SOCIETY ON DITS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XXI, 21 May 1898, Page 644

SOCIETY ON DITS.

HAT His Excellency the Governor -1 and the Countess of Ranfurly have issued invitations for a ball at Government House on Thursday. 26th. to celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday.. That at the Volunteer Ball, which is to be held at the Drill Hall, New Plymouth, on May 24th, Mr A. E. A. Clarke has kindiv consented to act as M.C. The Thorndon Tennis Club (Wellington) intend giving their annua] dance next month in Thomas’ Hall.

That a picnic party drove from New Plymouth in brakes last week to Mr Mi'nehin’s, at Inglewood, arriving there just before tea. After they had satisfied their hunger they- adjourned to the. next room, where they had dancing, which was kept up until after midnight. Soon after they left Mr Minchin's hospitable roof, after thanking him for the very pleasant time they had spent, and arrived back in New Plymouth at 3 a.m. Among the party were Misses George (2). Cottier (3). Irvin. Paul, Biggs. Hall, Jackson, A. Avery, Morey (2), Minchin (3). Mesdames Paul. Hall, Corney, Cock. ,1. E. George. Blyth. Bacon. Cottier, and Messrs McKenzie, Rudd, Tabor, Beale. Mitchell. Elliott. Patterson, Avery. S. Pa ul. That one of the most interesting features at the annual meeting of the Auckland centre of St. John Ambulance Association will be the presentation to Drs. Dawson, Girdler, Knight. Lewis, Roberton, Roberts and Sharman of their diplomas of appointment as honorary- life members of the St. John Ambulance Association, in recognition ot their able and valuable services as gratuitous lecturers to classes at the Auckland centre. The meeting takes place on Friday. 27th, in the Y.M.C.A. hall. That the American humorist. Mr H. J. Emmett, played in Picton on Thursday, sth May," to a very small, but appreciative audience. Possibly had people, known what a really clever artist Mr Emmett was they would have supported his show. As a ventriloquist Mr Emmett excelled, and the manner in which he handled his violin shows his great musical talent. His puns and little jokes no one could find fault with, and Miss Beatrice Vartha is an accomplished musician, whom it was a real pleasure to listen to. That Mr Dobbie has started practising ‘Pinafore’ in Picton, with quite a large company of amateurs of both sexes. That the ex-Mayor of Wanganui, Mr ,l. L. Stevenson, has been made a Justice of the Peace. That speculators are buying up all the potatoes they can get hold of in Canterbury. Owing to the shortage of supplies in Australia potatoes are likely to be dear this winter. That it is proposed to form a Chess and Draughts Club at Hastings, and that a meeting has been held for that purpose. That an entertainment, musical and dramatic, in aid of St. Peter's Sunday School is to take place on the 24th inst at the Volunteer Hall. That the annual singing competition for the bo.vs of the Napier Cathedral choir was held on a recent Thursday evening. In the senior division. Master Harry Elmes won the first prize, and Master H. Wvatt, the second. In the junior division the first prize was awarded to Master G. Aitken, and the second to Muster J. Hartley. The first prizes in the senior and junior division, which consisted of two handsome albums, were presented by Mr \ igor Brown.

That the powers that be have moved the luggage shed from the middle of the Picton wharf to the end near the goods shed, and intend to convert it 'nto a waiting room for the convenience of travellers awaiting belated steamers. That Mr W. F. Christian. Wellington. was on Saturday evening presented with a very handsome carved Maori walking stick by the members of the Petone United Cricket Club, the company afterwards adjourning to hold a social in his honour at Bradshaw’s Hotel, the entertainment,which consisted of songs and speeches, being closed by the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ Mr Christian left Wellington by- the Takapuna on Sunday night for Auckland, en route to America, and will be much missed by cricketers, having been a most energetic promoter of cricket matches during his residence in Wellington. That Mi ss Dart's garden in Pieton is quite a show place, her chrysanthemums being even finer than usual, many having greatly improved since the show, and several new varieties are now in full bloom. That much to the satisfaction of the citizens of Wellington, the Government have decided that the muchtalked of buildings at Mount Cook are not to be used as a gaol until after Parliament has solved the question as to what is to be done in respect to them and the reserve. Meanwhile, the buildings are to be utilised for military purposes, as the accommodation at the Mount Cook barracks is very inadequate. That amongst the debutantes at Mrs Cotter's dance in Remuera, Auckland, was Miss Eve Smith (Epsom), who looked charming in white satin. That many of the residents of Waima, Rawene, and Kohukohu are grumbling because the whole of the natives who took up arms have not been arrested.

That a Government Gazette recently notified that after the 9th inst. bicycles, tricycles, or velocipedes accompanying passengers require to be. fully and legibly- addressed with the name and destination of passenger, and be at the railway station at least 15 minutes before the advertised time of departure of the train by which they are to be carried. That some of the New Zealand wheelmen and women are good churchgoers. A cyclists’ church parade was a most instructive and interesting sight in Petone recently. Deponent sayeth not what part the bikes took in the service. Probably they were used to go round for the collection; this being- accomplished without a single spill. That Mr C. L. Orr-Ewing, who was married to Lady- Augusta Boyle, is a devoted yachtsman, both in regard to steam and sailing vessels. His handsome little craft Heartsease bore off the first prize at Cannes recently. Mr Orr-Ewing is described in a Scottish society- paper as not being tall, but dark and slight and youthful looking for his thirty-eight years. That the Waima natives are doggedly refusing to pay the tax on their canine favourites.

That the Opposition in Auckland received much strength and satisfaction from the trenchant remarks of Mr Scobie Mackenzie. M.H.R., during the course of his political address in the Choral Hall last week. That the Auckland City Council is threatened with water on the brain, because there is hardly any aqua pura at the Western Springs. That the usual term concert in connection with the School of Music, Nelson. was held last week, and all the pupils who performed acquitted themselves creditably. That the rise in the price of bread has raised fears of a future flour famine in the well-bred economical mind of every- good housekeeper in this colony. That invitations are issued for a ball to celebrate Her Majesty’s Birthday at Government House, Wellington, on the 26th inst. That on Saturday afternoon, at the Napier Bowling Green, a mateh was played between rinks consisting of members of the Napier Bowling Club and of Fire Insurance Agents, and that the former were victorious by 39 points to 34. That the New Zealand Parliament pioposes to commence the winter work on June 30th. Also, that nothing very important is proposed to be done bv either side of the House. Also that it is to be a Brer Rabbit sort of session—the members will nil lie low and wait for the General Election.