HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2037, 23 March 1907, Page 4

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

A MYSTERY. By “Ponolopo.” Wellington. t'lio most, exciting minor ns lo the identity of Mntlumo Arrnl is oirouluting hero. L give it you for what .t is worth. It was stated in the papers that the singer was not what she appeared to he, hut possessed of high position, and many surmises have been made,including Hint about a Russian Grand Duke. But now 't is suggested that she is the famous Calve. Those who have seen that marvellous actress - cantatrice at Homo were struck by the likeness that Mndamo Arrnl hears to her, in voice, appearance, and little mannerisms. One Wellington lady, who was fortunate enough to see Calve in many roles—and one of them Carmen—and who is herself a musical authority, remarked as she listened to Mad amo Arrnl in Carmen’s song, that the latter must have watched Calve very closely to copy her so exactly. Even a peculiar movement of toe and heel, when she is singing, is a characteristic of the great European prima donna. Whether she is Calve or not—and it is a severe test to subject an inexporiecod colonial audience.to —she is a brilliant singer and a very charming personality. In the meantime those who have heard the rumor that wo have entertained a colehrity unawares, and who had not troubled to go and hear her, are much annoyed to have wasted their opportunities.

THE SERVANT DIFFICULTY. The Committee of the Employers’ Association has conferred with one from the Domestic Workers’ Union, hut with not much result. I hear that the feeling on the side of the workers was rather antagonistic, and they cling fast to their demand for regular hours, notwithstanding the impossibility of regulating all households by the same rule. It is declared now, and by some lawyers, that the Union cannot bo legally registered, seeing a house is not a factory, and that a mistress does not make money out of tho work of her servants. But lawyers, liko doctors, do not always agree, and even this is combatted. A lady who has just arrived from England, bringing three excellent girls with her, tells mo that there are six more she knows of waiting on tip too till sho ensures them positions here. And if not six, why not sixty? There is no desire at all to boycott colonial girls, but tliero is no supply to moot the demand, and many women arc actualy breaking down in health because of tho impossibility ol' getting help. Tho general feminine opinion is that, if tho Government have got us into this scrape they ought to get us out of it, and if they can’t, it devolves upon them to niako room for those who can. It has boon declared that it will bo quite easy to get the names in Wellington of two thousand women who are indignant at tho absurdities of the present law—for instance, that which permits a Union of seven discontent's to dictate to thousands—and two thousand women mean two thousand votes.

SOCIAL NOTES. 1 have more engagements to chronicle. Miss Vera MacDonald, adopted daughter of Mr. Kennedy MacDonald, is engaged to Mr. Joseph Parker, subeditor of the Evening Post,and Miss Doris Gillon, whoso father, Dr. Gore Gillon, has just maried Miss Mitchell, of New Plymouth, is engaged to Mr. Harley George, of Melbourne. Dr. Gore Gillon and his bride have been in. Dunedin attending the Medical Conference. Dr. and Mrs. Purdy, from the Hutt, also went South for the same purpose. Quite an exodus of friends lias taken place this past week. Mr. and Mrs. Michie and their family have left to settle in England, and Mrs. Grierson and her daughter, from Auckland, have also started for Home. Mrs. Ruck, Mrs. Grierson’s sister, has been staying with Miss Contes. By the Monowai left Mrs. Collins, her son and daughter—all to be away two years at least—and with her goes little Miss Pearce, on route for an English school. Mrs. Arthur Pearce goes as far as Sydney with her daughter. Miss Coates and the Blundell’s are also passengers, and most of the English cricketers. Miss Kane and Miss Atkinson were also among the departing friends. Next week another contingent to catch the Moldavia leaves Welington. Among tho visitors in Welington are Miss Jean Lusk, a guest of Mrs. John Salmonds, Miss Tannahill, who is staying with Mrs. Rankine Brown, Mrs. Snodgrass with Mr. Clayton, Miss Diddams, from Napier, a guest of Mrs. Fulton and Miss Hoadley, who is with her sister, Mrs. Sinclair. Mrs. Clifton, from Auckland, has arrived in Wellington and has taken a house in Brougham street. Mrs. and Miss Speed, from Blenheim, have moved ineo their new house in Hobson street. Among tho AVellington people visiting Rotorua are Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, and Mr. and Mrs. lan Duncan ancl Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Fitzgerald. Socially, this past weok has been extremely dull, and every departure makes the likelihood of a quiet season more probable. There is a rumour—but everyone knows the definition of a rumour—that the visit of tho squadron may result in a ball given by tho Wellington Club. There are extensive alterations going on there at present that woidd give much more room for dancing, and tho balls given by the Club are always the most elaborate and perfect of entertainments ,so it is to be hoped the report is true.

THE TATTOO. This' was the namo given to a novel open air function with a military flavour held at Day’s Bay. Had the weather been warm and dry —like so many of the evenings we have had, it would have been most enjoyable. The trip across the Bay, and the quaint effects of bush, camp fire, torches and band music, would have proved irresistible. But the weather chose to break just as the crowds had crossed and congregated, and the rain, came down in torrents. It was a very wot and dismal band of pleasure-seekers that thronged the boats back to Wellington. From ii picturesque view-point, before the rain fell, the scene was charming. Bands of volunteers with torches and music marched through the bush and down on to the flat, where there were tents and campfires, and all the pleasanter apertenances of war. Merry-go-rounds were busy, the swing-boats were ever swaying to and fro, and on the dancing platform reels and jigs and hornpipes were performed by experts. The water-chute, too, was a source of huge amusement. As I am writing. the Bossies o’ the Barn Band should be playing at Day’s Bay, but the weather is not tempting enough for a great crowd. The band, too, was most unfortunate yesterday, for the rain-showers—even though they alternated with gleams of sunshine—were too heavy to be ignored, and even the charm of the music was not potent enough to draw the vast throng that might have been expected. THE NEW CLOTHES.

There is at one of the largest draper’s here, a very fine show of a make of face cloths, Drap Royalty they are called. In all there are no less than seventy-five shades, one dress length of evory shade, so that there is no chance of meeting your own frock on a friend or an enemy. The tints aro exquisite, too, and some of the tones in greens that are almost blues, and browns that might be greens; are most uncommon. The cloth gown is to be a feature of this coming season, and this material is

so soft and glossy that it requires little or no trimming, its own colour and folds being quite sufficiently ornamental. Tho bodice is often made like u square-cut pinafore, or may merely consist of broad braces, perhaps continued into a little capo over arms, or perhaps the doth forms a short bolero, though this style is not so now. But in tho smartest gowns tho under bodico—which of courso shows in tho sloovcs and the vest, and with tho traces, scarcely any of which is covered—is of heavy lace. Some of the imported gowns on view here are of velvet, but for stroot wear in Wellington, this material is scarcely likely to become widely worn. For a dinner clress it is perfect, and it, too, requires no adornment, except a touch of good lace. THE WILY CHAMOIS.

Tho experiment of introducing Chamois into Now Zaland has been surprisingly successful. Tho present experiment really arose out ol a conversation at dinner one evening on board tho Austrian warship Panther, between Commander Von Hohnal and Mr. Malcolm Ross. The former inquired as to tho possibility of getting some of the strange New Zealand birds for the gardens of tho Emperor of Austria. Von Holme] had been on the Emperor’s staff and was personally friendly with him. In tho event of his being able to arrange this lie said he had no doubt about his being able to induce tho Emperor to reciprocate with a shipment of some Chamois. On the matter being mentioned to Mr. Donne and the Commander introduced to him next morning the head of the tourist department went into the matter with all Ids accustomed promptitude and energy. Sir Joseph Ward clinched the proposal by sending the birds to the Emperor as a present from tho Now Zealand Government. In return he has secured for this colony another very valuable asset. The Chamois will add greatly to the interest of tho Southern Alps and in years to come we shall no doubt develop ill this colony a race of Chamois’ hunters equal to the famous hunters of Switzerland. Tho Chamois arc very pretty little animals of the antelope genius, of brownish colour ancl with pretty Jjlack horns that grow straight and then curve suddenly backwards in the graceful liokliko formation. The flesh lias a somewhat peculiar flavour, owing no doubt, to tho Alpine diet. The skins are used for tho manufacture of the well-known Chamois leather. In his very charming book, “Above the Snow-Line,” now out of print, Dr. Clinton Dent tells how excited the guides got over a Chamois seen during one of his climbs. Suddenly the loading guide gave a loud whistle and fell flat down. The other two guides followed his example and beckoned tho English climbers with excited gesticulations to behave in a similarly foolish manner. Knowing that tho guides would not move till the Chamois had disappeared, the Englishmen seized the opportunity to have an early breakfast. The guides, meanwhile, wriggled about on their stomachs, with eyes starting out of their heads, possessed by an extraordinary desire to miss no singlo movement of the little animal. “See it moves,” said one. “Himmel, it is feeding,” said another. “Truly, it is fine.” “Thunder weather, it moves its head.” In clue courso the Chamois walked away, ancl tho guides sat up ancl entered into warm discussion as to its size. A Chamois is to a guide as a fish to the baffled angler, or the last new baby to a monthly nurse, and is always pronounced to be beyond question tho finest that has ever been seen.

The Wnirnrnpa News says that in connection with the agitation in Taranaki for the erection of cheese plants, a member of a well-known Wellington firm interested in dairy produce, writes from New Plymouth to a Carterton resident“ There is next to a revolution among the suppliers of some of the butter factories, and as a result the directors are having an uncomfortable time. Latest cables from London advise that the price for best cheese is standing at 60s, with a steady demand.” Christchurch Truth hits back at the pompous Lord-Mayor of Melbourne:—

"The Gaud-Mayor of Melbourne has been particularly candid about tho shortcomings of this country, seeing that he enjoyed its hospitality to the full so recently, ancl he reminds us somewhat of the guest at a dinner who goes home to criticise the table manners of those who also shared his host’s hospitality. A few years ago Mr. Weedon was a second-hand furniture dealer, or a sandwich man, or something of that kind, ancl by a remarkable combination of auspicious circumstances, coupler! with a certain amount of native push, he began an ascent which landed him in the Mayora'. ‘chair of Melbourne, and since then he has been strutting around, a gilded popinjay, unable to familiarise himself with the new surroundings. Ho complains that New Zealand reporters only reported him when ho was saying nice things about the; country, ancl added: ‘Throughout my tour I never lost an opportunity of reminding New Zealand peoplo of Australia’s peculiar advantages, but 1 am afraid tho information very often fell on deaf ears.’ The fact is that the diminutive Weedon blew tho Australian trumpet much more loudly than a tactful or a. discreet visitor would over have thought of doing, and because it didn’t create the sensation ho expected, ho has gono home to toll his folk that this is a twopenny, tinpot shop, where tlio people a-a too small-minded to appreciate the importance and tho dignity of Melbourne’s upstart Gaud-Mayor.

A Farmer’s Testimony—Has used Sykes’s Drench for six Years. Six years is a good long period in which to test a preparation. Unless satisfactory results were obtained no farmer would continue to use Sykes’s Drench on valuable stock year after year. It has been tried, tested, and proved to be the most valuable Drench in the Colony Mr R. Iludden, Otorolianga, Auckland, writes: —“Dear Sir,—l consider that you have conferred a benefit on the farming community of our Colony in presenting a Drench that can be used with absolute safety, and with beneficial results for cows or horses. I have used Sykes’s Drench for six years with most gratifying success, and shall always recommend its use.” Insist on having Sykes’s Drench. Refuse all substitutes lor this invaluable remedy. From all storekeepers at Is Gd. Sykes’s Drenching Horn, for administering Sykes’s Drench, price Is (id. CAN YOU BLAME HER? If at last she tires of the fault-find-ing of a dyspeptic husband and leaves him ? The worst of the dyspeptic is that he does not realise his own meanness. His world is entirely out of perspective. A man is only as strong as his stomach. 'When the stomach is diseased all the other organs sutler. Dr. Sheldon’s Digestive Tabules are the sufferers’ tree of life. They will cure him and bring him health and happiness just as certain as he takes them. They are sure because they are a natural remedy, and contain exactly the same chemical properties as the digestive fluids in the stomach. For sale by A. W. J. Mann, Agent, Chemist. DR. SHELDON’S NEW DISCOVERY.

Of all tho new discoveries in medical science, the most remarkable in recent years, is one which will prove invaluable to thousands of people, and which it is believed will take the place of all other remedies for the cure of coughs, colds, and consumption. The preparation is called Dr. Sheldon’s New Discovery for Coughs, Colds, and Consumption, and is a scientific compound of great merit. It is most healing to tho lungs and throat, and cures the cough or cold in a remarkably short time, leaving no bad after effects. As it contains no opiates or other poisons, it is a perfectly safe remedy for children and is particularly good for crotip and whooping cough. The dose is small, and it is pleasant t otake. For sale by A. W. J. Mann, Agent, Chemist.