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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 74, 28 March 1881, Page 4

j ' " — : The San Francisco correspondent of the Auckland Herald writes :- On the last day of January the Mongols' cete- 1 brated their new year. Foi< three days previously, the . air at Chinatown was filled with the cracking of bombs atid yelling of the inhabitants, who make a regular pandemonium of the quarter pn this occaesion. The merchants dress themselves up in their best, and with tjieir wives receive their Mongol and Christian friends with great pomp and b)iow. I went to the Consulate and was introduced to the Consul-General, Mr. Chen Shu Tang, and Madame Chen. She was assisted ab her recpption by two American ,ladiea, and was elaborately and magnificently attired. Theekirfc of her robe was of JSfile green satin, richly brocaded. The front was composed of panels of the same eilk, solidly embroidered in glowing colours. Over tbia was the usual flowing garment with hanging sleeves, crossed at' the bosom and buttonedj made of. .very, heavy mdroon satin, ornamented with light blue satin brands, thickly embroidered in Various coloured silks of the moat brilliant hue. The tiny feet were encased in slippers of gold embroidery, mixed with blue and wjbite ; and her fingers were weighed down by magnificent diamonds, with .corresponding pendants in her ears. Her hair was dressed in the elaborate Chinese style, which defies description, locking as smooth as satin, with bows, and puffs, and wings, to all appearance made of stiff satin, fastened on — diamond pins thrust through, and gold trimming ornamenting the whole, A lepon-coloured silk pocket-handkerchief finished this elaborate acd gorgeous costume, five hundred guests paid their devoirs, and partook of a handsome collation. The dress of the Consul was also a striking and handsome picture of Mongolian attire. >The coming season in London is expected to be particularly brilliant. The K|ng of Italy is to visit the Prinoe of Whales, the King of Denmark visits the Queen, and Bismarok is to be over in May; and Gatnbetta, the Republican leader, ia to retorn the visit of Sir Charles Dilke, the Radical, and thui preserve the bnlanoe, or Communists might be alarmed at this gathering of royalty. At the Winter Palace there ia a room full of diamonds, pearls, and other precioui stones. An Kmpreis of Buetia is allowed to borrow from this room after giving a receipt for what ehQ Jakes, and generally the Grjnd, Dccbeeaea are allowed to borrow from It »lfip» = .*. h

Every nigbt before James Gordon < Bonnet goes to bed he receives, no matter in wbat part of tbe globe he 'may bp, a rfouwe) of the contenis of tbe [New Ycrk Herald for tbe next day (with the headings of the pnncipat articles. If no answer is reqeived ifrom him by 2*Bo a>. it is supposed 'that he has no suggestion to m&ke, and jthe'^B'p^^aibpreßS. ./■.W^n.'.h'e is lin EuropeiheeV cable deßparches often coßt^biih? 100 dollars fdr-ohe night's I budget. Bennett's instructionß are never to cave money. AH correßjpondents for the Retold have the same instructions, the results being enormous bills /or expenses. The tendency is to send ali news by telegraph, even letters not exactly of a news character and before long it is predioted that the [Herald will be entirely made up of telegra'pbic despatches outside of the city news and advertißements. At a fancy dress ball at Brighton, a lady wore a costume representing the " Gem of the Ooean." It was composed of plain coral-line satin, tbe trimmings of natural seaweed, all of themost delicately -tinted, kind, small pearly shells and large pink anemones. ■ A new diversion among New York women of money and leisure is to save a piece of every kind of material ÜBed in their garments. : These are handsomely bound in book form, eaph sample making, one Ui(\ ■' The' volume forms a hisiory of the ! owner's dress from season to season.