THE LADIES CLOUMN THE NEW ZEALAND ORACLE.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 18, 15 January 1881, Page 172

THE LADIES CLOUMN

THE NEW ZEALAND ORACLE.

"sound hi the goose" he was interviewed "by a deputation, consisting of the most influential of his constituents, and unmistakably pledged to maintain the secular system intact. This trilling fact, however, did not prevent his again denouncing the system during last session. He was also strongly pledged to oppose Chinese immigration, but owing to the same unfortunate absent-mindedness he delivered an oration last session upholding the rights of the " Cheneese " as a man and a brother. Though distinguished by the mildness of the dove in his pulpit utterances, -the doctor deals " apostolic knocks" on the platform and the floor of the House. In one of nis vigorous moods he denounced the Southern representatives as "rogues and trimmers," for which he was severely taken to task, and obliged to retreat in Ms place in Parliament. He has also been accused by the Good Templars of non-fulfilment of certain secret pledges to support the local option principle, which he opposed in the House unless accompanied with compensation, thereby securing the approval of the Licensed Victuallers, who expressed their gratitude in a vote of thanks. In revenge the Good Templars' Political Committee published the pledge, but the doctor argued that it did not bear the construction put upon it by the Committee, and denounced the publication as a breach of confidence. The dispute may be left to the respective parties to decide. The latest role which the versatile doctor has assumed is that of champion of the gum diggers, into the merits of which controversy it is not our province to enter. If we may be allowed to express an opinion, his prospects of re-election to the General Assembly are not very hopeful. Eccentricity of genius is dangerous in politics. A man will be sooner forgiven for wrongheaded consistency than non-fulfihnent of political pledges, whether real or apparent. As an orator, Dr. Wallis is fluent and perspicuous, but somewhat prosy, didactic, and sermonical, but often exceedingly humourous and quaint, and happy in illustrative anecdote. His speeches, however, lack the essential element of practical knowledge. They usually empty the House and the galleries. In his policy he has been a Liberal and a supporter of Sir George Grey, to whom he was irretrievably pledged on the hustings, but his advocacy of the Grey cause

—Mrs. G. has got a new "bonnet ! — Ruffles at the neck are very high. In mantles the dolman is the most popular. Small close-fitting bonnets are much worn. —The later the fashion the plainer the dresses. Helmets are occasionally worn by ladies when riding. A nice cap for a middle-aged lady can be made out of plain black satin and jet. —Soft silk fichus with lace are a nice combination. — Pompadour scarfs are now worn with travelling dresses. —Basque bodices are made with as few seams as possible. —Confirmation toilets are now made very plain.

— Dresses of common washing flannel are a novelty, but they don' t look nice. — Stockings look well embroidered with sprays of flowers in front. — Ball dresses are now almost invariably ornamented with lace. — Yoke bodices are greatly improved when worn with a broad belt. — Mantles are lined with gay coloured quilted silks. — The funniest dress I have yet seen is a bright yellow bespattered with black. —Widows' falls are now so arranged that they hang over the back. — Large print hoods are most suitable for childrens summer wear. — Wide kiltings have given place to two box pleatings, which are a decided improvement. —Shoes are worn at present very low in front I in order to show off the embroidered stockings. — The new dress materials just received by the shops are the Kyber, Glenavon, Scarboro , and Trouville cloth. A new fashion for sleeves is to have them poufted all the way up, with a wide frill of lace at the hand. — Langtrey hoods have taken their departure owing to the introduction of "the Russian hood," which is sure to be popular. —Collars and cuffs can be got with bright coloured borders to correspond with the pompadour costume. —Tarn o' Shanters are not doing very well. The fact is they look "fast," and many girls, whom they would suit, don't like to wear them for this reason. —A very pretty dress for a young lady is a grey lustre, with pale blue silk girdle and hat to correspond. —Miss C, of St. Paul's, appeared last Thursday in a pretty white sateen, with white poke hat and jet cape.

—Miss W., of Newton, wears a nice roundshaped hat, trimmed with a feather, and large "bow at side. A new and stylish dress, which has called forth much admiration this week, is^ a plnmcoloured silk, trimmed with cream satin. —A showy costume, which may now he seen about, consists of old gold sateen, with a cream yoke bodice and trimmings of cream. —A new way of arranging the draped sash is to have it gathered half-way down, and open to the bottom. —A peacock' sateen, kilted skirt and polonaise, with hat to correspond, has u ust shown out, and is very effective. —My dear diminutive lady friends : Don't wear yoke bodices. They are only really becoming to embryo giantesses. —Sleeves are now made so ridiculously tightfitting that they require to be buttoned from the elbow. A pretty childs dress, which calls for notice, consists of black velvet, with heliotrope silk girdle and Tarn o' Shanter hat. —Miss H., of Ponsonby, looks charming in a cream sateen, with a long polonaise and skirt,' •trimmed with maroon bands of cardinal. —A startling new costume now visible consists of pea-green lustre, made with habit bodice and skirt, and trimmed with silk of a darker shade. —Miss H., who may very often be seen in the vicinity of Grafton-road, has got a beautiful dress of cream sateen, with princess robe, deep kilting, and draped sash of pompadour. —The latest apology for a ladies pocket is a chatelaine bag, fastened to the waist-belt with cords. Mrs. McCosh Clark wore one on her cream and wine-coloured dress at the races. —Miss Adelle, otherwise the "Hebe" of the " Pinafore," wears a wine-coloured satin dress, with sleeveless jacket of cashmere. It makes a very handsome get up. —Miss D. has made a slight mistake in selecting a yoke bodice for her summer get up. A lon" 1 polonaise would have been far more suitable. Mrs. A. wears a very uncommon costume of cream pompadour no\r. It is made with long polonaise and skirt,' and trimmed with brassed baud of pale-blue sateen. —One of the simplest, and yet most attractive talking costumes now to be seen in Queenstreet is a black cashmere dress, on the basque bodice principle. — I have been much pleased with a little girl's black velvet dress, which has appeared lately. It has lappeta at the bottom, lined with* pale-blue silk, and turned back to show a kilting of the same. — A very- handsome costume of China silk, made with skirt and basque bodice, and trimmed with lace and peacock satin is one of the newest, prettiest, and most novel dresses. — Now that dresses are worn so short there is likely to be some danger of ladies cramping their feet in small boots, and thus injuring themselves. If this is indeed to be the outcome of short dresses, better cast them off girls and have a little comfort ! — One of the queerest and most ridiculous fashions lately introduced here is the wearing of odd articles of dress. For instance, I have seen a skirt draped on one side, while the other was perfectly plain ; one sleeve trimmed with a cuff, and the other with bands ; a collar on one side, and nothing to correspond on the other. These innovations may be novelties, but they are really an eyesore to persons of taste, and I should not recommend any of my lady friends to attempt them. — " Vanity," says Truth, "is not absoluteley con fined to women, as the following little episode will prove. A young officer, wishing Ins feet to look their best and smallest at a dance, had the soles, heels, and toes of his socks cut away, and the remaining portion firmly stitched to his imtent-leather dancing-shoes. I may state, as an extenuating circumstance, that he is very young, and at present imagines liimself a prey to la grande jjasskntj" — I have seen many pretty cream dresses lately, but one has noAV shown out, which is unsurpassed for beauty, neatness, and elegance. It is fashioned after the manner of a kilted skirt and polonaise with no trimming but bands of pompadour, and oh! such lovely pompadour ; it is really beautiful. I wonder (and so will many more) where the young lady got it ? A Langtry hood, lined with pompadour surrounded with Languedoc lace, sets off one of the prettiest costumes of the season. — A new and interesting game has been started for evening parties. The ladies write their names on a slip of paper, wrap it up in a ball of yarn, twine, or rags, and when they get to the place where the party is to be held, each lady puts her ball in a basket. Before leaving, each gentleman draws a ball from the basket and takes the lady home wliose name is found in the ball. It's more fun than having the measles or falling off a log to see them pairing off.