HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2123, 4 July 1907, Page 1

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

By “Penelope.” Wellington. RETURN OF THE PREMIER. By tlio Malieno arrived Sir Joseph Ward and his family, all in excellent health and spirits. Mr. Cyril, the oldost. sou, who has been for some years in. England, came back with thorn, and at Melbourne they picked up Gladstone, tho second youngest, who has been at Collego there. Little Pat was waiting to Welcome them, in the care of his Napior aunt, Mrs. Boyes, who hits mothered him since Lady Ward loft, and now they have all settled down in the luxurious, if .somewhat sunless, ministerial residence, under tho Tinakori hills. Rain poured down and tho streets were streets of mud the day the party came back, but in tho ovening when tho cure reception wrts tendered, tho weather somewhat improved. The huge Town .Hall was packed to the doors, it was a free show, but even ■ that could not- have been sufficient attraction to neutralise the discomfort, of tho soats. It was not a wildly enthusiastic meeting for its size, but perhaps this was duo to the tone of tho musical programme, which tended to sevoro depression. Indeed tho overture, by the'Garrison Band, to whom on other occasions wo have listened enraptured, was so dreary anil so drawn out that the audience gave unmistakable signs of irritation and impatience, the result being that the band disappeared' before their second item camo round, probably with lacerated Poolings. Miiis Van Stavereu jwlio lias a fine contralto voice, sang a melancholy ditty, anil Miss Mewman, a Dunedin singer, with a charming voice and sweet appearance, was also doleful. Tho audience wanted a cheerful ditty, expressive of jubilation and welcome. “When Johnnie comes Marching Homo Again,” would have captured them. The ‘result was that tho two speeches, the Mayor’s being only a prelude to tlio Premiers, received close attention; but the enthusiasm was scarcely unbridled. Perhaps the allusion to the Chinese evoked most applause. The Premier’s volubility is extraordinary. Words rush out of his lips, and lie is remarkable for the length of his sentences. Phrase upon phrase, and clause being added to clatise, until the listener’s brain—if it be not a superior calibre — staggers under the weight of words. It is said that a mail, on Thursday evening, wont out to get a drink, and came back to find Sir Joseph still at the same sentence—a “life sentence,” as someone wittily termed it. But this is probably the fabrication of an opposition critic. Certainly, where anolause broke out at the end of a sentence, and a lady in the audience asked the reason of the enthusiasm, her companion was heard to say, “The Premier’s reached a full stop!” The mysterious secret hihtod at in his speech is now solved.' It certainly gave an extra piquancy to the opening of Parliament, and an added interest to the Speech from the Throne, which it is no disloyalty to say, as His Excellency is only the mouthpiece of his Ministers— is usually a very dull deliverance.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. This is a great feminine function, and there is a tremendous demand •for tickets though, nowadays, thanks to bettor arrangements, there are none of the wild, wdird scrimmages to force an entrance; which resulted in toni laces, crooked hats, split gloves, and ruffled tempers. Now each ticket holder has her seat r»served. I have an eyrie in the gallery from which I can see everything and everyone, and it is amusing to go early and watch the seats filling and the various proceedings beforehand. The women wear their bravest array —many of them wore'going on later to a largo At Homo—and the group of Ministerial feminine belongings on the left of the Speaker, even though it included no ladies from Government House, was eminently well frocked. Women readers would be interested

iii Lady Ward’s English clothes—a gown of grey cropc-de-cliinc, made pinafore-wise, with under bodice and sleeves of white muslin and lace, a little bright green embroidery outlining the fronts. Her round grey hat. much tilted forward, had an' immeuso feather of' green round tho brim and falling over the back. Miss Ward’s rose cloth frock was worn with a ‘ picturesque ha,t of green, laden with many roses of various tints. Tho bouquet of yellow daffodils tied with pale green ribbons, presented by the Hon. C. Bowen, tho Speaker of the Council, to Lady Ward, clashed with the quiet harmony of her frock. The absenco of aides—the Governor at i>rescnt has only Mr. Waterfield,' his secretary—and. the now decree that plain evening dross is to take tho place of their gorgeous uniforms, somewhat diminished tho splendour of ■tlio ceremony, but the naval men and tho military made amends for this. There is always a ghastly, pause after the Governor takes his seat and beforo the Commons —with a heavy tread that speaks of ' respectability and responsibility —arise. On Thursday *,Skis silence was. broken by the 'JAnlous conversation of a Northern councillor, who insisted on talking, notwithstanding tho horrified looks of his bench-mate. The secret was a fiasco—who cared whether New Zealand was a colony or a dominion Many had imagined that the answer to the riddle was a visit from King Edward, and there was unqualified ■ disappointment expressed over the many teacups that are always the sequel to the opening. Indeed, some gloomy housewives were prepared themselves for an increase of rent and a request for a rise of wages when their landlords and domestic helpers camo to hear of the new title New Zealand was to receive! SOCIAL NOTES.

Members aro arriving daily with their wives and daughters. Mr. i Baume and his mother, Mr. and Mrs. Herries, Mr. and Mrs. Sidey, Mr. Sinclair—one of the Councillors—and his daughters, have all found lodging close to Parliament. Miss Whitson, who has been with Mrs Malcolm Ross, left for Dunedin on Tuesday. Miss McDonald, a guest of Mrs Donald Robertson, has gone North. Mrs Tilley, from Blenheim, is with her sister, Mrs Alfred Brandon. Miss Femvick, from Dunedin, is staying with Mrs Smith. Mrs Fairclough has gone to Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Batkin, Mrs and Miss Elder, and Mrs and Miss Laing-Meason have gone to Sydney. By the Maheno, from Sydney, Dr. and Mrs Prcndergast Knight and Mr and Sirs Charles Izard came back to New Zealand. Miss Foster, of tlio Hufct, Jias been with her sister, Mrs Bennett, of Gisborne, and Miss Orr, of Gisborne, is with Mrs Putnam, of Karori, enjoying the various Wellington gaieties. Justico and Mrs Sim are in Wellington just now. Lieutenant. arid Mrs Pickering left for England via Australia last Saturday. Sir William and Lady Steward have taken a small house near Parliament' for the session. The Hon. Hall-Jones is to take six months holiday, and leaves next week on a lengthy trip, probably to Japan and England.

AN ARTISTIC HOME. This is Dr. Young’s new houso at the corner of Aurora Terrace and Wellington Terraco. It might have stepped out of the pages of The Studio, so quaint are the designs. The owners' wero tlioir own architects. Bluo is the main color in evidence—it is the color that suits the dainty little mistress—and much panelling is used. The hall is panelled from ceiling to door, and the dining-room half way up, while the beautiful staircase, all struight lines and angles, and the gallery above is unpolished wood. Pale dove-tinted paper, with a very deep frieze-.of hi up and white, and white woodwork, and a quaint overmantel with latticed glazed cupboards are in the drawing-room, and the smokeroom is a nnrtiiony in brown paper and scarlet. Mrs. Young gave an At Home, the largest, probably, ever given in Wellington, for 240 guests .were present, as a- housewarming, and | the rooms were thrown open. The I spare bedroom received the greatest

meed of admiration. It is all roses, on chintz carpet and' paper, and lias a deep curved alcove on one side, wlie.ro stands the dressing table and a luxurious couch. The At Home was most enjoyable with so much to admire—dainty refreshments, fine music from a string band and the most lovely flowers, mostly from Dr. Ilassall’s garden, to delight in. Quantities of anemons, daffodils aild white violets decorated the beautiful rooms. VARIOUS FUNCTIONS.

Miss .101 l list on gave a largo dinnerparty and a “Watteau” dance afterwards, last week, which was a charming affair.' The dinner was served on small tables, a novelty in decoration, being the sprays of rose-foliage, with pink camellias sot on; like roses, that curved round each guests plate. Each spray was tied with blue ribbon, and looped to its neighbour. The Star UoaHiig Club Ball was a great succors and a. rather largo dance for young people was given last week by Mrs Oswald Beere. This coming week is. to be very gay. Three large- At Homes, a girl’s tea, the dinner party by the private nurses; Miss May Soildon's wedding—tlieso* are a few of its happenings.