WHANGAREI.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue II, 11 July 1903, Page 125

WHANGAREI.

Dear Bee. Jul . v *’ We are. all waiting for OUR NEW STEAMER, the s.s. Ngapuhi, which is to replace the s-s. Wellington in the AucklandWhangarei line in September next. Our friends in Auckland will then be able to come up to see us without any fear of having to suffer the discomforts peculiar to the Wellington, in the want of room and other conveniences. Quite a number of my acquaintances have put eff visiting Auckland till the new boat comes on, and I quite expect to see fully double the number travelling when we have the Ngapuhi. We were beginning to think that we were really quite up to date, here, with our water supply, gas works, municipal buildings, library-, and so forth, but Mr W. H. Rhys, an erstwhile member of the London County Council, now resdent here, has been writing to the local press, and in piquant metaphor, “A V it-, lage Idyll, in Four Fits and a Fizzle.’’ shows how very little we understand out here the true functions of a modern municipal government. It gives the ratepayers rather a shock here to tell them they should provide bands and music for “the public entertainment, recreation grounds, libraries, and hooks, public baths, and buildings for theatrical and other purposes, all-ofwhich are supplied on a lavish seale by the London County Council. Talking of entertainments, I do not suppose the Aitcklahd Ladies’ Benevo-

lent Society wid attempt another floral fete this year; in fact, it is rather too much to expect of the public to fall in with such a proposal for some time, as floral fetes give to the exhibitors an immense amount of trouble, and if the weather is unpropitious, all their effort is made in vain. Bui as the Society must have funds. I would suggest they follow an example I saw in Washington some time ago, which was an immense s-uceess. 'The entertainment was called the ‘"Kernis.” and it was a representation of the dances of ail nations. Each of th.- great citic.-—New York. Boston, Philadelphia. Baltimore. New Orleans, and so forth—were invited to provide one danea and each of the cities made a supreme effort to surpass all others. First they selected the prettiest girls that society could furnish, then tile dresses were made the most dazzling am! elegant that money and ingenuity could create, and the most infinite care was taken io teach each “team” every point and figure of the particular danee they were to perform. The entertainment ran for several nights in the presence of the President and a distinguished company. and was a great financial success. As something new, it should take very well in Auckland, and I have no doubt that if invited all the country towns would furnish a dance: perhaps, too. Gisborne. Napier and other places would join in. It would cost the Benevolent Society very little, as each “team” or town would pav its own expenses. The Kernis as performed in Washington always recurs to my mind as a beiutiful dream, one of those impressionable pictures we too rarely see—a bright gleam of a fairy world. We arc reminded that the orange season is just coming on, for the footpaths from the orange groves towards the. schools are strewn with orange peel, a trail which speaks for itself. There will be a large crop, but already housewives are ordering largely ’ poor man’s” for home marmalade. The gentlemen’s ball, which had been looked forward to with great anticipation. took place on the 2nd July, and proved quite a success. The function was really marked with some eelat, thanks to the very thorough and painstaking manner inwhich the committee performed their duties. The- committee were: Messrs. Gillon, W. A. Carruth. J. Dalston, A. R. I’ickmere. Heyburn. McKinnon, Halliday, McLean. Slater, and Dr. A. T. Scott- Among the ladies 1 noticed: —Airs B Thompson, black broended satin and jet.: Airs Struth-w.-i, fine blaek silk profusely trimmed with black velvet and violets; Airs Bain, blivk satin lovely overdress of black la.ee; Airs Killen, black satin; Airs Carruth, lovely blaek chiffon; Airs Dalston. pretty pale blue satin relieved with white lace; Mrs AV. Aloody, black satin and red roses; Airs Higginson, pink satin blouse and blaek satin skirt; Airs Piekmcre. white silk and roses; Mis Colin B.’swtt, cream satin gown; Airs Bispham, blaek chiffon over orange satin ; Alls Gillon. lilac s ilk trimmed with white passementerie, chiffon frills edged with bebe ribbon; Mr.* AlcLean, white brocaded satin: Miss Gavey. white gown strapped with satin; Aliss Killen, pink silk; Aliss Corns, white silk; Aiiss Mair, white silk: Miss McMillan, blaek silk and roses; Misses Heyburn, white, silk with insertion trimmings; Aliss Woolley, blaek velvet; Aliss Carter, crimson silk: Aliss Alay Aloody. black trimmed with jet; Aliss Absoluni, white silk; and many others whose, dresses were equally pretty. One or two afternoon teas-Were given during tije past week, which were .very enjoyable. We are now looking forward fo the tennis dance, which is to take, place shortly. ; NGAIA.