OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXI, Issue IX, 27 August 1898, Page 267

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE ISLAND FRUIT TRADE. Our photogravures give some idea of the scene to be witnessed on the Auckland wharf when one of the steamers from the islands is discharging a cargo of fruit. The whole of the tee alongside which the Isxit happens to be lying presents a striking picture of tropical richness when the cargo happens, as in our illustrations, to l>e made up chiefly of bananas. No other fruit conveys the. same impression to such a degree. Oranges come packet! in cases, and though the odour of them is very pervading they do not offer the same picture of plenty as do the great bunches of bananas heaped in apparent confusion on the wharf. The news of the arrival of a. banana boat in Auckland soon spreads among* the gamins of the city, and the youngsters may Im? seen eagerly loitering round the heaps or following the carts on the chance of a capful of ripe bananas. Notwithstanding all the care taken in landing and carting, a certain amount of fruit, falls from the bunches and the young* harpies are always ready to pounce on it. THE DUKE OF MANCHESTER. William Angus Drogo Montagu, 9th Duke of Manchester, who is now on a visit Io Australia, was born 3rd March. 1877, and succeeded his father in 1592. Sir Henry Montagu, who was Lord Treasurer of England, was created Baron Montagu 1620, and six years later. Earl of Manchester. The fourth earl espoused the cause of the Prince ofOrange, and was duly rewarded. being raised to the dukedom 1719. The present Duke’s grandmother is the present Duchess of Devonshire, and his aunt is Duchess of Hamilton. He has only one sister living, the elder. Lady Mary Montagu, having died a short time ago. The Duke, who has been educated at Eton, came, of age this year. Our London correspondent savs; — Tlte Duke of Manchester’s sudden and unexpected departure for the Antipodes has caused a. tremendous talkee-talkee in society. His Grace was just about to be married to Miss Maud Wilson, and all the prepartions for the wedding were in full swing. Now the ceremony is indefinitely postponed, and some good-natured people even allege the engagement has been ruptured. At Tandragee Castle, in Ireland, where the newly-married couple were to have spent the autumn, there is loud lamentation. The Tandragee Castle people have had a lively time lately, and the Tandragee merchants have placed additional orders with their wholesale houses, and stood with open-mouthed expectancy waiting for the great event of the coining of the young duke with his bride. The domestics at the castle had been hard at work on every square foot of the interior, from the pantry to the newly-fitted billiard-room. All this lively scene of activity and rejoicing has been transformed into one of desolation by the tick of the local telegraph instrument. A mandate lias come from the young duke to stop all works immediately, with the further request to send on a part of his outfit for a tour in New Zealand. The duke is also known in Tandragee as something of a singer. Not long* ago he sang with a very accomplished young lady at a local concert in a village near Tandragee called Gilford. The song was entitled ‘Mulrooney’s Dog,’ and as an encore a French duet was rendered to the Irish nobility, gentry and peasantry present. INi I’EHPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL. MK KLAND V. HAWKE’S BAY. The last of the representative matches to be played in Auckland this season look place at Ejisoni on Saturday last, when the Hawke's Bay players met the Auckland team. The game resulted in a somewhat easy win for the home team by 18 points to 10. From the start it was plain that the Aucklanders were too much for their opponents, but. the latter certainly played a most plucky game. In previous matches between the two province's Auckland have, except in one case, come off victors. In 1889 her men won by 8 |H)ints to 3. In 1894 the* game was drawn, neither side* scoring. In 1895 Auckland again won by 10 points to 3.