WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue XI, 31 August 1895, Page 268

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee, August 22 The first item of interest this week is undoubtedly THE GOLF MATCH which took place last Saturday on the links at Miramar. The competition was very keen for the prize given by Mr Wardrop, and resulted in a win for Miss Duncan and Sir Arthur Douglas, who were greeted with hearty cheers at the conclusion of the game. The committee, who have really worked very hard to make this first mixed match a success, may well be pleased with the result of their efforts. About twenty couples took part in the play, and many of them are proved to be very even players. I hear there is to be another Ladies’ Singles about the sth of next month. The tournament takes place in Dunedin shortly. The cross-country run in connection with the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club has been postponed till the 12th October. I hear that the members of the Polo Club are eager to open their season in anticipation of the tournament, which this year is Io be held in Palmerston North. A new polo ground is to be formed also on the Miramar estate, but it will not be fit for use till about the middle of the summer. In the future loom balls from the Port Nic’iolson Club and the Athlet’cC.ub. Mrs John Duncan intends to give a danc; shortly in honour of Miss Levin, who will make her debut. Mrs R Pharazyn will probably have another afternoon tea before the c’ose of the Session. Mrs Jas Allen and Mrs J. G. Wilson are the first of the Sessional visitors to say good-bye. Miss Jean Wilson will stay for a few months longer to continue her studies at the school of design. The Hon H. I. Miller, Speaker of the Upper House, gave another large dinner party at Bellamy’s last Saturday to a number of M.L.C.s. who testified their appreciation by prolonging the festivity to a late hour. During the afternoon Miss Miller entertained numbers of her friends on the tennis courts, an example followed on Monday by Miss Inglis (Hawke’s Bay.) I may here confirm my rumour of last week by coroborating my statement that Miss Alice Grace will shortly be with us again. She is now in London waiting for a favourable opportunity to come out. On Tuesday evening a very delightful SURPRISE I’ARTY invade 1 Mrs Grace, met with a hearty welcome and spent a most enjoyable evening. But ‘surprise ’ parties do not always fare so well, and I would nob advise my friends or acquaintances to make a practice of thus taking their would-be hostess by storm. A photograph which attracts some attention is ar. Dresent In the studio of Wriggles worth and Binns. It represents His Excellency the Governor and the Aides. It is a very good picture of all the group, and, moreover, an excellent photograph. For the new i<sue of POSTAGE STAMPS, for which the Government offered han.lsome prizes for original and appropriate designs, has called forth much artistic power, and competition has been very keen. The designs of which there were several hundred, are now under the consideration of the Selected Committee, who find it no easy task to award a prize

where so many are worthy of it As soon as the Committee has finished its task, it is proposed to hold a public exhibition of the work sent in. probably in the Art Gallery, when I have no doubt many will be glad of an opportunity to see such finished specimens of artistic skill and execution. Mr Frank Allen has just returned to Wellington after a six months’ visit to the Old Country. I hear that Miss Bethune is likely to be out again sooner than she at first intended, as she thinks of leaving England almost at once to escipe all chance of experiencing the cold autumn weather. I was pleased to learn that she is very much better since leaving the colony, and we sincerely trust sne will continue as she has begun, and improve steadily and surely. Wellington is gayly decked with football badges, and those who have any claim at all having donned the rosettes of their own particular team. The contingent from Wanganui arrived on Wednesday evening, and play the Wellington College on Friday. I hear there comes the inevitable football dance on the very heels of the match, so that the girls also must hail with delight the advent of visiting footballers. On Wednesday evening Mrs W. Ferguson had A DELIGHTFUL PARTY, when the evening was almost entirely devoted to music. The same species of amusement holds sway at Lady Stout’s on Saturday evening, and at Mrs Reid’s on Thursday, so music-lovers apparently will have it all their own way for a few days. Two of our enterprising young ladies are venturing boldly on quite a new line of employment, namely, running a refreshmentroom on the Quay. Miss Pickering and Miss Burnes are the two plucky speculators, and I wish them every success in their undertaking. There is no reason why this venture should not be an unqualified success, and certainly the work, though monotonous, and at times dull, is not. hard, and there is no doubt that for a quiet, refreshing cup of afternoon tea it would be a retreat infinitely superior and more appealing to one’s taste than more public places, like the D.I.C. or McEwan and Churchill, which, though excellent in their way, sometimes appear so crowded that one passes on and foregoes the tea. Mr and Mrs Parker are here j ust now. They have come straight from their mission station at Mongolia, China, and are giving most interesting addresses on the subject. Both the Rev. John and Mrs Parker have been doing mission work there for some years, and Mrs Parker is able to give graphic descriptions of Ku Cheng, the scene of the late fearful outrage, as she laboured there for some time. Certain frequenters of the ladies’ gallery have been raising an agitation to have the gallery thrown open to all comers, whether they be provided with a ticket of admission or not, but free shows do not find favour in the eyes of those on show, and only the afternoon performance has been conceded to the agitators. The more popular evening entertainments are still under the control of the Sergeant at Arms, and the ‘one member, one ticket,’ regulation is still in force. But though individual members have the privilege of issuing only one ticket, the right is transferable to any of his political con/trees, so that it sometimes comes to pass that a|member may treat as many as a dozen of his friends to an intellectual play from the Parliamentary boards. The front row of chairs (which I shall compare to the dress circle, being the most difficult to secure, and decidely the most advantageous position both for sound and sight) is reserved till after the Speaker is seated -for the wives or daughters of M.H.Rs. and favoured holders of sessional tickets. After Sir Maurice O’Rorke takes his seat all claims are levelled, and there ensues a short scene of haste and confusion, while a general rush is made for the chairs still vacant, then silence falls, and I o'ten think it hard that we are allowed to make no sign to evidence either sympathy or disapproval of the scenes enacted in the arena below. No halo of romance clings to the tariff question ; it is all severe and practical. An undefinable fear takes possession of our vain feminine hearts as we hear the suggestion raised of an almost prohibitive duty being laid on imported clothes and smart apparel, and we shrink with horror from the mental visions that rise before us of the dull dowdiness of our future appearance. The rustling of fresh, dainty London gowns shall no more be heard, neither shall our eyes be refreshed with the novel, somewhat bizarre, and altogether unique creations from Worth, or other leaders of colour, harmonies and cunning draperies. Mr Hone Heke is gradually losing the nervousness which marked his maiden speeches, and is now frequently on his feet. He quite surpassed himself the other a«*y when illustrating his point by witty stories relative to Maori warfare, and the unnerving effect produced on the white man at sight of the native dance, and concluded by saying that while the Maori had one war dance the European had another, the which Mr Ward had evidently practiced in London when he marshalled his ‘unpledged’ securities, and had them accepted as such. On Friday afternoon and evening the debate still continued, raging fiercely round the Bank of New Zealand, while the political intrigues that envelope it are decidedly misty and unfathomable. We had fondly hoped to glean some lucid explanation on the subject, but alas I female intellect seems scarcely sharp enough to Eierce the hideous gloom of mystery that surrounds much of the usiness transacted by our rulers. One point we marked and inwardly learnt much therefrom, viz., the many varied aspects in which a single incident may strike the minds of different witnesses. Debates abound in contradiction, but all que <tions and interjections from the Opposition benches recoil unheeded from the impenetrable armour of Ministerial reticence on the other side. Mr Ward made a good speech on Tuesday evening, a reply to fifty-six speech js on the Financial debate. The Colonial Treasurer kept within the hour, but it was speaking at the lightning speed the whole time, and many points remained untouched upon, and o’hers received but a brief remark en passant. The Speaker iMr Ward) could not resist a passage of arms with the members for Bruce and Ciutha. To the latter he addressed himself when explaining the subtle difference between himself and Joseph of the Bible, to whom he had been compared. ‘ The Old Joseph,’ cries the Co'onia’ Treasurer, * wore a cjat of many colours. The modern Joseph wears a coat of the right colour.’ Hethen, with questionable taste compared Mr Thos. Mackenzie to the unbelieving Thqs. Didymus. He also assured us that he never wrote leading articles for newspapers, not even for the Ciutha rag. Mr Earnshaw made a somewhat lengthy speech, in the course of which he assured us that it was not his intention to treat his talents as the ostrich does her ‘ heggs ’ by burying them in sand or anything else. The Colonial Treasurer has solemnly informed the House that it has taken his Government all their time and energy to draw the colony out of the unholy mess into which it was sunk by previous ministrations. Mr Duncan, whose voice never travels to the Gallery, is not hailed with any enthusiasm, and his speech, which he means to be witty, is punctuated with derisive laughter. During the financial debate the time limit is suspended and each member may spaak for an hour, and thereafter hold his peace. The Colonial Treasurer, in a moment of exasperation when interrupted by Sir Robert Stout, sharply reminded the sem »r member for Wellington that he had already spoken on the subject. Mrs Seddon and her daughters are very regular in their attendance id the Speakers’ Gallery, also Mrs Reeves 1 notice Mrs Pirani has also developed a strong interest in politics, and i< verv frequently to be seen in the Gallery. Apropos of politics, I may mention the latest female political movement— Ihe Southern Cross Society.’ Since the admission of women to the right of Franchise, it has become clearly evident that in many cases they entirely fail to realise the duties and responsibilities that march hand-in-hand with power, and many are blind followers of a stronger mind. Finding it too much trouble to think and decide for themselves, they yield their minds to be moulded by some dominating will with whom they come in contact. This Society, founded and worked by the wives of leading members of Parliament, or of the city, is formed with the object of lessening this wide-spread evil of political ignorance and indifference, and enable women to take an intelligent interest in public matters. At the meetings those present are invited to disfreely any subject which they may not grasp clearly, and the office-bearers being women well versed in political lore, are there to instruct or explain as they find necee <ary. I see the list is headed by the well-known names of Lady Stout, Mrs Plimmer Mrs Stuart Menteath, and Mrs Newman.

Meye.