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OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Wellington, Monday. To open with a remark about the weather leaves me exposed to the surmise that I must be weak in both subjects and news on this occasion, but still no doubt you like to know how we are being treated in this respect in Wellington, if only for the sake of contrast. Well, we are having "see-saw" weather : that is to say, we have on-i week fine and one week cold and wintry in pretty regular alternation. Last week was our bleak seven days, with chilly piercing winds and occasional rain. This week, commencing with Sunday (yesterday), there is a delightful change, tli9 days are as perfect as they can be, and even the nights, despite a suggestion of wintry sharpness, are clear, bright and pleasant, such weather, if it continues, will make our last holiday of the season one worthy of the name and the occasion.

You remember Professor Archibald who came round with the phonograph, and you also no doubt can call to mind the intellectual appearance he presented in having a forehead which was surmounted by considerably less than what is considered the customary allowance of hair. Now, men with scanty locks are generally touchy on the subject, despite the credit they yet for possessing superior wisdom, and Professor Archibald wa3 made the subject of an amusing little joke on the part of one of the Union Steamship Company's captains the other day, which will bear relating. I will tell it you. The Captain and Professor Archibald were chatting together on the quarter-deck when Mr Leslie, a friend oftbeCapt.'s, approached. The following dialogue then occurred : The Captain (to his friend): " Let me have the pleasure, Mr Leslie, of in • traducing you to Mr Archie." Prof. Archibald (to the captain, in a dignified but rather audible ' aside'): " Allow me to say, Capt. Curtis, that my name is Archibald ! " The Capt. (promptly and without dismay): '• Well, I know that; I simply said Archie , Anyone can see you are bald !" Needless to say the joke was not lost either on Professor Archibald or those around, and the worthy skippor's wit was rewarded by a hearty and general laugh. Have you ever seen the mechanical pianoforte plajer ? They have one in Hoffmann and Sons' Music Warehouse in Willis-street, and Mr Hoffmann kindly made the concern perform for me the other day: It is an attachment constructed of wood—a kind of cabinet—which contains mechanism and is screwed to the key-board of the piano. It can be affixed to any instrument. A piece of music is introduced, a handle is turned, and forth comes the tune as if played in the ordinary way. The I music is on a perforated disc of very thin wood, in appearance something like those round wooden American seats for chairs. The mechanism causes levers to press the keys down as the music revolves, and a very fair result is attained. It reminds one of the piano«organs to be heard in London, except that it is capable of reproducing almost any music, performing in some cases operatic overtures which last twenty minutes. In this latter instance, the music is rolled in lengths. The cost of the appliance, is eight pounds ten shillings, and ordinary music for it, such as a waltz or other short piece, is the usual price of about half-a-crown. If any of you care to hear the machine when you are in town, Mr Hoffman will, I am sure, be glad to give you the opportunity if you call at his show-room in Willis Street.

A Japanese lonian at present in Wellington is exciting curious and \ interested observation as she takes ber walks abroad, clad in a rather striking costume, common enough no , doubt in her own country. She is attached to a family living here, is of small stature—only about four feet six inches in height. She wears no hat or head covering- Her garb consists of a loose bright sky blue jacket with wide sleeves, and the lower garment is a pair of loose white trousers over which partly descends a skirt of the same hue - as the jacket. Her shoes are in accord with the rest of the rig-out. I have not seen the lady yet, but the general effect is described as decidedly picturesque, and one which would certainly secure its share of observation and admiration if the style becomes generally fashion, able in Wellington. Partisans of the divided-skirt are welcome to my suggestion. Our musical friends here have been very good to us lately. First we had the Orchestral Society's concert, then one by the Harmonic Sooiety, and now, commencing on Wednesday evening, we are to have a season of " lolanthe" by the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society. There are people who despise amateur music, but foe my own part I must say that 1 much prefer it to some of tho professional music rendered in the style certain travelling professional companies present it. As regards instrumental music, it may be said that at the present time Wellington is at its best in this respect, and that it has an or ohestra which would not disgrace even a London Theatre. The accompaniments at the Harmonic Society's rtcent concert and tlaydn's Symphony which was played in the interval, were quite the feature of the evening. To return to "lolanthe," it may be said that this charming fairy opera is always welcome, and especially so when, as on this occasion, it is introduced to us with everything new. Miss Samuel, who takes the leading part of " Phylis," and is very highly spoken of, is quite a young soprano vocalist, and this is her introductory appearance as a principal character. She has, however, previously takea small parts in AmateurOperaticproductions. Miss Wilson, who sustains the character of " lolanthe" and is accredited with a full rich contralto voice, is also to a great extent an untried principal. Miss Rigg ("Queen of the Fairies") is another contralto, new to Wellington audiences as a soloist, although not so, I believe, in the Catholic Church, where she frequently takes the airs in the anthems. Of MrE J ifill (Strephpn) nothingin detail need be said. He is probably the finest tenor in Hew Zealand, and it will be a decided pleasure to hear him in opera. Mr W. D. Lyon, the inimitable, takes the part of " The Lord Chancellor," Mr A. E. Mabin that of " The Earl of Mountararat," MrG. H. Munt, "Earl Tolloller," , and Mr J. W. Kilner (who has a fine deep bass yoice) represents " Private Willis." Mr Munt, it might be mentioned, will probably take a leading j part in " lolanthe," when it is pro- i duced at Oreytown later on, where, I i understand, it ia at present in re- |

hearsal by local Vocalists. No doubt some of the Greytown Amateur Operatic Society "will take advantage of the present opportunity of hearing the Opera in Wellington, and of seeing and hearing how it is done here. The chorus consists of fifty voices, the orchestra of sixteen instruments, (Mr Macduff Boyd leading) and Mr T. Tallis Trimnell, Mus. Bac. Oxon, conducts the whole. The scenery is by Mr E. J. Briggs, the artist who has been connected with the Greytown Theatre and your own Masterton Theatre for a time. But I will not tell you more of " lolanthe," but will hope instead that many of you will come and hear it, as the extended Beason of six nights and the coming holiday will give you every opportunity of doing. So Madame Patey is coming to Wellington after all, and I see she opens in the Theatre Royal on 9th June. Strange to say, some people contuse her with her more famous contemporary, Madame Patti. How they can imagine that Patti would come to New Zealand is more than I can understand. The illustrious singer who has received as much as sixteen hundred pounds (£1,600) a night continuously for twenty four nights, as she did on her memorable South American tour, is hardly likely to visit poor New Zealand. Why in 1888, when Patti sang in the Grand Opera House in Paris, in "Borneo aud Juliet," Gounod himself conducting, the best stalls fetched as much as fifteen and twenty pounds each, and even the most obscure seat in the building was worth two pounds ten shillings! No, wo shall not have Patti here yet awhile lam afraid. Madame Patey, who is coming, ranks about as high as Santley in the musical world if I remember rightly. I have heard her singing with him in " The Messiah" with the London Choral Society in St James' Hall, and I have also heard her in the Covent Garden concerts.

A violin constructed solely of the material which forms the foundation of an ordinary felt hat was a curiosity shown rae the other day. It was cleverly built by a lad of about sixteen years old, form calico hardened with shellac gum. The instrument was perfectly made, and its appearance in shape, colour, and finish was just that of an ordinary wooden violin. In tone it was somewhat sweeter than the latter, but at present it lacked volume, a fault which no doubt would disappear with age. Ingenious persons have made violins of nearly every substance, but this, apart from wood, is the mo3t sucoes3- , ful attempt I have seen. i I notice the Evening Press has published at article on the "arithmometer," in which it says that the inventor of it, a Mr S. Tate, is now living at Petone. This apparatus, which is a calculating machine, is certainly a very wonderful thing. The Government imported one some few years ago, and I remember seeing it at the time. It is used mainly to check the intricate calculations of the Insurance Department. The mechan. ism is contained in a mahogany cabinet about two feet long, and of the size and shape of an ordinary music box. The machine automatically adds, divides.aud subtracts whole groups of figures, the operator merely setting certain index fingers and turning a handle, whereupon the result of the calculation appears, a figure at a time, in little discs like those of a date case, until the answer is complete. Its working is simple, and when once the art of manipulating it is acquired computations can be made with great rapidity. "Zephyb."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT18910520.2.5

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3815, 20 May 1891, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,733

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3815, 20 May 1891, Page 2

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3815, 20 May 1891, Page 2

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