TOPICS OF THE WEEK

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 46, 18 November 1893, Page 410

TOPICS OF THE WEEK

SOCIETY’S SAYINGS AND DOINGS.

rf | the general elections | waxes louder on every side, and the ominous civility which characterised many of the earlier speeches is giving place to bitter invective and personal abuse, to which we are unhappily more accustomed. The Government party are without doubt going to win, but the ( Ipposition will not let them take ther victory hands down. By the way, the late Mr Ballance appears to have pressed the hand of every second candidate and to have earnestly requested him to go into Parliament. It is surely a somewhat weak expedientforgetting into the House, and one which would certainly have earned the contempt of the late Premier had it been done in the case of a former leader in his life-time. Besides, though sentiment is a very human and charming thing, it should not be introduced into elections.

In Auckland the election campaign is being carried forward with considerable briskness by all candidates. In another part of this paper most of them appeal to the electors, manifesting a firm belief that they are the best people to represent the various constituencies. Electors should certainly attend meetings of all candidates and endeavour to decide with a mind freed of prejudice who are the better men. In the ‘ City ’ electors have quite an embarras de richesse, each candidate on his own unimpeachable testimony being better and worthier than any other. To discriminate between them which are the sheep and which the goats is not easy work, and the electors have a difficult task before them. One thing is certain, women are not going to vote by party on this occasion. Whether they are wise is another question. They are not going to do so, and the various associations are consequently rendered nearly powerless. It is more than probable that the men who have the clearest moral record will head the polls. Those who have sowed the wind must expect for once in a way to reap the whirlwind.

The Governor’s family and household servants, with three carriages and several horses, arrived in Christchurch by the Hinemoa last week, and took up their abode at Ham.

The Wellington Leidertafel gave their second ‘ Heren Abend ’ of 1893 at the Art Gallery, where a very large audience assembled to hear what proved to be one of their most successful evenings. The choruses were a real treat, and were conducted by Mr Robert Parker. In part music the Society could hardly be excelled, but they are certainly weak in soloists. Those they have do their best, and are to be commended for the trouble they take, but their best is often not in any way acceptable. It is a great misfortune that the Society has not better soloists, for in other respects it is said to be the best in New Zealand. The larger choruses were rendered by a choir of about forty voices. A quartette was given by Messrs Hickson, Plimmer,. Waters, and Whittali ; » double quartette by Messrs Hickson, Levers, Haggett, Gore, Whittali, Edger, Chambers, and A. Gray ; a couple of pianoforte solos by Mr R. Parker ; a song, • The Last Muster,’ by Mr Stringer ; and a song, ‘ The Flying Dutchman,’ by Mr F. V. Waters. Of the part songs, Weber’s ‘ Bright Sword of Liberty,’ and Becker’s ‘On the March,’ were the gems of an excellent collection. The concert performance wound up with Coleridge’s appropriate words :—

Farewell, oh warblers. And you, my friends, farewell, a short farewell We have been loitering long and pleasantly, And now for our dear homes.’

At the opening of the Citizens’ Institute Wellington, Mr J. E. Fitzgerald, the President, gave a brilliant address. It is so many years since Wellingtonians have heard a speech from Mr Fitzgerald that it came as a treat, and a large number were present to hear it, among whom were many who well remember his eloquence in the old days. His address affords large scope for discussion, touching, as it did, upon many of the social problems of the day, and this was exactly what was wanted by the Society, who have many long evenings before them, and now ample scope for exchange of thoughts upon the subjects touched upon by Mr Fitzgerald. The differences of opinion regarding the latter part of Mr Fitzgerald’s address—and they are many

—should prove very interesting and instructive. Mr Evans presided, and Mr Fitzgerald was further supported by Mr Maurice Richmond, the hon. secretary. After the address, tea, coffee, etc., was handed round, and after this a short musical programme was gone through. Mr E J. Hill sang a song, Miss and Mr E. Richmond sang a duet, Mrs Tudor Atkinson played a solo, and Miss and Mr E. Richmond and Miss and Mr R Gore sang a quartette, this bringing a pleasant evening to a close.

Having obtained the Franchise, there are many ladies who still desire further participation in man’s hitherto nearly exclusive domain. My esteemed I’icton correspondent doubtless expresses the views of a large number of her sex in the following remarks : *We had hoped that when the franchise was extended to us other privileges might follow, such as a seat on the vestry and so on. But the “ powers that be,” under the Bishop of the diocese have decreed at the General Synod, by a large majority, that women must be excluded from church Government, and yet in the face of all that they ask us to work and slave all the year round, and give, give, give to keep the churches alive, and actually at the present moment we are unable to induce a man to volunteer to assist us in our arduous task of providing refreshments for excursionists on the Prince of Wales’ Birthday in aid of the Sunday-school. They are all otherwise engaged. We earn the money and they spend it.’

Amongst the many new attractions at the Picton Public Library is a handsomely bound copy of * The Life and Times of Sir George Grey,’ presented to the institution by the publisher, Mr H. Brett, of Auckland. The committee and the few subscribers who are working together to further the interests of the institution are indebted to that gentleman for his thoughtful act.

The annual garden party given by Bishop and Mrs Mules (Nelson) to the members of the Synod and their wives was, as usual, an unqualified success. Of course everyone was there, both young and old, these functions being always well attended. Unfortunately, owing to the recent rains, the capital tennis court could not be used, but the guests found ample enjoyment in conversation—so many coming from a distance who only appear on these occasions—and in wandering about the beautiful grounds. As the gentlemen were in great force, the ladies found themselves exceptionally well supplied with waiters bearing various refreshments, who were very attentive to the wants of the fair sex.

The Auckland races were, as usual, very well patronised. Courteous and affable secretary Percival may indeed be warmly congratulated on the success of the second spring meeting. The racing on both days was excellent, that on Thursday being particularly interesting. The display of feminine finery was quite up to the usual standard of this meeting, and the fair sex appeared to have dropped the franchise for once, and were deeply engrossed in the business of the day and other things. The music was, as usual, good, and the lawns and saddling paddocks, etc., were lovely on Prince of Wales’ Birthday. On Saturday the rain threatened to ruin all, but the recent improvements and Mr Percival’s excellent arrangements saved the day, which was really enjoyable despite the showers and wet underfoot. A picture of the race for the Auckland Guineas is given on another page. The sketcher stood at the corner of the lawn near the Derby paddock. A list of dresses will also be found elsewhere.

In Hastings and the Prince of Wales’Birthday was duly celebrated. The weather was fine. Picnics were the order of the day, though some excellent boating parties were arranged and successfully carried out. AU over the Northern Island the weather was very warm, and sunburnt faces were the lot of most people by the evening.

The first ‘At Home’ of the Nelson Leiderkranz took place at the Girls’ College on Friday evening. Of course, the performance was entirely by ladies, conducted by Mrs Houlker. Two choruses were sung, ‘With a Laugh as we go Round,’and * Hail to Thee, Child of the Earth.’ Mrs Houlker sang two songs very well indeed, but it is always a treat to hear her sing, say Nelsonians. The other solos were by Mrs Hoult and Miss Huisthouse. Mrs Houlker and Mrs J. Sharp gave • I'na Sera d’Ainore.’ Mrs Kingdon,

Miss M. B. Richmond, and Mrs Walker, gave that pretty trio, * Night Sinks o’er the Wave.’ Miss Jackson played Bach’s prelude and fugue in D major, also the * Norwegian Bridal Procession.’ It is hoped they will give another concert before very long.

The Napier Fire Brigade’s Demonstration Committee have sent Home a large order for fire works for the grand display to be given in the Recreation Ground in aid of the funds of the demonstration. The display will exceed that of Pain’s, shown here some years ago. The competition will take place in March next, and judging by the way in which the various committees are at work the gathering should be every whit as successful as the previous one held in Napier.

The Masonic Hall, Princes-street, Auckland, looked exceedingly attractive on the occasion of Mrs Whitson’s dance. Her residence, ‘ Arden,’ Parnell, has not a sufficiently large dancing-room for the number of guests whom it was wished to invite, and the beautiful decorations at the hall rendered that quite as attractive as a private house, flags, curtains, and flowers all being pressed into the ornamentation of the walls. Princes-street presented an unusual appearance during the evening, with its rows of gaily-dressed ladies and sombre coated men who paraded the flagged path for fresh air between the dances, the night being intensely hot. The floor and music were perfection, the extras being played by gentlemen. The gentlemen were just enough in the majority to make the dance thoroughly enjoyable. Misses Dora and Lisa Whitson ably assisted their mother to entertain their guests. The supper was provided by Buchanan, and had decorations of large bunches of flowers in vases, with ham, turkey, trifles, jellies, strawberries and cream, etc., all of excellent quality.

The children of the West End Suburb (Auckland) have reason to bless the happy moment that first suggested a juvenile ball to the minds of their elders attending the Ponsonby ‘At Homes.’ Never was there such an entirely successful dance for little ones as that which eventuated in the Ponsonby Hall on Friday evening last. The floor was in perfectcondition, and the pretty costumes of the small dancers skipping merrily over it made a picture fully appreciated by the numbers of people who thronged the gallery. The suppertable was charmingly decorated, and, what is more important, laden with good things. Mesdames Hanna, Devore, Macindoe, and other ladies were diligent in attending to the wants of the children, making it their first object to see that each and all of the little ones enjoyed the evening thoroughly. Between ten and half past the juveniles were withdrawn, and dancing was continued amongst the elders until a late hour. The music was supplied, as usual, by Mr S. Adairs’ band.

Costa’s ‘Naaman,’ produced by the Christchurch Musical Society in the Tuam-street Hall, was a very enjoyable and creditable performance. As a work it does not take a very high place, according to the critics, but to the large audience it proved very acceptable, both chorus and orchestra showing much evidence of Mr Wallace’s careful training. The audience was an unusually large one, as owing to the proposed amalgamation tickets were issued to the members of the Orchestral Society as well. The solos were in good hands, Miss Spensley taking the part of both Adah and the Shunamite ; Mrs W. Wilson also a dual part, Timna and the Widow; Miss Davie, the Child ; Mr H. Weir, Naaman ; Mr Izard, Gehazi; and the Rev. A. Mitchell, Elisha. The latter has only recently joined the ranks of the soloists, and promises to be a great acquisition. All the singers were in good voice, Mr Weir’s part especially suiting him.

The Christchurch Liederkriinzchen gave its last ‘ At Home ’ of the season the other evening to wind up these pleasant little gatherings. Gentlemen were admitted, which so greatly swelled the gathering as to become a large one. The Oddfellows’ Hall was comfortably full, the small tables with flowers giving it a pretty appearance. The stage was effectively decorated, the badge of the society hanging over the centre, the word Lieder on a scarlet ground with a beautiful wreath of green and white round it. The ‘ song wreath,’ as they call themselves, were all dressed in white with badge on scarlet ribbon with the exception of Miss Gard’ner, the conductress, and Miss K. Fairhurst, both of whom wore handsome black silk gowns. The first part consisted of a very pretty cantata for ladies’ voices, ‘ King Rene’s Daughter,’ the part of lolanthe being taken by Miss Fairhurst, her maidens being Misses M. Allen, Ballantyne, Lily Wood, and E. Davie. A duet and chorus,’ ‘ Sweet the Angelus,’ deserves more than passing mention, and was so much appreciated as to be redemanded. Miss Fairhurst was in excellent voice, and sang the music allotted her well. Miss L. Wood was suffering much from hoarseness, but nevertheless gave some very acceptable items. In the second part, Miss C. Lingard gave a piano solo with great brilliancy and taste, and was recalled, the same honour being accorded Miss E. Davie for her song, ‘The Song of the Liederkriinzchen,’ which was composed by Miss Gard’ner. 1 he Toy Symphony was very amusing, and

sent everyone home feeling they had really enjoyed the concert. At half time light refreshments were handed round, which was no * light task ’ with such a large audience, but the many hostesses were quite equal to the occasion.

The Rev. Mr Allsworth (Presbyterian Minister, Picton), preached on Sunday last against the prevailing and increasing aptitude for athletic amusements of the young (and old, he might have put it) people of Picton. The money spent on such frivolities, as cricket, tennis, and the • favourite sin ’ of dancing, would, he thinks, be more satisfactorily spent if given to the church. Evidently the church machinery does not work easily, though possibly, if the motive power were more tolerant, more grist would come to the mill. There are oceans of truths yet undiscovered by Mr Allsworth, of which one is the truism that ‘ the happy are always good,’ and the good always generous.

A very pleasant evening was spent in the Napier Y.M.C.A. Rooms the other night, examining the different electrical instruments and listening to descriptions of their various uses. The several tables were literally covered with appliances, among which were four different types of cells (including the latest type of dry cell), bells, vacuum tubes, telegraph instruments, Rhomkorff coil, and Wimshurst induction machine. At the conclusion votes of thanks to the lenders of instruments, and to Mr H. N. McLeod for the lecture, were carried by acclamation.

A large number of people assembled in the Domain on Wednesday afternoon last to witness the annual sports of the Auckland College and Grammar School boys. From time immemorial, or at least from the very beginning of the existence of the Auckland College and Grammar School, these yearly athletic feats have been a red letter day for the children and the parents and friends of the children who attend the school. Since the lucky genius interposed which resulted in incorporating the Girls’ High School with the Grammar School they have been, if possible, more popular than ever. Wednesday was a lovely day, and the fair members who comprise the one half of the institution were in their fresh summer attires a decided improvement on the untidy, and if the truth must be told, somewhat • inky ’ young ladies it is often our lot to witness ‘ doing ’ Queenstreet after school hours. Under the safe guardianship of mamma and in the wholesome company of little brothers and sisters they retained only that healthy childish simplicity which it is the earnest endeavour of their teachers to preserve amongst those boys and girls. Mr J. W. Tibbs, whose popularity as a headmaster promises to be evergreen, was, of course, here, there, and everywhere during the afternoon. About four o’clock tea and refreshments were banded round the pavilion and grounds by some of the elder girls. The various races were all well and fairly contested, and created a great deal of excitement amidst the onlookers, while music, in the shape of the German band, lent its soothing influence to the occasion. Altogether the day was an athletic and social success, and should afford gratifying reminiscences to many.

Great is the picnic, and New Zealanders are its prophets. There is something very touching in the unanimity with which all classes and all ages of society sacrifice at the altar of Picnic, and gravely call it pleasure, and strange and more touching still, believe it, too. Sometimes one cannot help wondering where the attraction lies in the case of the middle aged, and staid married couples. To the youthful, to the amorous, the attraction is obvious. The opportunities for basking in the sunshine of each other’s smiles and blushing unseen save by one another, are almost unlimited. If it is a yachting club picnic like the one in Auckland on the 9th of November, there are yachts to be visited and inspected, a feat which may be best accomplished by one Romeo seeking out another and carrying off their respective Juliets in a dingy which you are solemnly assured ‘ only has room for four.’ At which, if you are a good soul, you will not smile, though to your own knowledge the abused craft will seat eight comfortably. It is perhaps superfluous to point out that the advantage of the ‘ dingy for four ’ plan of campaign lies in the fact that it is apt to blind the most suspicious of chaperones. Yes, there are memories of other days—bygones—of a touching, not to say sentimental, nature which remind us why picnics are delightful to the young men and maidens. The children’s enjoyment, too, is easily understood, but what pleasure do those more mature people derive —those, be it understood, who have come for their own enjoyment (as hundreds do)? Parents and chaperones derive an unselfish satisfaction from seeing their charges’ enjoyment, but the others—the middle-aged without encumbrances—surely the subtle delights of the sandy sandwich—sad and mangled, tasting of the cloth they were packed in—delights them not, nor can the bubbling bohea of the ‘ billy ’ afford them any supreme pleasure. ft is not nice; the food at the average picnic seldom is; but that, as Kipling would say, is another story—or topic. No one who has shuddered over

the picnic lunch will suppose that the middle-aged enjoy the gastronomy of the picnic. They don’t spoon. What is it, then, they like, or do they really like it at all ? Is not the picnic taken by many like the cold bath on a freezing winter morning, a duty called a pleasure.

The old order changeth. The open-air picnic has superseded the ballroom, and healthy out-door recreation is already commencing to exercise its beneficial effect on the exhausted constitutions of society lovers. The 9th of November was an excellent opportunity for picniking, and many were the parties who availed themselves of the fine weather to take drag or steamer and hie themselves to some rural or marine spot away from the haunts of man. One of the most enjoyable was a picnic arranged by the Misses Macindoe, Ponsonby. The party, comprising over thirty ladies and gentlemen, drove out in a large waggonette to the Tamaki, camped and lunched there, and drove home in the cool of the evening. Among the ladies were Mesdames Macindoe and Hart, Misses Emily, Mabel, and Marion Macindoe, V. Woodyear, Butters, Porter, Caldwell, Kennedy. Gentlemen : Messrs Smales, Hatton, Peacock, J. Caldwell, etc., etc.

Upon the termination of the successful season in Adelaide, the Advertiser of that city devoted a leader noting the welcome enlargement local playgoers had experienced by the visit to the City of the Plains of the Brough-Boucicault Company. It states that ‘ not for a number of years has there been a theatrical event in Adelaide of equal importance. On the day when the season began, we expressed a confident opinion that this enterprising management would find the polfcy of producing new plays with the assistance of a good all round company a financial success, and in fulfilment of this prediction, the theatre has every night for six weeks been full, and often crowded to inconvenience. The reasons of the substantial success achieved are not far to seek. The season was as satisfactory from the point of view of art as from that of business. A great point has been the completeness of the accessories in all respects; the alteration of plays has been frequent and well judged ; the versatility shown by this talented company has been something amazing. With their social successes we have, of course, nothing to do, though these, no doubt, added much to the effect of the remarkable scene of enthusiasm at the final performance. It is true that Australians prefer actors and actresses whom they can welcome also as personal friends. But the cordial and steady support accorded to the BroughBoucicault combination has been chiefly a recognition of strong ability and honest professional endeavour. They leave behind them a host of pleasant memories, and it may fairly be supposed that they bear with them a fair share of these as they go.’ Remarking on the finished performance this company gives on the first nights of their production, the Advertiser adds, • Mr Brough and Mr Boucicault are well-known to take a serious view of their responsibilities. They have the honesty to declare that “ the public pays to see a performance, and not a dress rehearsal,” and every detail is carefully attended to before the curtain rises tor the first time on any play.’

• Diplomacy ’ will, perhaps, be the strongest play staged by Brough and Boucicault during their New Zealand tourIn Adelaide its production has created a veritable furore. Certainly Sardou never wrote anything better, and since the B. and B.’s combination stage it, the acting is sure to be quite worthy of the play. In the plot of • Diplomacy ’ there is much ; but in the way it is worked out there is a great deal more. y lt is a drama drawing deeply from the well of sentiment. In the Baron we have the idea of an unscrupulous, diplomat, using all instruments and caring for none. In the beautiful Contesse Zicka we have one of his instruments, a passionate, lovely adventuress, a political spy, with a woman’s heart under the veneer of selfishness—a rebellious heart which makes her yield in love to the attractions of the manly young J ulian Beauclere—on foreign political service—and become insanely jealous of Dora, the innocent daughter of a wily old adventuress, the Marquise de Rio Zares. Zicka, to compass the misery of the young people, steals an important document from Beauclere’s despatch-box in such a way as to make him suspect Dora, whom he has just married, to be the traitress. In Henry Beauclere we find a man of the world, whose experience, common sense, and subtlety are too much for the Comtesse, who is checkmated in the end and completely discomfited by him. As we said before, it is the skill of the players, not the game itself, that creates the interest. Mrs Brough (says an Adelaide exchange) developed true dramatic fire in the role of the Comtesse Zicka. Her by-play was admirable, especially in the scene where she steals Captain Julian’s keys and abstracts the paper from his despatch-box ; also when at one time, half concealed by a curtain, she looks upon the man she madly loves and the woman who has won him, the expressions of jealousy, despair, hatred, love, and revenge flitting over her fine features.