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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 651, 28 January 1869, Page 2

American Women.— Tho beauty of American women lias always been a theme for tho admiration of writers in this country, and certainly there are a few instances of extreme beauty, especially in feature, to be met with among them. Their figures are bad, though their feet and bands are frequently small. Beauty is, however, of short duration; the teeth and hair soon fail, though these are of little consequence, as they can bo easily replaced ; and, for that matter, so can the complexion, though this is by no means so successfully done. A clockwork arrangement to give the effect of a heaving bosom is a charming device, and so are various paddings and stuffings to supply natural defects. It is in her toilette that an American belie is the most decided failure; overdress is her weakness, with a sad want of taste in tho selection of both color and material. The fact is, that Americans who visit Europe, and go to Paris for their ideas of dress, fall into a very natural mistake. Being in the French capital when the best style of people have left it, they take for their models the most conspicuously attired females they see in the streets and other public places, and dress after their style. It is really startling to walk in the most wealthy quarters of Kew York, and see the overdone dress of both young girls and married women. At church you witness such a display of vulgar finery as must lead you to tho conclusion that they have few other opportunities of showing their clothes. As a rule American women have very disagree able voices, and exert them in speaking far beyond what is required of them in an ordinary apartment. There is an unpleasant intonation very prevalent among them, though many of them sing remarkably well as far as voice is concerned. They are generally vivacious, and seem to enjoy anything approaching what in fust phrase ology is called a “ spree.”—lmpressions oi America, by Gfeorge Bose, M.A. (Artuur Sketchley.)

New Zealand Elas. —An instance of the adaptability of the New Zealand flax for rope-making, is furnished by the JBruco Herald of the 12th inst. That journal says: —Many people are dubious as to the durability of the rope manufactured from New Zealand flax, but a vessel which was a short time since in Dunedin Harbor has her main braces and a great part of her standing gear made of New Zealand rope, all of which is as strong as when put on board the vessel, which has been a voyage home via Callao, and returned to "Dunedin, and is now on. hor way home again.

Dunedin. —The following telegram, dated January 22, appears in the Wellington Independent:—“At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce to-day it was unanimously resolved that any contract ■which did not provide for the delivery and collection of mails at Lyttelton, Tort Chalmers, and the Blulf, and which did uot make the Bluff the first poit of arrival at and the last port of departure from the colony would not meet the requirements of the three provinces named, inasmuch as the proposed, plan would require a lessor subsidy, the Chamber firmly protested against the advertised scheme. Be solutions asking the General Government to send Tararua direct from 'Wellington to Melbourne ,lo catch the P. and U. boat were adopted, also one for tue co-operation of the three provinces to turn the steamer hack from Lyttelton if the Government yvould, not offer a suitable subsidy