A LADY’S LETTER FROM SYDNEY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 635, 18 July 1891, Page 2

A LADY’S LETTER FROM SYDNEY.

[special to the btandabd.] July 2. As I learn that my last letter created some tittle interest, a few additional notes might be considered of equal value. There is certainly no lack of subjects to write about, but in making a choice one feels like the verdant scribe who (so the story goes) oonld take verbatim shorthand notes, but could not report : the sub editor told him to condense the speech to half the space it would take in full, and the youth retired, only to return in a few minutes, show his notebook to the sub-editor, separate the leaves written on into equal proportions, and ask which hal of the speech he would write out I However, I might have the advantage in that some sort of finish can be given to each subjeet. For the past few weeks polities—(more correctly perhaps, electioneering) — have thrown everything else in the shade, and the way of managing things may well cauae a reflective mind to wonder if the salvation of a country can really be evolved from such a chaos as there is at election times. Possibly this thought may have its birth from one’s weakness in observation, with a tendency to take more than deserved notice of the elements that surge to the surface in times of excitement. Your East Coast contests are tnild enjoyment compared to what we have over this way. To hear gentlemanly gentleman Mr Arthur, with his self-satisfied air, piping on some “ mute, inglorious Milton,” to prove an indefinable something that everybody knew by intuition ; or to hear Mr Rees triumphantly challenging what he termed “ that wretched rag,” and bringing down a little storm upon his opponents—why, it is like watching the effect of a mouth-puff on a placid lake. Candidates here, if they are not popular, get liberally treated with highly flavored eggs, minus the baoon, and occasionally a stray cat that has been bereft of even its ninth life hurtles through the air and puts to flight those who would have gone in pursuit of the animal had it been alive. Packets of flour, too, rain down as did the volcanic dust of Tarawera, though much less evenly spread. Some candidates were even followed about and pelted with stones, and one gentleman got hit on the chest by a stone which cams crashing through a cab window, and which weighed half a pound.]

Of course what I relate is more of what I read and hear than of anything actually seen by me. Womenfolk are considered better in the home fold at election times than to be out making personal observations as one might freely do in Gisborne. Here candidates deliver many speeches from hotel balconies, and make several speeches each on one night. The victories of the Labor party came as a big surprise to their opponents. It leaves one regret, that among those candidates who had to go down before the singleness of purpose of tho Labor party, were several very popular and trusted men who held to their convictions and were too manly to become time servers or two-faced opportunists. The Labor porty is credited with having put up several good men, though the selection ie not confined to Labor as generally understood. Among tho successful nominees is Mr Black, sub-editor of the rod Republican paper the Bulletin. He is said to be only 37, a man who has played many parts in life’s struggle, A moral for rowdies ie derived from the fact that a couple of candidates who had the moat signal triumph were the two who were the most badly used by organised rowdyism.

It has been raining here lately as I had never seen it rain before. The spring showers of Gisborne bear no comparison to it, but the same good old grumble which they say ie an Englishman’s privilege is here, There is a distinction without a difference between the Gisborne and the Sydney grumble. One thing perhaps that makes it more acute here is that there appears to be a great lacking 0! thrift, and the pretty little essay about the ant and the cricket seems to be unheeded. I heard of one instance where a shoemaker had a long row of mended boots hanging up in hit shop, as owing to the wet weather, the owners could not earn enough money to pay for the repairs. It might ba suggested that in Gisborne the prevailing system of credit would prevent any rows of boots accumulating. Money seems to he earned and spent with great freedom by the artizans here,

The first fine day after the recent storm I went to the Bondi beach. The sight was a glorious one. Great breakers were struggling beachwards, some sweeping on to the beach in all their fury, while the beautiful white spray, glistening in the rays of light, was thrown up mountains high, making the scene so grand that one seemed fascinated by it, and I was loth to depart when it was time to do so. The beach itself has in appearance been entirely changed by the storm. Where it had been bare before, huge boulders had now been washed up, in places where the sand had been three or four feet in depth it had been scoured clean away, and in some spots from where the sand had been washed great rooks were now visible. As Ido not pretend to be a word-painter I cannot hope to give yon any adequate description of the scene, nor could it be well appreciated by one who had not been present.

Like many other New Zealanders I take some interest in the movements of the Governor and his good Lady. They appear to be making themselves very popular, especially Lady Jersey; but it will take Lord Jersey some time to win his way to the hearts of the people as Lord Carrington did. Lord and Lady Jersey certainly devote themselves assiduously to those duties which by an unwritten code are supposed to devolve on Vice-Regality. They attend the opening of public buildings and charitable institutions, and visit hospitals, colleges, and many other places. It must be tiresome to them to make good speeches everywhere they go. Onr sex can find something to contribute to our satisfaction in comparing the excellent speeches delivered by Lady Jersey with the meagre productions of the noble Lord. The latter makes a practice el letting Lady Jersey speak first, and then he gently endorses all that she has said, which women will at once admit proves that he is a wise man.

An extract from one of Lady Jersey’s speeches may be worth quoting. She was addrese eg the pupils of the St, Vincent Ladies' College, conducted by the Sisters of Charity, and in the course of her remarks said :—There is just one thing I should like to say, and I speak now more particularly to my young friends who have entertained us this afternoon, and I think I should say here that I join heartily with you in all the bright wishes for Australia’s prosperity to whichyou have given expression. (Applause.) What I wish to say is this: Yon hear, or you will hear, a good deal about woman's rights and woman's wrongs. Some of the things said by those who speak on these matters are very wise, others rather foolish. (Laughter.) I must, however, remind you of this—that there is one power given by Almighty God, and of which nothing ean divest you, and that is the Influence 0! women. (Applause.) It is, I know, hard for you who are so young to fully realise this feeling, bnt I wish you would take my word for it. The youngest little girl here—and the youngest is, I believe, four years 0! age—(laughter)—exercises an influence in some direction—it may be In making her home happy and in brightening hours that would otherwise be sad and weary. (Applause.) Looking aronnd at this large school I cannot but think that all of yon will have a great and lasting power in your hands when you go out into the world and your influence as sisters and wives and mothers Is felt. (Applauee.) Whatever your position in fife may be you cannot fail to use your in* fluence tor good or evil. (Applause.) lam sure yours will be for lasting good. (Applause) I am sure of that after what I have seen and heard to-day, and I am sure you will do all Sou can to make Australia tho great and apny nation we All desire het to bs, (Ape plaiiae.)

A practice which I notice prevails in one church here might be commendably adopted in Gisborne, where a stranger may go to a church for months without knowing the minister. At the door of the church I write of there is a notice, requesting that strangers going to the church would kindly put their name down in the verger’s book kept for the purpose, and then the minister would visit them in their own homes. Where a minister considers that visiting is a part of the work which his calling necessitates, it must save a lot of trouble when strangers themselves make • record of their names and addresses.

As a few hints on the giddy world of fashion may be desired by some readers, I may mention that Newmarket bodices and plain skirts are greatly worn here. Scarlet appears to be the prevailing color for trimming. It is used with any other color, such as blue, fawn, or brown. The hats are now ■mailer than ever. Felt hats are. much wont, with velvet and feather trimmings.