff, Lord and Lady Hopetoun and Lord Northesk, were met by the Mayor and Garrison Band. They reached Invercargill by special train at eleven o’clock. In the evening the party joined Lord and Lady Glasgow and suite. These distinguished visitors are now in Dunedin, staying at the Grand Hotel. They were welcomed to that city by the Mayor, etc., who received them at the railway station.

Captain Floyd, H.M.S. Goldfinch, is much to be congratulated on the success of his water picnic last week. The guests ai rived punctually at the wharf at twelve o’clock, and boarded a ferry steamer which was in readiness for them. In this the merry party voyaged to Motuihi, the Auckland Quarantine Station, where a substantial luncheon was provided in one of the rooms of the building. The afternoon was passed in the energetic games of rounders and Aunt Sally. A welcome and excellent tea was partaken of on the beach, after winch the whole party adjourned to the largest room in the house to dance. A band which had accompanied the picnickers played beautiful selections all day, finally rendering some capital dance music for the hop, which was carried on with great zest.

Amongst those present were Mr ami Mrs Bloomfield, the latter looking lovely in white, Mr and Mrs Ware, Mrs Dargaville, Mrs Goring, Mr Philson, Misses Rookes and Forbes, Mrs and Miss Kerr-Taylor, Mrs and Miss Moss Davis, Miss Bull, Mr Still, Mr Cleveland, Miss Firth, Dr. and Mrs Lewie, Mr Coates, Mrs Jackson (H.M.S. Katoomba), Misses

Wilkins, Mr Hanna, Mr Ella, etc., and the officers of H.M.S. Goldfinch.

Miss Palmer, niece of Mrs Stead, who has been on a long visit of about eighteen months to the City ot the Plains, is returning to her home at Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony by the Arawa, sailing this week. A great many of her young friends met at Strowan, at the invitation of Mrs Stead, to a garden party and high tea, to wish her good-bye, but owing to the unfavourable weather, tea was inside, and progressive euchre, roulette, and music, passed a very delightful evening. Miss Palmer has become very much in request during her stay, and I hear Christchurch society is very sorry to lose her. Among those present were the Misses Reeves, Cunningham, Campbell, Tabart, Murray-Aynsley, Greenwood, Meares, Graham, Cowlishaw, Helmore, etc. Messrs Fenwicke, Palmer, Ogle, Gould, Rdleston, Lane, Peiry, Clark, Wood and others.

Mrs Malet gave another charming evening on Friday, a small dance to about fifty guests, which, in spite of the heat, was much appreciated. Every room was most tastefully decorated, and the house is so conveniently appointed for entertaining that an enjoyable evening there is a certainty.

The New Zealand tenor, Mr Tom Jackson, who is now touring the colony with Madame Bahnson, whose photo appears elsewhere, is known personally or by reputation to many readers of this journal, and our reproduction of Hanna’s excellent photograph is therefore likely to be very popular. Mr Jackson is the fortunate possessor of an ideal tenor voice of the purest quality and of excellent timbre.

For many years he sang only as an amateur, and paid little attention to the cultivation or care of his voice. At the repeated solicitation of his friends, who foresaw a future for him, Mr Jackson at last sold his business, and leaving Auckland for Melbourne, set himself seriously to the study of singing as a profession. About Christmas-time he returned to New Zealand for a holiday, and assisted Madame Bahnson in giving two concerts in Auckland. So successful were these that a series -for different towns in the colony was arranged for. Mr Jackson has immensely improved both in voice and in manner of singing. In private life he is extremely popular, being good-natured to the last degree. A good sportsman he is, in fact, generally society’s favourite.

Tennis parties took place at several well-known courts on Tuesday afternoon. I cannot call these players indolent when I hear they played with the thermometer at 94" in the

shade. One tennis party was at Mrs Loughnan’s, Tilford, some of the party going on the river after. Another at Mrs Cowlishaw’s, and, considering the day, much energy was displayed among the players. Mrs Ewan had a party of friends at the Cranmer Square Courts amongst whom were Mesdames Ollivier, Harley, Thomas, Macdonald, the Misses Gordon, Cotterill, Lean, Thomas, Sutton, Murphy, E. Black, etc- Some rather vigorous sets were got off, followed by a furious attack on the tea.

Mrs Nedwill and the Misses Helmore (Christchurch), had each arranged tennis parties, but ‘ the rain it raineth every day,’ and neither could come off.

A very jolly picnic is reported from Nelson, got up by two gentlemen. The picnickers all left town in a large drag and drove to the Wairoa Gorge, where the day was pleasantly spent and thoroughly enjoyed, not the least part of the enjoyment being, so say my male friends, the excellent lunch provided by the ladies, and I might also add the tea, after which a start was made for town, which was sorrowfully reached, the day being far too short. The general opinion was that the picnic was a great success, and one of the jolliest held in Nelson for a long time. The lucky few who went were Mesdames Pearson, J. Sharp, Misses Pitt, Mackay, L. Fell, Collins (Kaikoura), Catley (two), T. Atkinson, Duncan, Hursthouse (New Plymouth), Messrs Symons, Duncan, Broad, Harden, Lunn, Hough, Murray, Fox, and Bullin.

Captain and Mrs Rogers gave their annual social to the Blenheim Rifles in the charming grounds of Elsham Lodge. The prizes were presented by Mrs Rogers, the lucky winners being Volunteers G. Allen, Carmine, Lacey, Ching, Hilliard, Martin, Kirby, Carey, F. Nosworthy, O’Sullivan, Kennington, Morrison, A. Nosworthy, Patchett, Morrison, Marten, Purser, and Lieut. Salmon, Sergt. VVemyss, Lance Corp. Fuller, Lance Sergt. Hobbs, and Corp. Foster. After the presentation of these prizes, a bountiful supper was spread on tables on the lawn, to which the visitors did full justice. Songs were sung by Capt. Lucas of the School Cadets, Bandsman Light, and Volunteer Martin, after which Sergt. Ching proposed the healths of Capt. and Mrs Rogers, which were drunk most enthusiastically. Other toasts were then given and responded to. The Garrison band played several selections in a most creditable style, and at 10.30 ‘ God Save the Queen ’ was played and the company were marched back to town to the strains of * Home, Sweet Home.’

The attendance on the Ponsonby Lawn was scarcely so good as usual this week, owing, no doubt, to the many counter attractions of the day. Those present, however, seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. The Club is deservedly popular, strangers always receive a hearty welcome, and are pressed to partake of the good things provided in the shape of refreshments. It is, indeed, a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon, to sit in the shade of the lovely lawn and watch the players and the good comradeship that prevails. Mrs Littler and Miss Burton provided the tea on one afternoon last week. It is the custom of al] the ladies of the Club to take it in turns to provide the refreshments, therefore the good nature of one or two individuals is not taxed too heavily.

The Girls’ Boating Club (Christchurch) had an unusually large meeting on Friday and a delightful pull up the river, having afternoon tea as usual on the banks under the shade of the weeping willows.

Nelson Anniversary Day was a public holiday. Sports were held in the Botanical Reserve under the auspices of the Friendly Societies, which attracted a large crowd. The next day a monster free picnic was held in the same place, when the children of the town were all invited to be present, a treat I have not the least doubt they thoroughly enjoyed, as they turned up in good numbers.

Several more picnic parties are out at the time of writing, among others the Misses Gibbs, who have gone to Beckham’s Bush, a lovely spot about six miles up the Maitai Valley. About twenty young people left for this picnic at nine o’clock, an early start having to be made, as the whole distance was to ba travelled on ‘ shank’s pony.’

Miss Rhodes,Elmwood,Christchurch, had her girl friends on Monday to afternoon tea, as a farewell gathering previous to her marriage. Among those present were Misses Cowlishaw, Cox, Gray, Greenwood, Hutton, Nedwill, Tabart, Helmore, Turnbull, Reeves, Murray-Aynsley, and others.

Some considerable consternation was occasioned recently in a London club by the delivery of a brown paper parcel and three letters. The first letter, to the hall porter, read as follows * If Mr is not in the club at the time this parcel arrives, please deliver the note addressed to the other members. A strange sound was now heard from the inside of the mysterious package, and tearing away the wrapping, the porter discovered a fine masculine baby, apparently about 1 month old. Three stairs at a time he rushed down to

the manager of the club with the two unopened letters. One of them was addressed to ‘Mr and the other to ‘The Members of the Club.’ This was speedily perused, and ran as follows: ‘lf Mr should not be in the club at the time this parcel arrives, will the members kindly see that his child is delivered to him !’ The notes were written in a firm round lady’s hand upon stone coloured paper, and enclosed in square envelopes to match. A council of war was held, and it. was decided that the police must take the responsibility. A friendly constable took the poor little bairn into his custody and carried it off in triumph to the sheltering halls of Bow-street, armed also with the three letters to help in the identification of the parents of the child.

Who was the inventor of the new wedding cakes 1 Whoever be was he deserves immortalising, for his was a brilliant idea, one I should have been ‘ real proud of ’ myself, had I thought of it. You know, in the wedding cake of more ancient type there was always a thick layer of white sugar which nobody cared about; a medium layer of almond paste which everybody wished for, and did not always get ; and an immense quantity of cake of which many only ate a few crumbs. Mais nous avons change tout eehi. The latest specimen has a thin layer of sugar, only just enough to look pretty, and underneath are alternate layers of cake and almond paste, one as thick as the other. The consequence is that no one is defrauded of their lawful share of almond paste, or ‘ love,’ as it is usually called, and for purposes of distribution it is far better, as the contents of the box does not crumble away nearly so much as it did when the principal portion was cake alone. If only someone would invent a box which could not be rifled, and was bound to reach its lawful destination, we should have nothing left to desire.

The first class tournament in connection with the Thorndon Lawn Tennis Club terminated on Saturday afternoon, when a large number of people assembled to witness the final sets. The contest for the Men’s Championship lay between Messrs Harry and Ross Gore. Twelve men entered for this, but by Saturday it had narrowed down to the two brothers. Strangely enough this happened also last yean when Mr Ross Gore was champion. This year, however, after a splendid game and amidst great excitement (the score standing at two sets all, and five games all) Mr H. Gore proved successful. Miss Mason won the Ladies’ Single Championship after a capital set against Miss Beacon. The Doubles were won by Mr Cyril Tanner and Miss Millie George. A great many people were watching each day, and afternoon tea was always provided by the ladies, which proved very acceptable.

Another of the pleasant Northcote picnics took place on Friday. Parnell was mostly represented, Mrs and the Misses Thorpe being the chief promoters. Other ladies present were the Misses Wilkins, Rookes, Forbes, Moss, Heywood, Kilgour, Stratford, Minitt, etc. Dancing was, of course, the finale, and passed the evening agreeably.

A cab fare indicator has come into use in Lancashire. When the passenger enters it is the driver's duty to place the indicator at the amount which the traveller will be called upon to pay. The instrument also forms a continuous record, showing at the end of the day how much the cabman has taken.