TEMALE BEAUTY — AUCKLAND V. TARANAKI.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 234, 7 March 1885, Page 13

TEMALE BEAUTY — AUCKLAND V. TARANAKI.

Ax Auckland Girl's Opinion.

.A fair correspondent, who signs the no in de plume, taken from. Shakspere, ' ' Mine Honour is My Life," writes in reply to •" Honour Where Honour is Due." She :says : — Dear Mr Editor, — I have read the •crow by a Taranaki lady in your last week's number, in which we Auckland girls are informed that in the matter of beauty we -cannot compare with the speckled hens of the [New Plymouth farm-yard. ISTow, 1 want to jhave a peck at the writer of that letter. In vthe first place, I know, from some experience ; of the city of fungus, pumpkins, pigs, and 'breakwaters, where everybody is either a \ captain or a major, and his wife a white \ .sergeant, that in the matter of plumage we Auckland girls can take all the prizes at any s poultry show. When you go ashore at New .Plymouth, and get into their little farmyard, you see many old hens and a large "number of pullets strutting abotit in bor--xowed plumage, or > with very bedraggled feathers. Dropiing metaphor, dear Mr Editor, I think Professor Hugo must admit on nearer • examination, and more mature consideration, that we Auckland girls take the palm for I was sorry to hear that he is a "very much mrrried man, otherwise I would not have objected to attend one of his ■physiognomical examinations, with some ■other Auckland girls, when I have no doubt lie would have retracted his opinion with regard to the girls of the three places he .■mentions. With a genial climate, picturesque scenery, and plenty of calisthenics, as well ias walking or carriage exercise, I think we Auckland girls will in time come up to the standard of the ancient Greeks, who were famed, not only for their mental powers, but vfor classical physique, the cultivation of the *Sne arts, and pluck. Auckland has been •called "the Corinth of the South," and I have heard that the gentleman who christened it many years ago was always an .admirer of female beauty, especially that of Auckland. lam informed that His Excellency Sir George Bowen paid Auckland the ■same compliment more than once, and that ne was a great admirer of the Auckland girls. I trust the Professor will have a higher opinion of the Ilelensville girls after his visit that district, more particularly as the place was named after an Auckland girl who was famous for her beauty, and as I believe the female descendants of the early settlers inherit the charms of their mothers. In conclusion, Mr Editor, allow me to add that .1 am very gl«ad that 1 am not a Taranaki beauty. It is true that some of the Auckland gentlemen who profess to admire me say that lam not deficient of good looks ; but then -our Auckland boys are not bumpkins.

" Where none admire, 'tis useless to excel ; Were none are beaux, 'tis vain to be a balle : Beauty, like wit. to judges should be shown ; Bnt most are valued where they best are known."

I must compliment my fair correspondent •on her trenchant style of writing, and as the -champion of her Auckland sisters, I consider she deserves some jam, if not a more substantial testimonial from them. To my mind, the young lady has demonstrated not only that our Auckland girls excel in beauty, but that they can hit straight out from the shoulder when attacked, and that they neither neglect the mental nor physical in their • -education.