Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 13, 1 April 1893, Page 290

Topics of the Week.

SOCIETY’S SAYINGS AND DOINGS

HIS EXCELLENCY the Governor and the Countess of Glasgow were warmly welcomed back to Auckland on Saturday. They arrived by the ss. Te Auau from Napier, after rather a long passage. There was no official welcome, but a good deal of quiet satisfaction was expressed at their return —though only for a brief period—to the bright northern city. Colonel Pat Boyle, Lord Glasgow’s private secretary, with the Ladies Augusta, Alice and Dorothy, and the Hons. John and Allen Boyle were on the wharf to receive their Excellencies. Despite the sea-voyage, Lady Glasgow, with the Governor and the various other members of the Vice regal party including the Countess of Hopetoun, drove out early in the afternoon to Potter’s Paddock. Here they watched the sports which concluded the polo tournament. The Countess presented the victorious Christchurch team with the Savile Championship Cup, which they had won at the last round on Friday.

Sunday was quietly spent by the Government House party. His Excellency and Lady Glasgow, with their family and visitors, attended divine service at St. Mary’s Church, Parnell in the morning. In the afternoon a stroll in the beautifully wooded Domain was indulged in.

The Duchess of Buckingham was unexpectedly able to be present at the polo sports on Siturday afternoon, owing to the little accident which delayed the mail-steamer’s departure for some hours. Her Grace expressed herself as delighted with the performances, and said she would not have missed the amusement for a good deal. She took away with her one of the needles used in the needle-and-thread race as a momento. The Duchess and Miss WolfeMurray, with Baron Luttwitz, left Auckland by the ’Frisco boat. It may not be generally known that Her Grace is a widow, and, having no children, the title of Buckingham and Chandos will become extinct when she dies, or will sink into oblivion if she re marries.

The Auckland Polo Club has been anxious to show all possible courtesy to its Southern visitors for the tournament. The correct form of entertainment is supposed to be a ball. Accordingly the members elected a committee, consisting of Captain Hunter-Blair, Messrs W. K. Bloomfield, J. Coates, A. E. Gilmore, E. Dennis O’Krrke, J. C. Hanna, J. H. Philson, J. Noble, D H. Stewart, H. Wynyard, and Drs. Lewis and Purchas, with Mr J. F. Dixon as secretary. With such names the affair ought to have been an even greater success than it was. There were no decorations, as the committee gallantly concluded the distinguished visitors and fair citizens would sufficiently ornament the hall without the aid of natural flowers. The music was perfect, and was supplied by Eady’s string band. A Polo Polka, specially composed by Miss Forbes, was amongst the items. The floor, unfortunately, was somewhat heavy, which was hard for tho-ie who had been working at play all the afternoon. The stage was tastefully arranged as a drawing-room, whence the chaperones could comfortably watch their charges. The night was rather warm, and the throwing open of the corridors and gallery was a great relief. Perhaps it was on account of the heat that some of the gentlemen did not dance, or were they not introduced to partners? Mrs (Colonel) Dawson received the distinguished visitors, wearing a charming dress of ivory silk crepon made with a train, chiffon trimmings and Watteau bow, diamond ornaments.

Her Grace the Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos was much admired in a lovely shot grey silk dress with purple velvet sleeve’, and a ruche on the skirt of the same. The bodice was trimmed with old white lace. From her golden hair, neatly plaited, hung a black lace veil fastened with diamond stars. The Countess of Hopetoun looked exceedingly handsome in a rich black striped moire trimmed with old pink and gold brocade and white lace. Her raven black hair was circled with cardinal ribbon and diamonds ; orna merits, pearls, sapphires, and diamonds. Miss WolfeMurray—a noted London belle—was charming in a lovely white silk and satin striped dress, with pale green brocade belt and sleeves. Miss Hallowes looked well in black net, with a scarlet ribbon in her hair. Miss Holroyde, trained bouton d'or silk trimmed with black lace.

The Duchess of Buckingham and Chandos, accompanied

by Miss Wolfe-Murray, Baron Luttwitz, and Colonel I’at Boyle, accepted the courteous invitation of Mr Lawrence Nathan to Whitford Park on Thursday afternoon, to see the ostriches. The drive there and back was pleasant, and the afternoon was altogether enjoyable.

The Countess of Hopetoun is staying at Government House. After the Polo Tournament on Thursday, Colonel Pat Boyle escorted Lady Hopetoun and Miss Wolfe-Murray to visit the famous race horse. Sb. Hippo, at Ellerslie. The trainer, Mr Wright, took particular pleasure in exhibiting the horse on the race course to the ladies.

Slowly but surely, woman is elbowing her way to the front, and so deftly, and withal in so lady-like and charming a fashion is it being done, that men are beguiled into admiring and praising the new departure. Miss Shaw, the lady journalist who has been touring the colonies, left New Zealand by the Frisco boat on Saturday en route for Canada. Tall, graceful and womanly, with a grand intellect, and marvellous grasp of her subjects, it is little to be wondered at that even the Lon lon Times selected Miss Shaw to visit Australasia and contribute to that paper her impressions and ideas on the political and industrial position of the colonies. This lady speaks well of New Zealand, and we trust we shall be favourably mentioned in the influential London paper to which she belongs. Whilst in Auckland, Miss Shaw lunched at Government House, meeting there the Duchess of Buckingham and Lady Hopetoun.

‘At Last,' song with violin obligato, words by Edith Grace Levy, music by George Garry, published by J. H. Kingsley, New Plymouth. This is a pretty little song which should have a large degree of popularity in colonial drawing-rooms. The melody has a decidedly distinctive and catching sweetness, and the accompaniment is easy. It is written in the key of D sharp and the voice compass is from Fto G. The words are fairly musical, and breathe the blameless if somewhat inane sentiment so characteristic of this popular kind of drawing-room song.

Mrs Keesing gave a large afternoon tea at her pretty residence, ‘ Akarana,’ off Symonds-street, Auckland, which overlooks the gully and the Waitemata Harbour. During the afternoon songs and pianoforte selections were rendered by various ladies. Trifles, cakes, and fruits of every description were handed round.

Eminently dainty and artistic are the very pretty specimens of hand-painted china now on view at Mr Gregory’s studio, Queen street. Auckland has certainly taken the lead in this respect, and the Countess of Glasgow, in declaring the exhibition open on Monday afternoon, made some very complimentary remarks on the enterprise and skilful conduct of such an undertaking. Mr and Mrs Burcher are much to be congratulated on the really beautiful work shown by the students. The painting is executed in special mineral colours, and the firing is performed at the studio in Parnell. Quite a smart crowd of well dressed ladies were present, and Lady Glasgow’s pithy and capital remarks were listened to with the greatest attention. The New Zealand Graphic prize—‘The Early History of New Zealand’—was won by Miss Lizzie Law for an excellent view of Auckland Harbour.

IT has been a matter for general surprise among those who attended Miss Burvett’s musical recitals that the audiences were not larger. It could certainly not be that the public were unaware of the lady’s talent, for the high encomiums passed on her playing by the Home Press have found their way into our newspapers; nor is it that we are incapable of appreciating good music. We are all more or less fond of music, but we all love variety, and this is what Miss Burvett has neglected to give us. A glance at her programme will at once show that we do not refer to the pieces she played, but to the instrument she played them on. The piano has certainly been a boon to humanity—although some have found it a curse—but it would require a Paderewski to keep an ordinary audience without a shade of weariness passing over them during a two hours’ recital. Miss Burvett is an executant out. of the common. She has a marvellous command of the key board, displaying in the more difficult passages a

dexterity with her lingers that few can hope to attain. Bu * she is more than a mere mechanical power. She has a very clear appreciation of the beauties of the pieces she chooses for recital, and has no little success in revealing them to her audience. We should advise all to hear her, but we should also advise Miss Burvett to vary her recitals with vocal or other music besides that of the piano.

Unfortunately the Wellington Orchestral Society were compelled, owing to a mistake, to hold their concert at the Theatre Royal this time. Unfortunately, says my correspondent, because the place is simply not fit for habitation, and I do not think any amount of renovating will ever make it so. The position is central, and I hope verysoon to see the whole concern pulled down and rebuilt. The members of the orchestra on this occasion looked very cramped on the small stage, and altogether the concei t did not seem to me to go off with the usual spirit, probably owing to the dismal surroundings. Mr Alfred Hill was conducting, and Mr Hotop leading the orchestra. ‘ The Merry Wives of Windsor ’ was chosen as the overture, and remaikably well it went. The Hungarian Dances were also a great success, but the remainder of the programme was hardly up to the mark. Mrs Miller, a new singer from Australia, made her debut in the Empire City at the concert, and first gave ‘ I Will Extol Thee,’ and afterwards a pretty little composition of Mr A. Hill’s, called ‘ A Slumber Song,' and on being encored gave ‘ Love is a Dream,’ this, in my opinion, being her best effort. Her soprano voice is very powerful, and her execution brilliant. Miss Medley played a concerto and also a rondo with great success.

What is described as a ‘jolly little dance ’ is chronicled from Napier. Miss Rees gave it, and enthusiastic partygoers assert that it delightfully varied the monotony of Lent. The two sexes were adjusted in sufficient proportions to ensure that no wall-flowers bloomed or wilted for lack of partners. There were no new gowns, as these ’tween season dances do not usually require any large expenditure in the way of fresh frocks. Hence, they should be popular with pipa.

From Dunedin very little news comes. My correspondent says that a heavenly calm seems to have followed the races, and the ladies are chiefly busy selecting their winter clothes. The inference from the first sentence he who runs may read—and, let us hope, profit by it. The theatre is closed, but this has nothing to do with the celestial nature of the calm, as many excellent divines are willing to admit that properly-selected plays have an elevating tendency. The Roman Catholics relieved the stagnation by a grand concert in the Garrison Hall, the members of the Cathedral choir assisting to make it a success, and the audience was a very enthusiastic one.

Two pleasant little luncheon parties, however, were discussed by Dunedin Society. One was given by Mrs B. C. Haggitt at Wychwood, Anderson’s Bay. The table was very artistically decorated with large white lilies. Among the guests were Mr and Mrs Tolmac, the Hon. Mr and Mrs Oliver, Mrs Cutten, Mr and Mrs Michie, Professor and Mrs Sale ; Mrs and Miss Millar (Sydney), Dr. and Mrs Hocken, Mrs Perston, Mrs Wright and others.

That ‘great wits will jump’ was proved on Thursday when so many Picton residents jumped to the conclusion that the day was a perfect one for picnic parties, and went out to have afternoon tea and enjoy the dolce far niente on the beach, and inhale the ozone from the salty Sound breezes. AU the little bays around were occupied by merry parties, and boats dotted the harbour, some fishing, others careering along under canvas, made up of the girls’ manycoloured dresses held so as to catch the wind, and looking like Chinese junks, and when the Torea came steaming along with quite a procession of Sound boats in tow, the scene was such a pretty one that most people were glad they had been so liberally endowed with the wits which had jumped to so pleasant a conclusion.

The Picton Presbyterian Sunday-school jete, held up Esson’s Valley, would have been a great success but for that bete noire of journalists and picnic parties—the weather. The morning was a perfect though delusive one, and all Picton as well as visitors from the country came out in pretty summery clothing, and made a scene amongst the manuka and birch trees for a painter to exult in, but a change came over the spirit of the —ahem—scene, and a misty cloud floated down from Esson’s Nightcap and enveloped the valley in its folds. Some fled to the shelter of their homes, and the rest, with a lively remembrance of former Presbyterian tea and cakes, took shelter under the trees, and awaited the good time. Financially the affair was a great success, and the children enjoyed themselves later on when the clouds lifted and they could indulge in games.

To be a Scotchman is to be in the fashion nowadays. So evidently thought the city father who smilingly addi eased Lord Glasgow during his recent visit to Picton. ‘ We’re brither Scots,’ said that astute councillor, expecting a warmer handshake on that account. ‘ Ah, yes 1’ replied his Excellency, • there seem to be a good many of us knocking about New Zealand.’