THE SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES OF AUCKLAND.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 589, 4 December 1869, Page 2

THE SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES OF AUCKLAND.

A gentleman now residing in Auckland, in a letter to a friend in Dunedin, gives a humorous description of some of the social attributes of the northern city. He says : With regard to the place. Item: It is social, and like Schweppe's soda, refreshing without intoxication. Item: It is economic, and the climate is genial, its women are fair, tailors sell under prime cost, and you can have

your hair cut by machinery—which I don't—for sixpence. For scenery, the bay is delicious, and would be nuts for an artist; its Btreets present the appearance which you may hare observed in the bye-ways of Constantinople, or, if you have travelled, at the upper end of the New Cut. Architects have exhausted professional ingenuity in constructing verandahs which, as specimens of decay, are unrivalled in Europe ; and rows of shops, from inherent weakness of constitution, lean reliantly against each other, and are generally supported by the public. There are no sharks in the bay, but by way of compensation the country round is full of peaches; and you can buy a second-hand set of fireirons, fit for any family of the middle class, for four-and-six—of course taking them with you. The town can, without egotism, claim many stately buildings, but the generality of the places of business have not kissed a paint-brush for many years, the inhabitants having been so much occupied, up to a late period, in whitewashing themselves, that they have not had the opportunity of refreshing their establisments in the same manner. The drama flourishes, as long may it continue to do. Of the Thespian temples we can say little, but of those who hold the mirror up to nature we have no disparaging words. CHve me leave to add that there are such things as heavy teas, gossip gatherings, assembly balls, after-church service, meetings, lectures, and G-overnment House. This place is not so great in wool as Dunedin. Gold is the touchstone of all conversation. The word " clip "is superseded by the equally terse one of " scrip." Have you a long " JuliusCsesar?" Can you do me twenty Mariannes? Four fifteen for a "Ministering Angel." I can take a " Rampant Cat" at twelve ten. These and equally strange assertions take the place of the shearing inquiries of Dunedin. There is far greater diversity of character too. So many military and ex-military. When you come up to represent the "four voices," I will show you the lions.