SO THIS IS SYDNEY!

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 106, 29 January 1935, Page 5

SO THIS IS SYDNEY!

Wellington Girl’s Letter

Perhaps,the first thing that struck me, writes ‘’R.S..” a Wellington girl who is visiting Sydney, not counting the harbour and the bridge, of course, was the extraordinarily large number of flats; blocks of eight and nine stories high all over the place, most of them lacking front gates and opening on to the street. They all have piazzas, one to each flat, with striped sun blinds or window boxes. Where we are. between Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay, the architecture is unusual. Many of the flats and homes are built in Moorish or Byzantine style, of coloured stone, pink, green, or yellow, ami the gardens, though very small, as every inch of space is used for building, are beautiful. They are full of tropical flowers and palms and strange-looking tangled creepers. At first, to my untravelled mind, the city was frightening in its immensity, iu comparison with Wellington. ’The buildings seemed so enormous and imposing. One of the largest is that of the “.Sun,” 13 stories high, of dazzling white stone, with a huge golden sun on the top. Then there were several things I noticed at once. Dozens and dozens of milk bars; they're absolutely the rage at present, and the young men about town have a milk shake instead of a beer: and countless" coffee shops and delicatessen stores. Sounds American, doesn't it? It is. They are even cultivating an American accent, and some of the newspapers are Americanised in their methods.

The women and girls certainly live up to their reputation for dress. They make up very much, as you know, but they do it exceedingly well, and there’s something very trim and finished about them.

I haven't been dancing yet, so 1 haven't seen anything of the evening dresses, but I’m taking an “eyeful” of the clothes worn in the streets. Dark colours, such as navy and blaek, are quite the smartest thing, though lots of girls wear light suits and frocks, blue, pink, white or oatmeal, but always with navy or blaek hats and accessories. Dark blouses with light suits are very popular, especially duck-egg blue or dusky pink with navy. Blue is still almost a byword, it seems. The variety of clothes worn at the theatre rather surprised me. For the opera (which is the “done thing” here at the moment), most of them dress, but some wear just suits and hats; not suggestions of hats, either, but really brimful ones, that obstruct the view of those behind. And talking of hats — they are all turned up at the back, and ;iot the flat saucer things we’ve been wearing, but quite definitely with crowns like the Tyrolean hats. Some girls, the prettiest ones, wear halo, or off-the-face hats. I’ve wandered through all the big shops, and the many arcades full of exciting little shops, and I think everything is expensive except shoes. If you look long enough, you can find wonderfully cheap shoes. The sales girls impress me. They are most persuasive, and as quickly as you buy one thing, they recount the marvellous quality and so on of something else. It’s difficult to get away from them, but I do admire them for it. I went to Bondi and Manly during the week-end. I could never have imagined anything so glorious as surfing, and the palatial dressing pavilions-cum-cafe-cabaret and everything else one can think of, astounded me. The girls make up more than ever on the beaches, and I’ve never seen so many pretty girls before. They make such a business of dressing, or rather, undressing, too, and wear the most fascinating sandals, and shorts over their togs; and some have short or long coats made Of bright-coloured towelling. TJie men are at their best on the beaches, I think. I saw some gorgeous sun-tanned specimens at Bondi, but in the street I think they are rather ordinary and badly dressed. This morning I went to buy some new togs. “I want to look at some bathing suits, please,” said I. “Surf suits, yes madam,” answered the attendant iu a most superior manner. So now I know.

Farewell Garden Party. Great success attended the farewell garden party arranged by Lady Gane at Government House, Sydney, as a final gesture before she left for England, to assist the funds of the District and Bush Nursing Associations, two organisations in which she had taken an active interest since her arrival in New South Wales. No fewer than 64 organisations took part and helped to arrange the varied programme. The garden presented an animated scene, with the gaily striped tents of the booths and side shows, which were thronged with thousands of people, all eager to enjoy the many entertainments provided. A beautiful spectacular pageant was “A Dream of Fair Women,” based on Tennyson’s poem and produced by Miss Nina Shelley. Amplifiers set at intervals round the turreted walls of Government House broadcast the programme of operatic songs given by the principals of _ the Grand Opera Company. Members of the J. C. Williamson company presented a series of short sketches from an impromptu stage erected at one end of the veranda. Leather Raincoats. Leather raincoats that have become stiff and hard may be made supple again by the application of a mixture of one part of water and two of ammonia. Tiiis should be sponged evenly over the whole coat. A good saddlesoap is useful for removing stains from leather coats, and for renovating them when they are soiled. Guests registered at Foster's Hotel. Wanganui, during the week-end included the following: Mr. and Mrs. Russell and the Misses Russell (2), Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Orebaugh, Wellington, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Reid, Mrs. Fisher, New Plymouth. “STI TCI IC R A FT’ ’—FR E E TRANSFER. Latest knitting and crochet styles ami novelties from Paris and London ; dress accessories home dec-oration. Transfer and new slileh each monthly issue. Numbers for Autumn—-25. 26. 27 and 28 all available, fid. each. Send stamps Batons and Baldwins .Ltd., Box 1411W. "Wellington.—Advt.