A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 618, 9 June 1891, Page 3

A LADY’S LETTER FROM AUCKLAND.

|By Standard Special Correspondent—“A.T.”] Auckland, June 2. The topic of the week is naturally Madame Patey. Night after night the City Hall has been crowded in every part. We have been more fortunate than we expected, for the great contralto only announced her intention of giving three concerts at first, but has been prevailed on to give four extra. She has also shown herself most gracious in responding to the clamorous enthusiasm of her hearers, granting an encore on almost every occasion. Each night, immediately before her appearance, theie was a hushed pause of expectancy. With her first notes, as full, as clear, as deep and as evenly sustained as the tones of an organ, a spell fell upon the audience, which was only broken by the cessation of the singer’s voice. Then a perfect tempest of applause and. delight broke from dress circle, stalls, and pit. The range of Patey's marvellous voice, which covers three octaves, is not its chief attraction. It is the pathos and the sweetness joined to that unrivalled compass which give such intense pleasure to thos'e who hear it. On Saturday night Madame Patey yielded to a very general request, and sang * 0 Best in the Lord.’ Never before have the walls of the Choral Hall echoed to such a magnificent rendering of that masterpiece. To many people this has been the greatest musical treat of the series ot concerts, but soma regard Berthoven's Creation Hymn, sung the night before, as still more impressive and soulstirring. Her ballads and favorite Scotch airs prove most widely popular. The Australian eopra'no, Miss Bossow, has a sweet, pure, clear and flexible voice far above the average. Mr Jones, the tenor, has suffered by comparison with such high artistes, and has hardly received justice at the hands of the local press. His voice is pleasing though not very powerful. The pianiste, Miss Wood, plays with great delicacy and brilliant execution, and at the same time with an utter absence of ostentation or mannerisms. There is a little too much appearance of effort, some want ot character, and a slight indication of the treadmill of training, but these are mere imperfections which will disappear with time. Madame Patey wears some very handsome dresses. One of the handsomest is a pale blue satin, made of course with a long train. Ths bodice is cut quite low, with mere shoulder-straps for sleeves. The entire front of the skirt is embroidered in jewelled passementerie, which sparkles and flashes at every movement of the wearer. Diamonds sparkle round the top of the bodice, while a diamond tiara crowns her head. The reckless way in which these precious baubles have been flashing in Auckland during the last few months is quite unparalleled in the civic records. It is only natural that Jennie Leg's company should have sugared from Patey's superior attractions, but the Opera House has been very fairly filled every right. When •Jo ’ was withdrawn, 11 The Grasshopper ’ was put upon the boards. This is a very different play, and some friends of mine who went to see it, were forced to leave the theatre on account of its vulgarity. ‘ Jack in the Box' succeeded this, and was a decided improvement, while ' Bun Wild ’ has been remarkably well received. The Amateur Opera Company are in active preparation for their next production, ‘ Princess Ida.’ At one time it was feared that they would he unable to obtain permission to act this popular and bright little opera, but all copyright difficulties have been surmounted, and the first rehearsal in the Choral Hall took place last Thursday evening. Now that we are all engaged in a critical inspection of last year’s gowns, with a view to re juvenating all that are not absolutely hopeless, it is comforting to reflect how easily necessary repairs may be hidden under fashionable disguises. Skirts which have shrunk, or grown shabby at th? hem, may be trimmed at the bottom with a couple of crossway frills, if of silk or comparatively light materials; or with fur, velvet bands, or braiding, if of cloth or heavy stuff. Full skirts may be made plain, the front breadth gored ata the sides, and fitted up by short darts from the waist down, and the back gathered in a fan pleating. Bodies may have complete new sleeves, or only a simulated high puffed over-sleeve, reaching about half way to the elbow, while the original tight sleeve appears below. Zouaves serve to hide a thread-bare spot while giving additional warmth and a stylish appearance. For restoring worn and crushed plush or velveteen nothing is better than a small piece of butter, rubbed well into the pile with a bit of the same ma’erial. Afterwards the velvet shou'd be ironed from underneath, when the pile rises with its color and Bi’ky appearance restored. It should be stretched (but not laid on any surface) both while rubbing and ironing. Nearly all the new jackets, cloaks, and mantles have high collars, protecting the back of the neck and either tapering to the front or turned back to display a straight high collar of the same material as the waistcoat. This gives quite a different air to an old coat, which may be also much modernised by adding Newmarket lapels reaching half way to the knee, What a very startling state of affairs the late census returns have brought to light. More women than men—in large proportions—in every town but one in New Zealand 1 In one suburb of Auckland the feminine excess of population is nearly five hundred. What are we going to do with curselves ? It is evident that we cannot all fulfil woman’s ■ true mission ’ and become half of a nobler being. If, then, it is unfeminine to engage in the active business of the world, what is to become of us ? I know it is terribly * strongminded’ even to ask such a question, but thousands of women to-day are looking eagerly for an answer to it, I hope I may be pardoned for saying just a word about two attempts which are being made in Auckland at the present time to remove some of the disabilities under which women suffer, and to place them on a greater equality with men in regard to their providing for their own maintenance. The first is a petition, which has been larging signed, praying the authorities of Cambridge University to confer its degrees upon all who pass the prescribed examinations, irrespective of sex. It seems hardly credible, that while there are special colleges for women in oonnec. lion with the great seats of learning, and that while many students at Girton and Newnham have surpassed the most brilliant of their male fellow.candidates for honors, yet the latter alone are permitted to affix to their names those mystic letters which attest their success. In New Zealand we are more chivalrous, or it may be merely more just. The secont effort of which I speak is a movement to obtain for our own University the power of conferring gn Ad Eundem degree on those who have passed the requisite examinations at Cambridge, and some other specified Universities. Whatever success may attend these two efforts at reform, they deserve the sympathy and support ot women everywhere!