Topics of the Week.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 24, 17 June 1893, Page 554

Topics of the Week.

SOCIETY’S SAYINGS AND DOINGS.

A BIG find has been made at Doom Creek in the Wakarnaiina Valley, Marlborough, where the great rush was years ago, Flannigan and party having obtained 260 ounces of coarse gold. The creek is about the size of Cullensville, is densely bushed, and ten miles long, and, the party report, rich beyond measure like its parental valley, Wakamarina. The drawbacks are many and serious in face of the coming winter, there being no tracks whatever, no pastoral country near, and provisions will have to be packed, therefore they will be very dear, and only obtainable for cash. Not a poor man’s elysium by any means !

A walking party of ladies went out to Waikaw Pah, Picton. They camped for lunch on the Picton side of the river, and afterwards crossed the stepping stones and went through the Pah. Mrs Love, a late arrival from Wellington, received the ladies graciously, and showed them over her handsome new house, which was beautifully furnished, and contained a splendid new piano in bird’s eye maple, which one of the young ladies was asked to try. The house, which contains nine rooms exclusive of kitchen, etc., stands high upon a spur overlooking the bay, with a fine view of Big and Little Islands and a laige part of the Sound. Mrs Love said there was no illness now at the Pah. Two Maoris suffering from influenza had been persuaded to go into the Picton Hospital, and were recovering. Mrs Love’s European training and influence as a chieftainess will, it is hoped, work wonders for the Maoris at Waikawa. The party had a look at the schoolmaster’s (Mr McDonald) garden, where the borders were purple with violets and arum lilies and primroses in full bloom, and where the young ideas of Maoridom are also taught to shoot.

The skies have not smiled on the winter meetings of the Auckland Racing Club. Last Saturday a small blizzard did its best to freeze the ardour of the votaries of the turf. But the attractions of races are too potent in the colonies or anyone to mind even when the course is like a sludge channel in a moist goldfield. Of course the important totalisator must be comfortably reached, and as it was surrounded by a sea of mud a pathway of boards was arranged from the grandstand to it. Still, when the planks were crowded, the eager gamblers waded through the mud, regardless of the dirty appearance they speedily presented.

Quite a festive week has been celebrated, socially, in Onehunga To begin with Mr and Mrs Browne gave a large dance on Monday evening, at their house, 'Belle Vue,’ Norman’s Hill, to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of their eldest son, Mr Ernest Browne. Everything was done to make the evening enjoyable. Those who did not care to dance found amusement in the card-room. Great pains had been taken with the ballroom floor, and it quite repaid them for their trouble. The garden looked like fairyland— Chinese lanterns of various colours banging from the trees, etc. The supper was tastefully arranged in an adjoining room, and proved satisfactory in every way. Dancing was kept up with spirit till nearly two o’clock on Tuesday morning. The same host and hostess showed their hospitality to the juveniles in a dance for them on the following Wednesday, at which they all seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly.

Great was the fun at Mrs Thornton’s, Nelson, when quite a number assembled to play ‘ Progressive Euchre.’ The fun was fast and furious, and so exciting that play was continued until 11.30., when an adjournment was made for supper, which was of the most recherche description. The first prizes were won by Miss Broad, and Mr Cooke, and the booby prizes by Miss Meddings and Mr Woodward.

The Petone (Wellington) Club Ball, the first ever given, was a great success, and was largely attended. The decorations were very pretty, and were chiefly carried out by the ladies. A few of the many guests were Mr and Mrs Clement Kirk, Dr. and Mrs Whitehead, Dr. and Mrs Purdy, Mr and Mrs Wilford, Miss Wilford, Mr and Mrs Jackson (junior). Miss Hilda Jackson, Mr and Mrs Beatty, Mr and Mrs Dawes, Mr and Mrs Seaton, the Misses Robinson, Wilks, Irwin, Johnson, King, Mr and Mrs Lodder, Messrs Hickson, Hector, Jackson, etc.

THe Maggie Moore Company are still drawing good houses at the Opera House, Wellington. Miss Moore, of course, takes the leading parts, and sings and acts beautifully. In fact, everyone who has seen her is charmed. One night Lord and Lady Glasgow, accompanied by the Misses Wauchope, Hallowes, and Holroyd, Colonel Boyle, and Captain Clayton, were present, and were very much amused. They saw her in ‘ ’49,’ in which she is particularly good, the rest of the company supporting her splendidly. Lady Glasgow wore a handsome cream silk gown trimmed with lace, and Miss Hallowes, Miss Wauchope, and Miss Holroyd all wore black, the last-mentioned wearing a red ribbon in her hair and a red opera cloak.

The members of St. Peter’s Choir, Wellington, met in the vestry a few evenings ago for the purpose of wishing good bye to two of their members —Mr and Mrs Binns, who have for many years been connected with the church, and who are about to take up their residence in Christchurch. The Rev. Mr Waters, in bidding them ‘good-bye,’ asked them to accept a gift from the choir in the shape of a silver salver, handsomely engraved. Mr Binns was unavoidably absent, and Mrs Binns asked Mr R. P. Johnston to reply for her thanking the donors.

The full cast for Messrs Jones and Bridge’s new opera, ‘The Monarch of Utopia,’ has been made up as follows, and will take place in Wellington in August next :—The King, Mr W. D. Lyon ; Bombastes, Mr A. E. Mabin ; Fusbos, Mr W. Ross ; Duke of Cucumberland, Mr J. Wilson ; Lord Usquebaugh, Mr W. Rumsey ; Lady Youni. cey, Mrs Carte ; Lady Vinolia, Miss Ross ; Lady Fleur de Lingo, Miss Curtice; Mrs Miller. The cast is an excellent one, and Welliugtonians may look forward to something very good.

The Wellington sixpenny popular concert was again largely patronized, the performers being Mrs Miller, Mrs E. Queree, Miss Trehair-Osborne, and Messrs Cadzow, Wright, Glyn and Jenkins, with Mr S. Cemino as conductor. The shilling popular concert took place the following night, and was also full. Those taking part were the Misses Johnson, Dugdale, and Medley, and Messrs R. Parker, R B. Williams, Prouse, Spackman, Hammerton, Maitland (late of Auckland), and Master Widdop.

In Dunedin the Misses Stephenson gave a large afternoon tea to all Miss Tottie’s friends, so as to give them an opportunity of saying good-bye to her. There were fully sixty girls present. During the afternoon several musical items were rendered. Miss Burns played one or two exquisite little pieces, as also did Miss Gwen Roberts. Songs were also given by Mrs H. S. Valentine, Miss Amy Roberts, Miss Tottie Sephenson, Miss Lulu Roberts, Miss Ziele, and Miss Lily R oberts. A recitation was capitally given by Miss Hawkins, of Wellington. The many and handsome wedding presents of Miss Tottie’s were all in the drawing room, so that each had an opportunity of seeing them.

A large and most enjoyable ball was given by Mr and Mrs A. W. Morris at their resilience, Marinoto, Dunedin. Nearly two hundred guests were present. Mrs George Morris, from Napier, was there, and wore her wedding dress—a handsome white bengaline with zouave jacket, the front being white chiffon. Mrs Sargood, another bride, was also present. She also wore her wedding dress—a very handsome white brocade.

THE'Okita Club,’Dunedin, gave one of their pleasant little dances in St. Paul’s Schoolroom, which was charmingly decorated for the occasion. The supper table was prettily arranged with coloured silks and lit with coloured candles. All the arrangements were most satisfactory, and reflected great credit upon Mr A. Bagley and Mr Emerson, who were the chief promoters.

A pleasing novelty, in the shape of a lady commeicial traveller, has been touring New Zealand, and has taken up her residence in Auckland for six weeks or so. Mrs Sawkius is not at all the style of woman whom one would, at first sight, imagine a pioneer lady commeicial to be. She has an attractive appeaiance, is tall and slender, her features are good, her eyes clear and intelligent, and

her complexion and golden hair all that could be desired by the most ardent beauty ■ worshipper. Mrs Sawkins became weary of an ordinary young lady’s life in England, and entered the warehouse of a manufacturing chemist. Here she succeeded so well, acquiring an intimate knowledge of job lines and business matters, that she was entrusted with short trips, taking samples round to various firms. The sphere of her operations was speedily enlarged as her quiet determination, and ladylike, but business manner, g lined many orders. Presently Mrs Sawkins made a tour through the States, Canada, etc., receiving 25 per cent, commission and all her travelling expenses During a visit to Australia she met her fate in the shape of Mr Sawkins, then on the staff of the Sydney Bulletin. Mr Maughan Barnett gave his first concert in Napier, which was a tremendous success. Mr Barnett fairly took the bouse by storm ; he is a splendid musician. He was assisted by Miss Bell, who hails from Christchurch. She sings most exquisitely and quite won all hearts. Mr Hill, too, who gave his services is an exceptionally good violinist, and soon established himself a prime favourite. There was a very fashionable audience, including several Hastings people, amongst whom were Mrs J. N. Williams and Miss Williams. There were also present the Dean and Mrs Hovel), Mrs Ormond, Mesdames Kettle, Baker, McLean, J. W. Carlile, Balfour, Fraser, Misses Rhodes, Cotterill, Logan, Rees, Hitchings, etc., etc. Hunting is still all the rage in Hastings. The weather was about as bad as it could well be last week, and yet about thirty gentlemen put in an appearance and a number of ladies. The drag was laid from the Raukawa bush to Te Tahiki, the residence of Mr Maurice Mason. There were twenty - three jumps in all over a stiffish country. When the hunt was over the party was most hospitably entertained by Mr and Mrs Mason. The Master rode Wi Parata, and the whips, Messrs Jackson and Hassal, rode Royston and Explorer. Mrs Joe Rhodes was greatly admired for her fearless riding. She rode Arkwright, and kept to the fore Irom start to-finish, her horse fencing in the most masterly style. Miss Miller, as usual, looked very charming on Desmond ; Miss Groome rode as only she can, on Moe. There were also present Messrs Stewart Bridge, N. Williams, Hugh Campbell, A. Giblin, H. Carlyon, Burney, Johnstone, Hill, Hastie, M. Campbell, L. Skerman, G. Groome, Marshall, N. Mason, and M. E. Groome. These gentleman were all well to the front. After their marriage and on their return to London, Mr Sawkins—who is well known as a Napier pressmen—pul - lished three novels, * Jack’s Folly,’ ‘ An Eye for an Eye,’ and ‘ A Midnight Dream.’ They were all successful—the first being exceedingly popular. Mr Sawkins is now writing a book on this colony. His non de plume is P. B. Clay. The family menage at present consists of the clever husband and wife, a bright little son, five years old, a lady assistant, and Mrs Sawkin’s maid. The women of New Zealand will be enabled to make themselves beautiful for ever, and things of joy to all who see them, if they only use some of the creams, perfumery, and toilet requisites which Mrs Sawkins is leaving at every large chemist and draper throughout the colony.

The Rowing Club ball at Blenheim was unanimously voted an unqualified success. The Drill Shed was most tastefully and effectively decorated with racing boats, oars, and other acquatic impedimenta, and quantities of lycopodium, ferns, cabbage trees, etc. The floor and music (Mr Vannini’s band) were capital, and the supper was excellent, in fact, the abundance and quality of the menft reflected the greatest credit upon Mr Shirley Hodson and the ladies on the Supper Committee, who had arranged the table with great taste. Messrs Shaw and Watson were a very effective secretary and M.C. respectively. SAVING a somewhat surprising tendency to too much speechifying, the journalists of Auckland had a very pleasant social evening on Saturday, when a farewell supper was tendered to Mr Nolan, of the Herald, on his departure for Wellington. The Premier attended, sang a song, and said all manner of pleasant things of the Press. Almost all the members and M.L.C.’s resident in the Auckland district contrived to be pleasant, and politicians and pressmen cordially enjoyed meeting each other unprofessionally.