HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1969, 3 January 1907, Page 3

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

By “Pouelopo.” WELLINGTON, Tuesday. HOLIDAY TRAVELLING.

. Wore it not that town is so uupleasant, aiul so empty of faimhur o laces at tliis time, one would unques- _ tionably obey the poet s dictum, to . stav at home is best. ljut a t'oatless spirit is abroad, children have n their holidays, and wise parents mill that the country or the seaside oilers . mplovment and amusement lor youthful hands and brains which * Satan might otherwise hiul occupa- > tion for. The idea of country chil- » (Iron spending holidays in a city, and town children in tho country, is an excellent ono, and several people have exchanged houses with this end , in view. But travellings is about as unpleasant just now as it well can be. There is a tremendous crush by train or steamer. Ono hears of beds in a hold being tliankfuly accepted by travellers to the exhibition, and oven two la.rge motor cars on dock were turned to account on a recent terry trip. They made most comfortable berths, too, infinitely preferable to tho stulfy quarter of a cabin, where two men snore, and the third goes to bed in his boots. Wo had an uncomfortable but amusing train experience on Boxing Day. There was no vacant seats, and so I, with a tittle child on my knee, perched on the wooden arm of a seat, while my companion, with another child,* sat on the arm opposito. It was very hard and uncomfortable, but we accepted tho position cheerfully, and only resented it when we saw two I

moil, quite tipsy, occupying two seats near the door. They were unshaven and unkempt, and only endurable when they subsided into slumber and untidy heaps of clothes. The dog-box was suggested as a more fitting place for them than a first-class cariage, but a ladv. whose well-bred terrier . ,'.s in the dog-box, objected. The ■irst tunnel our lamps were not lit, and a strong spirituous odor arose as wo entered tho darkness. A small girl piped out, “Oh, mother, what a nice smell!” And there was some laughter, even from the scandalised British matron with the bit of blue in her button-hole. In the same tunnel a sprightly old man, in holiday humor, kissed his wife. The noise was unmistakable, and when the train dashed into the daylight the old man with great glee tokl us what ho had done, while the lady bridled and blushed. Near the door a huddle of girls and men sang sentimental music-hall ditties, and now and again the tipsy ones aroused themselves and chimed in with weird dissonances. At “Home, Sweet Home” they almost broke down oyer the pathetic sentiments. AY e left them in the carriage only vaguely aware the train had come to a standstill.

ORCHID. 'iliough the few left are constantly remarking that everyone is out of town, there are plenty left to pack the Opera House to the doors every night. This particular opera is exquisitely staged and full of charming lyrics and choruses. Who lias not heard and laughed at “Little Mary?” Miss Olive Godwin is the principal lady. I remember her especially as a very graceful and attractive Princess Ida. In real life she is fair-haired and sweet-faced, with a tail slender figure and stately carriage. Her voice is clear and fresh and sympathetic. It was expected Florence Young would have come with the company, but she was required iii Australia for pantomime: As well as tlio opera, there are AA'est’s Pictures—with special _ set of films illustrative of the Christchurch Exhibition for those who can’t go to see it—and the Brescians, while at the Theatre Royal tho popular Ered Graham and Nellie Dent are causing much mirth.

The Fijian fire-walkers, who gave show at tho Athletic Park on Now Year’s Day and the day after, will probably draw an immense crowd. It is a good place to. hold the show, for from the stand and the raised terrace

an excellent view can be got, and there need be none of that grumbling that occurred in Christchurch, where many paid but saw nothing.

SOCIAL SCRAPS. Except one dance and a handkerchief tea I hare nothing to record in the way■ of entertainments, Christmas is not the season for dancing, and the particular night was exceptional hot. But any affair at Mrs John Duncan’s is too excellent to

nijss, and it proved most enjoyable. Mr Duncan's brother has recently arrived from Home, and it was pa -tly for the cricketers that it was given. The two brothers and a party of relatives have ben doing various trips in New Zealand, and are planning more. The three ladies of the English cricket team wore present at the dance, Lady Agnes de Trafford, Mrs. Wynyard, and Mrs Randall Johnson. The latter is exceedingly fine-looking, tall, with a good figure, and a fair hair, arid she dresses with great taste. With her beautifully-cut blue coat and skirt and motor cap, she wore a long knitted silk scarf round her neck, reaching almost to her knees —a decided variation on the lace and chiffon genus which is, of course, out of place in a rainy-day costume. The handkerchief tea was given in honor of Miss Janet Ross by Mrs Jack Rose of the Hutt. Miss Ross is to be married to D. Hector quite soon. Among the many pretty handkerchiefs brought was a Honiton lace one for the wedding. Miss Caw —cousin of Mr Jack Rose—Mrs Leighton, and Miss Ross sang and played during the afternoon. Mr Tolhurst’s fine house and gardens have been taken, during the family’s absence in England, by Hr. Napier-Maclean. There _is a sort of general post going on just now as regards houses. Mr Lichfield, from Christchurch,' is moving into MiMartin Kennedy’s in February, and Mr Dalston has taken Mr Louis Blundell’s while he'and is family are away at Homo and jn Japan. I hear Mr Balcombe Brown’s house is. to be occupied by Mr Brindley’s of the | State Fire Insurance. Among the returning ones are Mr Percy B-nller with a motor car and an excellent income—and Miss Partridge, who has spent a long time at Honie, and is much the better of the change. Dr. and Mrs Fitclmtt have decided to take a trip to England in March. Miami Mrs. Quick are in Rotorua at present, and Mr. and Miss Nathan are also on their way to the Hot Lakes. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Nathan start for the Southern Lakes tins A number of 'Wellington people are at Titalie Bay, including Mr. Tolhurst, Dr. Knight-, Mr. T. J oung, Mr. Menteatll, and Mr. OCouncil, with their respective families. A number of girls have formed a camp there, Miss Greta Ewen and tie voiuigcr Miss Simpsons being of the party. There are fourteen maidens four tents, and a disused motor-shed was pitched, and given fine weather the prospects of a jolly holiday are rosy

‘‘ A NEW EDITOR. J Jlr.. Alex. Wilson, late' rector qf I the Otago Boys’ High School, ami : , newlv-appointed editor or the hew Zealand Times, has arrived in Weh . lington, and Wellington ought to ho congratulated on its latest acquisl- I tion. He is a man of letters, and l possesses a charming style of writing, with the quantities, turn of humor, . cud pathos. Long ago I and another I —a girl—edited a sehool magazine, ; and the present editor of the \\ cllington morning journal coutribined the most delightful article. One , in particular about his garden and j tlie devastating lien that ravaged j his choicest seedlings 1 shall never forgot. Books, china, and flowers . these are all hobbies of Ml. «ilson. He had gathered a yery hue collection of china —he discovered and bought somewhere on one ot ! his country rambles a whole sen ice jof old willow-pattern—hut much was sold before he came north. His garden in Dunedin was a delightful ! place, with great trees and stretches 1 of grass, which the daffodils einbrpi- • i dored with gold, and borders ot wqn- ; dorful bulbs. Liko all true lovers ot ' flowers, he was most generous with

I tiloni, anti liono loFt his house with out im armful of scouted blossoms ; Mr. Wilson is a bachelor, and has oik sister, who at present is remaining ir Dunedin. By the way, ho is a Shake. ' spoaro student, and was president ol | tho Shakespeare Club in Dunedin I for many years. 1 Lis papers that lie I used to" read at tho commencement of each public reading he has published, and they form a most valuable and graceful addition to a Shakespearian library.